Hair salons, restaurants, and movie theaters can re-open tomorrow, but tattoo parlors, bars, and spas will have to wait until phase two. Assistant health secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says they have three criteria for when, and how businesses can open: The number of potential COVID contacts in a facility, how long you would have contact with a COVID case, and whether the business model could be adapted to limit contact.
Cut 11 (10) “…together”
Billioux says the Phase One reopening still calls for extensive social distancing and only focuses on businesses deemed “low risk”.

State parks, historic sites and state museums reopen this weekend under phase one guidelines. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says park rangers and attendants will be there to greet visitors…
cut 15 (11) “…back to Louisiana”

Are you ready to get your hair cut or nails done? Remember you are not the only one as these facilities re-open tomorrow. Kevin Barnhart reports appointments will likely be needed…
cut 1 (29) “….I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Louisiana Association of United Ways is asking residents to complete their ten-minute online survey to find out how COVID0-19 is impacting families financially. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Healthcare and higher education appear likely to suffer deep cuts as the state faces a billion-dollar projected deficit in the next fiscal year. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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The idea of axing Mardi Gras 2021 in New Orleans has been discussed, but in Lafayette, the outlook is to stick to business as usual.  President and CEO of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission Ben Berthelot says the plan is to assume the worst of the pandemic will be in the rearview mirror by next year.

Cut 3 (06)  “…with our plans.”  

Berthelot says planning for a normal Mardi Gras will help bring visitors back to the area.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…and Acadiana area.”

Berthelot says if guidance is issued on how to best handle Mardi Gras closer to Carnival season, those measures will be taken.

Cut 5 (09)  “…and welcoming people.”

Fat Tuesday falls on February 16 in 2021.

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Senator Bill Cassidy says more needs to be done to address the developmental damage being done to children who are missing out on critical days of school.

Cassidy says younger children need to be in the classroom while their minds are primed to absorb the most knowledge.

Cut 6 (09) “opportunity.”

Cassidy says working moms and dads need schools to be open so they have a place to send their children while they go off to work.

Cut 7 (05) “.suffer”

Cassidy says all of the country’s vaccine work is currently focused on adults, but children need a vaccine too.

Cut 8 (12) “…this”

Cassidy raised these questions with Trump Administration health officials.

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The United Way is asking families how is the COVID-19 crisis impacting them financially? Louisiana Association of United Ways President Sarah Berthelot says they are asking residents to complete their online survey that starts off by asking what is your most pressing concern

Cut 9 (10) “…depleted.”

Berthelot says many families are in a financial position they’ve never been in before.  She says the answers to the survey will help United Way determine what kind of assistance families need

Cut 10 (10) “…urgent problems”

Berthelot says you can go to launitedway.org to complete the ten-minute survey. She hopes to receive several hundred responses from every region of the state.

Cut 11 (12) “…them for”

Berthelot says they launched the survey on Tuesday and they’ve already had about one-thousand respondents.

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Lawmakers are hoping to knock out a balanced budget for the next fiscal year before the regular session ends June 1^st despite a billion-dollar projected deficit.

House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says the unfortunate reality of a billion-dollar deficit is that they may have to make some deep cuts.

Cut 12 (11) “…do.”

A balanced budget must be passed by the start of the next fiscal year, July 1^st. The committee is now awaiting a budget proposal from the Governor.

Zeringue says crafting that budget is difficult because right now we don’t know how much federal aid the state will get, or how we can use it.

Cut 13 (11) “longterm”  

Louisiana received 1.8 billion in COVID-19 response funding from the feds with the requirement that it only be spent on direct response to the pandemic. Senator John Kennedy is pushing legislation that would relax those requirements.

Zeringue says there are 50-50 odds that the budget debate will require a June special session, but not for the usual partisan reasons.

Cut 14 (09) “…services”

Governor Edwards has indicated that any budget passed this session for the next fiscal year will likely need to be revised in October.

Senator Bill Cassidy is pushing legislation that could help address some of the state’s budget problems resulting from the COVID economic collapse. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Cassidy also says states need to increase COVID-19 testing for students and teachers so schools can safely re-open in August. Meanwhile, Louisiana universities may not allow students to live in a three or four-person dorm room, which would shrink dorm capacity. LSU can house nearly eight-thousand students on campus.

The legislative session’s tort and auto insurance reform bill passed out of House and Senate Committees last night after lengthy debates. The legislation lowers the jury trial threshold from 50,000 to 5,000 dollars, and House bill sponsor, Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says auto insurers have promised rate reductions if it passes.
Cut 10 (05) “…this bill.”
But Democrats are skeptical the legislation will reduce rates and they believe it will also lower settlements that injured people receive in car accidents.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau will not hold its annual convention in New Orleans in June. Louisiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson says they plan to have a virtual conference instead.
Cut 16 (11) “…how we’re doing.”

When Casinos and gaming facilities reopen on Monday as part of Phase One it will not be business as usual. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Harrah’s Casino and video poker parlors will not be open in New Orleans as part of the Crescent City’s phase one reopening plan that will go into effect on Saturday. If you want to eat at a restaurant, reservations will be required, providing a name and phone number that will be kept by the restaurant for three weeks if contact tracing is needed.

Senator Bill Cassidy is pushing Congress to approve legislation that would provide 500-billion dollars to help state and cities who have seen their tax base disappear as a result of an economic shutdown. Cassidy on how he came up with the number…
cut 5 (11) “….months”
Louisiana’s Revenue Estimating Conference is projecting a one billion dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau will not hold its convention in New Orleans in June because of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation spokesperson Avery Davidson…
cut 5 (08) “…. one-day event”
Davidson says they still plan to have some sort of a virtual convention, with details announced soon.

Most casinos and video poker parlors are preparing to reopen on Monday. Each property will be required to limit occupancy to 25-percent and only 25-percent of gaming positions can be in operation. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says every gambling facility is also required to submit a reopening plan to State Police that will feature a series of mitigation measures…
cut 8 (11) “….on the floor”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is co-authoring legislation that would provide states and cities with 500-billion dollars in federal aid because of a loss in tax revenues. Cassidy says Louisiana deserves some of this money…
cut 6 (11) “…..tourism”
Louisiana facing a one billion dollar revenue shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

Tort reform bills that supporters say will reduce auto insurance premiums by 10-percent are heading to the House and Senate floors. Democrats are skeptical the measures will lower auto insurance rates and they say the proposed Omnibus Premium Reduction Act will lower the damages a person could get in an accident. Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins also questioned why debate such impactful legislation when many people can not testified because of COVID-19 restrictions…
cut 13 (11) “….the most”
But Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo argues it’s a great time to push legislation that will put more money back in people’s pockets…
cut 11 (11) “…rent”

Separate House and Senate committees have approved lawsuit reform legislation that seeks to reduce auto insurance rates. Matt Doyle has the story…
voicer 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy said during a Senate hearing that the state needs to increase COVID-19 testing for students and teachers so schools can safely re-open in August. Meanwhile, Louisiana universities may not allow students to live in dorm rooms with two or three other people.

Casinos and video poker facilities are waiting until Monday to welcome gamblers back. But Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones is not sure if every casino will reopen. Jones says getting workers to return might be a challenge…
Cut 7 (08) “…right now.”
Louisiana has 20 casinos and nearly 200 video poker facilities. Each property will be required to limit occupancy to 25-percent and only 25-percent of the gaming positions can be in operation.

The longstanding tradition of the Louisiana Farm Bureau holding its annual convention in New Orleans will not happen this year. Under normal circumstances, 1500 members and their families would congregate in June, but Farm Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson says the 98th annual convention will be replaced by an event that looks much different…
cut 14 (12) “….physcial location”
Davidson says more details will be released soon.

The session’s major lawsuit and auto insurance reform effort passed out of House and Senate Committees last night after lengthy debates. The legislation lowers the jury trial threshold from 50,000 to 5,000 dollars, and House bill sponsor, Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says auto insurers have promised rate reductions if it passes.
Cut 10 (05) “…this bill.”
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said if the legislation is approved it will result in a 25-percent savings in auto insurance rates for Louisiana’s three-million drivers. Lawyer and former Congressman Don Cazayoux spoke in opposition. He says the changes will pressure victims into settling for less than they deserve by requiring lengthy jury trials…
cut 12 (12) “….amount”

Louisiana’s casinos and video parlors will wait until Monday to reopen, instead of Friday. The extra couple of days gives the gambling halls a chance to get their plans for preventing the spread of COVID-19 approved by State Police and the Gaming Control Board. The maximum occupancy is 25-percent at these establishments and only 25-percent of gaming positions can be in operation. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says casino operators are not sure if a lot of their players are ready to return…
cut 9 (12) “….wait while”