An E Pluribus Unum survey shows a majority of southern whites do not believe blacks have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is urging residents to participate in the 2020 US Census.  Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Governor Edwards will announce whether or not the state will move into Phase Three this afternoon. Brooke Thorington has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

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A Sports Illustrated report says at least 30 LSU football players have been isolated after they either tested positive for COVID-19 or had contact with players who tested positive. Some of the quarantined players admitted they visited nightclubs near LSU’s campus, which has been the source for over 100 new cases. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says players have to stay away from large crowds…

Cut 4 (06)_ “….inexcusable really”

The state health department has received at least 100 reports of patrons and staff from multiple Tigerland bars testing positive for COVID-19. Anyone who visited Tigerland bars that weekend should consider themselves exposed to COVID-19 and self-quarantine for 14 days.

Higgins says LSU put in a lot of effort to provide a safe environment for players to train and Coach Ed Orgeron says maybe forced to tell his players they are prohibited from entering bars…

Cut 5 (11)  “ keep you safe” 

Numerous other schools have also reported multiple players testing positive for COVID-19. Three Ragin Cajuns athletes have also tested positive. The football season is still more than two months away and Higgins says schools will continue to make the effort to play football this year…

Cut 6 (06) “…I don’t know” (2x)

LSU says the players who have tested positive are showing minor symptoms or no symptoms at all.

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A survey of southerners shows while nearly all whites have heard news about blacks being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, the majority don’t believe it.

GBAO Strategies Pollster Jim Gerstein says over 75% of white respondents reported being previously told by media that blacks suffered disproportionately from the disease…

Cut 7 (08) “…true”

In Louisiana, 53 percent of COVID deaths have been African Americans, who make up just 32 percent of the population.

Gerstein says their survey showed that a majority of respondents feel that blacks suffer worse economic outcomes due to a lack of opportunity rather than poor personal choices.

Cut 8 (09) “…groups”

Gerstein says that appears to be the first time a majority of whites have expressed that opinion.

Respondents were also asked about the COVID recovery and whether lawmakers should use the opportunity to pursue racial justice reforms in healthcare and education, or just restore the status quo…

Cut 9 (08) “…direction”

The survey was conducted during a seven day period starting the day after the death of George Floyd and was created by E Pluribus Unum.

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Governor John Bel Edwards is encouraging Louisiana residents to be counted as part of the 2020 census. There are three ways to participate: online, by phone, or by mail. Edwards says the state’s response rate is lagging.

Cut 10 (11) “…the deep south.”

The census only happens once every ten years, so Edwards stresses the importance of getting it right. Edwards says the census means more than just a headcount of the population as the data is used to determine the allocation of federal dollars for various programs.

Cut 11 (11) “…you name it.”

Edwards says the data also feeds into the redistricting that takes place once every ten years.

Cut 12 (10) “…information back in.”

Due to COVID-19, the deadline to fill out the census has been extended until October 31^st and can be done at My2020Census.gov.

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Governor Edwards is expected to announce whether or not the state will move into Phase Three this afternoon.

Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says Edwards has a lot to consider given our new upward trajectory of case growth…

Cut 13 (12) “…making.” 

A majority of the state’s health regions are seeing a growth in new cases.

Scott says it’s likely state officials knew numbers would creep up once we moved into Phase Two, but they now have to contend with lowering levels of compliance on masks and social distancing.

Cut 14 (10) “…relaxing.”

Scott notes even with the recent spike over the past ten days we’re still nowhere close to overtopping our healthcare capacity.

We don’t’ know exactly what Phase Three will look like in Louisiana but Scott says federal guidelines indicate it would further loosen capacity restrictions and allow for larger crowds at events.

Cut 15 (10) “…Phase Two.”

LSU’s Troy Middleton Library will be renamed after a unanimous decision by the Board of Supervisors. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Early voting for Louisiana’s presidential primary begins on Saturday. Jeff Palermo reports election officials are taking extra precautions because of COVID-19…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Louisiana health officials say about a third of the nursing homes in the state are not regularly testing their staff and residents. State health officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says facilities who fail to follow the state’s testing guidelines could be hit with sanctions…

Cut 3 (08) ”…withholding payment”  

Guidry says they are asking nursing homes to conduct weekly tests on all of their residents and staff if there are known COVID cases in the facility. He says it’s critical we stay on top of the virus and testing is a critical step in protecting people who are vulnerable to this disease…

Cut 4 (06)_ “…answer the question”

The state failed to reach its goal to test all nursing home residents and workers by the end of May. Guidry says the virus has shown it’s not slowing down in the summer…

Cut 5 (11)  “…not worse.”

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The LSU Board of Supervisors unanimously approves a resolution to remove Troy Middleton’s name from the school’s library due to the namesake’s vocal support for segregation.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke strongly in support of the decision to pull the former LSU President’s name from the library.

Cut 6 (09) “…worthy”

Former lawmaker Woody Jenkins spoke on behalf of the Middleton family, who opposes the decision. Jenkins called Middleton an American World War One and Two war hero.

Cut 7 (12) “…Bastogne”

But Governor Edwards, a former Army paratrooper, says that’s no excuse for Middleton’s views on race.

Cut 8 (11) “…beliefs” (2x)

During the meeting, a board member read a letter written by Middleton in 1956 where he said “I do not want negro students in LSU, I believe in the segregation of the races, and no matter what may come I shall not associate with negros.”

But Jenkins says Middleton’s support for segregation in the 50s and 60s was just a snapshot of who he was. He says Middleton later worked with the President of Dillard on integration.

Cut 9 (09) “…career”

The library was named after Middleton in 1978 after his death in 1976. Crews removed the name from the front of the library on Friday afternoon.

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Today is Juneteenth, a commemoration of a milestone in the ending of slavery in the United States.  The date is getting more recognition this year.  LSU Chief Diversity Officer Dereck Rovaris says today is a celebration of the final group of enslaved African Americans learning of their emancipation.

Cut 10 (10) “…rejoicing and celebration.”

Rovaris says Juneteenth is often confused with being a celebration of the emancipation proclamation.  While it is not officially a national holiday, Rovaris feels that may not be far off.

Cut 11 (12) “…for the employees.”

Rovaris says the celebration of the day can be done like another recognizable summer holiday.

Cut 12 (08) “…Americans from slavery.”

Governor Edwards says we should use this day to recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for equity and justice.
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Early voting begins Saturday for the presidential primary election. The voting experience will be different because of COVID-19. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin encourages voters to practice social distancing while at the polls, adding the state will be offering extra spread mitigation efforts.

Cut 13 (08) “…gloves as well.”  

This election has been delayed twice due to COVID-19. Ardoin says this early voting day period will be longer in an effort to reduce the risk of large crowds congregating at polling places.

Cut 14 (08) “…and early vote.”

Ardoin says while mask-wearing is not mandated, it will be encouraged. The state’s famous “I Voted” stickers will not be distributed as an added precaution.

Only registered Republicans can vote in the GOP primary and even though Joe Biden is expected to accept the nomination in August, registered Democrats can select between the 14 candidates up for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Cut 15 (05) “…from the race.” 

Ardoin says in addition to the presidential primary, voters in 24 parishes will have local items on their ballot.

Cut 16 (13) “…not on all”

For those that qualify for vote by mail, the cut off to request an absentee ballot is July 7th.