The death toll for COVID-19 related deaths in the state surpasses 1,000 fatalities with 1013 deaths, it’s the largest single-day addition since the outbreak began. The total number of cases is at 21,518. Louisiana’s presidential primary and other general spring elections will be delayed again. This time pushing from June to July and August.

National Weather Service indicates at least seven tornadoes ravaged north Louisiana and that number is expected to grow. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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There’s activity underway again at the PMAC on LSU’s campus but it’s not the norm. Ashley Arceneaux, Chief of Staff for the President of LSU says the LSU community is working together to support medical providers and the facility has become a production center for PPE with locally donated materials.

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Arceneaux says the billboard vinyl is donated by Lamar Advertising and Circle Graphics.

Covington Representative Mark Wright joins Oil City Representative Danny McCormick in calling for the stay at home order to end April 30th as currently scheduled. The Northshore Republican says businesses should be allowed to implement rules that allow for partial reopening, including dine-in options for restaurants.

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The state’s COVID-19 death toll surpasses 1,000 fatalities with 129 additional deaths. Today’s report is the largest single-day addition of deaths since the COVID-19 outbreak began. The total number of cases is at 21,518. Louisiana’s presidential primary and other general spring elections are slated to be delayed again. This time pushing back from June to July and August.
The National Weather Service has confirmed at least seven tornadoes ravaged north Louisiana on Easter Sunday. N-W-S Meteorologist Brad Bryant says the most powerful twister started in West Monroe and traveled for about eight miles.  Bryant says tornadoes also impacted Northwest Louisiana in De Soto Parish.

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Unlike neighboring Mississippi, Louisiana had no fatalities from the storm activity.
Oil producing nations agree to cut production by 9.7 million barrels in an effort to cool a worsening price war, but one expert warns it’s not nearly enough to save the state’s oil industry…

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Governor Edwards is set today to declare that school campuses will remain closed for the remainder of the term that ends May 20^th. The order is expected to advise local districts offer distance learning, but Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says if kids start out behind in the fall, steps need to be taken to help them catch up or they may face life long consequences.

Cut 12 (10) “…in the fall.”

Only 39 of the 69 school districts offer distance learning currently.

The curve of new case growth for COVID-19 in Louisiana continues to flatten, which has sparked a wave of interest in the possibility of reopening the state after the stay at home order ends April 30^th. Edwards says that decision will be made by a team of experts…

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Many meat producers are warning that supply chain issues are imminent and it could only be a matter of time before you start noticing empty shelves at the meat section of your local grocery store. Chair of the Louisiana Beef Industry Council Amelia Kent says sick workers are leading to closed plants, and the disruption is trickling back to the farm level as cattle are coming out of feed yards having no way to advance into harvesting.

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She adds the demand for meat has been increasing as well as more people grill at home.

OPEC and Russia reach an agreement with the US to cut production of 9.7 million barrels of oil a day in an effort to stop the ongoing rapid oil price collapse. But LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes warns it’s just not enough of a reduction to save oil prices…

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Oil is hovering in the low 20s today.

Families and businesses are picking up the pieces following a tornado outbreak on Easter.  President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says the devastation is widespread.

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the sytem killed 11 in Missisipi, while Louisiana escaped without any fatalities, but it did do an estimated 25-30 million in damages at the Monroe Regional Airport. Congressman Ralph Abraham says he saw debris littered runways, destroyed buildings, and the remains of small jets poking out from under a collapsed hangar. The airport is closed today and Abraham says it could be some time before it gets back up and running.

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Abraham says they’ve reached out to both state and federal officials to begin the process of getting aid for the airport and other businesses that have been destroyed.

Thousands in north Louisiana are without power a day after powerful storms ripped through the region. Entergy Louisiana spokesperson David Freese warns some customers may not have their power back on until later this week due to the extensive amount of damage to infrastructure.

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At the Sunday afternoon peak, 26,500 customers were without power, but that number has come down over the last 24 hours. SWEPCO is reporting eight-thousand of its Louisiana customers are without power as well. It may take until Wednesday afternoon before most of their Shreveport customers have electricity.

Louisiana residents who are receiving unemployment should see a substantial increase in assistance starting today. Governor Edwards says previously unemployed workers were only eligible for up to 247-dollars from the state

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That additional 600 dollars comes courtesy of the feds.

Another 44 people are reported dead from COVID-19 today bringing the state’s total to 884 dead from the disease caused by coronavirus infections. With many employers still shut down due to the risk of spreading the virus, a record number of workers have filed for unemployment insurance. Governor Edwards encourages all Louisiana residents who have lost work or hours to file for unemployment at Louisiana-works-dot-net

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This week the first of the 600 dollar federally enhanced unemployment checks began going out.

Families and businesses in north Louisiana are picking up the pieces following a tornado outbreak on Easter. President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says around 250 families have been displaced from their homes and two public housing communities took a significant hit, including one about a mile from the airport.

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A suspected tornado did an estimated 25-30 million in damages at the Monroe Regional Airport. Abraham says they’ve reached out to both state and federal officials to begin the process of getting aid for the airport and other businesses that have been destroyed.

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Abraham says he saw debris littered runways, destroyed buildings, and the remains of small jets poking out from under a collapsed hangar.

Entergy reports 200 poles, 450 spans of wire, and 50 transformers will either need to be repaired or replaced and thousands are still without power due to Easter storm system.  Entergy Louisiana spokesperson David Freese says they’re pulling in emergency workers to get it done.

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SWEPCO is reporting eight-thousand of its Louisiana customers are without power as well.

6,900 Ouachita Parish residents and thousands of other customers were still without power as of 10 AM this morning due to Sunday’s devastating tornadoes. Matt Doyle has more.

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The Monroe Regional Airport is closed today after it is estimated to have sustained 25-30 million in damages. Congressman Ralph Abraham says it could be some time before it gets back up and running.

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The state health department reported 44 more COVID-19 deaths today, bringing the total to 884 deaths. There are over 21-thousand positive cases. Louisiana does not report on how many people have recovered from the coronavirus and Governor Edwards says capturing that information is difficult

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A survey of the state’s childcare providers shows that roughly a third of childcare facilities that closed do not see a path to reopening. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Libbie Sonnier-Netto says a majority of childcare centers have reported losing revenue.
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Sonnier-Netto says over 90% of childcare providers indicated grants could be used to pay employees during the closures and would support their response to COVID-19 both now and in the future to the pandemic.

Families and businesses are picking up the pieces following a tornado outbreak on Easter.  The coronavirus has presented challenges in how displaced families are sheltered following the storm and President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says they are taking a new approach to sheltering in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

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Thousands in north Louisiana are still without power today.  Entergy Louisiana spokesperson David Freese says at the Sunday afternoon peak 26,500 customers were without power, but they’ve managed to pull that number down over the last 24 hours.

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Entergy damage assessment reports 200 poles, 450 spans of wire, and 50 transformers will either need to be repaired or replaced.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Doctor G-E Ghali is encouraging those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma because it can be used to treat critically ill patients. Ghali says they’ve already seen encouraging results from this type of treatment…
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Ghali says the antibodies counteract with the antigens of the virus to help the body fight off coronavirus.

The latest report rises the state’s COVID-19 death toll by 44 to a total of 884 fatalities. Confirmed cases: 21,016, up by 421. 2,134 are hospitalized, up 50.  Use of ventilators has increased to 461, up by 3.

Parts of north Louisiana are reeling after a deadly Easter Sunday tornado system ripped through the area destroying numerous businesses in Louisiana and killing 11 people in Mississippi. President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says the devastation is widespread.

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The damage to homes has many people seeking public shelter, a particularly difficult problem with the widespread prevalence of coronavirus. Ouachita Parish has 367 reported cases.

The system did an estimated 25-30 million dollars in damages to the Monroe Regional Airport. Congressman Ralph Abraham was on scene and says he saw debris littered runways, destroyed buildings, and the remains of small jets poking out from under collapsed hangar roofs.

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There’s growing concern from national health experts that reopening closed economies May 1^st may result in a significant spike in COVID-19 cases, but many businesses owners say they can’t afford to keep their doors closed until June. Oil City Republican Rep. Danny McCormick says the economy absolutely must reopen May 1^st, but it can be done with public health in mind.

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Louisiana is set to reopen May 1^st, but Governor Edwards says that may have to be delayed.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali urges those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma so it can be used to treat critically ill patients. Ghali says donors must have tested positive for the virus, but are now symptom-free for two weeks and tested negative, or symptom-free for 28 days.

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Starting Monday, Louisianans who lost their job or had their hours reduced due to COVID-19 will receive federally enhanced unemployment insurance payments in addition to unemployment payments they already receive from the state. State Workforce Commission Director Ava Dejoie says contract workers who did not previously qualify for the state’s unemployment now qualify for the federal benefits…

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State benefits cap out at 247 a week, but the feds are adding an extra 600 dollars a week on top of that.

Governor Edwards says he says the state has been working hard to try and secure as much PPE as possible for those on the frontlines.

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Lafourche Parish Freshman Representative Reggie Bagala passed away Thursday from COVID-19. Bagala succeeded former Representative Truck Gisclair in House District 54. Gisclair says he doesn’t ever remember seeing Bagala without a smile on his face, and he was known for his distinctive chuckle.

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Bagala was 54

Be prepared for severe weather on Easter Sunday.  State climatologist Barry Keim says the severe weather threat will materialize late Saturday night and heavy rainfall is possible as well

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Storm Prediction Center has south Louisiana under an enhanced threat on Sunday and the northern half is under a moderate risk on Sunday.