The coronavirus pandemic may result in the demise of many department stores according to retail experts at Columbia University’s Business School. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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The SPCA is asking folks not to request COVID-19 tests for their pets. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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A petition is circulating urging Governor Edwards to allow parishes to make their own decisions on when, and how to lift the stay at home order and implement the federal phase one reopening…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Few department stores are likely to survive following the coronavirus pandemic, according to retail experts at Columbia University’s Business School.  New Orleans consultant of real estate valuations Wade Ragas says department stores have already had a tough enough time keeping up with e-commerce in recent years.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…with this country.”

Ragas says social distancing potentially creates overwhelming hurdles for the current business model of department stores.

Cut 5 (11)  “…into the store.”

Ragas says even if the brick and mortar stores begin to disappear, it is possible to shift familiar brands into the e-commerce space.  As far as which shopping brands have done the best in the pandemic…

Cut 6 (09) “…of this, Costco.”
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The Louisiana Supreme Court extends an order delaying all jury trials until June 30^th.

The order was initially filed April 6^th and there’s some fear that a three-month delay in cases will create a nightmare of a trial backlog, but Legal Analyst Tim Meche says Louisiana learned from Katrina and Rita…

Cut 7 (08) “…hurricanes”

Mid-March was an unlucky time for anyone to get locked up but Meche says DAs and sheriffs have made an effort to release low-risk detainees who are awaiting trial.

Cut 8 (08) “running”

Meche says it’s unlikely the extended delay will result in any legal or constitutional challenges that would impact the court once trials resume.

Cut 9 (09) “…that occur.

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While there is limited evidence cats can suffer from COVID-19, the Louisiana SPCA is asking owners not to seek tests for their pets.

CEO Anna Zorrilla says right now we want to make sure COVID testing is focused on humans, who have a more critical need.

Cut 10 (09) “infected”

Two cats tested positive in New York City, but the CDC reports there is no evidence cats can transmit the virus back to humans.

If your pet is suffering from what appears to be COVID-like symptoms Zorrilla says talk to your vet before doing anything else.

Cut 11 (09) “…care”

Cats can qualify for a COVID test if they meet three strict criteria: direct explore to a known case, evidence of respiratory symptoms, and they’ve received a respiratory diagnostic from a vet.

While cats can catch the virus, Zorrilla says the SPCA recommends people suffering from mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 still keep them their pets with them.

Cut 12 (12) “at the time”

If you are positive Zorrilla says you should practice extra caution when interacting with your pet.

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Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt starts a petition urging Governor Edwards to allow parishes to make their own decisions on when and how they reopen their economies.

Hewitt says the Governor’s preference to issue stay at home orders on a statewide basis is not working for areas of the state with low case counts.

Cut 13 (10) “…guidelines.”

The stay at home order is set to end April 30^th, but New Orleans has already extended the order locally until May 16^th.

Hewitt says the petition at Open-LA-Now-Dot-Com allows state residents to tell Edwards they want to see Louisiana implement President Trump’s plan for reopening locally.

Cut 14 (08) “…heard.”

Edwards says he does not plan on allowing local parishes to open before the stay at home order ends, or to allow parishes to relax restrictions more than others.

Cut 15 (09)“…phase one.”

Edwards says as of now it appears some restrictions will be lifted statewide after April 30^th, but he wants everyone to have their expectations properly set for what it will look like.

Cut 16  (09)  “…before” 

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As expected the Cincinnati Bengals select quarterback Joe Burrow with the number one pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Burrow becomes the third LSU Tiger to be picked number, JaMarcus Russell and Billy Cannon are the other two. The Heisman Trophy winner says he’s ready to go to work in the Queen City…

cut 17  (10) “…this city” 

Burrow was the first pick in the virtual draft. Commissioner Roger Goodell, general managers, coaches and the players were all at their own homes, instead of Las Vegas where the draft was supposed to be held. Burrow says he didn’t mind hanging out at his home in Athens, Ohio…

Cut 18  (23) “…acquintances”   

Burrow will have to compete with veteran Andy Dalton in order to be the starting quarterback. The 23-year-old looks forward to the competition…

cut 19 (30)  focused on”  

The Legislative Economic Recovery Task Force began the difficult assignment today of providing the state legislature with ideas on how to jump-start the economy. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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A Rapides Parish woman was killed by a suspected tornado and a DeSoto Parish man died in a flash flood yesterday as severe weather battered the state again. Matt Doyle has more.

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The coronavirus pandemic could result in an unemployment rate above 20-percent in Louisiana. Economist Loren Scott estimates 349-thousand unemployment claims for the month of April, because of the economic shutdown…

Cut 3 (07)  “…22-percent”  

The Tax Foundation estimates about 16-percent of the workforce has applied or is receiving unemployment benefits in Louisiana. Scott says low oil prices will prevent Louisiana from bouncing back as fast as other states…

Cut 4 (06)_ “…Lafayette”

Scott made the comments during the first meeting of the Louisiana Economic Recovery Taskforce which legislative leaders formed in an effort to provide the Legislature with policy recommendations on how to jump-start the economy.

Chairman Jason DeCuir says the regular legislative session is expected to resume next month and lawmakers are looking for immediate triage ideas by May 7th…

Cut 5 (10)  “…immediately.”

Decuir says a special session dealing with the economic recovery issues is expected later this year, so the task force will also have a chance to develop long-term solutions.

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder has confidence in the group of private-sector business leaders they have on this task force…

Cut 6 (11) “…the economy back ”

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Car dealerships are seeing slow sales and not as much work for their service departments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President Will Green says they are certainly impacted by the stay at home order…

Cut 7 (09) “…more than that.”

Green says implementing social distancing guidelines means they are moving the transactions from the showroom to the internet. He says car buyers can test drive a vehicle and not even go to the dealer.

Cut 8 (08) “…get your vehicle.”

Green says car shoppers should be able to find great deals…

Cut 9 (08) “…vehicle than now.″

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Deadly storms slammed central and north Louisiana yesterday, killing two in DeSoto and Rapides Parishes.

In DeSoto, rains sparked flash floods that claimed the life of an unidentified Mansfield man.  Sherriff’s spokesperson Mark Pierce says the heavy rainfall produced a strong current in a drainage ditch…

Cut 10 (10) “…too strong”

The current reportedly carried the man about 50 yards before his body was recovered.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson told local media that the flooding was “water like I’ve never seen in many, many years if ever”. Pierce says rains just hammered the region.

Cut 11 (10) “…rain”

In Rapides Parish 67-year-old Becky Roberts was killed by a potential tornado in Lecompte. National Weather Service forecaster Seth Warthen says the suspected supercell was highly unusual for the area.

Cut 12 (08) “…assesment.”

There were reports of two potential tornadoes in the area.

Warthen says the potential tornadoes were part of a long track supercell that appeared to have traveled a long distance.

Cut 13 (10) “…Parish.”

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The state has surpassed 15-hundred COVID-19 deaths as the Louisiana Department of Health reported 67 additional fatalities bringing the death toll to 1,540. Governor John Bel Edwards

Cut 14 (12) “…Hurricane Katrina.”

Edwards says the state continues to flatten the curve. Louisiana reported 481 new cases and the number of patients hospitalized and on ventilators continues to decline.

During his daily COVID-19 briefing, Governor Edwards was asked if there will be high school football this year. The governor says he remains optimistic…

Cut 15 (07)“…to be”