Essential workers could receive a one-time 250-dollar payment from the state as a result of the legislation heading to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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A UL Lafayette economics professor warns the COVID Recession will hit Louisiana harder than the recent Great Recession. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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A measure that would provide the gaming industry with an 83-million dollar tax break over the next five years is awaiting debate on the Senate floor after a Senate Committee approved the bill. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says his proposal is to help an industry that’s been hit hard by the COVID-19 economic shutdown

Cut 3 (08) ” their heels”  

The legislation allows each casino to distribute five-million dollars in free promotional play wagers without having to pay taxes. Johns says the state will make that money up

Cut 4 (10)_ “…using it today”

Johns says casinos use Promotional play wager as a marketing tool to attract customers to their casino. The tax break will cost the state an estimated 11-million dollars a year. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau expressed his support

Cut 5 (08)  “…I really do”

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A House committee has approved a bill that would result in 250-dollar checks to some front-line employees who were required to work when the coronavirus pandemic began. Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins says his legislation covers grocery store workers, first responders, health and child care workers…

Cut 6 (05) “…with the public”

Jenkins expects the program will cost 50-million dollars. Jenkins front line workers who earn less than 50-thousand dollars a year will be eligible and the cash will help stimulant local economies

Cut 7 (07) “…bills and expenses”

The only debate was over how the state will pay for this. The plan is to use coronavirus relief dollars from the federal government. Crowley Representative John Stefanski objects using money from a newly created small business grant program.

Cut 8 (13) “…as well”

Those seeking a hazard paycheck will be asked to apply through the Department of Revenue. The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

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A UL Lafayette economics professor warns Louisiana’s economic recovery from the COVID shutdown could drag into 2022. Gary Wagner says if the pandemic had not hit, the state would have still experienced a minor economic slowdown, but because of COVID-19, we’re now looking at historic long-term job losses.

Cut 9 (10) “…pandemic.”

The report shows the economic damage will be especially severe in Acadiana, Houma, and New Orleans due to the collapse of oil prices and the tourism industry.

Wagner says the coming recession will be worse than the Great Recession and hit the state hard because our growth heading into the pandemic was already pretty flat.

Cut 10 (06) “…month.”

Wagner notes there are some rosier projections based around the potential to rapidly regain those lost jobs the state begins to reopen, but there’s no consensus that that will happen.

Wagner says the COVID Recession will cost the state about a billion dollars in revenue compared to projections before the pandemic began.

Cut 11 (07) “…people.”

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The numbers are out regarding casino revenue in the month of May and the grand total is $70 million.  While that’s down from the nearly $218 million at the same time last year, Casino Association of Louisiana executive director Wade Duty says the numbers are a positive indicator for the state’s gaming industry, considering all of the hurdles they faced.

Cut 12 (10) “…a downward trend.”

Casinos partially reopened in mid-May and revenues are down only 13% compared to the same two weeks last year.  Duty says returning players have been very cooperative with spread mitigation efforts.

Cut 13 (09) “…within their expectations.”  

Overall, the feeling is the turnout is better than expected, but Duty feels a clearer picture of the pandemic’s impact on the industry will be revealed with June numbers.

Cut 14 (09) “…about getting out.”

June’s numbers will also reflect the reopening of New Orleans casinos which did not see an opening during May.

Starting in July, Louisiana small businesses can apply for a state grant worth up to 15,000 dollars to help offset COVID related losses. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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More Louisiana residents will be eligible for medical marijuana treatment under legislation signed into law by the governor. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed a bill that would have provided companies impacted by COVID-19 a rebate for hiring or rehiring employees. Covington Representative Mark Wright says businesses would be eligible for the program if they hired at least five people and added 40-thousand dollars in total payroll

Cut 3 (07)  “…sticking it out”  

But in the governor’s veto letter, Edwards said the program would create a large pool of eligible businesses and the potential cost to the state could be substantial. But Wright disagrees on the cost of his legislation…

Cut 4 (11)_ “…to it”

The legislation received overwhelming support in the legislature and it could be brought up again in a potential veto session.

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Governor Edwards signs legislation barring residents from suing a restaurant, claiming they got the coronavirus from their business. Covington Senator Patrick McMath says it’s tough to prove where someone contracted COVID-19, but that wouldn’t stop someone from trying…

Cut 5 (10)  “…jobs”

But McMath notes that if restaurants refuse to follow COVID guidelines like mandatory mask wearing for employees they could still get sued.

Cut 6 (09) “…misconduct”

Take-out, drive-thru, and delivery food services are covered under the new law which is retroactive to March 11th. A restaurant could only be sued if there was documented gross negligence.

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The State Treasury Department will launch a 300-million dollar small business COVID relief grant program in July as a result of legislation signed by the governor. Treasurer John Schroder says once the program gets started, they will take applications from businesses that did not receive federal coronavirus relief funding

Cut 7 (08) “…benefits”

To qualify your business must have fewer than 50 employees and can demonstrate COVID-19 related losses.

Schroder says they’ve also dedicated a portion of the funds so certain business owners can take advantage.

Cut 8 (08) “…buisinesses.”

Qualifying businesses can receive an up to 15,000 dollar grant. Schroder says, assuming you qualify, you don’t have to pay it back like you would a PPP loan. But…

Cut 9 (10) “…Louisiana.”

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell asked Governor Edwards to veto the grant program because it removed 300 million dollars from a fund that’s set to direct dollars to local governments.

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New research from personal finance website WalletHub indicates 6 in 10 Americans think COVID-19 has changed the way we work for the better.  WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales says around a third of Americans feel physical offices are a thing of the past and many will choose where to live based on things other than proximity to the office.

Cut 10 (08) “…nearby outdoor activities.”

About a third of respondents also believe businesses should be held responsible for employees getting sick.

Gonzales says the number of those feeling more productive takes a dip when it comes to parents.

Cut 11 (09) “…being more productive.”

Around 67 percent of Americans think people who do not want to return to the office and would rather work from home should not see pushback from employers, but Gonzales says not everyone is as sympathetic.

Cut 12 (10) “…paid on unemployment.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards signs a bill that greatly expands access to medical marijuana. Louisiana Association of Therapeutic Alternatives lobbyist Danny Ford says this measure allows any doctor in good standing to recommend medical cannabis to a patient suffering from a debilitating condition…

Cut 13 (11) “…could help”  

Under current law, medical marijuana is only available to a patient suffering from a specific condition or disease. Ford says the requirement that a doctor must have a special license in order to recommend the treatment has also been removed…

Cut 14 (05) “…is necessary”

The legislation that expands the state’s medical-marijuana program will go into effect August 1st. Ford says the supply of medical cannabis might be tight, but it should improve as LSU is the state’s only licensed grower…

Cut 15 (11)“ very soon”