Louisiana’s stay at home order is set to end tomorrow and today Governor John Bel Edwards will release the official phase one reopening guidelines that he’s expecting businesses to follow. Churches and restaurants can reopen at 25-percent of their normal capacity.

But not every business can reopen tomorrow. Massage, tattoo parlors, amusement parks and bars that do not serve food must remain closed. Matt Doyle has more…
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Salons and barbers can welcome customers back to their business tomorrow. But under phase one guidelines, they can only open at 25-percent capacity and each station has to be at least six feet apart. Louisiana Board of Cosmetology Executive Director Steve Young says stylists are also required to wear masks…
cut 6 (05) “…be sanitized”
Young says there could be a buffer time of 15 to 30 minutes between each customer to make sure all of the equipment gets wiped down.

Eighteen of 21 State Parks reopen this weekend. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says all previously booked out of state reservations are canceled, giving Louisiana residents a chance to visit a state park…
cut 14 (12) “…night free”
State Parks will begin accepting reservations tomorrow.

Governor Edwards will release a proclamation today that officially lifts the stay at home order, which will loosen restrictions on restaurants and churches and allow many retailers, gyms, movie theaters, nail and hair salons to reopen. But Edwards says the fight against the coronavirus is not over and he’s asking residents to wear maks, social distance and practice good hygiene…
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Some business advocates are frustrated that tattoo parlors, bars, and spas will not be allowed to open for business tomorrow. Assistant Health Secretary Doctor Alex Billioux cited White House guidelines recommending places like bars remain closed.
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The full Senate has approved a bill giving voters a chance to decide if they want sports betting legalized in their parish. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says if his proposal gets full legislative approval, the proposition will appear on the November ballot
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The proposal passed on a 29-8 vote and heads to the House for more consideration.

Congressman Ralph Abraham pens a letter to Tesla founder Elon Musk inviting the tycoon to relocate his California based company to north Louisiana. Musk reopened his Tesla production facility in spite of a local stay at home order shuttering all non-essential businesses and is facing potential legal action.
Cut 7 (11) “…What’s right.”

Hair salons, restaurants, and movie theaters can re-open tomorrow, but tattoo parlors, bars, and spas will have to wait until phase two. Assistant health secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says they have three criteria for when, and how businesses can open: The number of potential COVID contacts in a facility, how long you would have contact with a COVID case, and whether the business model could be adapted to limit contact.
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Billioux says the Phase One reopening still calls for extensive social distancing and only focuses on businesses deemed “low risk”.

State parks, historic sites and state museums reopen this weekend under phase one guidelines. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says park rangers and attendants will be there to greet visitors…
cut 15 (11) “…back to Louisiana”

Are you ready to get your hair cut or nails done? Remember you are not the only one as these facilities re-open tomorrow. Kevin Barnhart reports appointments will likely be needed…
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The Louisiana Association of United Ways is asking residents to complete their ten-minute online survey to find out how COVID0-19 is impacting families financially. Jeff Palermo has the story

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Healthcare and higher education appear likely to suffer deep cuts as the state faces a billion-dollar projected deficit in the next fiscal year. Matt Doyle has more…

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The idea of axing Mardi Gras 2021 in New Orleans has been discussed, but in Lafayette, the outlook is to stick to business as usual.  President and CEO of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission Ben Berthelot says the plan is to assume the worst of the pandemic will be in the rearview mirror by next year.

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Berthelot says planning for a normal Mardi Gras will help bring visitors back to the area.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…and Acadiana area.”

Berthelot says if guidance is issued on how to best handle Mardi Gras closer to Carnival season, those measures will be taken.

Cut 5 (09)  “…and welcoming people.”

Fat Tuesday falls on February 16 in 2021.

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Senator Bill Cassidy says more needs to be done to address the developmental damage being done to children who are missing out on critical days of school.

Cassidy says younger children need to be in the classroom while their minds are primed to absorb the most knowledge.

Cut 6 (09) “opportunity.”

Cassidy says working moms and dads need schools to be open so they have a place to send their children while they go off to work.

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Cassidy says all of the country’s vaccine work is currently focused on adults, but children need a vaccine too.

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Cassidy raised these questions with Trump Administration health officials.

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The United Way is asking families how is the COVID-19 crisis impacting them financially? Louisiana Association of United Ways President Sarah Berthelot says they are asking residents to complete their online survey that starts off by asking what is your most pressing concern

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Berthelot says many families are in a financial position they’ve never been in before.  She says the answers to the survey will help United Way determine what kind of assistance families need

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Berthelot says you can go to launitedway.org to complete the ten-minute survey. She hopes to receive several hundred responses from every region of the state.

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Berthelot says they launched the survey on Tuesday and they’ve already had about one-thousand respondents.

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Lawmakers are hoping to knock out a balanced budget for the next fiscal year before the regular session ends June 1^st despite a billion-dollar projected deficit.

House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says the unfortunate reality of a billion-dollar deficit is that they may have to make some deep cuts.

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A balanced budget must be passed by the start of the next fiscal year, July 1^st. The committee is now awaiting a budget proposal from the Governor.

Zeringue says crafting that budget is difficult because right now we don’t know how much federal aid the state will get, or how we can use it.

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Louisiana received 1.8 billion in COVID-19 response funding from the feds with the requirement that it only be spent on direct response to the pandemic. Senator John Kennedy is pushing legislation that would relax those requirements.

Zeringue says there are 50-50 odds that the budget debate will require a June special session, but not for the usual partisan reasons.

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Governor Edwards has indicated that any budget passed this session for the next fiscal year will likely need to be revised in October.

Senator Bill Cassidy is pushing legislation that could help address some of the state’s budget problems resulting from the COVID economic collapse. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Cassidy also says states need to increase COVID-19 testing for students and teachers so schools can safely re-open in August. Meanwhile, Louisiana universities may not allow students to live in a three or four-person dorm room, which would shrink dorm capacity. LSU can house nearly eight-thousand students on campus.

The legislative session’s tort and auto insurance reform bill passed out of House and Senate Committees last night after lengthy debates. The legislation lowers the jury trial threshold from 50,000 to 5,000 dollars, and House bill sponsor, Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says auto insurers have promised rate reductions if it passes.
Cut 10 (05) “…this bill.”
But Democrats are skeptical the legislation will reduce rates and they believe it will also lower settlements that injured people receive in car accidents.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau will not hold its annual convention in New Orleans in June. Louisiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson says they plan to have a virtual conference instead.
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When Casinos and gaming facilities reopen on Monday as part of Phase One it will not be business as usual. Brooke Thorington explains.
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Harrah’s Casino and video poker parlors will not be open in New Orleans as part of the Crescent City’s phase one reopening plan that will go into effect on Saturday. If you want to eat at a restaurant, reservations will be required, providing a name and phone number that will be kept by the restaurant for three weeks if contact tracing is needed.

Senator Bill Cassidy is pushing Congress to approve legislation that would provide 500-billion dollars to help state and cities who have seen their tax base disappear as a result of an economic shutdown. Cassidy on how he came up with the number…
cut 5 (11) “….months”
Louisiana’s Revenue Estimating Conference is projecting a one billion dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau will not hold its convention in New Orleans in June because of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation spokesperson Avery Davidson…
cut 5 (08) “…. one-day event”
Davidson says they still plan to have some sort of a virtual convention, with details announced soon.

Most casinos and video poker parlors are preparing to reopen on Monday. Each property will be required to limit occupancy to 25-percent and only 25-percent of gaming positions can be in operation. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says every gambling facility is also required to submit a reopening plan to State Police that will feature a series of mitigation measures…
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Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is co-authoring legislation that would provide states and cities with 500-billion dollars in federal aid because of a loss in tax revenues. Cassidy says Louisiana deserves some of this money…
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Louisiana facing a one billion dollar revenue shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

Tort reform bills that supporters say will reduce auto insurance premiums by 10-percent are heading to the House and Senate floors. Democrats are skeptical the measures will lower auto insurance rates and they say the proposed Omnibus Premium Reduction Act will lower the damages a person could get in an accident. Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins also questioned why debate such impactful legislation when many people can not testified because of COVID-19 restrictions…
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But Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo argues it’s a great time to push legislation that will put more money back in people’s pockets…
cut 11 (11) “…rent”