State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley unveils the guidelines schools will be operating under as students return in August. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Blaine Kern, Sr., founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades, has died. Kern is credited for turning Mardi Gras float building into a multimillion dollar business. His wife confirmed his death on Facebook. Kern, who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, died at his home in New Orleans. He was 93.

COVID-19 is impacting summer travel. The AAA travel forecast shows Americans will take 700 trips, down nearly 15% compared to last July through September. Driving sees the smallest decrease in travel volume, down 3.6% over the year. While summer gas prices haven’t been this low since 2016, AAA spokesperson Don Redman says it is not enough to spur travel.
Cut 12 (11) “…off the roads.”
Redman says the last time the AAA travel forecast showed a dip in over the year travel was 2009, following the 2008 recession.
Louisiana’s first harvested batch of industrial hemp has been tested and is in compliance with rules for the crop.  State Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the crop received the green light after being tested to make sure THC concentration level is below the legal limit of .3%. Strain says in Louisiana there are over 100 people licensed as growers, processors, transporters, or seed sellers and producers and with the budding industry is a further exploration of additional utility for the crop.
Cut 15 (06) “…at other uses.”

Governor Edwards officially signs an executive order extending Phase Two for another 28 days, and orders groups of no more than 250 for indoor gatherings.

This extension has drawn the ire of some House conservatives who feel the extension will do too much damage to Louisiana businesses. As a result, Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh has resumed pushing a petition that if signed by half of the Legislature would end the Governor’s declaration of emergency. Seabaugh needs 53 additional lawmakers to join him in the House…

Cut 12 (11) “…to having 53.”

But Democrats oppose revoking the order. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says some economic boosts are not worth the added risk to the lives of vulnerable Louisianans.

Cut 15 (11) “…a business open.” 

State workers will not be getting their scheduled pay raises if the budget remains it its current state. Senate Finance Committee members agreed to pause the raises and reconsider them later in the year, citing concern over the  “optics” of giving state workers a pay raise while so many private-sector employees have lost their jobs, but Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne notes that most of the workers who will be impacted don’t make a lot of money.

Cut 8 (09) “…workers”

But Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says if we pass a raise some of them may end up not having a job…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

A resolution by Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields to establish a task force to study policing policy gains final passage. The resolution had unanimous support in its final form, which removed previous language about George Floyd and racial profiling by police.

The state education department releases guidelines for schools to reopen with students in the classrooms. Jeff Palermo reports from third grade and on up masks will be required…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

And for additional school guidelines if the state remains in Phase Two when schools reopen in August maximum group sizes for students would be constrained to 25, no contact sports or band would be allowed, and school bus capacity would be capped at 50 percent. If we move to Phase Three contact sports are in and the number roughly double.

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma determines a 63-year-old black man died of febrile delirium while in the custody of Shreveport first responders last April. Thoma says first responders worked quickly to apply medical care to Austin.

Cut 5 (13)  “…a preventable death”

A group called 45 days of Action Shreveport seeks answers on why Austin and Tommie McGlothen died in police custody in April.

State workers won’t be getting their scheduled pay raise if the budget remains in its current form. A Senate committee backed a pause in pay raises with plans to reevaluate the possibility later in the year. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says the economy is too uncertain right now…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

The state education department released a plan today on how public schools can reopen for the upcoming school year and do so without contributing to the spread of COVID-19. One of the guidelines calls for children in third grade and above to wear masks and students with a breathing condition could wear a face shield. The plan also calls for symptom monitoring of students when they arrive and throughout the day, including an initial temp check. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says sick students need to be isolated quickly…
Cut 10 (05) “…recovery time.”
Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh is once again pushing his petition to end Louisiana’s state of emergency because of COVID-19. While it is unclear if Seabaugh has enough backing, Rosepine Republican Charles Owen is among those showing support for the measure and believes lawmakers need more input on the decision making of advancing the state in reopening.
Cut 13 (08) “…ahead of time.”  

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma determines a 63-year-old black man died of febrile delirium while in the custody of Shreveport first responders last April. Thoma says paramedics and police were called to Wavey Austin’s apartment because he was delusional and uncooperative, so he was handcuffed to conduct a medical evaluationThoma says there was no struggle with police or significant signs of trauma…
Cut 4 (08)_ “…or broken bones.”
Febrile delirium is an acute and transient confusional state with a high fever.  Austin was running a fever of 101.5 at the time of this death and was found to have an enlarged heart contributing to arrhythmia.
When the Senate Finance Committee approved a budget for the next fiscal year Wednesday they put a pause on scheduled pay raises for state workers. Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says right now a public sector pay raise just wouldn’t look good.
Cut 6 (11) “…deal with”
The proposal heads to the Senate where it could be adjusted.

Scheduled pay raises for state employees will be paused under the budget now making its way to the Senate floor. Senate Finance Committee members expressed concern about the “optics” of giving state workers a pay raise while so many private-sector employees have lost their jobs, but Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne notes that most of the workers who will be impacted don’t make a lot of money.

Cut 8 (09) “…workers”

lawmakers say they will take a look at whether the state can afford the raises later this year.

The state education department informs schools that they should be prepared to have to close for three to five days once classes resume should the campus be recognized as having an ongoing spread of COVID-19. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter hopes schools have a plan in place to do a deep clean

Cut 11 (08) “…any return.”

Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh is once again pushing his petition to end Louisiana’s state of emergency because of COVID-19.  Seabaugh needs the support of 53 other lawmakers in the House and says the spread mitigation restrictions have been extended too long.

Cut 12 (11) “…to having 53.”

Louisiana has seen over 53,000 COVID-19 cases and 3,000 fatalities and Baton Rouge Democrat Denise Marcelle applauds the Governor’s decision making and feels sacrificing human life is not worth it for a quicker economic bounce back.

Cut 15 (11) “…a business open.” 

The trend of higher COVID case counts and increased hospitalizations continues today with 938 new positive tests reported and 22 additional hospitalizations.

The concerning trend of higher COVID case counts and increased hospitalizations continues today with 938 new positive tests reported and 22 additional hospitalizations.

Governor Edwards has been sounding the alarm about this rise in cases noting a disproportionality high number of these new cases are 18-29-year-olds. Along with demographics their contact tracing data also shows a worrying number of people who have contracted the virus are not wearing a mask. State health officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says there should be no doubt in people’s minds about just how effective masks are at limiting transmission.

Cut 10 (11) “…an important part.”

Guidry says a mask reduces the risk of someone sharing the virus with others through exhaled particles, and for it to have maximum effect, it needs to cover the nose, not just the mouth like another myth would lead some to believe.

State workers won’t be getting their scheduled pay raise if the budget remains in its current form. A Senate committee backed a pause in pay raises with plans to reevaluate the possibility later in the year. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says the economy is too uncertain right now…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

Opponents note the Legislature is also currently considering nearly a hundred million dollars in business tax breaks at the same time.

The House clears a resolution creating a task force to study police policy, leading to some heated moments on the floor. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala voted for the bill but told the floor police are far more likely to be killed in the line of duty than African Americans are to be killed by police. That prompted this response from Baton Rouge Representative Ted James.

Cut 15 (09) “…action.”

Heated moment Wednesday afternoon in the House as lawmakers took up a resolution to create a task force dedicated to studying policing policy. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says the Black Caucus and Republican leaders struck a deal to pass the resolution in exchange for stripping it of any mention of George Floyd and agreeing not to hold floor speeches on policing.

But after amendments passed stripping the bill of its George Floyd reference, Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala spoke saying cops are more likely to be killed in the line of duty than black men are to be killed by cops. He says since 2017…

Cut 13, 7 seconds, duty

James was incensed and for five minutes held the floor with an impassioned speech…

Cut 15, 9 seconds, action

The resolution passed unanimously and goes to the Senate.

The House approves legislation protecting public and private schools from civil suits by students or teachers who say they got COVID on school grounds. Amite Representative Robby Carter says a school board superintendent told him this bill was vital to actually having students back in classrooms come fall.

Cut 12 (11) “…learning”

The vote was 82-17.

A bill that places an eight-percent tax on net revenue from online fantasy sports contests is heading to the governor’s desk after it received final legislative approval. The money would generate about 375-thousand dollars a year. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says all of the money will go towards funding early childhood education

cut 29 (02) “…committed to do that”

In 2018, voters in 47 of the 64 parishes legalized fantasy sports betting. Residents in parishes who voted for it have been waiting for lawmakers to pass the tax component.

A proposal that will result in many of Louisiana’s essential workers receiving a 250-dollar check from the state continues to make its way through the legislative process. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter complimented Shreveport Rep Sam Jenkins on the legislation.

Cut 16 (12) “ won’t allow that…

The family of a gay teenager stabbed in the neck and wrists believes 18-year-old Holden White of Kaplan is the victim of a hate crime. Police have arrested 19-year-old Chance Seneca and charged him with attempted second-degree murder, but no hate crime charges have been added. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says police officers and prosecutors sometimes do not want to pursue hate crime charges, because it makes the case more complicated

Cut 4 (11)_ “…discrimination”

White is in intensive care, but his family says his condition is improving.

Medical marijuana patients will soon enjoy cheaper treatments. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announces the city will enforce the use of face masks, due to the uptick of coronavirus cases. Health officials report the increase in cases is a result of community spread. Cantrell says Police officers will be provided masks to hand out to those in need of one. The mayor also says the city will also be shutting down any businesses that are out of compliance with current guidelines.