LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is studying lifestyle changes as a result of social distancing and COVID-19 restrictions through an online survey.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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Governor Edwards says he’s not letting any protests change his mind about keeping the stay at home order in place until April 30th. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Senator John Kennedy blames Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the delay in replenishing funding for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is studying lifestyle changes as a result of social distancing and COVID-19 restrictions.  Researcher Leanne Redman says a 15-minute online survey includes questions about work changes, physical activity, diet, sleep, and well-being.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…neighborhoods in general.”

Redman says the goal is to get one million responses to the survey and so far they’ve received 6,000 from participants from all over the world.

Cut 5 (06)  “…Norway and Germany.”

Redman hopes the survey will be able to hone in on some of the nuances of the social distancing and stay at home orders that maybe have not been realized before.

Cut 6 (08) “…working at home.”

Redman says anyone over the age of 18 can participate in the survey, just go to pbrc.edu/covid19andyou.

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Senator Bill Cassidy is pushing for a 500 billion dollar relief package in Congress aimed at aiding local and state governments who are facing coronavirus related fiscal cliffs.

Lafayette is expecting to lose 35 percent of its expected revenue for the year, and Monroe and New Orleans are facing one million and 150 million dollar deficits respectively. Cassidy says…

Cut 7 (08) “…that you want.”

The City of Crowley is expecting a 1.3-1.6 million dollar shortfall and announced the layoffs of 15 employees and reduction of hours for remaining city employees via a four-day workweek.

Cassidy says essential services must be propped up at a local level not just to save lives, but to make sure businesses have reliable foundations to reopen under.

Cut 8 (12 ) “…to be controlled.”

The proposal is being pitched with the help of  New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menedez.

Cassidy says the money would be distributed based on how severely a locality has been hit by both the virus and the economic impacts of virus-related shutdowns.

Cut 9 (09) “…for lost revenue.″

Localities with populations over 50,000 would be given the money directly to manage without having to go through state government.

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Louisiana saw small crowds of protesters in the Capital over the weekend calling for the state to end its stay at home order, with more protests apparently set for this weekend.

Governor Edwards says those complaints about the shutdown won’t shake him from the position that the stay at home order will hold until April 30^th.

Cut 10 (11) “safety”

But he says if he were a betting man he’d bet a dollar that the statewide restrictions come May 1^st will not be the same they are today.

Edwards says the criteria for reopening remain firm: A measured 14 day period of declining cases, increased hospital capacity…

Cut 11 (06) “…illness.”

Edwards made the statements at his daily afternoon press conference. He also announced Popeye’s was donating one million meals to a New Orleans foodbank. He says he called their CEO…

Cut 12 (10) “chicken.”

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The U-S Senate has approved a $483 billion dollar coronavirus aid package. 331-billion dollars will replenish funding for a small business loan program that ran out of money.  Senator John Kennedy blames House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the delay.

Cut 13 (09) “…were not emergencies.”

Kennedy says the one-week delay in replenishing the funding will cost the nation thousands of small businesses and calls Pelosi’s actions wildly irresponsible.

Cut 14 (08) “…my rear end.”

Kennedy says the funding is just a small part of keeping America afloat but adds that if the nation does not kick back into gear soon, it will eventually collapse the state and national economy.

Cut 15 (08)“…so can poverty.”

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The Bengals are expected to select former LSU Q-B Joe Burrow with the number one pick in tomorrow night’s N-F-L draft. If that’s the case, Burrow will play for a franchise that has not won a playoff game since 1991. LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says Burrow will look forward to the challenge in making Cincinnati a winner

Cut 16  (25)  “…at Cincinnati” 

JaMarcus Russell was the last LSU quarterback to be picked number one. The Raiders selected him number one in 2007 and the Alabama native turned out to be one of the biggest flops in NFL history. Oregon expects Burrow to have an outstanding career

cut 17  (14) “…great player” 

Orgeron says he’s tired of watching television and is ready to get back to work. He’s optimistic the Tigers will be back on the practice field in August and says his projected starting quarterback, Myles Brennan, is doing what he can to stay ready

Cut 18  (22) “…is here”   

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Alabama-based Radiance Technologies has agreed to be the title sponsor of the Independence Bowl for the next five years, giving the bowl game in Shreveport stability for the first half of this decade. Independence Bowl Foundation Chairman Frank Auer says Radiance is a technology solutions provider of the highest caliber

cut 19 (22) Radiance Technologies”  

Over the next five years, the Independence Bowl will have games featuring BYU or Army against teams from the PAC-12, American Athletic Conference or Conference USA. The 2020 game will pit Army against a Pac-12 school. Radiance Technologies CEO Bill Bailey says they’ve been looking for the right opportunity to increase their brand awareness nationally and they found it with this partnership

cut 20 (22) “  Independence Bowl”  

The Louisiana Department of Education is asking childcare providers impacted by the economic shutdown to apply for a piece of a 10 million dollar federal award. Matt Doyle has more.

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The Pastor of Life Tabernacle Church who continues to hold large church services was arrested at the Central Police Department after he allegedly tried to run over a protestor Sunday. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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The Louisiana Department of Education will award nearly 10 million dollars to childcare providers who are hurting for cash during the coronavirus shutdown.

Assistant State Superintendent Jessica Baghian says only about 30 percent of childcare centers are still open, and even the ones still open are bleeding cash.

Cut 3 (08)  “…and it happens.”  

A report indicates child care providers have already experienced a 1.7 million dollar loss in revenue since the shutdown began.

Applicants must complete an assistance form by Thursday, and the money is expected to be disbursed in early May. Baghian says it’s a vital injection of funds.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…have to take.”

One-third of providers say they’ll have to close permanently if the state remains shutdown, and Baghian says we can’t afford to lose them.

Cut 5 (11)  “…of making payroll.”

The money comes courtesy of the congressionally passed CARES Act.

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Defiant Pastor Tony Spell was arrested today for allegedly backing a church bus into the direction of a protester on Sunday. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says Spell wanted to be arrested at his church this morning following a press conference, but he was handcuffed at the Central Police Department instead.

Cut 6 (11) “…to here”

Spell was booked in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for aggravated assault, improper backing, plus two outstanding bench warrants. He was released a short time later on bond. Spell’s attorney Joe Long says the pastor was only going to confront the protestor not run him over.

Cut 7 (12) “drove off”

When questioned if today’s arrest would deter Spell from holding large services as opposed to live stream, Corcoran wasn’t sure.

Cut 8 (09) “…President’s order”

Long says the Life Tabernacle Church plans to hold services tonight as usual. Police say the number of people attending the services has declined lately. Spell already faces six misdemeanor counts for violating the governor’s order regarding crowd sizes.

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Congressman Garret Graves is optimistic Congress will approve additional funding for a program designed to help small businesses maintain payroll.

The 350 billion dollar program ran out of cash just 13 days after it began dispersing money earlier this month, and Graves says now many businesses can’t access the funds.

Cut 9 (08) “trials.″

The program offers forgivable loans to companies with fewer than 500 employees who spend 75 percent of their loan allotment on payroll. Graves says it was highly popular.

Cut 10 (05) “…day.”

Qualifying businesses received a loan worth 2.5 times their average monthly payroll from 2019.

Graves says the program has bipartisan support but it’s being held up by politicians who want to tie it to pet projects.

Cut 11 (09) “…new trial”

Graves says if the program isn’t replenished by the end of the month then everyone in Congress should be thrown out.

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A survey of crawfish producers shows the decreased demand for their crop has pummeled the industry at a time when producers usually make their most money. LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says a dip in demand has resulted in lost income of about $500 per acre.

Cut 12 (07) “…farm gate value.”

The survey findings are being used to showcase the pandemic’s impact on the industry to the US Department of Agriculture and Louisiana congressional delegation.

The normal crawfish production season starts near the end of December and will go through the middle of June, but Guidry says some producers have already pulled the plug on their season or will end it by the first week of May because of prices falling below their breakeven point.

Cut 13 (11) “…of market outlet.”

Guidry says producers who hired foreign labor to bring in the catch are still on the hook to pay those workers for a guaranteed amount of a full season’s work due to contractual obligations.

Cut 14 (07) “…pay for that.”

A total of 67 producers responded to the survey, representing more than 10% of the acres in the state.