The state hits a milestone with COVID-19 testing. Governor Edwards says Louisiana has surpassed million coronavirus tests since testing began in March. He also says the state has already passed the testing goal for the month of July and Louisiana has the second-highest testing rate of all states since the beginning of the pandemic. To date 84, 131 cases have been confirmed Hospitalizations increased by 7 to 1,369.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopts a list of minimum COVID safety standards that school districts will be called on to implement once classes resume. Parents, teacher’s unions, and even a board member raised concerns about whether physical classes should resume, but Ochsner Pediatrics Chair Dr. William Lennarz says current data suggests the risk is low.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…sick”

The Louisiana Department of Revenue says they are having network connectivity issues with the website where front-line workers can apply for a 250-dollar hazard paycheck. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says the technical issue is also impacting those who are trying to file their state income taxes.

Cut 8 (05) “…very soon”

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies are on the hunt for a shooting suspect that left two people dead, and a third fighting for her life at a home in Westlake.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the agency is currently searching a wooded area in Beauregard Parish for 51-year-old Neil Broussard with the help from the FBI, State Police, and other agencies.

Cut 10 (10) “…safe, thank goodness.”

Police says it was 40-year-old Catherine Hidalgo, who called 911, she’s currently in the hospital.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopts a list of minimum COVID safety standards that school districts will be called on to implement once classes resume. The recommendations cover everything from mandatory face coverings to group size maximums. Children’s Hospital Chief Quality Officer Dr. Leron Finger says if schools follow these rules…

Cut 3 (11)  “…to school.”  

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies are on the hunt for a shooting suspect that left two people dead, a third fighting for her life at a home in Westlake.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says deputies were dispatched to the home around 4 AM after a call from one the victims concerning the suspect, 51-year-old Neil Broussard.

Cut 9 (11) “…shot multiple times.”

The Louisiana Department of Revenue says they are having network connectivity issues with the website where front-line workers can apply for a 250-dollar hazard paycheck. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says Frontlineworkers.la.gov began accepting applications at midnight and by seven AM they accepted more than 14-thousand applications. Robinson says they have funding available for 200-thousand applicants…

Cut 7 (07) “October 31st”

Over 2,000 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state along with 14 additional deaths, but so far the hospitalization data has not been reported. Nearly 7,000 additional people are reported to have recovered from the disease, giving the state about 31,000 known ongoing cases, and the state also passed one million total COVID-19 tests conducted.

Vice President Mike Pence has wrapped up today’s visit to Louisiana. Pence says this is a serious time as the state reported 22-hundred new cases today and hospitalizations rose by 54. He says the White House is making sure the state has what it needs

Cut 13 (10) “…Louisaina.” 

Pence also said during his visit that the state has flattened the curve once already and feels confident that it can be done again.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers says 58-percent of teachers and parents who participated in their online survey do not feel comfortable returning to school next month. L-F-T president Larry Carter says certain precautions and mandates need to be in place to create a safe environment

Cut 6 (10) “…rights”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has tested positive for the coronavirus. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

Louisiana Lottery launches a smartphone app.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the app will help make lottery transactions easier and contactless.While tickets will not be able to be purchased on the phone, Chopin says the app adds more convenience in allowing players to manage their lottery play on their phone as they can also use the app to find out if you have a winning ticket.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…lot more transparency.”

Vice President Mike Pence is in town to talk coronavirus response with state officials in Baton Rouge as Louisiana leaps over the 82,000 total case mark and adds 54 new COVID hospitalizations. Pence thanked the federal and state workers who have put in long hours and he says the Trump administration stands ready to assist

Cut 12 (06) “…the past.”

and according to a recent survey of Louisiana Federation of Teachers members and parents, 58 percent say they are not comfortable going back to school. LFT President Larry Carter says it’s because the state and feds haven’t done enough to make schools safe. Carter says that’s why LFT is pushing the US Senate to approve the HEROES Act, and asking for the Trump administration to sign it if received. Carter says that legislation would provide 1.5 billion dollars to Louisiana to help implement the COVID safety protocols.

Cut 7 (10) “gear in school.”

Cleco announces they will resume disconnection procedures for delinquent accounts September 1^st. Spokesperson Fran Phoenix says that’s because they’ve worked out an installment plan offer to help account holders who’ve had trouble paying the electric bill since March.

Cut 11 (10) “…fees.”

Starting September 30^th Cleco will also cease reimbursement for the two-dollar fifty-cent credit card fee charge for paying bills.

Louisiana Lottery launches a smartphone app.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the app will help make lottery transactions easier and contactless.

Cut 3 (07)  “…print the ticket.”  

Those digital play slips can be created with various number selection methods and saved until a player visits a retailer.

The state’s total COVID-19 case count rises to 82,042, with the addition of 2,215 new cases.  Attorney General Jeff Landry is among those that have tested positive for the virus and is reportedly feeling asymptomatic.  Landry was supposed to appear with Vice President Mike Pence today, who is currently in Baton Rouge.

An online survey of nearly 15-thousand parents and teachers finds 58-percent of them are not comfortable sending their children back to the classroom. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

State and federal tax returns for 2019 are due Wednesday.  The original due dates were in April and May, but Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says the pandemic inspired the state and feds to push it back two to three months.

Cut 13 (12) “….15th” 

Robinson says the turnaround for getting tax returns is right in line with the three to four-week wait you’d expect from the usual tax season.

Louisiana Lottery launches a smartphone app.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the app will help make lottery transactions easier and contactless.While tickets will not be able to be purchased on the phone, Chopin says the app adds more convenience in allowing players to manage their lottery play on their phone as they can also use the app to find out if you have a winning ticket.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…lot more transparency.”

58 percent of Louisiana Federation of Teachers members surveyed say they are not comfortable with school restarting next month. L-F-T president Larry Carter says part of that is because the feds and state have not done enough to make schools safe.

Cut 7 (10) “gear in school.”

Cleco announces customers who’ve had trouble paying their energy bills can get an installment plan to pay their past due amounts back over up to 18 months. Spokesperson Fran Phoenix says this offer is good for payments due from March 13^th through July 16^th, and if accepted will be added to your monthly bill as an installment.

Cut 9, 11 seconds, challenges

Cleco is also announced starting September 1^st disconnection procedures for derelict payments will resume.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will hold a 1:30 meeting about the future of K-12 education in the state. The meeting is expected to be firey and touch on topics like mandatory mask wearing for students. BESE President Sandy Holloway says they hope to have a good idea of what schools will look like by the end of the meeting.

Cut 10 (10) “…not quite sure.”

State and federal personal, partnership, and corporate income tax returns for 2019 are due Wednesday. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says  if you still need extra time you can file for an extension. She says that extends the requirement to file the return, but…

Cut 15 (10) “….outstanding” 

Robinson says the turnaround for getting tax returns is right in line with the three to four-week wait you’d expect from the usual tax season despite COVID impacting the Department’s operations.

Vice President Mike Pence visits with Governor John Bel Edwards in Baton Rouge today.   Edwards says the visit comes following the selection of Baton Rouge as one of the three metropolitan areas in the nation to be selected to receive federal resources for surge testing.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…of that radar.”
Attorney General Jeff Landry will not be present as he has tested positive for coronavirus.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers says 58-percent of teachers and parents who participated in their online survey do not feel comfortable returning to school next month. L-F-T president Larry Carter says certain precautions and mandates need to be in place to create a safe environment
Cut 6 (10) “…rights”
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education holds a vote this afternoon on whether school children should be required to wear masks.

For high school football to happen, Louisiana will need to reach Phase 4. That’s according to LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine who appeared before the House Education Committee. Rosepine Representative Charles Owen says the stark reality is that Louisiana must do a better job at mitigating the coronavirus spread…
Cut 16 (10) “…another direction” 
The state is currently is stuck in phase two, after reporting 17-hundred new cases on Monday.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo loses his reelection effort, ending a 19 year run in the office.  Friday Ellis, an Independent, won 52 percent of the vote while Mayo received 38 percent in a 41 percent turnout election. We asked Mayo what he thought was behind the loss…
Cut 9 (11) “…ideas.”

The state reports just over 1700 new COVID-19 cases, bring the total to just shy of 80,000. The presumed recovered number updated every Monday is now at 46,334. Hospitalizations increase to 1,308.

This sustained rise in cases prompted the Governor’s weekend order mandating face mask use inside all businesses and public facilities. The order comes with a few exemptions from wearing a mask, including people with certain medical conditions. Edwards says he is relying on businesses to help with encouraging individuals to mask up.

Cut 4 (07)_ “…they are trespassing.”

Some Republican legislators are frustrated with the declaration. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says Governor Edwards did not consult with them about the decision and is not responsive to lawmakers concerns about his unilateral decision-making process when it comes to the pandemic.

Cut 8 (08) “…Governor”

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley tells the House Education Committee that reopening schools next month during a pandemic will be a monumental task, but they’ve provided local school systems with guidance on how it can be done. Brumley says it all starts with good hygiene

Cut 9 (10) “…possible”

A decision will be made at tomorrow’s BESE meeting as to whether or not masks will be mandated.

The Lake Charles region has fewer than two dozen ICU beds available as the area has been slammed by rising COVID-19 cases. Region Five Regional Public Health Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh says 67 of their 89 ICU beds are in use…

Cut 12 (11) “…shortages.”

Lake Charles, Jefferson Davis, and Cameron Parish all have a COVID incident rate of over 240 per 100,000, some of the highest in the state.

State and federal personal, partnership, and corporate income tax returns for 2019 are due Wednesday State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley provides the House Education Committee with the guidelines on reopening schools safely…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The Lake Charles region is running low on ICU beds as COVID cases stack up with only 22 beds still available. Region Five Regional Public Health Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh says part of the issue is Lake Charles recent spike in cases began earlier than the rest of the state’s.

Cut 14 (10) “…Memorial Day”

Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate is now in effect and all people entering a business or public building must wear masks when social distancing is not an option. The move has generated a lot of controversy with some Republican lawmakers threatening action against the order. One of those is Oil City Representative Danny McCormick who says the order is an assault on people’s liberty and overreach by the Governor, who is making these decisions without input from lawmakers.

Cut 7 (08) “people.”

But Governor Edwards told residents over the weekend that if they don’t like the mandate, that’s fine, but they still gotta mask up. Edwards says the mandate if followed, will save lives.

Cut 5 (12)  “…me, criticize me.”

Only three parishes are exempt from the mandate due to the per capita infection rate, but mask-wearing is still very much encouraged.  Grant, Red River, and West Feliciana parishes have fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people.