Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

06.30.20
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4:45 LRN Sportscast June 30

New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin said today that three Pelicans players tested positive for COVID-19 last week. The unidentified players are in self-isolation and are tested daily. They need to have two negative tests before they can play. The 22 NBA teams that will resume their season in Orlando, must turn in a roster by the end of tomorrow. Griffin does not expect any Pelicans player not to play. 65-year-old head coach Alvin Gentry, who is a cancer survivor, also said he plans to be in Orlando with the team. But Griffin says Gentry’s status is to be determined.

ESPN announced today that former LSU defensive lineman Marcus Spears will appear daily on NFL Live when the network relaunch’s the show in August. The sports network also says Spears has signed a new multi-year ESPN extension. The Baton Rouge native says it’s a pinch myself moment to talk NFL five days a week.

LSU linebacker Marcel Brooks has told the Athletic his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal is because of family. But he didn’t elaborate in an article written by Brody Miller. Brooks was expected to play a big role on the Tigers defense in 2020, but it appears he’ll look to continue his college career at a school closer to his Dallas home.

Former LSU safety Eric Monroe has reportedly decided to transfer to Texas Tech. Monroe was a highly rated defensive back out of the Houston area. In three seasons at LSU, Monroe had 21 tackles, most of those tackles occurred during his redshirt freshman season.

The Monroe News-Star reports Ruston High School has suspended football workouts for two weeks after a player tested positive for coronavirus.

06.30.20
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LRN PM Newscall June 30

Jefferson Parish will join Orleans in requiring people to put on a mask before entering a business. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Louisiana reports an additional one-thousand new coronavirus cases on Tuesday as hospitalizations and deaths also continue to rise. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng will require everyone inside a business, customers, and employees, to wear a mask as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise. Sheng says her proclamation takes effect Wednesday and she believes it’s the only way the parish will be able to move into Phase Three.

Cut 3 (08) ”…indoors  

Sheng says those who violate this order, could be fined up to 500-dollars. She’s requiring workers at businesses to wear face masks while in all common areas…

Cut 4 (12)_ “…mask off”

In New Orleans, Mayor Latoya Cantrell says she’s serious about mask-wearing and is not afraid to shut a business down who is in non-compliance

Cut 5 (09)  “…unfortunately”

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According to the state health department, only 59% of those who tested positive from COVID-19 since mid-May have responded to phone calls from contact tracers and only one-third are answering calls within the crucial first 24 hours after the test results.  State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry…

Cut 6 (07) “…not having it.”

Louisiana’s contact tracing efforts are facing some major hurdles in its work to combat the spread of COVID-19 including unanswered calls, privacy concerns, and distrust from elected officials.

Contact tracers call those who have tested positive, then call those that the individual has come into close contact with over the last two weeks.  The process is confidential.  Guidry says there has been an uptick in the number of people paying attention to the advice of health officials with the recent upswing in cases.

Cut 7 (08) “…are going back up.”

Governor Edwards says there is a great appreciation for those that answer the phone and comply with contact tracers but he’s pressing for more cooperation.

Cut 8 (05) “…thing to do.”

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Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart announces a grand jury has returned an indictment against eight Shreveport police officers for allegedly using excessive force against two men who were apprehended on January 24th. Stewart says each officer is facing one count of malfeasance in office

Cut 9 (08) “…about the case.”

A written report from Stewart’s office says dash camera video from a Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy vehicle shows the eight Shreveport police officers physically striking two individuals at the end of a police chase. Stewart says the eight men charged were booked and released on bond…

Cut 10 (11) “…those cases.”

The D-A’s report says the men who were beaten by Shreveport officers suffered injuries, including a broken nose and broken orbital plate. The charges against them, which included drug charges and resisting arrest have been dropped.

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The state reported one-thousand new cases today as the state’s total case number surpassed 58-thousand. Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says COVID hospitalizations are at their highest level since May 28th….

Cut 11 (10) “…going up as well.”

The number of COVID patients hospitalized is 781 and the number of patients on ventilators is up to 83. Kanter says 90-percent of the new cases is the result of community spread

Cut 12 (10) “…in spread”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ next COVID-19 press briefing is tomorrow. Edwards has said he’s looking for more compliance from businesses. Kanter says the governor would rather see everyone do more when it comes to spread mitigation efforts, than returning the state to Phase one coronavirus restrictions…

Cut 13 (10) “…our reopening” 

06.30.20
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9:30 LRN Newscast June 30

With a current balance of less than $500 million, the Louisiana Workforce Commission indicates the state’s unemployment trust fund is on course to run dry in about 14 weeks…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The special session ends tonight and Republican lawmakers will look to pass a tort reform bill that could lead to lower auto insurance rates. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says one bill has support from both sides of the aisle, because it would make changes to the state’s civil legal system, but it would come off the books if rates do not go down…
cut 5 (05) “…rates”

Louisiana’s abortion providers will not be required to have an admitting priviledges agreement with a local hospital, as the U-S Supreme Court has struck down a Louisiana law. If the law went into effect, two of the state’s three abortion clincis would close. Supporters of the legislation say the law was an effort to protect the safety of woman who make the decision to seek an abortion. But Louisiana Coalition for Reproductive Freedom Executive Committee member Katrina Rodgers says it’s obvious the law was an attempt to shutter abortion clinics.
Cut 14 (09) “…care”
Republican Congressman Mike Johnson says he fears this ruling will lead to legal challenges against other abortion regulations.
Cut 16 (09) “…regulations”

06.30.20
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8:30 LRN Newscast June 30

Today is the last day of the special session and a number of tort reform bills aimed at lowering auto insurance rates are trying to cross the finish line by six o’clock tonight. LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says there are two bills with real traction…
Cut 4 (08)_ “…right now.”

Also, lawmakers have to put the finishing touches on a 34-billion dollar budget. Republican lawmakers are also looking to pass tax breaks for businesses in order to keep employees. But Democrats say the state is not doing enough to help individual citizens. Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt of Slidell…
cut 30 (11) “…light bills”
The House convenes at 10 AM, while the Senate is set to return to their chamber at 10:30.

The US Supreme Court overturns a 2014 Louisiana law requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges. Matt Doyle has a reaction from a local advocate and a Congressman…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart has called a virtual news conference for 11 AM to discuss returns from a grand jury. Shreveport TV stations are reporting eight Shreveport police officers have been indicted for allegedly using excessive force against two men at the conclusion of a traffic chase in January. Six of the officers have been accused of malfeasance.

06.30.20
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7:30 LRN Newscast June 30

The special session ends at 6 PM today and lawmakers are still scrambling to pass a tort reform bill aimed at lowering auto insurance rates…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Jefferson Parish president Cynthia Lee Sheng says starting tomorrow everyone inside a business, must wear a mask or face covering. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says she’ll shut down grocery stores who don’t require masks. And if you are heading to Florida for the Fourth of July holiday, several beaches are closed.

Louisisana released a jobs report for May and it shows that 320-thousand residents were receiving unemployment benefits. Now there’s word that the trust fund the state uses to pay out unemployment could run dry in 14 weeks. Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie…
cut 8 (12) “…is what’s left”
If the state runs out, they’ll have to borrow from the federal government, like other states do.

The C-D-C is now saying pregnant women are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 than women who are not expecting. But CEO of LSU’s Healthcare Services Division, Doctor Rebekah Gee says pregnant women are no more likely to die from the virus…
cut 10 (09) “….are not pregnant”

06.30.20
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6:45 LRN Sportscast June 30

When the NBA season resumes there will be five teams within four games of each other trying to get that final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Memphis currently occupy the eighth seed in the West, but hot on the Grizzlies trail are Portland, New Orleans, Sacramento, and San Antonio. Memphis and the Trail Blazers have the hardest schedules left, while the Pelicans have the easest. Six of the eight teams that the Pels will play have a losing record. Whoever gets the eighth seed in the West, will likely play the Lakers in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. L-A is reportedly close to signing veteran J-R Smith.

Several major-league players will not play in 2020 because of health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. The World Series champion Nationals will not have first baseman Ryan Zimmerman or pitcher Joe Ross. Arizona pitcher Mike Leake says he’s not playing and the same for Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond.

LSU announces that senior pitcher Matthew Beck from Alexandria will wear number eight in 2021. The number eight jersey is given each season to the upperclassmen who exemplifies the spirit of LSU Baseball through his leadership and dedication to the program. Beck has been a solid pitcher out of the bullpen for the Tigers, posting a 9-1 record with a 2.66 ERA in 77 career appearances.

Louisiana Tech says eight of its players are competing in summer league action across the South. Cole McConnell, Logan McLeod, Jack Payne, Ben Brantley, Joseph Carbone, Adarius Myers, Kyle Crigger, and Manny Garcia are getting a chance to play after a shortened 2020 season.

Former LSU safety Eric Monroe has reportedly decided to transfer to Texas Tech. Monroe was a highly rated defensive back out of the Houston area. In three seasons at LSU, Monroe had 21 tackles, most of those tackles occurred during his redshirt freshman season.

06.30.20
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6:30 LRN Newscast June 30

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports over half of the money in the state’s unemployment trust fund has been spent during the coronavirus pandemic. LWC Executive Director Ava Dejoie says there is growing concern the fund, which was at one time just over one billion dollars, will run dry within 14 weeks
Cut 7 (05) “…state unemployment benefits.”
If the fund runs out of money, Dejoie says the state will have to borrow from the federal government to pay out unemployment benefits.

The C-D-C says pregnant women are at an increased of suffering from severe illness of COVID-19 than women who are not expecting. Doctor Rebekah Gee, CEO of LSU Healthcare Services Division, says pregnant women are five times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly twice as likely to be put on a ventilator…
Cut 11 (10) “…be more careful.”

Louisiana abortion providers will not need admitting privileges as the US Supreme Court has struck down a state law passed in 2014. Congressman Mike Johnson, who served as co-counsel for the state when the law was argued before a federal judge, says the law was designed to protect women from unsafe abortion procedures.
Cut 13 (09) “Louisiana”
Civil Rights attorney S.Mandisa Moore-O’Neal says the ruling makes it clear requiring privileges is an undue burden.
Cut 15 (08) “…that”

06.29.20
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4:45 LRN Sportscast June 29

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward previously said a decision will be made in July on whether fans will be allowed inside Tiger Stadium to watch football games this season. But a professor at the LSU School of Public Health says the COVID-19 risk is too high. Epidemiologist Edward Trapido told LSU’s student newspaper the Reveillie that he would not recommend fans at LSU games this year. One of his colleagues, Susanne Straif-Bourgeois, calls it a logistical nightmare. An LSU spokesperson says the school remains hopeful that fans will be allowed in Tiger Stadium, but a lot still has to be determined with respect to COVID.

LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade is welcoming his players back on campus for voluntarily workouts, but he’ll do so in stages. Five players were expected to report today, another four or five players will return to campus on July 13th and the rest of the team will arrive at the end of July.

LSU announces that senior pitcher Matthew Beck from Alexandria will wear number eight in 2021. The number eight jersey is given each season to the upperclassmen who exempilfies the spirit of LSU Baseball through his leadership and dedication to the program. Beck has been a solid pitcher out of the bullpen for the Tigers, posting a 9-1 record with a 2.66 ERA in 77 career appearances.

Louisiana Tech says eight of its players are competing in summer league action across the South. Cole McConnell, Logan McLeod, Jack Payne, Ben Brantley, Joseph Carbone, Adarius Myers, Kyle Crigger and Manny Garcia are getting a chance to play after a shortened 2020 season.

Several major league players have made the decision not to play in 2020 because health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. The World Series champs will not have first baseman Ryan Zimmerman or pitcher Joss Ross, and Arizona pitcher Mike Leake says he’s not playing as well.

06.29.20
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LRN PM Newscall June 29

The U-S Supreme Court rules against a Louisiana law requiring admitting privileges at nearby hospitals for abortion doctors. Jeff Palermo has reaction from both sides of the issue…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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The state health department reported 845 new COVID-19 cases today as the state surpasses 57,000 cases.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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The U-S Supreme Court has ruled against an abortion law passed in Louisiana requiring admitting privileges at a nearby hospital for abortion doctors. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson authored the 2014 legislation and says the nation’s highest court struck down a law that would have protected the health of a pregnant woman

Cut 3 (10) ”…deeply saddened  

If the measure became law, it would have shut down two of the state’s three remaining abortion clinics. Associate Director for the Louisiana Right to Life Angie Thomas says Louisiana law requires admitting privileges for many doctors who perform outpatient surgeries, but not abortion providers…

Cut 4 (10)_ “…abortion industry.”

The decision was 5-4 against Louisiana’s law. The Supreme Court also struck down a similar law out of Texas in 2016. The Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit preventing Louisiana’s law from going into effect. C-P-R CEO Nancy Northup is delighted with today’s ruling…

Cut 5 (08)  “…against Texas”

The Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport and the Baton Rouge Delta Clinic would have closed if Louisiana’s admitting privileges law went into effect. Director of the Hope Medical Group Kathaleen Pittman says the closing of additional clinics would have been a hardship for low-income pregnant women…

Cut 6 (08) “…total despair”

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New Orleans Senator Troy Carter believes Louisiana should put some regulations into place for travelers coming into the state from Texas and other hotspots following an uptick in COVID-19 cases.  Carter says the state needs to take every necessary precaution.

Cut 7 (10) “…them at ours”

Texas and Florida had previously put regulations onto those coming into those states from Louisiana via roadways and air travel, doing screenings for COVID symptoms and requiring a 14-day quarantine.

Carter says Louisiana residents went through great pains to follow spread mitigation efforts during the stay at home order and feels the state should protect its borders from areas that did not and are seeing the result.

Cut 8 (12) “…our people were.”

Governor Edwards says the possibility of a border shutdown for hotspots is not off the table, but no one in public health has made the suggestion to do so at this point.

Cut 9 (11) “…were really doing.”

Texas has seen 17 consecutive days of new records in hospitalizations.

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Health officials believe that recent demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd by police have not resulted in a significant addition of new COVID-19 cases. Assistant state health officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says enough time has passed to get a good idea of what has happened where protests were most prevalent.

Cut 10 (09) “…with New York.”

Kanter believes other layers of protection have likely factored into the protests to make them a bit safer.

Cut 11 (07) “…be wearing masks.”

Kanter says no matter what other mitigation efforts are taken, it is still always best to avoid large crowds.

Cut 12 (07) “…for their family.”

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The special session ends at six o’clock tomorrow night and lawmakers are debating several different tax break bills for businesses. Republicans say it will create jobs during a time of high unemployment for COVID-19. But New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson says individuals are struggling too

Cut 13 (11) “…helping people”   (2x)

Shreveport Senator Barry Milligan says COVID-19 has put several businesses on the brink of going out of business and they need the state’s help…

Cut 14 (12) “…our people”

Any tax breaks approved would result in less revenue and fewer dollars available for the state. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow believes the state should consider many of these tax breaks in a fall special session…

Cut 15 (12) “…a informed decisions” 

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says these businesses need help now and some of the proposals close to final legislative passage will provide incentives to businesses that increase their workforce…

Cut 16 (11) “ light bills” 

06.29.20
by

9:30 LRN Newscast June 29

LSU Health New Orleans researcher Doctor Paul Fidel suggests that the M-M-R vaccine that’s given to children could help prevent severe complications of COVID-19 in adults. Fidel says trials are set to begin soon…
cut 5 (09) “….potentially helping people”
Fidel says the M-M-R vaccine could be a reason why children are mostly not affected by the coronavirus.

Louisiana reported nearly 15-hundred new cases on Sunday. That includes positive tests that came in on Saturday. Louisiana will be in Phase Two until late July, which means school buses can only have a maximum capacity of 50-percent. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says that will create issues when it comes to getting students to and from school…
cut 12 (09) “….capacity”

A new report from Center for Planning Excellence and UrbanFootprint ranks Louisiana third in the nation for having a high risk of evictions when federal assistance expires on July 31st. CPEX CEO Camille Manning-Broome says up to 130-thousand households across Louisiana are at risk of evictions
Cut 7 (12) “magnitude.”
Manning-Broome hopes Congress recognizes the problem and provides federal assistance to avoid a wave of evictions.

Meanwhile, the state is close to providing a 250-dollar hazard paycheck to essential workers who make less than 50-thousand dollars a year and were required to report to work in the few weeks of the economic shutdown. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter wishes they could provide more…
cut 15 (10) “…..amount”
The legislation to make this happen is close to final legislative approval.