A Louisiana Tech freshman is 3-D printing a contraption for medical personnel intended to relieve the pressure on the ears from the elastic bands on face masks. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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Ten years ago today, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig off the coast of Louisiana exploded, killing eleven workers and spewing nearly five million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Matt Doyle reports many of the species impacted still haven’t recovered…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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High School seniors and juniors are missing out on spring graduation and ring ceremonies, but that’s not stopping them from getting their caps, gowns, and rings. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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A Louisiana Tech freshman is 3-D printing ear guards for medical personnel.  Mechanical engineering major Avereigh Barras says she was inspired to start creating the devices after seeing a Canadian boy scout’s invention intended to relieve the pressure of elastic bands from masks on the ears.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…it would be.”

With the contraption, the bands no long touch the ears.  The mask bands hook to the device behind the head.  Barras says as of now, she’s created just over 1,600 and hopes to hit the 2,000 mark in the first two weeks of manufacturing.

Cut 5 (13)  “…some bigger hospitals.”

Barras recently started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of the shipping and manufacturing which she says has seen an abundance of support.

Cut 6 (07) “…do add up.”

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Today marks ten years since the BP Oil Spill ravaged the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, and environmental scars exist still to this day.

National Wildlife Federation Gulf of Mexico Restoration Director David Muth says the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was recovering as a species before 2010 but since then…

Cut 7 (09) “…effects.”

Muth says Coastal bottlenose dolphins have seen their successful birthrate remain less than a quarter of what it was before their habitat was poisoned by the spill.

Cut 8 (11) “…dolphins”

The spill also killed off 17 percent of the Gulf’s Bryde whales, an impact that’s seen them be added to, and remain on the endangered species list since.

Muth says the overall ecological impact remains horrific, but the one silver lining to result from the calamity was the more than 16 billion in fines that paid for coastal restoration projects like…

Cut 9 (05) “…restored″

Muth says Louisiana received over eight billion dollars in payments as a result of the spill.

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Some schools are organizing drive-through pickup for caps, gowns, and class rings for juniors and seniors who are missing out on some of the seminal events of their high school years.

Jostens sales rep Jim Rabb says his company is working with schools to establish drive-by locations where parents can bring their kids to get some semblance of pomp and circumstance.

Cut 10 (09) “possible.”

For many kids, these drive-throughs are the first time they’ve seen their fellow students and teachers in person, and Rabb says most of them are run by a familiar face…

Cut 11 (10) “…again.”

Rabb says they’ve taken precautions to maintain social distancing and all employees are wearing at least gloves. He says it’s not mandatory, but if you do come he asks you to put on a mask…

Cut 12 (10) “possible.”

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The state health department says I-C-U doctors should receive credit for helping to lower the number of COVID-19 patients who need ventilators. On April 4th, the state reported 571 of their COVID-19 patients needed ventilators, now that number is 349. Assistant state health officer Joe Kanter

Cut 13 (09) “…the country”

Kanter says the mortality rate for someone placed on a ventilator in Louisiana is between 40 and 60-percent, while New York and Seattle are over 80-percent. He says are I-C-U doctors have learned how to better treat the disease

Cut 14 (07) “…fluid.”

Kanter says critical care specialists are also finding success in having sickest coronavirus patients lay on their stomach because it helps to increase the amount of oxygen into their lungs

Cut 15 (14)“…working well”

He says it takes a sophisticated ICU team to pull it off to prevent sores and prevent injury to their head and neck. He says they are not sure if this method works with patients before they go on the ventillator.

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The NFL draft is this week as the Saints have the 24th pick in the first round on Thursday night. Mike Triplett covers the Black and Gold for ESPN says New Orleans is in position to take the best player available

Cut 16  (18)  “…player’s grade” 

The Saints are known to trade up in the first round. Triplett says New Orleans is in a win-now mode, so it’s a possibility they could do that again on Thursday…

cut 17  (18) “…will though” 

Triplett says the Saints do not have a second-round pick, which probably reduces the chance they move up in the first round. Many mock drafts have New Orleans selecting Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray. Triplett says Murray and LSU’s Patrick Queen would bring more athleticism to that position

Cut 18  (24) “…the draft”   

Louisiana could see another round of severe weather on Sunday. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Phase One of federal guidelines on reopening the economy call for limited access to dine in restaurants and gyms, reopening of elective surgical centers, and more. Matt Doyle has local reaction…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Dangerous weather conditions are expected with the arrival of two cold fronts into the state this weekend. State climatologist Barry Keim says the first front will roll in late Friday night into Saturday morning.

Cut 3 (10)  “…severe weather potential.”  

The forecaster puts the portion of Louisiana between I-10 and I-20 in the slight to an enhanced risk category for severe weather. Keim says the potential for severe weather is not as great as it was last weekend, but it could still be a bumpy ride and is still worth monitoring.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…across into Georgia.”

Keim says the rain potential is up to about an inch and a half, adding that it is much needed in south Louisiana.

Cut 5 (09)  “…a bigger problem.”

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The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation is raising money to help bar owners stay afloat and keep your favorite local watering hole alive through the COVID Crisis.

LHF Executive Director Jennifer Kelley says all bars are closed and unlike restaurants, they don’t have the option of takeout or delivery.

Cut 6 (10) “…bills”

Many small businesses are keeping the lights on by taking advantage of federal programs like the CARES Act. Kelley says, unfortunately, bars have a very unusual business model…

Cut 7 (11) “sense”

Kelley says locally officials could help bars by expanding alcohol delivery laws.

To contribute or to seek aid visit LHF’s website and look for the South Louisiana Bar Owner Relief Fund.

Cut 8 (06) “…plan”

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The Governor toured the PMAC today.  The home of LSU basketball is playing host to a giant operation to create PPE for frontline healthcare workers.  Interim LSU President Thomas Galligan says the operation started in the garage of Wayne Newhauser, the head of LSU’s Medical Physics department.

Cut 9 (08) “…an arena operation.″

Galligan says the makeshift PPE factory has produced gowns from donated billboard vinyl.

Cut 10 (08) “…first three days.”

In the near future, Galligan believes the operation will be outputting 1000 gowns a day.

Galligan credits the ability of departments to work in unison to get the job done.

Cut 11 (11) “…as a team.”

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The Trump Administration issues guidelines to states on how to reopen their economies in three “phases”.

Phase one continues to encourage social distancing but allows activities like limited dine-in access to restaurants. The Pelican Institute is calling on Louisiana to implement Phase One May 1^st.

Cut 12 (07) “recommended”

That’s VP of Policy and Governmental Affairs Renee Amar.

Phase One reopenings are being left to local governments with recommendations of implementation on a parish by parish basis. Amar says the phase-ins are effective because they’re flexible…

Cut 13 (10) “…place”

Governor Edwards says any implementation of these phased reopenings will be done on the advice of his Resilient Louisiana Commission that will study the potential tradeoffs of opening the economy.

Cut 14 (10) “…die”