There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. The latest advisory shifts both storms westward. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says southwest Louisiana needs to be on guard and so does southeast Louisiana as that part of the state is in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Laura which will most likely pass south Florida on Monday.

Cut 10 (07) “…successive days.”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is bracing for the potential impact.  GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says conference calls among coastal parishes have already begun.

Cut 15 (13) “at that time.” 

An Ochsner anti-body survey of the Baton Rouge region uncovers some unsettling data about COVID-19. Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan says they discovered 61 percent of those who tested positive for a contagious infection were not showing symptoms and likely didn’t know they were carrying the virus.

Cut 6 (04) “…or not”

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says it will be a challenge to handle college outbreaks compared to dealing with certain types of businesses or buildings, as on campus, you’ve got both on-campus and off-campus living, sprawling buildings, and a variety of places that could be linked to outbreaks.

Cut 4 (11)“ …to the public.” 

Some colleges, including LSU, are doing their own contact tracing and surveillance efforts.

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last summer after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says it’s the definition of a tragedy and one no one saw coming from Jordan who was described as a good student on his way to college.

Cut 13 (08) “…tragedy” 

Stephanie Payne was idling at a Baton Rouge intersection on July 22^nd when Jordan slammed his vehicle into hers at over 90 miles per hour.

There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says the official forecast track calls for this system to develop into a hurricane as it approaches the Louisiana-Texas coastline

Cut 9 (08) “…very good”

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week with the total weekly tally of cases appearing on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

The state reports nearly 1100 new COVID-19 cases today, Fatalities increase by 50. Hospitalizations decrease by 36 to 1051, with 172 patients on ventilators, down by 6.

It’s looking likely we will see two named storms enter the Gulf of Mexico next week, the first time we’ve seen two named storms in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time since 1933. One system seems to be aiming for the Louisiana-Texas border, while another, Tropical Storm Laura, is expected to make landfall as a hurricane on the northern gulf coast on Wednesday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says keep an eye out…

Cut 11 (08) “…both of them.”

Heavy rainfall is the greatest threat to the area, with two to six inches forecasted Monday through Thursday. Strong winds and elevated tides are also possible. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is bracing for that possibility. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says it’s time to get prepared…

Cut 16 (11) “…things become strained.” 

Hopes for Louisiana obtaining any form of herd immunity in the next few months from COVID-19 appear to be slim. An Ochsner study of the Baton Rouge region showed despite being a hotspot the city only had ten percent of its population with coronavirus antibodies in mid-late July…

Cut 8 (05) “area”

That’s Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan who says 2,100 people were tested for the survey.

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last summer after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says Jordan’s next court hearing is in October.

Cut 14 (11) “…released”

Stephanie Payne was idling at a Baton Rouge intersection on July 22^nd when Jordan slammed his vehicle into hers at over 90 miles per hour.

There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says southwest Louisiana needs to be on guard and so does southeast Louisiana as that part of the state is in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Laura which will most past south Florida on Monday.

Cut 10 (07) “…successive days.”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is bracing for the potential of two tropical systems impacting Louisiana next week.  GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says conference calls among coastal parishes have already begun and a Unified Command Group meeting has been called by the Governor for this afternoon.

Cut 15 (13) “at that time.” 

An Ochsner anti-body survey of the Baton Rouge region uncovers some unsettling data about COVID-19. Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan says those who reported the loss of smell and taste were eight and a half times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, and it’s no simple allergy season kind of sensory loss…

Cut 7 (10) “…severe.”

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last year after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says three medical experts observed his client and said was not of sound mind at the time of the incident, and ultimately the DA agreed.

Cut 12 (10) “…that time”

The state reports nearly 1100 new COVID-19 cases today, with the grand total now at 141,720. Fatalities increase by 50. Hospitalizations decrease by 36 to 1051, with 172 patients on ventilators, down by 6.

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting two hurricanes will be in the Gulf of Mexico next week. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the main goal is to pinpoint where outbreaks occur in an effort to mitigate further spread.

Cut 3 (11)  “…early as possible.”  

The total weekly tally of cases reported by universities will appear on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

The Louisiana Municipal Association calls on Congress to include aid to struggling local governments in the next pandemic relief package. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says they’ve been hammered by dual disasters in last year’s tornado and the pandemic. To survive this period they need federal aid.
Cut 10 (10) “…this.”
The National League of Cities estimates 90 percent of municipalities will not be able to meet their budgets.

There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says the official forecast track calls for this system to develop into a hurricane as it approaches the Louisiana-Texas coastline

Cut 9 (08) “…very good”

Keim says the other system is Tropical Storm Laura has the potential of making landfall in southeast Louisiana on Wednesday as a hurricane.

An Ochsner anti-body survey of the Baton Rouge region uncovers some unsettling data about COVID-19. Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan says they discovered 61 percent of those who tested positive for a contagious infection were not showing symptoms and likely didn’t know they were carrying the virus.

Cut 6 (04) “…or not”

2,100 people in the region were tested for the survey.

The 2020 US Census is in its final months, but the Bayou State is in danger of being undercounted due to lack of response. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The AP reports that only 64 percent of those who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-May have been interviewed by contact tracers, and only 25 percent of those found positive responded to contact tracers within 24 hours of receiving their results. Of those 64 percent who are contact, 70 percent are claiming that they have no close contacts that they could have infected.

Governor Edwards feels the latest metrics are showing the state is trending in the right direction in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.  The state overall has seen its daily percentage of positive tests drop below 10 percent.  Broken down by region, Edwards says four out of nine are testing below that mark.

Cut 14 (11) “…of the state”

On Thursday, the state reported the largest single-day drop in COVID hospitalizations in three months, a decrease of 73.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin gave emotional and at times teary-eyed testimony at a Senate Committee Thursday over his controversial fall election plan that rolls back the summer’s mail-in balloting options. Governor Edwards has outright rejected the plan on public health grounds. Ardoin says his plan needs Legislative and Executive support to be implemented or it will head to the courts…

Cut 7 (08) “…this plan.”

The Louisiana Municipal Association calls on Congress to include aid to struggling local governments in the next pandemic relief package. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says they’ve been hammered by dual disasters in last year’s tornado and the pandemic. To survive this period they need federal aid.
Cut 10 (10) “…this.”
The National League of Cities estimates 90 percent of municipalities will not be able to meet their budgets.

As the deadline to complete the 2020 Census looms, the Bayou State is falling short in responses. Being undercounted could adversely affect funding for schools, roads, and hospitals and U-S Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says it could also affect Congressional representation.

Cut 5 (09)  “…that seat.”

You are required by law to answer the Census and Ross says the questionnaire takes 10 minutes to complete, if you do not, you will be personally visited by a Census worker.

American Airlines will suspend flights to 15 smaller US cities starting October 7^th. Matt Doyle spoke with the Lake Charles Regional Airport Director about their inclusion on the list…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The state reports the largest single-day drop in COVID hospitalizations in three months as the total falls to 1,087, down by 73, and marks the first time since July 9^th it has been below 1100. Just over 1000 new cases today, total cases: 140,821… Total deaths, 4,496, up by 28.

Seven SEC teams have released their reduced stadium capacities so far, with all of them having capacities somewhere between 20 and 25 percent. Governor John Bel Edwards says he is also waiting on plans from ULM, UL Lafayette, and La Tech as well as LSU. He’s confident their proposals will be adequate.

Cut 8 (08) “look like.”

Face coverings will also be mandatory at all SEC games.

The Louisiana Treasury Department announces they returned a record 63-million dollars in unclaimed property for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. State Treasurer John Schroder says the previous record was 52-million dollars, which was set during the previous fiscal year

Cut 12 (11) “…keeps climbing”

Schroder says he’s pleased to set a new record during a pandemic

All eyes are on the tropics as two tropical depressions are expected to form into named storms today.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says the closest system to Louisiana is tropical depression 14 and is currently getting better organized in the Western Caribbean.  Keim says the tropical depression 13 is also gaining steam but is about 750 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands in the Atlantic.
Cut 10 (10) “…as a hurricane.”
Keim says Louisiana could be a landing spot for either or both storms.
Eight SEC teams have announced their plans for fans at football games this season, with all of them having capacities somewhere between 20 and 25 percent. Governor Edwards expects we will know the situation at Tiger Stadium in the next ten days…
Cut 6 (09) “…26th”
LSU opens the season in Baton Rouge on September 26^th against Mississippi State.

American Airlines is suspending flights out of Lake Charles from October 7^th through November 3^rd. American says it the first step in an evaluation of their network, but Lake Charles Regional Airport Director Heath Allen says it’s surprising considering how strongly they’ve bounced back.

Cut 3 (11)  “…percent”  

The Louisiana Treasury Department announces they returned a record 63-million dollars in unclaimed property for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. Each year millions of dollars in unclaimed cash, such as payroll checks, royalties, and life insurance proceeds are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office. State Treasurer John Schroder says this past year his office returned more than two million dollars to a family in New Orleans and he has another great example

Cut 13 (08) “…$268,000 too”