Author Archives: Jeff Palermo

04.01.20
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8:30 LRN Newscast

Governor John Bel Edwards says yesterday’s large increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases and deaths should be a wake-up call for Louisiana. The state reported 1,212 new cases and 54 new deaths…
cut 9 (08) “…I was startled”
Edwards says Louisianans need to do a better job at staying at home and social distancing.

Self-employed workers are now eligible for unemployment insurance as a result of the federal stimulus bill that passed last week. Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie says they have yet to receive federal guidelines on to handle applications from independent contractors, but they can apply now…
cut 5 (10) “…no longer working”

Rev. Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Central faces six misdemeanor charges for violating the governor’s stay-at-home order. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Pastor Wesley Jackson of the Calvary Pentecostal Church in Jeanerette. Authorities are urging him to stop violating the state ban on large gatherings. The letter was delivered during a church service yesterday where an estimated 50 people were in attendance.

04.01.20
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7:30 LRN Newscast

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 the governor’s reaction…
Cut 2 (31) “…Matt Doyle ”

Edwards also says the New Orleans area could run out of ventilators int he New Orleans area by Saturday. The governor says 150 ventilators are on their way from the federal government. Also, one-thousand hospital beds in the New Orleans convention center will be ready by Sunday.

Pastor Tony Spell of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central in East Baton Rouge Parish faces six misdemeanor charges for holding large services, which goes against Governor Edwards ban on large gatherings. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore on why six counts…
cut 11 (09) “….different days”
More charges could be coming, as Reverend Spell held another large service last night.

Last week’s passage of the federal stimulus bill means independent contractors and self-employed workers are able to apply for unemployment insurance. The stimulus bill provides 600-dollars a week through July 31st, but Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie admits the crush of applicants is making it difficult for many to apply…
cut 6 (12) “…process for everyone”

04.01.20
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6:45 LRN Sportscast April 1

Based on the comments Saints Coach Sean Payton gave during an appearance on the ESPN show “Get Up,” 2020 will be the final season for quarterback Drew Brees. The future Hall of Famer signed a two-year contract last month, but that second year is voidable. Payton said on the ESPN show that Brees is coming back for his final season.

There will be 14 playoff teams instead of 12 next season as the owners voted to add another team from each league to the postseason. Only the number one seed will receive a bye and there will be three games on Saturday and three more on Sunday during wild-card weekend. The league also says a 2020 schedule will be released before May 9th. It usually comes out in mid-April.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron told an ESPN Baton Rouge radio station that he doesn’t think the season will be delayed. Coach O believes the curve in cases will flatten by summer.

LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says a decision to cancel spring sports seasons has not been made, but with the governor extending the stay at home order through April, it means no games could be played until May at the earliest. The association’s executive committee meets next week and a decision could be made then.

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.

ESPN reports the NBA and its players’ association are discussing scenarios for withholding up to 25-percent of players remaining salaries in a league escrow if regular-season games eventually are canceled. The association is looking at various options to re-start the regular season, possibly playing all games in Las Vegas or another location.

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.