The uncertainty around the COVID-19 outbreak makes it extremely challenging for families to reassure children. LSU Psychology Assistant Professor Dr. Anna Long says a change in a child’s behavior is typical during a crisis.
Cut 24 (11)_ “… are feeling.”
Long advises parents to keep your child on a daily schedule and don’t forget to take care of yourself and manage your stress.

Governor Edwards has issued a proclamation that changes some of the TOPS eligibility requirements. A high school senior still needs a 2.5 GPA to qualify, but they now have until September 30th to achieve a 20 on the ACT. LOSFA executive director Doctor Sujuan Boutte says some school districts will issue a pass-fail grade for classes that ended abruptly, but that will not impact a student’s GPA…
cut 9 (11) “….go up”
For more information go to LOSFA’s website.

Normally flu activity goes down at this time of the year. However, State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in about one in ten doctors visits for flu-like symptoms.
Cut 3 (09) “…very very high.”
Welch says one reason for the state reporting a high number of flu cases is that people are going to the doctor over concerns they have the coronavirus, only to find out they are testing positive for the flu.

Governor Edwards is encouraging small business owners to apply for assistance with payroll, rent and other operational expenses through the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Edwards says the state is also providing additional support through a new Louisiana Loan Portfolio Guaranty Progam…
cut 14 (12) “….through the SBA”
For more information go to Opportunity-Louisiana-dot-com-slash-COVID-19.

Today marks the start of the third week Louisiana has been under a stay at home order and the cases and deaths from the coronavirus continues to climb. Louisiana has over 13-thousand positive cases and 477 deaths, an increase of 68 marking the largest single-day jump in fatal cases. The economy is also suffering and Governor John Bel Edwards looks forward to the day when the state can ease its restrictions…
cut 15 (11) “…possibly can”
The stay at home order is through April, but the governor released a graph on Friday that showed the state is on course to require 25-hundred new hospitalizations a day in the New Orleans area by mid-May.

A field hospital at the New Orleans Convention Center can begin accepting patients today.

Louisiana is giving TOPS applications until September 30th to achieve a 20 on their ACT in order to qualify for the scholarship. The previous deadline was April, but the April tests have been canceled and LOFSA Executive Director Sujuan Boutte says they hope to schedule an A-C-T testing date in June…
cut 8 (07) “…safe”

The coronavirus is impacting children as uncertainty and change of routine has made life unpredictable…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

New testing is starting to become available for those who may have been an asymptomatic COVID-19 positive carrier and now have recovered and likely have immunity. State immunization director Dr. Frank Welch says the testing is not yet widely available in Louisiana but could be in the coming months.
Cut 10 (10) “…same test”

Governor Edwards has issued a proclamation that changes some of the eligibility requirements for TOPS. A high school senior still needs a 2.5 GPA to qualify, but they now have until September 30th to achieve a 20 on the ACT. LOSFA executive director Doctor Sujuan Boutte says some school districts will issue a pass-fail grade for classes that ended abruptly, but that will not impact a student’s GPA…
cut 9 (11) “….go up”
For more information go to LOSFA’s website.

Governor Edwards is encouraging small business owners to apply for assistance with payroll, rent and other operational expenses through the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Edwards says the state is also providing additional support through a new Louisiana Loan Portfolio Guaranty Progam…
cut 14 (12) “….through the SBA”
For more information go to Opportunity-Louisiana-dot-com-slash-COVID-19.

During this time of uncertainty, it’s typical for children to react in different ways and to varying degrees. LSU psychology professor Doctor Anna Long says maintaining a daily routine is vital…
cut 5 (08) “…and security”

Today marks the start of the third week of the governor’s stay at home order which resulted in the closure of several businesses leading to over 72-thousand jobless claims to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. In Louisiana, the maximum benefit for those who file for unemployment is 247-dollars a week, but Governor John Bel Edwards says the economic relief package approved by Congress will mean an additional 600-dollars a week for unemployed workers…
cut 13 (09) “…state benefit”
The L-W-C says they are still waiting for funding for that extra 600-dollars.

State Immunization Director Doctor Frank Welch says he’s waiting for a test to become more available that can determine if a person had COVID-19, but never knew they had the virus…
cut 11 (10) “…are still susceptible”
It’s called immune tests and Welch says a couple of hospitals in Louisiana have them.

High school students now have until September 30th to submit ACT scores to LOSFA to qualify to receive the TOPS scholarship. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

Louisiana had its biggest jump in reported deaths yesterday since the coronavirus outbreak began. The Louisiana Health Department reported 68 more fatalities to bring the state’s death toll to 477. Legendary Saints kicker Tom Dempsey died on Saturday night from complications of COVID-19. He was 73-years-old.

Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a proclamation that changes the deadline to achieve at least a 20 on the ACT until September 30th for potential TOPS students, instead of the traditional April deadline. Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance Executive Director Dr. Sujuan Boutte…
Cut 7 (09) “eligibility”
Boutte says they’re working with the A-C-T for a June testing date, even if restrictions are still in place.

The uncertainty around the COVID-19 outbreak makes it extremely challenging for families to reassure children. LSU Psychology Assistant Professor Dr. Anna Long says a change in a child’s behavior is typical during a crisis.
Cut 4 (11)_ “… are feeling.”

Many COVID-19 cases are undiagnosed due to someone being asymptomatic and never getting tested, but there is a test that can determine if someone had it without noticing and recovered. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

92% of small businesses are reporting a negative impact from the COVID-19 pandemic according to a nationwide survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business. NFIB state director Dawn Starns says small businesses can only last for so long before throwing in the towel.
Cut 3 (07) “…three to six months.”
Starns says the leading factor is slow sales.

The CDC is reportedly set to recommend Americans wear a facemask while out in public to halt the spread of coronavirus. Governor Edwards says the state is awaiting official word from the feds before calling for public face mask usage in Louisiana, but…
Cut 6 (12) “…that.”
Many Asian countries practice widespread use of public mask-wearing during viral scares.

The Army Corps of Engineers began opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway this morning to protect New Orleans levees from the rising Mississippi River. For the first time ever, it’s third straight year the flood structure has been utilized. Colonel Stephen Murphy says by opening the spillway, they are diverting part of the river’s flow away from New Orleans…
cut 9 (11) “…maintain that level”
Murphy says they plan to open 10 to 20 bays today and if the weather cooperates they hope the spillway will only have to be open for a month.

The Department of Children and Family Services says non-custodial parents are still required to pay child support during the coronavirus pandemic. Child Support Enforcement Director Lydia Scales if a parent loses a job and can’t make a payment, call a child support worker…
cut 14 (08) “…had been doing”
Under ordinary times, the state can suspend a delinquet parents license or passport, but they Scales says they are not taking that type of action at this time.

Louisiana’s stay at home order has been extended through April. Matt Doyle has the story…
voicer 1 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

The Army Corps of Engineers re-opens bays on the Bonnet Carre Spillway today to protect New Orleans levees from the rising Mississippi River. It’s the third time the Corps is operating the flood control structure over the last 15 months. The spillway was opened twice last year and fishermen say the diversion of freshwater killed their catch and created large algae blooms.

The state department of education is letting local school systems decide on whether high school seniors will receive their diploma. A school district can either assign a letter grade for classwork done this semester or simply say the student either passed or failed. And Assistant state superintendent Ken Bradford says seniors currently taking dual-enrollment courses have completion options, including an in-progress designation…
cut 12 (13) “…of course”
Bradford says diplomas are scheduled to print and arrive on time.

The State Treasurer is shipping out four million dollars’ worth of unclaimed property checks to Louisianans this week. John Schroder says by working with the Department of Revenue they’ve identified tens of thousands of recipients who are owed money they can use right now.
Cut 7 (06) “…week”