The CDC now indicates that the coronavirus is not easily spread through contaminated surfaces. Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says it is still important to keep surfaces clean, even if it’s less of a threat than human-to-human transmission.
Cut 10 (06) “…is a risk.”
Kanter says we should not let up on our precautions, which means keep washing those hands on a frequent basis.

Before heading out for the Memorial Day weekend, Louisiana House members are voting on numerous bills today including pro-gun legislation. Erath Representative Blake Miguez has a bill that would bar local governments from restricting the sale or transfer of guns and ammo during a public emergency. Miguez says it was partially inspired by a declaration of emergency in New Orleans that restricted those rights.
Cut 6 (09) “…was.

Sales of fishing licenses spiked during the Governor’s stay at home order. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The presidents and chancellors of each Southeastern Conference school are set to vote today on whether they will allow student-athletes to return on campus on either June 1st or 15th. LSU is hoping for a June 1st return date. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette says it’s opening its athletic facilities for students-athletes on June eighth.

Louisiana has surpassed 25-hundred COVID-19 deaths with the potential for the death rate to spike upwards in the next few weeks due to clusters forming in nursing homes. LSU Infectious Diseases expert Doctor Catherine O’ Neal…
Cut 23 (11) “the hospital”
The state reports 67-percent of the people listed as a COVID-19 deaths in Louisiana were over the age of 70.

In the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the federal agency now says the coronavirus does not spread easily by touching surfaces or objects, but it still may be possible. Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says human-to-human transmission is still the predominant means of spread and the risk fluctuates based on the proximity between individuals as well as the duration of that contact.
Cut 12 (06) “…that’s a risk.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reports they saw a significant increase in fishing license sales during the COVID-19 shutdown. L-D-W-F spokesperson Ed Pratt says the spike in sales was noticeable as early as March, but Pratt says there is never a bad time to take up fishing as it is great for social distancing and it won’t break the bank.
Cut 9 (08) “…is just $5.”
Pratt says the money from the selling of licenses funds various LDWF programs.

And youth baseball returns this weekend in Lake Charles and the Baton Rouge area as U-S-S-S-A and the Governor’s games are hosting tournaments. Former LSU basketball star Rudy Macklin oversees the Governor’s games and says social distancing will still be enforced…
cut 15 (09) “…future”
The Governor’s games also host volleyball, boxing, gymnastics, basketball, track and field, and many other sports during the course of a normal year.

The CDC now indicates that coronavirus is not easily spread through contaminated surfaces. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

If you are heading to Florida for the Memorial Day weekend, Florida is still requiring Louisiana travelers to the Sunshine State to self-quarantine once they reach their destination for 14 days or the duration of their stay, whichever is shorter. Congressman Steve Scalise says Florida’s order is not realistic and not something that’s ultimately going to be upheld.

The Louisiana House will take up a few controversial gun rights bills today. Capitol observer Clancy DuBos says HB 140 by Erath Representative Blake Miguez would block local governments from limiting where guns can be carried.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…topic.”
Supporters of the measure say it’s designed to stop municipalities from creating a patchwork of different laws that turn a law-abiding citizen into a criminal when crossing a jurisdictional line.

The Governor’s Games is hosting youth baseball tournaments in Lake Charles and the Baton Rouge area this week. Executive Director of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Rudy Macklin, says families will have to sit six feet away from other families, players will also have to adhere to social distancing guidelines when not in the game…
cut 14 (11) “…you out”

The CDC now indicates that coronavirus is not easily spread through contaminated surfaces. Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says it is still important to keep surfaces clean, even if it’s less of a threat than human-to-human transmission.
Cut 10 (06) “…is a risk.”
Kanter says we should not let up on our precautions, which means keep washing those hands on a frequent basis.

At the state capitol today, lawmakers in the House are set to debate a few gun bills that are being pushed by second amendment rights advocates. House Bill 334 allows concealed carry in houses of worship. Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot says it is only with the permission of church leaders, but capitol observer Clancy Dubos says the legislation makes no mention of needing permission…
cut 5 (10) “…that”
Also on the agenda is a bill that would block local governments from limiting where guns can be carried.

Play Ball! Youth baseball returns to Louisiana this weekend as the Governor’s Games hosts tournaments in the Baton Rouge area and Lake Charles…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reports a significant spike in fishing license sales since COVID restrictions went in place. LDWF spokesperson Ed Pratt says there was a 53-percent increase in the sale of basic fishing licenses in April and saltwater licenses are also up over last year…
cut 8 (09) “…on the water”

In the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the federal agency now says the coronavirus does not spread easily by touching surfaces or objects, but it still may be possible. Assistant state health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says despite the change of wording, stay on high alert when it comes to hygiene…
cut 11 (12) “…high touch surfaces”

A lot more people are fishing. State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Ed Pratt says Louisianans purchased thousands of more fishing licenses during the first month and half of the stay at home order than they did during the same time in 2019…
Cut 7 (12) “…the huge difference.”

Nearly 29-thousand Louisiana residents filed for unemployment last week which is more than 12 times as many as a year earlier. But that’s the lowest number since pandemic restrictions were put in place. The state reports 321-thousand Louisianans were receiving unemployment last week.

Hundreds of kids will take to the baseball diamond this weekend as the Governor’s Games and U-S-S-S-A host baseball tournaments in Lake Charles the Baton Rouge area. Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness Executive Director Rudy Macklin says it won’t be like any tournament these players have participated in before…
cut 13 (13) “…sanitized”

NOAA predicts a busy hurricane season in 2020 with the potential of 13 to 19 named storms, six to ten hurricanes, and three to six major hurricanes. NOAA’s lead hurricane season forecaster Doctor Gerry Bell…
cut 6 (13) “….African monsoons”
Bell says they do not anticipate an El Nino forming, which can suppress hurricane activity.

For the first time since March 28th, the state has fewer than one-thousand COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 10 (11) “….to go down”
As of Wednesday’s Department of Health report, there are 931 COVID-19 hospitalizations. 110 patients are on ventilators, down from a peak of 571 on April 4th.

Governor Edwards indicates he is open to compromise with the Legislature on tort reform legislation aimed at lowering auto insurance rates. Edwards made the comments on his monthly talk show Ask the Governor. He says River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot’s bill has some merits…
Cut 3 (11) “…possible.”
Edwards did not specify what those provisions are.

Former longtime Angola prison warden Burl Cain has been named as the new head of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The 77-year-old received national attention for dramatically reducing inmate violence at Angola, but he abruptly retired in 2015 as he was the subject of multiple investigations looking into whether prison employees did work on his personal home and used public funds for personal use. Cain has denied any wrongdoing.

For the first time since March 28th, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Louisiana have dropped below one-thousand. Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s another positive sign in the state’s coronavirus fight…
cut 11 (10) “…turned that around”
Edwards is optimistic the state can possibly move into phase two of the reopening. An announcement will be made on June 1st.

NOAA believes we’ll see a busy hurricane season in 2020 with the potential of 13 to 19 named stormes, between six and ten hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes. Federal forecasters say there are multiple climate factors that indicate above-normal activity, State Climatologist Barry Keim says sea surface temperatures is one of those factors…
cut 4 (08) “….for the storms’

A bill that would allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for any reason they see necessary is close to final legislative passage. Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Fred Mills says the measure would also allow any doctor in good standing to authorize the treatment…
cut 14 (12) “… issue”
The measure has already passed the House and is awaiting final legislative approval on the Senate floor.

The House Appropriations Committee is discussing a proposed budget for next fiscal year that will be filled with federal recovery dollars and rainy day money. Under the governor’s proposal, the spending plan for next fiscal year would contain 80-million dollars in cuts. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it will likely take a special session to pass a budget, because the regular session is set to end June 1st…
cut 9 (05) “…cut”