In the first update in two days, Louisiana reports the removal of 1,666 duplicate COVID-19 cases from the state’s total case count down to 48,515. Total deaths… 2,972, up by 22. Hospitalizations… 561, down by 18 with ventilator usage falling to 75, down by 8.
Governor Edwards says he is concerned about the state’s growth in COVID numbers and asks the public to take the pandemic as seriously as they did when we first flattened the curve…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The LSU Board of Supervisors unanimously approves a resolution to renamed Troy Middleton Library due to the namesake’s vocal support for segregation. Governor Edwards spoke strongly in support of the decision to pull the former LSU President’s name from the library.

Cut 6 (09) “…worthy”

The library was named after Middleton in 1978 after his death in 1976. Former lawmaker Woody Jenkins spoke on behalf of the Middleton family, who opposed the decision. Jenkins called Middleton an American World War One and Two war hero.

Today is Juneteenth, a commemoration of a milestone in the ending of slavery in the United States.  The date is getting more recognition this year.  LSU Chief Diversity Officer Dereck Rovaris says today is a celebration of the final group of enslaved African Americans learning of their emancipation.While it is not officially a national holiday, Rovaris feels that may not be far off.

Cut 11 (12) “…for the employees.”

A former LSU football player has filed a federal lawsuit against the university claiming his due process rights were violated when the school decided to suspend him for a year for allegedly having non-consensual sex with a female student. Attorney Susan Stone says the unidentified player cannot attend school, he’s lost his scholarship and she says this could have a long-lasting impact on the player’s life…
Cut 14 (11) “…would be recruiters.”
LSU says it can not comment on pending litigation.

Louisiana health officials say about a third of the nursing homes in the state are not regularly testing their staff and residents. State health officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says facilities who fail to follow the state’s testing guidelines could be hit with sanctions…
Cut 3 (08) ”…withholding payment”  
Guidry says they are asking nursing homes to conduct weekly tests on all of their residents and staff if there are known COVID cases in the facility.

State officials call the recent rise in COVID-19 case numbers “alarming” as we near next week’s announcement on potentially moving into Phase Three.  Neighboring states are starting to see record COVID cases, and Governor Edwards says these numbers should be a gut check for Louisianans to reevaluate if they have been slacking on their social distancing and mask-wearing. He says the threat has not passed.
Cut 8 (09) “…first wave.”

Medical experts in the United Kingdom indicate that a steroid treatment has provided a glimmer of hope in treatment of COVID-19. Dexamethasone appears to cut the risk of death for ventilator patients by a third.   Tulane Medical Center pulmonary care Dr. Joshua Denson has administered the therapy with a handful of patients.  While he has his reservations and believes it should not become standard of care yet, he feels overall hospitals are getting better at figuring out how to manage patients and says that could be because they aren’t seeing the onslaught of patients coming through the door they once did.
Cut 12 (10) “…making some progress.”

The House unanimously approves legislation sending a 250 dollar check to some essential workers. To qualify workers must earn under 50,000 a year. A prior version had the limit at 70,000 a year but bill author Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins says they needed money to reach more people.

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Governor Edwards signs a gun bill targeting local gun restriction ordinances. The legislation was opposed by the mayors of Baton Rouge and New Orleans who objected to it because it would prohibit local governments from establishing gun-free zones in parks, playgrounds, and other public areas. Edwards doesn’t see the legislation to be controversial…

Cut 7 (10) “…issue”

It was one of three gun rights bills Edwards authorized.

A Senate-approved measure creating a policing policy task force written by Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields clears a House committee and is headed to the House floor.  Law enforcement supports the resolution and Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle took note of that…

Cut 9 (08) “…the nation”

Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says it’s a good first step towards cleaning up police forces…

Cut 11 (12) “…force.”

But the retired deputy did cause a bit of an uproar with one statement…

Cut 10 (12) “…State Capitol.”

A House committee approves a proposal to create a Police Training, Screening, and De-escalation Task Force. The panel will study police department policies and make recommendations on how they can be improved. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala is a retired deputy and says he supports the resolution and believes the state needs to put a stop to police brutality…
Cut 11 (12) “…force.”
The Senate approved measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.
A survey from the Louisiana Association of United Ways finds that two-thirds of Louisiana residents need help in paying everyday bills during this COVID-19 pandemic. President of the non-profit Sarah Berthelot says when it comes to the top concerns, 12% say it’s housing, 20% says it’s their community and at 32%, the top concern is avoiding the coronavirus.

Cut 5 (12)  “…was contracting COVID-19.”

28-year-old Cordale Richard was arrested today in the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Aliza Gabriel and 20-year-old Tanasa Francis at a large party in Raceland Sunday. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Brennan Matherne says Richard admitted to the shootings after police tracked him to his home and arrested him without incident.
Cut 15 (11)“ shooting” 
Richard faces two counts of First Degree Murder along with several other charges.

A Calhoun man is in the Ouachita Parish correctional center charged with 400 counts of child porn and 100 counts of sexual abuse of an animal.  40-year-old Keith Taylor is accused of being in possession of, and possibly distributing, inappropriate content online. Trooper Brent Hardy says the allegations have likely shaken the community.

Cut 13 (07) “…knows Mr. Taylor.”  

A Senate-approved resolution that seeks to create a task force to study police law enforcement policies and make recommendations on how to improve receives unanimous support from a House committee. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Border patrol agents seize 2,000 counterfeit designer face masks shipped into the port of New Orleans from China and Vietnam. No information right now as to whether the masks were functional, but they were seized for bearing the counterfeit trademarks of Burberry, Supreme, Gucci, and Chanel on the front of them.

Governor Edwards signs a bill that would allow concealed carry within churches, but only if the administrator of that house of worship allows it. The bill was opposed by the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and other church representatives testified against it in committee, but Edwards says each church can make their own choice…

Cut 6 (03) “…have it”

Edwards also signed legislation overriding local gun-free zone ordinances that go further than state law.

A Calhoun man is in the Ouachita Parish correctional center charged with 400 counts of child porn and 100 counts of sexual abuse of an animal.  Trooper Brent Hardy says the investigation of 40-year-old Keith Taylor began in April when the Special Victims Unit received information that Taylor in possession of, and possibly distributing, inappropriate content online.

Cut 12 (08) “…children and animals.”

The investigation was conducted with the help of multiple agencies including the FBI, the Louisiana AG’s office, and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office.

Governor Edwards signs a gun bill targeting local gun restriction ordinances. The legislation was opposed by the mayors of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, as well as the Louisiana Municipal Association who objected to it because it would prohibit local governments from establishing gun-free zones in parks, playgrounds, and other public areas. Edwards doesn’t see the legislation to be controversial…

Cut 7 (10) “…issue”

28-year-old Cordale Richard was arrested today in the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Aliza Gabriel and 20-year-old Tanasa Francis at a large party in Raceland Sunday. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Brennan Matherne says Richard was involved in a fight at the party, and once the police arrived he allegedly began firing indiscriminately into a crowd.

Cut 14 (09) “…the scene.”

Francis and Gabriel are believed to have been uninvolved bystanders.

A United Way survey breaks down Louisiana residents’ top concerns during the pandemic. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

After about a week of rising COVID-19 case numbers many were eager to see if the trend continued today, but they’ll have to wait as the Department of House says they are reviewing all data they’ve received and will not be releasing a case count today. Governor Edwards may provide additional information on our status at his 2:30 press conference today.

Governor Edwards signs three gun rights bills, one dealing with concealed carry in churches, another targeting local gun restriction ordinances, and the last addressing rights during a public emergency. Edwards says the first bill rewrites Louisiana law to specify that conceal carry is permissible in houses of worship if it is approved by that facility’s administrator.  

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That bill was opposed by the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and other church representatives testified against it in committee.

A House committee approves a proposal to create a Police Training, Screening, and De-escalation Task Force. The panel will study police department policies and make recommendations on how they can be improved. Law enforcement supports the resolution and Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle took note of that…

Cut 9 (08) “…the nation”

A survey from the Louisiana Association of United Ways finds that two-thirds of Louisiana residents need help in paying everyday bills during this COVID-19 pandemic. President of the non-profit Sarah Berthelot says households with annual incomes less than $35,000 face the most setbacks and challenges.

Cut 3 (10) ”…on low income workers”  

Total new COVID case numbers have jumped pretty significantly over the past week and hospitalizations are up on average of the past four days, but Governor Edwards says despite that increase Louisiana is still nowhere close to where it was in early April according to the data and…

Cut 12 (11) “…state”

Edwards did also note that recent spikes in cases for neighboring states indicate the virus will not be slowed by hot weather.

Essential workers could receive a one-time 250-dollar payment from the state as a result of the legislation heading to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A House Committee defeats a proposal that would have stripped Louisiana police officers of their “qualified immunity”, a legal protection that shields law enforcement from being sued in civil court for alleged wrongful death and excessive force.

The state dodged a tough conversation about budget cuts this year thanks to federal CARES Act funding but a UL Lafayette economics professor warns we won’t be skating by so easily in future sessions as the COVID Recession is likely to cost the state about a billion dollars in revenue compared to projections before the pandemic began.

Cut 11 (07) “…people.”

That’s Gary Wagner who notes there are some rosier projections based around the potential to rapidly regain those lost jobs the state begins to reopen, but there’s no consensus that that will happen.

A measure that would provide the gaming industry with an 83-million dollar tax break over the next five years is awaiting debate on the Senate floor after a Senate Committee approved the bill. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says his proposal is to help an industry that’s been hit hard by the COVID-19 economic shutdown

Cut 3 (08) ” their heels”  

A measure that would provide the gaming industry with an 83-million-dollar tax break over the next five years is awaiting debate on the Senate floor after a Senate Committee approved the bill. The legislation allows each casino to distribute five-million dollars in free promotional play wagers without having to pay taxes and the casinos use those play wager as a marketing tool to attract customers. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau expressed his support.

Cut 5 (08)  “…I really do”

A House committee has approved a bill that would result in the state sending 250-dollar checks to some front-line employees who were required to work when the coronavirus pandemic hit Louisiana. Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins says front line workers, first responders, healthcare, and childcare workers who earn less than 50-thousand dollars a year will be eligible, and the cash will help stimulate local economies.

Cut 7 (07) “…bills and expenses”

A UL Lafayette economics professor warns our economic recovery from the COVID recession could drag well into 2022.   Gary Wagner says if the pandemic had not hit it is likely we would have experienced a minor economic slowdown, but because of COVID-19, we’re now looking at historic long-term job losses.

Cut 9 (10) “…pandemic.”

The numbers are out regarding casino revenue in the month of May and the grand total is $70 million.  While that’s down from the nearly $218 million at the same time last year, Casino Association of Louisiana executive director Wade Duty says the numbers are a positive indicator for the state’s gaming industry, considering all of the hurdles they faced.

Cut 12 (10) “…a downward trend.”