Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick is organizing an end the shutdown rally to take place today at noon in front of the governor’s mansion. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

On Friday the state saw the largest single-day spike in cases since mid-April with 710 new cases and 65 new deaths from COVID-19. Governor Edwards pointed to the Baton Rouge and Monroe regions of the state as growing hot spots for cases and hospitalizations on the first day that his extension of the stay at home order took effect.

The state is ramping up COVID-19 contact tracing this month and that means you may be getting a call from a health official if you or someone close to you tests positive. Governor Edwards says contact tracing is critical to stopping the spread of the virus.

Cut 6 (08) “…14 days.”

Edwards mentioned intimate partners, household members, and anyone who has had contact of less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with an infected person could be asked to quarantine.

The 2020 Legislative regular session will resume Monday and lawmakers will have until the end of the month to pass whatever legislation needs to get done, plus the state budget. Nearly 14-hundred bills have been filed for this session, but Senate President Page Cortez says most of the bills will not be heard because the regular session must end on June 1^st.

Cut 13 (10) “…constituents”

Friday the state reported a big jump in additional COVID-19 cases and deaths, the same day restrictions on businesses were lifted. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Edwards also stated that some of the new cases reported yesterday are two weeks old in reporting their data to the state.  The department of health also warns that we should expect to see an increase in numbers of cases over the next 14 days as testing ramps us across the state and more labs begin reporting cases electronically.

Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick is one of several lawmakers to be a part of a grassroots rally at the Governor’s Mansion today.  He feels freedoms are being restricted by the Governor because large gatherings have been banned as mitigation efforts to avoid spreading the virus, but McCormick says he does not foresee the rally becoming a super spreading event.

Cut 10 (09) “…need to be.”

McCormick adds there will be social distancing practiced at the event.

The Louisiana Legislature will resume the 2020 regular session on Monday and several safety restrictions will be in place. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says the legislative focus this session will be more narrow than usual.

Cut 14 (08) “…set forth”

If the Legislature does not pass a budget by June 1st a special session will likely be called to pass the budget by the July 1st deadline.

The Louisiana Legislature will resume the 2020 regular session on Monday and several safety restrictions will be in place. Senate President Page Cortez says instead of multiple committee hearings at one time, meeting schedules will be staggered throughout the day to lessen traffic in the halls…

Cut 12 (03) “…one time”

Plexiglas dividers have been installed between House member’s desks as well.

Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick is one of several lawmakers to be a part of a grassroots rally at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge on Saturday.  McCormick says the goal is to send a clear message to the Governor and the state legislature.

Cut 9 (09) “…and could not do.”

McCormick says it is a constitutional right to work and worship.The rally starts at noon.

The state is ramping up COVID-19 contact tracing this month and that means you may be getting a call from a health official if you or someone close to you tests positive.   Governor Edwards says contact tracing is critical to stopping the spread of the virus.If you test positive, Edwards says the state will want information from you that could help identify others you may have infected.

Cut 7 (09) “…virus.”

Edwards mentioned intimate partners, household members, and anyone who has had contact of less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with an infected person could be asked to quarantine.

The New Orleans Archdiocese has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the institution is facing mounting legal costs caused by litigation stemming from decades-old incidents of clergy abuse. Archbishop GregoryAymond says the action will not affect individual church parishes or their schools…

Cut 4 (11)_ “administrative offices.”

On a day where the restrictions on businesses were lifted, the state reports a big jump in additional COVID-19 cases and deaths. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

An engine oil access hatch fell off one of the two B-52 bombers flying over New Orleans during a military salute this morning. The part fell off mid-flight and landed on private property. Officials say no one was hurt in the incident and that the panel has been retrieved. The missing panel did not impact the safety of the flight.

The state is ramping up COVID-19 contact tracing this month and that means you may be getting a call from a health official if you or someone close to you tests positive. Governor Edwards says contact tracing is critical to stopping the spread of the virus.

Cut 6 (08) “…14 days.”

Edwards mentioned intimate partners, household members, and anyone who has had contact of less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with an infected person could be asked to quarantine.

The Louisiana Legislature will resume the 2020 regular session on Monday and several safety restrictions will be in place. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says the legislative focus this session will be more narrow than usual.

Cut 14 (08) “…set forth”

If the Legislature does not pass a budget by June 1st a special session will likely be called to pass the budget by the July 1st deadline.

The state says today’s dramatic increase of 710 new positive COVID-19 results is due to a backlog of tests from two new labs that have begun reporting results electronically. LDH reports only 329 of the tests came from regular reporting that does not include those two labs, which is much closer in line with the numbers Louisiana has seen this week. The 710 new tests brings the state total to 28,711 positive confirmed COVID cases.

The 2020 Legislative regular session will resume Monday and lawmakers will have until the end of the month to pass whatever legislation needs to get done, plus the state budget. Nearly 14-hundred bills have been filed for this session, but Senate President Page Cortez says most of the bills will not be heard because the regular session must end on June 1^st.

Cut 13 (10) “…constituents”

An anti-shutdown rally is set to take place outside the Governor’s Mansion this Saturday headlined by a few legislative leaders from around the state. Oil City Republican Danny McCormick will speak at the event and says he expects a large crowd to be there based on the responses he’s seen on the online event page.

Cut 11 (10) “…our normal life.”

The rally starts at noon.

The state is ramping up COVID-19 contact tracing this month and that means you may be getting a call from a health official if you or someone close to you tests positive. If you are a close contact to confirmed COVID case you may be asked to quarantine for 14 days. Governor Edwards lists a few of the people who may be called.

Cut 8 (09) “…minutes”

On a day where the restrictions on businesses were lifted, the state reports a big jump in additional COVID-19 cases and deaths. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The governor’s new Stay at Home order begins today. It allows restaurants to have outdoor seating, with no table-side service. All employees of any business who deal with the public must wear a mask. Shopping malls can open for curbside delivery of goods.

The state is ramping up COVID-19 contact tracing this month and that means you may be getting a call from a health official if you or someone close to you tests positive. Governor Edwards says contact tracing is critical to stopping the spread of the virus.If you test positive, Edwards says the state will want information from you that could help identify others you may have infected.

Cut 7 (09) “…virus.”

Contact tracers will also be calling those who are considered close to known COVID positive individuals to inform them that they need to quarantine.

Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick is one of several lawmakers to be a part of a grassroots rally at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge on Saturday.  Large gatherings have been banned as part of spread mitigation efforts, but McCormick says he does not foresee the rally becoming a super spreading event.

Cut 10 (09) “…need to be.”

Louisiana reports 65 additional COVID-19 deaths today bringing the state total to 1,927 COVID fatalities. Louisiana also noted an uptick of positive tests with 710* taking the state total to 28,711*.

Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick is one of several lawmakers to be a part of an anti-shutdown rally at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge on Saturday.  McCormick says the goal is to send a clear message to the Governor and the state legislature.

Cut 9 (09) “…and could not do.”

The New Orleans Archdiocese has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a result of legal costs from cases linked to decades-old incidents of clergy abuse. Archbishop Gregory Aymond says the filing helps them reorganize and settle outstanding lawsuits.

Cut 5 (10)  “…to me”

Restaurants are allowed to have outdoor dining today, Brooke Thorington on what to expect.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The New Orleans Archdiocese has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to legal costs stemming from lawsuits brought against the church linked to decades-old incidents of clergy abuse. Archbishop Gregory Aymond says the action will not affect individual church parishes or their schools…

Cut 4 (11)_ “administrative offices.”

Officials say no parish funds will be used to potentially settle any claims. 

Two parishes, LaSalle and East Feliciana have said they plan to allow their churches and businesses to open today at 25-percent of their occupancy limits. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard planned to do the same but changed his mind after a conversation with the governor. But remains frustrated the stay at home order has been extended to May 15th…

cut 12 (12) “…coughs again”

The state is ramping up COVID-19 contact tracing this month and that means you may be getting a call from a health official if you or someone close to you tests positive. Governor Edwards says contact tracing is critical to stopping the spread of the virus.

Cut 6 (08) “…14 days.”

Edwards mentioned intimate partners, household members, and anyone who has had contact of less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with an infected person could be asked to quarantine.

The FDA has authorized anti-viral treatment Remdesivir for use in COVID patients after a study shows it can lower the amount of time a person with a severe COVID case spends in the hospital. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Julio Figueroa says the study is promising but the next hurdle for patients will be the treatment’s limited availability.

Cut 9 (10) “…outcomes”

Governor Edwards calls a legislative petition aimed at ending his stay at home order and public health emergency “completely irresponsible and nonsensical”, but a petition proponent says they already have more than half the signatures they need to pass the veto-proof instrument. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says the petition is popular with his constituents.

Cut 12 (10) “…but them”

Senator John Kennedy says he’s not in favor of rubber-stamping federal legislation to help state and local level governments cover expenses without seeing some indication as to how much revenue is expected to be lost.  Kennedy thinks some mayors and governors will see spending money that they don’t have as being the new normal.

Cut 6 (10) “…do revenue projections.”

The Central Police Department warns their phone lines are clogged with out of state callers protesting the house arrest of Life Tabernacle Church Pastor Tony Spell.  The call to action was posted on a Facebook page claiming to be Magi Spell. Police Chief Roger Corcoran says it’s a dangerous stunt that could prevent people from reporting emergencies.

Cut 3 (10)  “…help”   

Attorney General Jeff Landry is encouraging Governor Edwards to allow the reopening of churches.  Landry says there is becoming some social unrest and one of the first steps to helping that is to allow churches to reunite their congregations.

Cut 9 (08) “…with their lives.″

Edwards responded to the letter saying he’s not considering allowing churches to open before May 15^th.