The Legislative Economic Recovery Task Force began the difficult assignment today of providing the state legislature with ideas on how to jump-start the economy. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The state has surpassed 15-hundred COVID-19 deaths as the Louisiana Department of Health reported 67 additional fatalities bringing the death toll to 1,540. Governor John Bel Edwards

Cut 14 (12) “…Hurricane Katrina.”

Deadly storms slammed central and north Louisiana yesterday, killing two in DeSoto and Rapides Parishes. In DeSoto, rains sparked flash floods that claimed the life of an unidentified Mansfield man.  In Rapides Parish 67-year-old Becky Roberts was killed by a potential tornado in Lecompte. National Weather Service forecaster Seth Warthen says the suspected supercell was highly unusual for the area.

Cut 12 (08) “…assesment.”

Car dealerships are seeing slow sales and not as much work for their service departments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President Will Green says implementing social distancing guidelines means they are moving the transactions from the showroom to the internet. He says car buyers can test drive a vehicle and not even go to the dealer.

Cut 8 (08) “…get your vehicle.”

Green says car shoppers can find some great deals at this time.

The LSU Alexandria campus was hit by a tornado yesterday, one of many Rapides Parish locations that took storm damage. Around 930 last night the tornado struck just 200 yards away from where the students who remained on campus were living in a dorm. No lives were lost at the campus and no major structural damage was observed.

Elsewhere in Rapides one person wasn’t so lucky. 67-year-old Becky Roberts was killed in Lecompte. National Weather Service forecaster Seth Warthen says the potential tornadoes were part of a long track supercell that appeared to have traveled a long distance.

Cut 13 (10) “…Parish.”

The storm system also brought heavy rains in DeSoto Parish. Sherriff’s spokesperson Mark Pierce says a flash flood killed a man in Mansfield when it produced a strong current in a drainage ditch.

Cut 10 (10) “…too strong”

The national unemployment rate rose to 20 percent as mass furloughs and layoffs continue due to the coronavirus shutdown. Economist Loren Scott estimates 349-thousand unemployment claims for the month of April in Louisiana, because of the economic shutdown…

Cut 3 (07)  “…22-percent”  

The Tax Foundation estimates about 16-percent of the workforce has applied or is receiving unemployment benefits in Louisiana.

Car dealerships are seeing slow sales and not as much work for their service departments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President Will Green says they are certainly impacted by the stay at home order…

Cut 7 (09) “…more than that.”

Green says these days car buyers can test drive a vehicle and not even go to the dealer.

The state has surpassed 15-hundred COVID-19 deaths as the Louisiana Department of Health reported 67 additional fatalities bringing the death toll to 1,540. Governor John Bel Edwards
Cut 14 (12) “…Hurricane Katrina.”
Edwards says the state continues to flatten the curve. Louisiana reported 481 new cases and the number of patients hospitalized and on ventilators continues to decline.

Deadly storms slammed central and north Louisiana yesterday, killing two in DeSoto and Rapides Parishes. In DeSoto, rains sparked flash floods that claimed the life of an unidentified Mansfield man.  Sherriff’s spokesperson Mark Pierce says the heavy rainfall produced a strong current in a drainage ditch. Pierce says rains just hammered the region.

Cut 11 (10) “…rain”

The coronavirus pandemic could result in an unemployment rate above 20-percent in Louisiana. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder has confidence in the Louisiana Economic Recovery Taskforce, a group of private-sector business leaders which legislative leaders formed in an effort to provide the Legislature with policy recommendations on how to jump-start the economy, to develop long-term solutions.

Cut 6 (11) “…the economy back ”

Car dealerships are seeing slow sales and not as much work for their service departments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President Will Green says implementing social distancing guidelines means they are moving the transactions from the showroom to the internet. He says car buyers can test drive a vehicle and not even go to the dealer.

Cut 8 (08) “…get your vehicle.”

Green says car shoppers can find some great deals at this time.

A deadly storm system slammed central and north Louisiana yesterday, killing two in DeSoto and Rapides Parishes. In DeSoto rains sparked flash floods that claimed the life of an unidentified Mansfield man. DeSoto Parish Sherriff spokesperson Mark Pierce says the rains produced a strong current in a drainage ditch…

Cut 10, 10 seconds, too strong

The current reportedly carried the man’s body about 50 yards before his body was recovered.

In Rapides Parish 67-year-old Becky Carter Roberts was killed by a potential tornado in Lecompte. National Weather Service forecaster Seth Warthen says the suspected supercell was highly unusual for the area.

Cut 12, 8 seconds, assessment

There were reports of two potential tornadoes in the area.

The Legislative Economic Recovery Task Force began the difficult assignment today of providing the state legislature with ideas on how to jump-start the economy. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Governor Edwards is calling on Louisianans to “mask up” and wear facial coverings in public to stop the spread of coronavirus. He says if you don’t have one…

Cut 11 (08) “…covering.”

The coronavirus pandemic could result in an unemployment rate above 20-percent in Louisiana. Economist Loren Scott estimates 349-thousand unemployment claims for the month of April, because of the economic shutdown…
Cut 3 (07)  “…22-percent”  
And Scott says low oil prices will prevent Louisiana from bouncing back as fast as other states who do not rely on the oil and gas industry.
Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana residents to “mask up” which means wearing a face mask in public places. Edwards says wearing a mask reduces the chances of asymptomatic, or mildly symptomatic people unknowingly transmitting the virus to others.
Cut 10 (06) “for them”
Guidelines still call for anyone feeling sick to self-quarantine, even if they have a mask.

Tulane is set to study whether hydroxychloroquine can be used to help prevent people who’ve been exposed to coronavirus from developing COVID-19. Tulane School of Medicine Infectious Disease Epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Kissinger says if you’ve been in close contact with a confirmed case, and you’re interested, they’ll have you do a telemedicine conference, then…
Cut 8 (08) “day 28.”
Tulane hopes to enroll 500 local participants.
Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette is one of the many events canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of trying to push back to the fall, a virtual music festival will happen instead, with live-streamed performances. Festival spokesperson Carly Viator says there will also be a virtual 5k for those who need an excuse to get out of the house and run.

Cut 6 (09) “…to run with.”

This would have been the 34^th year for the festival. The live stream takes place on the event’s Facebook page.

The latest numbers from the state are in and currently, the state has recorded 25,258 positive cases of COVID-19. Up 404 from the previous day. And is now reporting 1,473 fatalities up 68 from Tuesday.

A bill that would expand mail-in voting for the July and August elections heads to the full House and Senate. The legislation expands voting options, doubles the early voting period, and more, but it didn’t have unanimous support. In House Governmental Affairs, State Representative Rodney Schamerhorn of Vernon Parish says his constituents oppose any election rule changes.

Cut 7 (08) “determined”

The Resilient Louisiana Commission began its work today in coming up with recommendations on how the state can jump-start its shuttered economy with a few words from the Governor…

Cut 14 (06) “…innovation.”

A UL Lafayette student’s face mask sewing operation receives the national spotlight from CBS.  Sewing with Savoie founder Christine Savoie set up a Facebook page for the operation to help in distributing sewing patterns, take requests, and donations of resources. Savoie says it has been rewarding seeing the pictures of people wearing some of the different masks she has made.

Cut 5 (12)  “…some thin mints.”

Oil has rebounded from its price earlier this week in the negatives, but it’s unlikely to make much of a difference at the pump. Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan predicts prices could drop another twenty to forty cents a gallon.

Cut 10 (07) “…the country.”

As some states start to lift their stay at home orders and the demand for gas slowly increases, DeHaan says he doesn’t expect to see a big jump in pump prices.

The markets remain volatile and the price of oil continues to plummet. According to Gas Buddy the average price of gasoline in Louisiana is $1.64 a gallon today. Head of Petroleum Analysis at Gas Buddy Patrick DeHaan says the average price is down about a nickel from last week.
Cut 9 (09) “selling pressure.″
DeHaan says there have been some prices as low as $1.05 a gallon in New Orleans.

A proposal for expanded mail-in ballot voting in the July and August elections clears key Legislative committees. The legislation expands voting options, doubles the early voting period, and more. Democrat Royce Duplessis, a state representative from New Orleans,  ultimately backed the plan but raised concerns to Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin about requiring residents to disclose health conditions to get mail-in ballots, and…

Cut 8 (10) “…manner”

The Resilient Louisiana Commission began its work today in coming up with recommendations on how the state can jump-start its shuttered economy. The commission will examine 15 different sectors of Louisiana’s economy that include energy, manufacturing, health care, tourism, and education and provide the governor with strategies on how they can be more resilient. Governor Edwards gave the panel words of encouragement…

Cut 14 (06) “…innovation.”

Edwards says he plans to announce early next week what restrictions will be in place starting on May 1st.

A UL Lafayette student’s face mask sewing operation receives the national spotlight from CBS.  Sewing with Savoy founder Christine Savoy says requests for masks have picked up with the CDC now recommending face masks and she says she’s got a tight-knit group of friends helping to contribute to the assembly of hundreds of masks.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…a small group.”

Legislative committees approve a plan to allow expanded use of mail-in ballots for the July and August elections. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

According to the department of health the state has recorded 25,258 positive cases of COVID-19. Up 404 And is now reporting 1,473 fatalities up 68. Of the fatalities reported 32-percent are from nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state.

The Resilient Louisiana Commission meetings today coming up with recommendations on how the state can jump-start its shuttered economy. Governor Edwards says some businesses could re-open on May 1st, if the state sees a downward trajectory in COVID-19 cases, reported flu-like symptoms and hospitalizations. But the governor says life will not return to pre-COVID right away

Cut 13 (12) “…economy too.”

Edwards says he plans to announce early next week what restrictions will be in place starting on May 1st.

A UL Lafayette student’s face mask sewing operation receives the national spotlight from CBS.  Sewing with Savoie founder Christine Savoie says requests for masks have picked up with the CDC recommendations.

Cut 3 (12)  “…to feel protected.”  

The Resilient Louisiana Commission began its work today in coming up with recommendations on how the state can jump-start its shuttered economy. Governor Edwards says great ideas are needed from this 18-member panel…

Cut 12 (11) “…what you do.”

Edwards says he plans to announce early next week what restrictions will be in place starting on May 1st.

According to Gas Buddy, the average price of regular gasoline in Louisiana is $1.64 a gallon and some service stations are selling gas for close to a dollar a gallon. Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says as some states start to lift their stay at home orders and the demand for gas slowly increases, he doesn’t expect to see a jump in prices.

Cut 11 (08) “…to this”

A proposal for expanded mail-in ballot voting in the July and August elections clears key Legislative committees. It also moves voting booths out of nursing homes and will cost about four million dollars. Passage wasn’t unanimous. In the House Governmental Affairs Committee, Vernon Parish Representative Rodney Schamerhorn says his constituents oppose any election rule changes.

Cut 7 (08) “determined”

It still needs full Senate and House approval which will be voted on by mail.

A UL Lafayette student’s face mask sewing operation receives the national spotlight from CBS.  Sewing with Savoie founder Christine Savoie set up a Facebook page for the operation.  She says it’s been rewarding seeing pictures of people wearing her masks.

Cut 5 (06)  “…alligators.”