Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

04.01.20
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6:30 LRN Newscast April 1

Tuesday was the deadliest day in Louisiana’s fight against the coronavirus as the state reported 54 new deaths to bring the death toll to 239. Louisiana is also reporting 52-hundred cases as over 12-hundred new cases were reported yesterday. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 8 (09) “….gets’
Edwards says they know that the stay-at-home order and social distancing works and we’ll eventually see the results.

Police in suburban Baton Rouge cites a pastor for violating the state’s order that limits crowd sizes. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says with courts closed, it’s hard to say when Reverend Tony Spell will make a court appearance…
cut 12 (07) “…arraignment”
Spell held another large service last night. The charges he faces are misdemeanors that carry a maximum punishment of 500-dollars and up to six months in jail.

Gig economy workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers have been given the green light to apply for unemployment assistance from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

03.31.20
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Corrected LRN AM Newscall April 1

Gig economy workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers have been given the green light to eligibility to apply for unemployment assistance from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The 54 new COVID-19 deaths reported yesterday were by far the largest total of deaths the state has seen in any 24 hour period. Matt Doyle has reaction from the Governor…

Cut 2 (30) “…Matt Doyle ” 

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The District Attorney is now faced with prosecuting Rev. Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Central for violating the Governor’s Proclamtion. Brooke Thorington has more.

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

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The Louisiana Workforce Commission has given the green light to eligibility for gig economy workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers to apply for unemployment assistance.  LWC executive director Ava Dejoie says if someone has recently applied and been denied, for being a 1099 employee, waiter or waitress, or rideshare driver, eligibility will be retroactive.

Cut  4 (10)_ “…of your filing”

Dejoie says the funds aren’t available to pay out to applicants yet as LWC has not received the money from the feds.

Cut 5 (05)  “…no longer working.”

Dejoie says there is no rush for filing as the payments will be retroactive to when employment was halted.

Cut 6 (12) “…process for everyone”

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Louisiana reported its biggest increase in COVID-19 cases and related deaths in a 24 hours period yesterday, evidence that the state has yet to begin flattening the curve. 1,212 new positive tests were reported and 54 deaths. Governor John Bel Edwards says for those who haven’t been socially distancing…

Cut 7 (07) “…right now”

Edwards adds that the state has doubled its total number of cases and use of ventilators since March 26th.

The new numbers put the state above 5,000 total cases. Edwards says the jump in cases and deaths is alarming.

Cut 8 (09) “…gets.”

The New Orleans region is now on pace to run out of ventilators by April 4th, and hospital beds by April 7th.

The Governor says these numbers are likely the result of infections that occurred before the statewide stay at home order, so there may be some good news coming soon.

Cut 9 (09) “days″
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Rev Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Central was issued a summons Tuesday on six counts of violating of the Governor’s order of large gatherings. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says even though Spell wasn’t taken into custody it serves the same as an arrest.  Moore says when the governor issues such orders violators can be penalized.

Cut 10 (08) “…calls for.”

Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran issued the summons on Tuesday after Rev Spell continued to hold services at the church in which congregation averaged 11-hundred members. Moore explains why Spell received six counts.

Cut 11 (11) “…different days.”

Rev. Spell will be formally charged today but due to the virus the courts are suspended temporarily, and Moore says when a hearing will be held remains to be seen.

Cut 12 (07) “…arraignment”

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There’s widespread frustration about how long it can take to get results back for a coronavirus test, but at the Tulane Medical Center Laboratories tests only take four hours.

Medical Director Dr. Byron Crawford says initially the only FDA approved test was a manual procedure, but the feds recently OK’d a new procedure using equipment Tulane has on-site.

Cut 13 (07) “…hours.”

They run tests in two batches a day for a total of about 200 tests a day for patients who go to University Medical Center or Tulane Medical Center.

Crawford says this kind of equipment is vital because it allows hospitals to quickly process which patients have COVID-19, and which don’t.

Cut 14 (11) “…equipment.”

Crawford says he’s confident this kind of technology will be widely available to other medical centers, and soon.

Cut 15 (08)“…patients”

The project is a joint venture by Tulane, LSU School of Medicine, Children’s Medical Center, and UMC, with the equipment provided by Roche.

03.31.20
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4:45 LRN Sportscast

During an interview on ESPN’s morning television show “Get Up”, Saints Coach Sean Payton said 2020 will be Drew Brees final season. Brees signed a two-year contract earlier this month, but the final year on the deal is voidable. Payton says back-up Taysom Hill views himself as a starting Q-B and so do the Saints.

NFL owners voted today to expand the number of playoff teams to 14, one additional team from each conference will get in the postseason. The team with the best record in each league will get a first-round bye. So on wildcard weekend, there will be three playoff games Saturday and three more Sunday.

And the NFL’s president and general counsel Jeff Pash said today it’s there expectation that the season will start on time, with fans in the stands, despite the global coronavirus pandemic. They plan to release a full schedule by May 9th.

The H-B-O documentary “The Scheme” airs tonight and we are expecting to hear the FBI wiretaps that reportedly feature LSU basketball coach Will Wade talking with middleman Christian Dawkins about payments for recruits. Dawkins has been convicted for helping to funnel thousands of dollars between college basketball programs and recruits. So far Wade and LSU have avoided an NCAA investigation, but LSU beat reporter Glen Guilbeau of the USA Today Network says that could change after tonight’s documentary airs…
cut 17 (20) “…court of law
The documentary airs at 8 PM.

NCAA President Mark Emmert announces that he and his top executives will take a 20-percent pay cut as a result of lost revenues. Last week the NCAA announced that its distribution to Division One schools this year will go from 600 million dollars to 225 million dollars.

03.31.20
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12:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Health Department reports over 12-hundred new cases and 54 additional deaths to bring our total COVID 19 cases to 5,237 and 239 deaths. Since the state is showing no signs of flattening the curve, Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order beyond April 13th to April 30th…
cut 10 (11) “…are on”

Starting today all food stamp recipients in Louisiana will automatically receive the maximum benefit, which will impact 265-thousand households in Louisiana. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says work requirements and interviews with caseworkers are also being waived…
cut 25 (05) “…about that”
Walters says many food stamp recipients should see their snap cards uploaded with additional benefits tonight and it will be loaded again on April 17th.

Texas is requring that Louisiana residents who come into their state self quarantine for 14 days. Louisiana State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says the 14 days will be done at a quarantine station of the traveler’s choosing and there’s a form you can fill out with the Texas Department of Public Safety…
cut 7 (10) “…14-day quarantine station”
Dwight says this order does not prohibit or limit a motorists’ ability to travel into Texas for scheduled medical treatment.

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to answer senior’s concerns about the coronavirus. State Director Denise Bottcher says Dr. Benjamin Springgate with LSU Health Sciences will be on the call to answer health-related questions.
Cut 3 (10) “… be doing”
To participate, call 1-877-229-8493 the call will take place as 10:10 am.

03.31.20
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11:40 LRN Sportscast March 31

The NCAA has voted to give all spring student-athletes an extra year of eligibility because the coronavirus pandemic canceled their season. LSU athletic director Scott Woodward says he’s glad the NCAA saw the wisdom of passing this through, but it will be expensive, however, it is worth it. Louisiana Tech baseball coach Lane Burroughs says it’s a great decision for their seniors and juniors. So spring sports teams can expand their rosters beyond the current scholarship limit and the NCAA will leave it up to each school to decide how much current seniors will receive in financial aid if they decide to come back for another year.

Could 2020 be the final season for Saints Quarterback Drew Brees? Coach Sean Payton was on ESPN’s Get Up show and gave this quote. The unique situation with our team and our quarterback Drew Brees is he’s announced he’s coming back for his final season. Brees recently signed a two-year contract, but he could certainly walk away from the game after one season.

03.31.20
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10:30 LRN Newscast March 31

Testing will soon begin in Louisiana on whether hydroxychloroquine can be used to treat COVID-19 patients or if it can be used as a preventive measure for healthcare workers on the frontline. Dean of LSU Health Sciences School of Medicine Dr. Steve Nelson says the drug has been shown in a test tube to kill coronavirus, but there has only been a small number of clinical trials.
Cut 7 (11) “…a small number.”

The governor’s office announced late yesterday afternoon that the state received 100 ventilators from vendors on Monday and President Trump has committed to sending 150 more ventilators to Louisiana. Currently, 385 patients require ventilation, but the state has requested 14-thousand ventilators.

Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order until April 30th, which means schools will remain closed for at least the next month. The academic year is scheduled to be completed in May. Edwards says acting state superintendent Beth Scioneaux is working to develop a plan…
cut 12 (10) “…of things”

The 2020 legislative session remains on hold, but lawmakers will meet briefly today. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

03.31.20
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9:30 LRN Newscast March 31

Schools, non-essential businesses and restaurants will remain closed to dine-in services for all of April as Governor John Bel Edwards announces he will extend his stay at home order through April 30th.
cut 10 (11) “…are on”
Louisiana has 4,025 positive cases and has reported 185 deaths from the coronavirus.

With a stay at home order that will last through April 30th, the 2020 legislative session will likely not resume on a full-time basis until May. Senate President Page Cortez says it’s possible a few committee meetings can take place before then…
cut 13 (10) “… the place is lifted’
Some legislators will return to the capitol today to officially introduce bills that must be introduced by today to be considered in the 2020 session.

The LSU School of Medicine will soon begin testing whether hydroxychloroquine can be used to treat COVID-19 patients. Doctor Steve Nelson says between 500 and one-thousand people will participate in the trials here…
cut 8 (11) “….this virus yet”
Nelson says a French researcher has found that hydroxychloroquine can improve the lungs of COVID-19 patients, but it was a small study.

Starting today all food stamp recipients in Louisiana will automatically receive the maximum benefit, which will impact 265-thousand households in Louisiana. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says work requirements and interviews with caseworkers are also being waived…
cut 5 (05) “…about that”
Walters says many food stamp recipients should see their snap cards uploaded with additional benefits tonight and it will be loaded again on April 17th.

03.31.20
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8:30 LRN Newscast March 31

Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order through April 30th. It’s currently set to expire April 13th. But not everyone is complying with the order. An East Baton Rouge church in Central continues to have over a thousand people attend services. Edwards was asked if he’ll pressure local authorities to enforce the order…
cut 12 (11) “…comply”
In Florida, a pastor at a Tampa church was arrested after holding two large Sunday services.

State lawmakers return to the capitol today to read bills into the record that need to be read in before a March 31st deadline. The session is set to end June 1st and there’s no word on when legislators can meet on a daily basis. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder remains hopeful they can pass a budget…
cut 15 (06) “…finish business”

Testing will soon begin in Louisiana on the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19 patients…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Starting today all food stamp recipients will receive the maximum benefit, which will impact 265-thousand Louisiana households. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters for those families interested in receiving food stamps, your best bet is visiting their website…
cut 6 (07) “…we do”

03.31.20
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7:30 LRN Newscast March 31

Governor John Bel Edwards says he plans to extend his stay at home order through April 30th to match the federal government’s social distancing recommendations. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 2 (23) “…April 5th”

Following the governor’s press conference, his office announced the state received 100 ventilators from vendors and President Donald Trump has committed to sending 150 ventilators to Louisiana. In total, Louisiana has ordered 14-thousand ventilators, including five-thousand from the federal government’s strategic national stockpile. Currently, 385 patients require ventilation.

Food stamp recipients who are not currently receiving the maximum total possible on their SNAP cards will now start receiving the max. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says only 37 percent of recipients currently receive the maximum.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…benefits”
The max for a single individual recipient is $194 a month.

LSU’s med school plans to begin clinical trials this week on how effective hydroxychloroquine can be in treating COVID-19 and also looking to see if healthcare workers on the frontline should take it, as a way to prevent getting the coronavirus. Dean of the LSU Health Sciences School of Medicine Doctor Steve Nelson says they already know hydroxychloroquine is a safe drug to take….
cut 9 (06) “…1940s”
Nelson says the state has received a large donation of hydroxychloroquine in order for LSU to conduct the study.

03.31.20
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6:45 LRN Sportscast March 31

The NCAA Division One Council has voted to give all spring student-athletes an extra year of eligibility because most of their seasons were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. LSU athletic director Scott Woodward says he’s glad the NCAA council saw the wisdom of passing this through, but it will be expensive, however, it is worth it. The decision means spring sports teams can expand their rosters beyond the current scholarship limit and the NCAA will leave it up to each school to decide how much current seniors will receive in financial aid if they decide to come back for another year.

Former Saints kicker Tom Dempsey has tested positive for coronavirus. Dempsey’s daughter told the New Orleans Advocate that her father contracted the virus at the Lambeth House senior living center, which has reported a number of cases. The 73-year-old is also battling Alzheimer’s e and dementia, but his daughter says he is doing okay.

The F-B-I wiretap that reportedly has LSU basketball coach Will Wade discussing a strong offer made to a recruit is expected to air tonight on an H-B-O Documentary titled “The Scheme.” Wade missed the NCAA Tournament last year because of the FBI wiretap scandal but was reinstated in May. LSU beat reporter for the USA Today Network Glen Guilbeau spoke to one of the writers of the documentary
Cut 16 (18) “…that is new”
Christian Dawkins was the man at the center of the FBI’s investigation into college basketball corruption and he’ll be telling his story in the documentary.

Saints president Dennis Lauscha says the 450-million dollar renovation of the Superdome continues despite the coronavirus outbreak.