845 new cases of COVID-19 are being reported in the state taking our total number of positive tests over 57,000, along with another jump in hospitalizations, and five additional deaths. 42,000 people are believed to have recovered from the disease, making for roughly 15,000 known active cases in the state.

Louisiana’s law requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges is deemed unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson authored the 2014 legislation and supporters of the law say it made clinics operate under the same law as other outpatient surgical centers. The Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit preventing Louisiana’s law from going into effect. C-P-R CEO Nancy Northup is delighted with today’s ruling…

Cut 5 (08)  “…against Texas”

The decision was 5-4 against, with Chief Justice John Roberts, a Bush appointment, joining the court’s liberal justices in the decision.

New Orleans Senator Troy Carter calls for regulations on travelers coming into Louisiana from hotspot states like Texas as cases rise nationally. Carter says Louisiana residents went through great pains to follow spread mitigation efforts during the stay at home order and feels the state should protect its borders from areas that did not and are seeing the result.

Cut 8 (12) “…our people were.”

Texas and Florida had previously put regulations on visitors from Louisiana.

Legislation that would provide grocery store workers, bus drivers, law enforcement personnel and healthcare workers with a 250-dollar check gains final legislative approval. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau…

Cut 13 (08) “…this is about.” 

Front line or essential workers will be eligible for this 250-dollar check if they make less than 50-thousand dollars a year.

The US Supreme Court shoots down a Louisiana law requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges on a narrow 5-4 vote. The law was authored in 2014 by now Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson, and opponents argued if it became law it would have shut two of the state’s three clinics and was an attempt to subvert Roe Vs. Wade. Associate Director for the Louisiana Right to Life Angie Thomas says Louisiana law requires admitting privileges for many doctors who perform outpatient surgeries, but not abortion providers…

Cut 4 (10)_ “…abortion industry.”

New Orleans Senator Troy Carter is suggesting Louisiana should put some regulations into place for travelers coming into the state from Texas and other hotspots following an uptick in COVID-19 cases.  Carter says the state needs to take every necessary precaution.

Cut 7 (10) “…them at ours”

It may not be an inoculation to the coronavirus, but could a vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella help prevent the most severe complications of COVID-19? Kevin Barnhart explains.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana is up over 56,000 total positive COVID tests after a busy weekend capped by 15-hundred total new cases being reported over Saturday and Sunday. Governor Edwards says 43 percent of those new cases are people under 29-years-old, a new national trend.

The U-S Supreme Court has ruled against an abortion law passed in Louisiana requiring admitting privileges at a nearby hospital for abortion doctors. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson authored the 2014 legislation and says the nation’s highest court struck down a law that would have protected the health of a pregnant woman

Cut 3 (08) ”…great state”  

If the measure became law, it would have shut down two of the state’s three remaining abortion clinics.

A common childhood vaccine might help prevent severe lung inflammation and sepsis if a person is infected with COVID-19. LSU Health New Orleans researcher Dr. Paul Fidel says they plan to give the MMR vaccination to adult primates to see if it can prevent severe complications of COVID-19 and humans as well

Cut 6 (08) “…get the vaccination.”

The Center for Planning Excellence and UrbanFootprint says Louisiana ranks third nationally at having a high risk of evictions when federal assistance expires on July 31st. Urban Footprint CEO Joe Distefano says 130-thousand households across Louisiana are at risk of evictions, because of high unemployment in the service and hospitality sectors…
Cut 8 (09) “gap”
Distefano says they are hoping Congress can provide more relief to avoid an eviction crisis.

If Louisiana is still in Phase Two when schools reopen in August then students who rely on busses could be in a bit of a bind, with busses limited to 50 percent occupancy.  State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says districts are working on solutions to the school bus capacity limit. Brumley says Phase Two school bus limitations and other restrictions mean students may be doing a split of distance and congregate learning should schools reopen without moving to Phase Three.

Cut 11 (07) “…education.”

Governor Edwards plans to increase enforcement efforts on non-compliant businesses as coronavirus cases continue to surge.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

While raw numbers are increasing the percentage of test performed that are showing up positive is still just below the federal level recommended. The feds want fewer than ten percent of tests to show positive, while today’s numbers showed eight percent. One metric that is concerning is hospitalizations. After falling for weeks the recent spike has us back up to where we were as of late May.

The famous Mr. Mardi Gras Blaine Kern Sr. dies at 93. Kern was the founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says Kern had the ability to engage and captivate people like few others, and made the modern Mardi Gras what it is.

Cut 11 (07) “…quite a promoter.”

The UL System is anticipating a five percent loss of revenue by the end of the 2021 fiscal year due to COVID-19 under the current likely scenario. UL System President Jim Henderson says they can absorb that kind of reduction and still supply a quality education, but if the pandemic were to get any worse that may be difficult.

Cut 6 (07) “…about”

The worst-case scenario they’ve drawn up shows a 150 million dollar loss in revenue due to drastic declines in enrollment and the cancellation of sports.

Governor Edwards is demanding businesses comply with coronavirus restrictions as the state reported another 13-hundred cases today. Edwards says the state office of public health, A-T-C and state fire marshal deputies will conduct robust compliance checks when they get complaints…

Cut 5 (11)  “…a whole”

Hospitalizations rose to 700 today.

Assistant health secretary Alex Billioux says 91-percent of the cases are tied to community spread rather than congregate settings like nursing homes. He says in order to stop the surge in cases, Louisiana residents should wear masks in the public and maintain social distancing…

Cut 14 (07) “…neighbors safe.”

Due to a planned power outage of the L-D-H’s office in New Orleans, the state will not update its coronavirus cases on Saturday.

Blaine Kern, Sr., who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, has died. He was 93.  Kern was the founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says Kern’s energy and creativity did not slow down in the later years of his life.

Cut 10 (10) “…just didn’t stop.”

Kern built his first Mardi Gras float on the back on a mule-drawn wagon with his father in 1932 and is credited for turning Mardi Gras float building into a multi-million dollar business.

The UL System is anticipating a five percent loss of revenue by the end of the 2021 fiscal year. President Jim Henderson says some of the loss is due to enrollment from students who are delaying entering college. He says they are being upfront about what expectations should be.

Cut 7 (08) “…2019”

Governor Edwards is demanding businesses comply with coronavirus restrictions as the state reported another 13-hundred cases today. Edwards has said since the pandemic started the state can not enforce its way to compliance, but he’s planning to take a more heavy-handed approach.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…these mandates.”

Hospitalizations rose to 700 today.

Assistant health secretary Alex Billioux says the vast majority in new cases is coming from community spread. Billioux says the percentage of tests that are positive is eight-percent, the federal goal is to keep it below 10-percent.

Cut 13 (09) “…increases there”  

91-percent of the cases are tied to community spread rather than congregate settings like nursing homes.

The UL System is anticipating a five percent loss of revenue by the end of the 2021 fiscal year. President Jim Henderson says the pitch for students uncertain of returning is still the same, a 14-percent annual rate of return on their degree from a U-L system school.

Cut 8 (08) “…investment”

For the current fiscal year ending June 30^th, the UL System is set to suffer a 28 million dollar net loss.

Blaine Kern, Sr., who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, has died. He was 93.  Kern was the founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy remembers Kern as a key figure in the history of Mardi Gras.

Cut 9 (10) “…he improved it.”

Louisiana logs another 1,300 COVID cases today, putting the state close to the 55-thousand total case mark. Assistant health secretary Alex Billioux says the vast majority in new cases is coming from community spread. He says more people are showing up to emergency room departments with COVID-19 symptoms

Cut 12 (12) “…epidemic”

The percentage of tests that are positive is eight-percent, the federal goal is to keep it below 10-percent.

As numbers spike Governor Edwards defends his decision to move into Phase Two where businesses were allowed to expand their capacity, and bars were allowed to reopen. Edwards says those rules weren’t why the cases are growing…

Cut 3 (10) ”…it eventually stopped.”  

The UL System is anticipating a five percent loss of revenue by the end of the 2021 fiscal year due to COVID-19 under the current likely scenario. UL System President Jim Henderson says they can absorb that kind of reduction and still supply a quality education, but if the pandemic were to get any worse that may be difficult.

Cut 6 (07) “…about”

The worst-case scenario they’ve drawn up shows a 150 million dollar loss in revenue due to drastic declines in enrollment and the cancellation of sports.

The famous Mr. Mardi Gras Blaine Kern Sr. dies at 93. Kern was the founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says Kern had the ability to engage and captivate people like few others, and made the modern Mardi Gras what it is.

Cut 11 (07) “…quite a promoter.”

The UL System will take a 28 million dollar net hit to revenue this fiscal year, and is planning for a five percent total drop in revenue for the fiscal year starting July 1^st. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

A 72-year-old woman attacked by her two pit bulls in Mandeville on Thursday afternoon has died from her injuries. St. Tammany Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the scene after a neighbor called to report the attack. Upon arrival the dogs began attacking the deputies and eventually both animals were killed during the response. The victim died at a hospital on the Northshore earlier today.

Governor Edwards is demanding businesses comply with coronavirus restrictions as the state reported another 13-hundred cases today. Earlier this month, the governor loosened capacity restrictions on businesses and re-opened bars. Edwards has paused the state’s re-opening, extending the Phase 2 guidelines for another 28 days as the number of hospitalizations has risen to 700. The governor says the state office of public health, A-T-C and state fire marshal deputies will conduct robust compliance checks when they get complaints…

Cut 5 (11)  “…a whole”

Blaine Kern, Sr., who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, has died. Kern built his first Mardi Gras float on the back on a mule-drawn wagon with his father in 1932 and is credited for turning Mardi Gras float building into a multi-million dollar business.  Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says Kern’s energy and creativity did not slow down in the later years of his life.
Cut 10 (10) “…just didn’t stop.”
He was 93.

Today’s numbers show there can be no doubt, Louisiana is back on a sharply upward trajectory of COVID transmission. 1,354 new cases have been discovered, and 47 additional people have been hospitalized bringing the total COVID hospitalizations to 700 compared to our post-April low of 542 June 14^th and marks the highest number since June 2^nd. 26 additional fatalities are also being reported.

Governor Edwards is pinning this spike in cases not on the move into Phase Two, which increased capacity allowances for many businesses, but on a public that is beginning to slack off on their spread mitigation efforts like mask-wearing and social distancing. Edwards says to reverse this trend they’ll have state workers more aggressively enforce COVID compliance on businesses.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…mandates”

UL System President Jim Henderson says a combination of sports revenue loss and lower student enrollment is leading them to plan for a five percent revenue loss for the coming fiscal year. Many students appear to be considering putting off returning to college while campus life undergoes significant pandemic era changes, and Henderson says they aren’t sugar coating what some of those changes may be…

Cut 7 (08) “…2019”

For the current fiscal year ending June 30^th, the UL System is set to suffer a 28 million dollar net loss.

Blaine Kern, Sr., who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, has died. He was 93.  Kern was the founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy remembers Kern as a key figure in the history of Mardi Gras.

Cut 9 (10) “…he improved it.”