Governor Edwards announces the state has received the federal funding necessary to pay enhanced unemployment benefits to the tune of an extra 600 dollars a week on top of the state’s 247 dollars. Edwards says the expanded benefits begin Monday and will also include workers who did not previously qualify.
Cut 10 (11) “…yesterday”

And the U-S Senate could vote today to add 250-million more dollars to the Paycheck Protection Program. The federal loan program helps small businesses pay workers, rent and other operational expenses. Senator John Kennedy says this legislation could get approved with a roll call vote…
cut 14 (07) “…job”

A team from LSU is creating personal protective equipment for healthcare workers from basic everyday items. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

State health officials are encouraged to see the number of COVID-19 patients who require ventilation has gone down, four days in a row. Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health Alex Billioux credits I-C-U doctors who are learning better methods in treating the virus.
Cut 3 (10) “…Bi-pap”
A Bipap pushes air into a person’s lungs and works much like a C-Pap machine.

Allstate has announced that its customers will receive a 15-percent rebate on their auto premiums for April and May. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon hopes other auto insurance providers do the same and his office has put in new rules because of the economic slowdown…
cut 7 (13) “…11th”

The LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Farm Bureau are surveying crawfish producers to determine the economic damage caused by the coronavirus outbreak. LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says the information collected will be turned over to the U-S-D-A in an effort get assistance for the industry…
cut 9 (12) “…economic impact”
Crawfish producers have been hurt by a glut of crawfish because restaurants can only offer carryout or delivery service.

A glut in oil and low crude prices could result in massive job losses, unless the price for a barrel of oil gets back up to 40-dollars by June 1st. That’s according to Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Gifford Briggs…
cut 13 (08) “…global economy”
Briggs says they are seeking assistance from federal and state governments, like a suspension of state severance tax collections for one year.

Governor Edwards says new data appears to show the state’s stay at home order is working to flatten the curve, but now is no time for residents to get complacent…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state reported an additional 70-deaths yesterday, bringing the overall total to 582. St. John, Orleans, St. Charles, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. James, West Baton Rouge, and Iberville are among the parishes with some of the highest death rates in the nation.

A Louisiana Oil and Gas Association survey projects more than 23-thousand jobs in the industry are at immediate risk. LOGA President Gifford Briggs says the coronavirus pandemic and an oil glut has dropped the price of oil 66-percent since January first…
cut 12 (10) “…through the industry”
Briggs says there are over 33-thousand oil and gas wells operating in the state and half of those could be shut-in.

A tiger in the Bronx zoo has tested positive COVID-19, so is it possible for your pet to get coronavirus? State public health veternian Doctor Gary Balsamo says it’s unlikely, but there are some steps you should follow to reduce the risk of pets becoming ill from exposure…
cut 6 (08) “….a lot”

There are over 16-thousand positive cases of coronavirus in Louisiana and an additional 70 deaths were reported yesterday to bring the death toll to 582. But Governor John Bel Edwards says there are signs the state is flattening the curve and credits aggressive testing…
cut 9 (08) “….75-thousand tests”
But Louisiana has ten parishes listed among the top 25 U-S counties with the highest per-capita death rate. St. John the Baptist leads the nation.

Louisiana was the first state to implement a digital driver’s license and now Louisiana is the first state that allows you to renew your driver’s license and IDs through L-A Wallet. Envoc President Calvin Fabre developed this technology and says now is a good time to try the app, especially since it’s free and OMV offices are closed…
cut 15 (05) “…right now”

Could your pets get sick from COVID-19 exposure? Brooke Thorington has the details.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A 28-year-old man wanted for questioning in connection with the fatal shooting of his 26-year-old girlfriend was fatally shot in a shootout with law enforcement in Caddo Parish. Authorities say three State Police troopers and a sheriff’s deputy were involved in the gunfight after Derek Swanson left a home he broke into yesterday afternoon. His girlfriend, Taylor Baskins, was fatally shot multiple times on Friday.

It’s been just over two weeks since the state’s stay at home order was implemented and Governor Edwards says they are seeing signs that the curve in the number of cases is starting to flatten. Edwards says another encouraging sign is that fewer patients are needing a ventilator…
Cut 7 (13) “earlier”
Edwards says the New Orleans region is no longer projected to run out of ventilator capacity or hospital beds in the next two weeks.

Some pet owners are concerned that they can get COVID-19 from their four-legged friend. But State public health veterinarian Doctor Gary Balsamo says the virus survives best on smooth surfaces, so it is a relatively low threat for animals to carry the virus in their fur…
cut 5 (09) “….porous surfaces”

Questions still remain about how the remainder of the school year will be handled, but much of the determination is left in the hands of each district. Executive Director for the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents Michael Faulk says some districts are making the effort to engage students through technology.
Cut 10 (13) “…the state standards.”
Faulk says some rural school districts are having bus drivers bring classwork to students as they drive their regular routes.

You can now renew your driver’s license through the LA Wallet app, Louisiana’s digital driver’s license. The app was designed by Envoc and President Calvin Fabre (fay-bree) says the next time you log into the app you’ll notice a new button that says “check for renewal” that checks your renewal eligibility.
Cut 13 (07) “…address.”
But the digital version will be updated in less than 24 hours.

Governor John Bel Edwards says they continue to see signs that the stay-at-home order is paying off, but he says now is not the time to start slacking on social distancing or spending a lot of time in public settings…
cut 8 (12) “…we were”
Tuesday saw the state’s highest reported one-day increase in deaths at 70, but Edwards says ventilator use is down and the number of new hospitalizations is slowing.

O-M-V locations remain closed due to COVID-19 precautions, but you can renew your driver’s license through the L-A Wallet App. Envoc President Calin Fabre (fay-bree) developed the technology and says if you renew through the app, you’ll have an up to date license available for use in less than a day…
cut 14 (07) “….license”

Schools are doing their best to keep students engaged while outside of the classroom setting. Kevin Barnhart has that story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The LHSAA executive committee holds its spring meeting today. Executive Director Eddie Bonine holds out hope that spring sports can resume, but that’s dependant on the governor lifting the stay at home order.