The state announces 18 new COVID-19 fatalities bringing the death toll to 2,458. Total Cases: 35,038, up 329. Hospitalizations: 1004.

Governor Edwards is optimistic Louisiana can move to phase two of reopening of the economy in early June. Edwards says they’ll use two weeks of data to determine if Louisiana is still doing a good job in stopping the spread of COVID-19
Cut 8 (10) “…easing of restrictions”

Edwards plans to announce a decision as early as June 1st.

Louisiana receives an additional $58 million in fishery disaster funding.  Congressman Garret Graves says the money will be used to offset the impacts of the 2019 Bonnet Carre Spillway opening on the seafood industry. Graves says of the three states receiving funding, Louisiana is receiving 2/3 of the allocated $88 million.

Cut 4 (07)_ “…clearly represents that.”

Legislation passes the House urging Governor Edwards to reconsider his order limiting businesses to 25 percent occupancy during Phase One. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Louisiana receives an additional $58 million in fishery disaster funding.  Congressman Garret Graves says the money will be used to offset the impacts of the 2019 Bonnet Carre Spillway opening on the seafood industry.

Cut 3 (12)  “…the United States.”  

Earlier this month, the state had received $14.7 million allocated to Louisiana fisheries to relieve the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which Graves had called abysmal.

Governor Edwards is optimistic Louisiana can move to phase two of reopening of the economy in early June. Edwards says he plans to announce a decision as early as June 1st. He says the public will play a huge role in that decision…

Cut 7 (12) “our cases”

Legislation that seeks to reduce auto insurance rates by changing the state’s legal system clears the upper chamber on a veto-proof 29-8 vote. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his measure would result in more jury trials and other reforms that aim to limit damage claims against insurance companies and other businesses. Talbot says these reforms will lead to at least a 10-percent savings more motorists…

Cut 13 (10) “…accordingly” 

Talbot says Louisiana has some of the highest auto insurance rates in the country and these changes put Louisiana in line with other state’s tort policy. But Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau, who is also a lawyer, argued the bill makes it more difficult for people to get in a courtroom and have their case resolved. And Luneau says it fails to address the real reasons behind our high auto insurance rates…
Cut 16 (07) “…of us”

One of the signature fights of the session, tort reform, easily clears the Senate on a veto-proof 29-8 vote. The legislation lowers the jury trial threshold from 50,000 dollars to 5,000 dollars, increases the prescriptive period for filing a suit, and implements a swath of other lawsuits reforms.

Author River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says these changes will save auto insurers money and bill requires they pass on a minimum ten percent savings to customers…

Cut 13 (10) “…accordingly” 

Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau took issue with the bill. He says it has been written with loopholes that allow insurers to skip out on passing along tort related savings. He read from the bill…

Cut 15 (10)“…rates.”

The price of oil may have rebounded but it still sits far below the level needed to maintain revenue for the state budget in the next fiscal year, and that combined with the COVID economic shutdown has left Louisiana with a gargantuan billion dollar deficit. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is working with the administration to craft a balanced budget and says they’ve begun identifying ways to utilize federal dollars to reduce that deficit. Dardenne says a portion of the rainy day fund can be used as well, leaving just 80-million dollars in cuts

Cut 12 (09) “…budget”

Dardenne warns that 80 million will largely have to come out of the Louisiana Department of Health’s budget, along with a two percent reduction in budgets for many other agencies, and adds…

Cut 13 (08) “be spent”  

Governor Edwards is recommending to legislative leaders to use federal money to close a one-billion-dollar budget hole that’s been caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says a portion of the rainy day fund can be used as well, leaving just 80-million dollars in cuts

Cut 12 (09) “…budget”

Dardenne says this plan would keep the TOPS scholarship program fully funded.

27-year-old woman is dead, and nine people are being treated at a hospital from severe weather that hit a rural area in northeast Acadia Parish last night. The one fatality took place on Prudence Highway north of Church Point.  Sheriff KP Gibson says the loss of life could have been much worse as many residents were unprepared for the impact of the severe weather.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…everybody off guard.”

The price of oil has soared to over 30 dollars a barrel after sinking to negative numbers just a month ago. LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes explains why…
Cut 6 (10) “Activity”
Dismukes says today’s notable spike was the result of a coronavirus vaccine trial that’s showing promising early results

The search continues for the gunmen involved in a mass shooting that wounded 13 people in Bogalusa on Saturday night. Major Wendell O’ Berry says between 500 to 800 people gathered at an intersection to remember the life of Dominique James, who was recently murdered. O’ Berry says as the crowd grew shots were fired…

Cut 9 (11) “…wounded.”

O’ Berry says 12 of the 13 victims were male and some are critically wounded.

Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal is calling on Bogalusa residents to come forward with information about a mass shooting that wounded 12 at a memorial gathering of 300-500 people Saturday. Seal says marching in protest of the violence won’t end the violence…

Cut 10 (10) “…our community back.”

12 of the 13 victims were male and some are critically wounded.

The state is facing a billion dollar budget shortfall for the next fiscal year and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says it appears likely most of the cuts necessary to pass the constitutionally mandated balanced budget will have to occur within the Louisiana Department of Health’s budget. He says many other agencies are taking a two-percent cut…

Cut 13 (08) “be spent”  

A woman is dead and two juveniles were taken to the hospital after a train collided with their stalled out vehicle in Webster Parish when the woman attempted to push her vehicle off the tracks. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says if your vehicle ever becomes stranded on the track, immediate exit and get all other passengers away from the vehicle, then call the number on the nearby white and blue sign.

Cut 16 (10) “…crossing.”

51-year-old Rebecca Woodard of Minden was identified as the victim.

A 27-year-old woman is dead and nine others are being treated at a hospital from severe weather that hit a rural area in northeast Acadia Parish last night. The one fatality took place on Prudence Highway north of Church Point.  Sheriff KP Gibson says a suspected tornado damaged several homes.

Cut 3 (09)  “with moderate damage.”  

13 people are wounded following a shooting in Bogalusa at a memorial for a recent murder victim.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

The Department of Health reported 15 new COVID-19 fatalities, bringing the state’s total death toll to 2,440. On Sunday, the state reported just 12 fatalities. Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s been since the end of March that the state has reported daily death totals this low. The total number of cases increased by 277 to 34,709.

A 27-year-old woman is dead and nine others are being treated at a hospital from severe weather that hit a rural area in northeast Acadia Parish last night. The one fatality took place on Prudence Highway north of Church Point.  Sheriff KP Gibson says the community response in the aftermath has been tremendous.

Cut 5 (07)  “…on their feet.”

A woman is dead and two juveniles were taken to the hospital after a train collided with their stalled out vehicle in Webster Parish. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says 51-year-old Rebecca Woodard of Minden and one juvenile were attempting to push the vehicle when the train came into view. Hardy says they had not moved vehicle very far when the impact occurred.

Cut 15 (08)“ vehcile.”

Woodard was transported to the hospital where she later died. The juvenile in the vehicle sustained moderate injuries.

The price of oil has rebounded to over 30 dollars a barrel after sinking to negative numbers just a month ago. An industry survey indicated producers were bracing for massive layoffs, but LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes says if prices stay over 35 a barrel, we should only lose 5,000 of the state’s 35,000 oil workers.

Cut 8 (06) “…labor force”

A woman is dead and two juveniles were taken to the hospital after a train collided with their stalled out vehicle in Webster Parish. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says 51-year-old Rebecca Woodard of Minden and one juvenile were attempting to push the vehicle when the train came into view.

Cut 14 (13) “…vehcile”

Woodard was transported to the hospital where she later died. The juvenile in the vehicle sustained moderate injuries.

27 year old woman is dead and nine people are being treated at a hospital from severe weather that hit a rural area in northeast Acadia Parish last night. The one fatality took place on Prudence Highway north of Church Point.  Sheriff KP Gibson says the loss of life could have been much worse as many residents were unprepared for the impact of the severe weather.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…everybody off guard.”

The search continues for the gunmen involved in a mass shooting that wounded 13 people in Bogalusa Saturday night. Authorities say between 500 to 800 people gathered at an intersection to remember the life of Dominique James, who was recently murdered. Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal says various factors contribute to the city’s crime problem that produced the mass shooting.

Cut 11 (12) “…let’s talk.”

Oil prices rose to a two month high today at over 30 dollars a barrel on rising optimism about the world economy. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The Department of Health reports 15 new COVID-19 fatalities today, bringing the state’s total death toll to 2,440. Total cases: 34,709, up by 277. LDH is also now breaking down the numbers of each nursing home with positive cases with a weekly report, detailing cases among both residents and staff as well as fatalities.

The search continues for the gunmen involved in a mass shooting that wounded 13 people in Bogalusa on Saturday night. Between 500 to 800 people gathered at an intersection to remember the life of Dominique James, who was recently murdered. Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal is calling on those that have information about shooting to come forward and talk to police, saying it is much more effective than marching in protest of the violence.

Cut 10 (10) “…our community back.”

Governor Edwards is recommending to legislative leaders to use federal money to close a one-billion-dollar budget hole that’s been caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says a portion of the rainy day fund can be used as well, leaving just 80-million dollars in cuts

Cut 12 (09) “…budget”

Dardenne says this plan would keep the TOPS scholarship program fully funded.

Rosier economic forecasts push oil prices above 30 dollars a barrel, a two month high for the commodity. Oil started the year over 60 dollars a barrel, and while that is unlikely to return this year LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes says the industry can sustain at these prices.

Cut 7 (08) “track”

Dismukes says today’s notable 11 percent spike was the result of new positive news related to vaccine development.

The search continues for the gunmen involved in a mass shooting that wounded 13 people in Bogalusa on Saturday night. Major Wendell O’ Berry says between 500 to 800 people gathered at an intersection to remember the life of Dominique James, who was recently murdered. O’ Berry says as the crowd grew shots were fired…

Cut 9 (11) “…wounded.”

O’ Berry says 12 of the 13 victims were male and some are critically wounded.

Ochsner reports having treated three cases of a suspected COVID-linked disease called Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Louisiana. Ochsner Lafayette Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. Katherine Lindle says the disease, impacting children, tends to result in rashes, abdominal pain, and inflammation, but fatal outcomes for children afflicted by the disease are rare.

Cut 12 (09) “…aware.”

More than half of the reported cases have been found in New York.

Louisiana sees 277 new confirmed positive COVID cases along with 15 new fatalities but does report an increase in hospitalizations and ventilator use linked to infection.