A Baton Rouge judge is set to hear arguments today on whether Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate and restrictions on bars to slow the spread of the coronavirus are unconstitutional. Four Jefferson Parish residents are seeking to prohibit the governor from enforcing the regulations. Edwards says the mask mandate and bar restrictions are helping to reduce cases.

State hired contact tracers are having a tough time getting COVID patients to say who they may have infected….
cut 1 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

An LSU Health New Orleans oncologist participates in a study that followed more than 900 cancer patients who also tested positive for COVID-19 and 13-percent of them died within 30 days of a diagnoses of COVID. Doctor Suki Subbiah says cancer patients and their doctors should take extra caution when assessing whether a patient needs to come in for treatment..
cut 11 (11) “….cancer”

Firehouse BBQ in Denham Springs continues to welcome customers inside their Livingston Parish restaurant, even though the state department of health has revoked its food permit because it’s not following the state’s mandate and social distancing guidelines. Edwards calls Firehouse BBQ’s defiance unacceptable and reminds businesses that the immunity from civil liability for contracting the coronavirus at private-sector establishments is not available for those who do not follow CDC guidelines…
cut 8 (070 “….a reckless manner”

An LSU Health New Orleans oncologist helps author a study that shows 13 percent of cancer patients with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will die within 30 days of diagnosis. LSU Health Clinical Medicine Professor Suki Subbiah (Sue-Bye-uh) says cancer patients are far more vulnerable to the virus.
Cut 10 (09) “…they are”

Louisiana has its first positive case of a dog testing positive for the coronavirus. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says dogs who have COVID can suffer from mild respiratory or gastrointestinal issues and the virus usually resolves quicker in dogs than with humans…
cut 14 (10) “…to a person”
Strain says the dog was tested because its owner tested positive.

Governor Edwards says further actions could be taken against Firehouse BBQ in Denham Springs. The Livingston Parish restaurant remains open despite having its food permit revoked for blatant defiance of spread mitigation efforts including a lack of mask-wearing for customers and employees as well as social distancing.
Cut 7 (08) “…is just unacceptable..”
The owners of the restaurant have called the governor’s mask mandate illegal.

The state health department is trying to make its contact tracing program more effective. Assistant Health Secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says many of the COVID-19 patients they are contacting, are not providing the names of people they may have infected through close contact…
cut 5 (12) “…or not”
To help their contact tracing efforts, Billioux says the state is planning on rolling out a contact tracing app for voluntary use.

Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the state is having some difficulties getting answers from its COVID contact tracing program. He says first off the recent explosion in cases is making it tough to get to people in a timely manner. And…
Cut 4 (09)_ “…those people”
And Billioux says when they can get in contact with a confirmed COVID-positive person, most of them are not telling tracers who they may have infected.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture says the state has its first reported case of a dog testing positive for the coronavirus. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the dog, like most animals that test positive for the virus, was not sick.
Cut 13 (09) “…it was tested .”
Strain is not providing details about the dog or where the owner lives.

A study of the Cancer Consortium Registry reveals patients with cancer who get COVID can be eight times more likely to die than the average person who contracts the disease. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards announces Louisiana will remain in phase two for another three weeks until August 28th as he plans to officially extend the state’s coronavirus restrictions on Thursday. Edwards says this means the mask mandate and bar closure order will stay in place…
cut 12 (10) “…for ourselves”
Edwards says they are seeing evidence of progress, as the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital is slowly declining.

A very unique school year is set to begin and some school systems have made the decision to provide virtual instruction full time or a hybrid model of in-person and online learning. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the state will soon provide school districts with more guidance on virtual education…
cut 4 (10) “…of vetting that”

State Treasurer John Schroder said on Talk Louisiana today that 10,000 Louisiana small businesses have completed applications for Main Street grant progam and he estimates there’s enough cash to offer another 20,000 businesses a no-strings-attached 15-thousand dollar grant. Schroder advises interested businesses to apply on their desktop computer and not their phone…
Cut 10 (08) “…application”
He says 65% of applicants have tried on a phone.

The longest tenured coach in SEC history, LSU’s D-D Breaux announced her retirement today after leading the Tigers gymnastics program for 43 years. LSU has finished as national runner-ups three times since 2016. The Donaldsonville native says after building the gymnastics program into a powerhouse, she looks forward to more time with her grandkids…
Cut 7 (10) “…right time’” (2x)
Jay Clark, who was the co-head coach, will take over Breaux.

Tulane researchers say an animal model trial for a promising COVID-19 drug is showing strong results as a preventative treatment. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards holds another coronavirus briefing at 2:30 today. The current phase two order ends Friday, but the governor is expected to extend it, despite a decline in the daily total of new cases and a slight drop in COVID-19 hospital patients.

Louisiana has released coronavirus safety guidelines so that motion picture production can resume. The regulations call for a COVID-19 compliance officer on set, testing of workers and everyone wearing masks except performers. Louisiana Entertainment Director Chris Stelly expects production to ramp up over the next two months…
cut 6 (12) “….communities”

Louisiana Lottery has increased the starting jackpot for its lotto game from 250-to-500-thousand dollars. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says the game matrix is also changing as players will pick six numbers out of 42, instead of 40…
cut 8 (10) “…a change”
And the change should lead to more jackpots over one million dollars.

The state has announced new safety guidelines for the restart of motion picture production. Louisiana Entertainment Director Chris Stelly says the guidelines are similar to other workplaces. Wear a mask, social distance while on set, limit access to the studio, and…
Cut 4 (11)_ “…reset”
Stelly says a few productions are making preparations to resume filming and additional production activity is expected to ramp up in a few weeks.

Tulane researchers say an antibody treatment for COVID-19 has produced positive results in studies on lab mice. It’s a synthetic protein called MDR 504 and its engineered to neutralize the virus once it enters a person’s body. Tulane Internal Medicne Chair Doctor Jay Kolls says the drug could be fantastic for nurses who are regularly exposed to the virus, but it’s not cheap to produce…
cut 11 (09) “….thing”
A human trial for the treatment is still needed.

Senator John Kennedy says a proposed coronavirus relief bill would let states determine how to pay extended unemployment benefits funded by the feds. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (26) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Murder charges have been dropped for one of two teenagers arrested last week in Franklin Parish after a State Trooper found a dead body in the trunk of their vehicle. Authorities say 18-year-old Michael Mitchell has admitted to fatally shooting 23-year-old Michael Robinson Junior of Monroe and the passneger in the vehicle 19-year-old Cameron Powe had nothing to do with the crime. So Powe’s charges have been dropped.