The state is reporting eight deaths and 347 positive coronavirus cases an increase of 67 from yesterday. There are four new parishes reporting cases, West Baton Rouge, St. James, Plaquemines, and Lafayette. Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory called a press conference last night to announce their first positive cases…
Cut 6 (11) “…national leaders”
There are two cases in Lafayette Parish. New Orleans leads the state with 231 positive tests for coronavirus. Governor Edwards warns a shelter in place order may be necessary where community spread is significant…
Cut 13 (11) “place.”

Some say the Governor is overstepping his authority by closing some businesses and limiting public gatherings. But during a coronavirus media briefing, Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry said John Bel Edwards has the authority.
Cut 10 (14) “is yes.”
Congressman Clay Higgins has questioned whether Edwards’s order limiting public gatherings could be enforced.

The price of oil is hovering in the mid 20 dollars a barrel, prices not seen since the early 2000s. The price collapse is hammering the energy industry, and Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Gifford Briggs says this will have a direct effect on industry workers.
Cut 3 (11) “…unsettling.”

With coronavirus cases rising, Louisiana is using State Parks as a place for coronavirus patients to stay in isolation when they can’t live at home because of elderly relatives or other reasons. Governor John Bel Edwards says they already have 10 coronavirus patients at Bayou Segnette in Jefferson Parish…
cut 14 (11) “….the state”

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins has slammed the governor for shutting down restaurants, bars and fitness clubs. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says Edwards has the legal right to restrict public gatherings and the order should be enforced…
cut 11 (12) “…the public”

The state’s largest blood center, Lifeshare, reports they are running low on blood due to a lack of donations. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

State Police is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting in the Acadia Parish town of Iota. L-S-P says Iota officers were dispatched to a home last night where they encountered a male subject seated in a vehicle and armed with a firearm. Authorities say during the encounter, the subject was shot by at least one officer and died from his injuries at a local hospital.

280 Louisianans have tested positive for COVID-19, 196 of those in Orleans Parish and the number of cases is expected to rise sharply as a backlog of tests come in. Governor Edwards warns a shelter in place order may be necessary.
Cut 13 (11) “place.”
Several cities and counties nationwide have ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses for a lengthy period.

Chair of the Global Community Health Department of Tulane’s School of Public Health Doctor Richard Oberhelman says Mardi Gras played a role in the spread of the virus and hand contamination is likely to have been the main culprit of the spread…
cut 5 (08) “….to somebody else”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has asked the public that if they see price gouging, they should call the police. He’s also asking residents, especially seniors, that there are scam artists out there too…
cut 12 (12) “….our hotline”
That number is 1-800-351-4889.

Blood centers are reporting that the COVID-19 crisis is causing a critical shortage of blood donations. Lifeshare spokesperson Ben Prijatel says March is usually a busy month for blood centers, but…
Cut 7 (07) “…as well.”
Prijatel is urging the public to donate blood at one of their local centers and he says they do practice social distancing during the donation process.

As the number of COVID-19 cases rises in Louisiana the Governor says the state is looking at all of its options to respond to the potentially impending healthcare emergency…
Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise has decided to self-quarantine after fellow Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida tested positive for COVID-19. Scalise said he had a lengthy meeting with him late last week.

An eighth person in Louisiana has died from the coronavirus, as St. James Parish hospital announces a patient over the age of 60, who had underlying health conditions succumbed to the virus.

Some say the Governor is overstepping his authority by closing some businesses and limiting public gatherings. But during a coronavirus media briefing, Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry said John Bel Edwards has the authority.
Cut 10 (14) “is yes.”
In a Facebook video post, Congressman Clay Higgins questioned whether Edwards’s order limiting public gatherings could be enforced.

New Orleans is the epicenter of the coronavirus spread in Louisiana. Out of the 280 cases, 196 are in Orleans Parish and there’s 45 more in Jefferson Parish. Chair of the Global Community Health Department of Tulane’s School of Public Health Doctor Richard Oberhelman says Mardi Gras parades possibly played a role…
cut 6 (09) “….lead to spread”

The coronavirus count this morning is 280 cases in Louisiana and eight deaths. An eighth patient died in St. James Parish last night and we now have two cases in Lafayette Parish. There are 196 cases in New Orleans, making it the second-highest city, per capita, behind Seattle. Chair of the Global Community Health Department of Tulane’s School of Public Health Doctor Richard Oberhelman says Mardi Gras celebrations provided the fuel for the virus to spread…
cut 4 (05) “…was being transmitted”

Governor John Bel Edwards is warning Louisiana residents that we should expect to see a surge in cases as the state gets back the results of more than one-thousand tests. The governor also says there’s a need for healthcare workers…
cut 15 (08) “…task”

Earlier this week Republican Congressman Clay Higgins posted a video on his Facebook page slamming the governor for shutting down restaurants, bars and fitness clubs. There’s also a church leader in East Baton Rouge Parish who is defying the governor’s order of no more than 50 people at a public gathering. But Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry backs the governor on this issue. He says Edwards has the authority to restrict public gatherings and the order can be enforced…
cut 11 (12) “…the public”

The Life Tabernacle Church in Central is continuing with its normal services, despite regularly attracting a crowd of over 1100. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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The state reports three more deaths and 60 more coronavirus cases today in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo reports that brings our total to 257…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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A capital region church is continuing to hold services as normal, defying the ban of gatherings of 50 or more people. Rev. Tony Spell says police have shown up after services at the Life Tabernacle Church in Central telling them next time it’ll be the National Guard that will disband the gathering.

Cut 3 (11)  “…enforce upon us.”  

The church had an attendance of over 1,100 from 5 parishes on Sunday, which is about normal.

Spell says they are not pressuring the congregation to show up and says the church also does not have the technology to conduct services remotely.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…that others may.”

Spell believes the virus is politically motivated, adding the church will not have its freedom of assembly taken away.

Cut 5 (08)  “…back to normal.”

The church’s most recent service on Tuesday night drew over 300 people.
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Congress is working on a massive economic stimulus package that will result in Americans receiving a direct payment from the federal government. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the goal is for the first check to be issued April 6th

Cut 6 (07) “…is going.”

The amounts would depend on income and family and the two potential cash infusions will cost 250-billion dollars each.

Cassidy says the federal government is also working to get more testing kits out, so more people can be tested. A drive-thru testing site in Baton Rouge had to suspend operations yesterday after it ran out of testing kits. He says finding out who has the virus is critical to stopping the spread…

Cut 7 (05) “…get better”

Cassidy, a doctor, says he supports Governor Edwards’ dramatic measures to close down schools, restaurants and bars. He’s been in contact with hospitals to make sure they are ready as the virus is showing no signs of slowing down…

Cut 8 (15) “…bed capaicty.”

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The Department of Children and Family Services has seen a doubling in the usual number of food stamp applications.

DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says part of the surge in applications is likely because people think the program is being expanded as it does in natural disasters, but that’s not the case…

Cut 9 (14) “…SNAP″

SNAP sends benefits to roughly 770,000 Louisiana residents currently.

Despite the increased work needed to process all the new applications, Walters does not foresee any disruptions to the usual distribution calendar.

Cut 10 (09) “office”

If you’re one of those new applicants, Walters says the best way to find out about benefits is to text to 898-211, or…

Cut 11 (11) “concerns”

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The number of coronavirus cases is up to 257 in Louisiana and two more patients died this morning at the Lambeth House, a retirement facility in New Orleans. A third fatality today has been reported today in Jefferson Parish bringing our total to seven. Governor Edwards says health experts estimate the state has two weeks to minimize the spread of the coronavirus

Cut 12 (15) “…health care”

Edwards continues to implore Louisiana residents to wash their hands frequently and practice social distancing.

The governor expects the number of coronavirus cases to increase dramatically over the next 24 to 36 as the state plans to receive about a thousand tests results…

Cut 13 (11) “…from that”

Edwards says if you believe you should be tested and don’t have a primary physician, please dial the state’s coronavirus hotline, 2-1-1.

The governor also says he’s requested Small Business Administration disaster loan assistance for all 64 parishes and he’s suspended eviction and foreclosure notices for now to prevent homelessness

Cut 14 (06) “…make their payments.”

There are now 240 known coronavirus cases across 13 parishes in Louisiana as the total number of cases rose by nearly 50 this morning. The death toll remains at four. Governor John Bel Edwards will provide an update at 12:30 today.

The restaurant industry is feeling the impact of the fight against COVID-19. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Congress is working on a massive economic stimulus package that will result in Americans receiving a direct payment from the federal government. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the goal is for the first check to arrive by the end of the first week of April…
cut 6 (07) “….is going”
Speculation out of Washington D-C says the first check could be around one-thousand dollars.

Many people are out of work as a result of the coronavirus and Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie says the number of unemployment claims has tripled…
cut 11 (10) “….as well”
You can file a claim at Louisiana-works-dot-net-slash-hire. If your work hours have been reduced or your workplace has been closed temporarily than you could be eligible for up to 247-dollars a week.