An online survey of nearly 15-thousand parents and teachers finds 58-percent of them are not comfortable sending their children back to the classroom. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has tested positive for the coronavirus. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Louisiana Lottery launches a smartphone app.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the app will help make lottery transactions easier and contactless.

Cut 3 (07)  “…print the ticket.”  

Those digital play slips can be created with various number selection methods and saved until a player visits a retailer.

While tickets will not be able to be purchased on the phone, Chopin says the app adds more convenience in allowing players to manage their lottery play on their phone as they can also use the app to find out if you have a winning ticket.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…lot more transparency.”

Chopin says the app has been in the works for a while but says that the app’s ability to reduce the amount of contact between lottery retail workers and players make this app more needed than ever.

Cut 5 (10)  “…more relevant now.”

The app is available now and is free for iPhone and Android device users.

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The Louisiana Federation of Teachers says 58-percent of teachers and parents who participated in their online survey do not feel comfortable returning to school next month. L-F-T president Larry Carter says certain precautions and mandates need to be in place to create a safe environment

Cut 6 (10) “…rights”

Carter says federal and state governments have not done enough to make sure schools can reopen safely

Cut 7 (10) “gear in school.”

Carter is pushing the U-S Senate to approve the Heroes Act. The teachers union says that legislation would provide 1.5 billion dollars to Louisiana to help implement the COVID safety protocols.

Nearly 15-thousand people responded to the survey on L-F-T’s website. 64-hundred of the respondents identified themselves as an employee of a school system. Carter says 45-percent of those individuals say they prefer to work from home given the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic

Cut 8 (11) “…that’s safe”

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Cleco announces customers who’ve had trouble paying their energy bills can get an installment plan to pay their past due amounts back over up to 18 months.

Spokesperson Fran Phoenix says this offer is good for payments due from March through July 16^th, and if accepted will be added to your monthly bill as an installment.

Cut 9 (11) “…challenges”

Phoenix explains how this would work for the average customer who has had to miss a few payments due to recent financial difficulties.

Cut 10 (12) “   months” 

More details on the long-term payment plan can be found on the Cleco website.

The Public Service Commission gave companies the ability to begin disconnection procedures for non-payment July 16^th but Phoenix says Cleco won’t begin until September 1^st.

Cut 11 (10) “…fees.”

Starting September 30^th Cleco will also cease reimbursement for the two-dollar fifty-cent credit card fee charge for paying bills.

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Vice President Mike Pence’s first stop in Louisiana today was to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness building in Baton Rouge. Pence thanked the federal and state workers who have put in long hours and he says the Trump administration stands ready to assist

Cut 12 (06) “…the past.”

Pence says this is a serious time as the state reported 22-hundred new cases today and hospitalizations rose by 54. He says the White House is making sure the state has what it needs

Cut 13 (10) “…Louisaina.” 

Senator John Kennedy says Louisiana has received 60 cases of remedsivir this week. Doctors are using this drug to treat hospitalized coronavirus patients. Kennedy says Pence has been both a rock and rock star during this experience…

Cut 14 (12) “…his composure”

Kennedy also spoke to emergency responders at GOHSEP. He expressed the need to get public schools open again…

Cut 15 (12) “     …their lives” 

Kennedy says only 30 children in the U-S under the age of 15 have died from COVID-19, which shows children are not as susceptible.

How will the state enforce its new mask mandate? Kevin Barnhart has the details…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley provides the House Education Committee with the guidelines on reopening schools safely. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate is now in effect.  The new order comes following the state reporting some of the highest new daily case counts of the pandemic.  Edwards says the timing of when mask-wearing is required is clear.

Cut 3 (05)  “…distant from others..”  

The order comes with a few exemptions from wearing a mask, including people with certain medical conditions. Edwards says he is relying on businesses to help with encouraging individuals to mask up.

Cut 4 (07)_ “…they are trespassing.”

Edwards says he knows that the mask mandate will be controversial, but adds that he believes in the people of Louisiana to be resilient.

Cut 5 (12)  “…me, criticize me.”

Only three parishes are exempt from the mandate due to the per capita infection rate, but mask-wearing is still very much encouraged.  Grant, Red River, and West Feliciana parishes have fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people.

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Opponents of the Governor’s statewide mask mandate say Governor Edwards should not have the authority to make decisions like this by himself.

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is a signee of a Legislative effort to suspend the Governor’s public health emergency declaration. He says Edwards’ order is an attack on liberty.

Cut 6 (10) “…rights”

McCormick says the Governor should not have the authority to make such an important decision unilaterally.

Cut 7 (08) “people.”

McCormick says lawmakers have tried to discuss their concerns with the Governor, but he won’t talk with them and doesn’t give them a heads up to lawmakers when decisions are made.

Cut 8 (08) “…Governor”

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State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley tells the House Education Committee that reopening schools next month during a pandemic will be a monumental task, but they’ve provided local school systems with guidance on how it can be done. Brumley says it all starts with good hygiene

Cut 9 (10) “…possible”

Brumley says they are also recommending face masks for students in grades three through 12. Students in lower grades will be with one teacher throughout the day and kids will not be allowed to sit together on a bus. Brumley says one positive coronavirus case will not shut down a school, but several cases could lead to a temporary closure

Cut 10 (07) “   through this” 

Schools have been closed to in-classroom instruction since Governor Edwards shut down campuses last March. Brumley admits the long time away from the classroom has produced some level of learning loss

Cut 11 (11) “…and math.”

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The Lake Charles region has fewer than two dozen ICU beds available as the area has been slammed by rising COVID-19 cases. Region Five Regional Public Health Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh says 67 of their 89 ICU beds are in use…

Cut 12 (11) “…shortages.”

Lake Charles, Jefferson Davis, and Cameron Parish all have a COVID incident rate of over 240 per 100,000, some of the highest in the state. Cavanaugh says that’s causing hospitalizations to pile up.

Cut 13 (09) “…closely.” 

These numbers are behind only the Acadiana region for the highest rate in the state.

For most of the state, this dramatic rise in new cases began around mid to late June, but Cavanaugh says their issues began earlier than that.

Cut 14 (10) “…Memorial Day”