School districts that refuse to implement BESE’s minimum requirements for reopening like the mask mandate could get sued. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Eligible Louisiana frontline workers can apply for a $250 COVID-19 rebate beginning today. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Vice President Mike Pence continued to hammer the fact that kids need to be back in the classroom on schedule for the fall semester during Tuesday’s visit to Baton Rouge. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

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The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved a list of public health rules for public schools to safely reopen and it calls for masks inside the classroom.  The Governor signed legislation giving schools protection from COVID-related suits, but State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says that protection can be lost if they reject BESE’s guidelines.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…ability.”

The adopted minimum safety standard approved by BESE means every adult and student over 3^rd grade must be masked up while on school grounds.

Not everyone is happy about the mandate. Louisiana parent Melissa Berry that masks are a hindrance to education.

Cut 5 (09)  “…taught.”

State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says without mitigation measures like the mask mandate student’s return to school won’t last long.

Cut 6 (13) “…closures.”

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The Louisiana Department of Revenue begins accepting applications for a rebate available to front line essential employees today.  Secretary of Revenue Kimberly Robinson says there is a broad range of eligible Louisiana residents can apply for the $250 COVID-19 rebate.

Cut 7 (12) “…did the work.”

Applications can be submitted online at FrontlineWorkers.la.gov or can be done by mail with a printable form found on the website.

Robinson says workers would have to have worked at least 200 hours from March 22 through May 14 in an eligible position.

Cut 8 (11) “…the prior year.”

Robinson says submitted info will then be verified through tax records and the Workforce Commission.

Cut 9 (11) “…paper check issued.”

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On a day when Louisiana reported 22-hundred more coronavirus cases, Vice President Mike Pence expressed confidence that the state will slow down the spread of the virus. Pence encouraged Louisiana residents to listen to the guidance from state officials and that means wearing a mask in public…

Cut 10 (08) “…do it again.”

Pence flew into Baton Rouge Tuesday morning and held a roundtable discussion at LSU’s Tiger Stadium that included Governor Edwards, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and higher education leaders. The V-P stressed the importance of getting kids  back in the classroom

Cut 11 (12) “…reopen their schools.”

Members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation were also on hand. Congressman Steve Scalise also discussed the importance of getting kids back in the classroom

Cut 12 (12) “…in school.” 

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron also participated in the roundtable discussion and said the United States needs a 2020 college football season. Pence agrees…

Cut 13 (12) “…love football” 

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Today should wrap up the state’s current run of excessive temps.  Heat indexes have been between 105 and 115 over the last few days.  State Climatologist Barry Keim warns that heat index values in this range can be extremely dangerous.

Cut 14 (09) “…particularly heat sensitive.”

Keim says by the time tomorrow rolls around, the temps and heat index should become a little bit more seasonable as a very persistent heatwave spanning from Louisiana to Arizona begins to weaken and the state will go back to more typical kinds of weather.

Cut 15 (12) “…half a notch.” 

Keim says Louisiana is basically at the climatic peak in terms of temps and heat index values.

Cut 16 (07) “…smart about it.” 

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.