The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Louisiana has fallen below 800 for the first time since late March. A falling hospitalization rate is one of the factors state officials use to decide how and when restrictions on public gatherings and business can be eased.

The Louisiana Department of Education announces every childcare provider in the state will receive free supplies to help ensure a healthy reopening following the COVID-19 outbreak. Assistant Superintendent Jessica Baghian says the state worked with vendors to acquire supplies for 16-hundred childcare providers

Cut 10 (07) “…providers”

The supplies include no-touch thermometers, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap, and other cleaning products. The supplies were purchased with federal emergency relief funds.

The Louisiana House has approved a 30-billion-dollar spending plan for next fiscal year. It contains nearly a billion dollars in federal aid that are being used to avoid deep cuts to state services. The proposal fully funds TOPS, K-through-12 schools, and social services. The budget heads to the Senate, but final approval is not expected until a special session that will start on Monday night.

The second named storm of 2020 formed today prior to the official start of the 2020 hurricane season beginning June 1st. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this is not the norm. Half of the recorded years with two or more named storms before June 1^st have occurred in the last ten years, and while Keim says 70-80 percent of all activity still occurs during the season…

Cut 5 (10)  “…amazing to me”.

Louisiana drops below 800 total people currently hospitalized for COVID-19 as of today’s update, down from the peak of 2134 people on April 13^th. 443 new cases were also reported along with 21 new deaths bringing the state’s total number of fatalities to 2,617.

The House Natural Resources Committee has approved legislation that would terminate lawsuits filed by parishes that seek compensation from oil companies for contributing to coastal land loss. The bill’s author, Houma Senator Michael Fesi, says these types of lawsuits should be filed by the state.

Cut 6 (10) “ …the coast”

St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis says if you don’t want to get sued then don’t pollute. He also questions the timing of trying to pass this legislation during a global pandemic

Cut 9 (11) “…paying for it”

Tropical Storm Bertha forms today off the coast of the Carolinas making that two named storms for the year before the 2020 hurricane season even begins. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this has only happened five times previous to this and warns that history shows storm activity this early in the year is often a harbinger of a busy season to come. Looking back at the other five years recorded since 1851…

Cut 4 (12)_ “…season.”

One of those years was 2012 when southeast Louisiana was slammed by Hurricane Isaac.

The second named storm of 2020 formed today prior to the official start of the 2020 hurricane season beginning June 1st. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this is a highly unusual situation.

Cut 3 (12)  “…87′.”  

Keim warns that history shows storm activity this early in the year is often a harbinger of a busy season to come. 

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan says they’re excited to have students return to campus in fall but suggests that mask-wearing may be required when moving around campus or sitting in class…

Cut 7 (09) “…masks.”

He also mentioned that large lecture hall classes may be moved solely online for the fall so that smaller classes can use those larger rooms to conduct class while socially distancing.

Some regions are reporting up to a 170 percent increase in RV sales according to the RV Industry Association as a general fear of flying and cruising puts most vacation plans on hold for the summer. Operational Manager for RV Masters in Kenner Jeff Charrier says people are buying RVs because they let you maintain your own space and social distance while driving around the country.

Cut 10 (11) “…i there”

RV Masters does repair and service work for RVs.

Nicholls State students wrap up the first inaugural class of a program that pairs ten students with ten inmates for one semester to teach both groups about the criminal justice system. Inside Out Program facilitator Kristen Callais says students learned about inmates’ backgrounds and how those backgrounds influenced where they ended up.

Cut 14 (08) “…to”

Tort reform that supporters say will lower the state’s near highest in the nation auto insurance rates is now just one step away from the Governor’s desk after clearing a House committee. Governor Edwards and legislative Democrats have expressed concern over certain aspects of the legislation and an overall critique that the bill does nothing to lower auto insurance rates, but River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his legislation clearly requires insurance companies reduce rates by 10-percent

Cut 6 (08) “ …not one”

Talbot says one of the provisions saving insurers a lot of money involves drastically reducing the jury trial threshold, allowing for more reasonable settlements from crashes…

Cut 7 (06) “…than us”

Democrats would rather see laws passed that would prevent a person’s credit score, gender, or marital status from determining a person’s auto insurance rates. But Talbot argues that will not lower premiums…

Cut 8 (09) “…gets higher.”

A package of budget bills was passed by the House Tuesday calling for a 30 billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1^st.

The budget now heads to the Senate with only a week left in the regular session, and it is not expected that the Upper Chamber will sign off on it before the regular session ends June 1^st.

It is because of that a special session will begin immediately after the regular session ends. Senate GOP Caucus Chairwoman Sharon Hewitt of Slidell says the special session will consider the budget alongside a series of tax breaks for COVID impacted businesses. She says no matter what happens though the constitution requires the budget be balanced and passed by July 1^st.

Cut 15 (08)“budget” 5-25

A Senate-backed tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is heading to the House floor after getting approval from the House Civil Law Committee. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his legislation helps accomplish that goal by lowering the jury threshold from 50-thousand to five-thousand dollars…

Cut 7 (06) “…than us”

Talbot says lowering the jury trial threshold will help settle cases for a more reasonable amount. 

Eight teenagers were injured when shots were fired early Monday morning during an unsupervised graduation party involving about 200 people at a business in Lake Charles on Highway 90. Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says chaos ensued when bullets started firing.

Cut 3 (11)  “…trampled on.”  

Former south Louisiana Congressman and international pharma lobby head Billy Tauzin believes there will be an effective, non-vaccine treatment for COVID-19 by September. Tauzin says those treatments are focused on three categories: plasma infusions from COVID survivors, “decoy” proteins, and lab-created antibodies…

Cut 10 (04) “…a shot”

Tauzin notes current plasma treatments appear to be effective for about 50 percent of patients.

The Manning Passing Academy scheduled for next month in Thibodaux has been canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis. The Manning Passing Academy attracts over 12-hundred campers and over 200 coaches, trainers, and support staff. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier says the Louisiana Line Camp held at Nicholls State has also been canceled for this year

Cut 13 (11) “ big loss”  

Louisiana’s new state education superintendent will receive an annual salary of $285,000.  Cade Brumley, was chosen last week by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to oversee public schools. His pay package was approved by the joint House and Senate and Budget committee today. However, his job confirmation must still be approved by the Senate.

A Senate-backed tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is heading to the House floor after getting approval from the House Civil Law Committee. Democrats are skeptical, but River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his legislation that requires insurance companies to reduce rates by 10-percent

Cut 6 (08) “ …not one”

Talbot says auto insurance companies will be able to reduce rates because the legislation makes several changes to the state’s civil justice system.

A Memorial Day gathering of 200 in Lake Charles ends with teens being injured after gunfire erupted during the celebration.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory says he’s surprised that more were not injured.

Cut 5 (09)  “…amazing to me.”

The incident took place at a business on Highway 90 and was unsupervised by adults.

The Manning Passing Academy scheduled for next month in Thibodaux has been canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier says it was a difficult call for the Manning family, but it was the right decision
Cut 12 (10) “…coming down”
The Manning Passing Academy attracts over 12-hundred campers and over 200 coaches, trainers, and support staff.

New reported COVID cases and deaths continue to slow to a fraction of the pace they were just a month ago. Only 11 new COVID fatalities are being reported today, along with 245 new positive cases. Today 831 are hospitalized, down 16 from Monday and vent usage increased by one to 103.

A Senate-backed tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is heading to the House floor. However, Democrats are skeptical. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says the bill will lower the jury trial threshold which will settle cases for a more reasonable amount thus lower rates. Democrats would rather see laws passed that would prevent a person’s credit score, gender, or marital status from qualifying a person’s auto insurance rates. But Talbot argues that won’t lower premiums…

Cut 8 (09) “…gets higher.”

Former south Louisiana Congressman and international pharma lobby head Billy Tauzin believes there will be an effective, non-vaccine treatment for COVID-19 by September. Experts however note a vaccine may not be ready until 2021, and Tauzin says the treatments he touts could help us weather what could be a severe second wave of the virus later this year.

Cut 11 (09) “…vaccine”

Eight teenagers were injured when shots were fired early Monday morning during an unsupervised graduation party involving about 200 people at a business in Lake Charles on Highway 90. Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says chaos ensued when bullets started firing.

Cut 3 (11)  “…trampled on.”  

Two arrests have been made.

The tort reform legislation that supporters say will lower your auto insurance rates is closer to final legislative passage as it passes out of a House committee….

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A teenager died over the weekend in the waters off the coast of Grand Isle after a powerful riptide is believed to have dragged the victim and two others out away from the shore. The two others, a 15 year old and 45 year old, were family members of 17-year-old Oscar Aguilar, who died in the incident.

The Manning Passing Academy, a famed institution that attracts 1,200 campers and 200 coaches to the Natchitoches area every summer, is canceled this year due to COVID-19. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier says most of the starting quarterbacks in the NFL have attended as a camper or a counselor and the camp is not just for quarterbacks

Cut 14 (10) “…been here”

He adds this plus the cancellation of the Louisiana Line Camp at Nichols will result in a two million dollar loss in economic activity for the state.

Former south Louisiana Congressman and international pharma lobby head Billy Tauzin believes there will be an effective, non-vaccine treatment for COVID-19 by September. Tauzin says those treatments are focused on three categories: plasma infusions from COVID survivors, “decoy” proteins, and lab-created antibodies…

Cut 10 (04) “…a shot”

A COVID-19 treatment could be ready by fall according to one famed Louisiana politico. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m matt Doyle” 

The department of health released new COVID-19 numbers and hospitalization rates for state the decreased by 16 to 831 and vent usage increased by one to 103. The state has a tally 38,054 total cases for the state and fatalities increased by 11 to 2,596.

Eight teenagers were injured when shots were fired early Monday morning during an unsupervised graduation party involving about 200 people at a business in Lake Charles on Highway 90. Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says one of the gunmen, 17-year-old Devin Levier, suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…the weapon.”

23-year-old Mary Brignac was also arrested she is charged with possession of a stolen firearm.

A Senate-backed tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is heading to the House floor after getting approval from the House Civil Law Committee. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says auto insurance companies will be able to reduce rates because the legislation makes several changes to the state’s civil justice system for example it would lower the jury threshold from 50-thousand to five-thousand dollars…

Cut 7 (06) “…than us”