A Central pastor is charged with six counts of violating of the Governor’s emergency order after continuing to hold services with congregations of over 11-hundred people.  Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

The Louisiana Health Department reports over 12-hundred new cases and 54 additional deaths to bring the total COVID 19 cases to 5,237 and 239 deaths. The Governor plans to extend his stay at home order to April 30^th.

Legislators returned to the state capitol today, introduced some bills and left about an hour later and it’s unclear when they’ll return. The 2020 legislative session must conclude by June 1st and a budget must be approved by July 1st. The chambers were not full as the legislators present practiced social distancing.  House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says at this point it’s better to be flexible on a return date

Cut 15 (08)“…to work.”

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting tomorrow to answer seniors’ concerns about the coronavirus. State Director Denise Bottcher says they wanted to hold it call for not just members but everyone, especially people in outlying areas of the state, to make sure they are aware of resources during this critical period.

Cut 5 (11)  “…they are.”

Texas tightens restrictions on travelers from Louisiana.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

____________________________

A Central pastor is charged with six counts of violation of the Governor’s emergency order after continuing to hold services with congregations of over 1,100.  Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

___________________________

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to answer seniors concerns about the coronavirus. State Director Denise Bottcher says Dr. Benjamin Springgate with LSU Health Sciences will be on the call to answer health-related questions.

Cut 3 (10)  “… be doing”  

Bottcher says LaVonda Dobbs of 211 will also be on the call to speak about services that are available to seniors.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…SNAP benefits.”

Bottcher says they wanted to hold the Telephone Town Hall for not just members but everyone, especially people in outlying areas of the state, to make sure they are aware of resources during this critical period

Cut 5 (11)  “…they are.”

The call is open for anyone to participate in. To do so you call 1-877-229-8493. It will take place at 10:10 am.

__________________________________________

Due to Louisiana’s hotbed of COVID-19 cases, Texas’s Governor is attempting to mitigate the spread with a mandate requiring a quarantine for Louisiana travelers coming into the Lone Star State. Louisiana State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says the mandate does not close the border.

Cut 6 (07) “…roadway in Louisiana.”

The 14 days will be done at a quarantine station of the traveler’s choosing and they can only leave for medical treatment. Travelers can also quit the quarantine any time they want and head back to Louisiana.

Dwight says Louisiana travelers need to fill out a form from Texas Department of Public Safety before embarking on their trip.

Cut 7 (10) “…14-day quarantine station.”

Dwight says anyone who has a previously scheduled medical trip along with a few other exemption statuses can skip the quarantine.

Cut 8 (09) “…apply to them.”

Dwight adds that he has not heard about any checkpoints at the Texas line.

____________________________________________________

Legal ramifications have come down on Rev. Tony Spell, the pastor at the helm of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central that has repeatedly defied the Governor’s ban on large gatherings with congregations regularly exceeding 1,100.  Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says Spell has now been summoned.

Cut 9 (10) “…give his fingerprint.″

Spell has not been jailed for his actions.  Corcoran says they’ve tried to give Spell warnings before and attempted to resolve the manner by other means throughout the week.

Cut 10 (11) “…him this week.”

Corcoran says the public’s health and safety should priority number one and Spell’s continued actions were directly working against that.

Cut 11 (11) “…spread this virus.”

Another service is still on the schedule for Tuesday night.

________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order until April 30th, which means schools will remain closed for at least the next month. The academic year is scheduled to be completed in May. Edwards says acting state superintendent Beth Scioneaux is working to develop a plan

Cut 12 (10) “…of things”

The Advocate reports that a survey finds that 39 of Louisiana’s 69 school districts are offering online instruction.

The state has already waived standardized tests for this year, but what if school does not resume this year. How can you decide if a child should be promoted to the next grade or if they are eligible to graduate high school?  Edwards says the state department of education is trying to figure out those questions…

Cut 13 (07) “…young people”

______________________________________________________

Legislators returned to the state capitol today, introduced some bills and left about an hour later. It’s unclear when they’ll return. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says because of the uncertainty around the COVID-19 outbreak, they are not setting a return date

Cut 14 (11) “…come back”

The 2020 legislative session must conclude by June 1st and a budget must be approved by July 1st. The House and Senate chambers were not full today and the legislators present practiced social distancing. Schexnayder says at this point it’s better to keep flexible on a return date

Cut 15 (08)“…to work.”

Texas tightens restrictions on travelers from Louisiana.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

____________________________

A Central pastor is charged with six counts of violation of the Governor’s emergency order after continuing to hold services with congregations of over 1,100.  Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

___________________________

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to answer seniors concerns about the coronavirus. State Director Denise Bottcher says Dr. Benjamin Springgate with LSU Health Sciences will be on the call to answer health-related questions.

Cut 3 (10)  “… be doing”  

Bottcher says LaVonda Dobbs of 211 will also be on the call to speak about services that are available to seniors.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…SNAP benefits.”

Bottcher says they wanted to hold the Telephone Town Hall for members not just members but everyone, especially people in outlying areas of the state, to make sure they are aware of resources during this critical period

Cut 5 (11)  “…they are.”

The call is open for anyone to participate in. To do so you call 1-877-229-8493. It will take place at 10:10 am.

__________________________________________

Due to Louisiana’s hotbed of COVID-19 cases, Texas’s Governor is attempting to mitigate the spread with a mandate requiring a quarantine for Louisiana travelers coming into the Lone Star State. Louisiana State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says the mandate does not close the border.

Cut 6 (07) “…roadway in Louisiana.”

The 14 days will be done at a quarantine station of the traveler’s choosing and they can only leave for medical treatment. Travelers can also quit the quarantine any time they want and head back to Louisiana.

Dwight says Louisiana travelers need to fill out a form from Texas Department of Public Safety before embarking on their trip.

Cut 7 (10) “…14-day quarantine station.”

Dwight says anyone who has a previously scheduled medical trip along with a few other exemption statuses can skip the quarantine.

Cut 8 (09) “…apply to them.”

Dwight adds that he has not heard about any checkpoints at the Texas line.

____________________________________________________

Legal ramifications have come down on Rev. Tony Spell, the pastor at the helm of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central that has repeatedly defied the Governor’s ban on large gatherings with congregations regularly exceeding 1,100.  Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says Spell has now been summoned.

Cut 9 (10) “…give his fingerprint.″

Spell has not been jailed for his actions.  Corcoran says they’ve tried to give Spell warnings before and attempted to resolve the manner by other means throughout the week.

Cut 10 (11) “…him this week.”

Corcoran says the public’s health and safety should priority number one and Spell’s continued actions were directly working against that.

Cut 11 (11) “…spread this virus.”

Another service is still on the schedule for Tuesday night.

________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order until April 30th, which means schools will remain closed for at least the next month. The academic year is scheduled to be completed in May. Edwards says acting state superintendent Beth Scioneaux is working to develop a plan

Cut 12 (10) “…of things”

The Advocate reports that a survey finds that 39 of Louisiana’s 69 school districts are offering online instruction.

The state has already waived standardized tests for this year, but what if school does not resume this year. How can you decide if a child should be promoted to the next grade or if they are eligible to graduate high school?  Edwards says the state department of education is trying to figure out those questions…

Cut 13 (07) “…young people”

______________________________________________________

Legislators returned to the state capitol today, introduced some bills and left about an hour later. It’s unclear when they’ll return. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says because of the uncerainity around the COVID-19 outbreak, they are not setting a return date

Cut 14 (11) “…come back”

The 2020 legislative session must conclude by June 1st and a budget must be approved by July 1st. The House and Senate chambers were not full today and the legislators present practiced social distancing. Schexnayder says at this point it’s better to keep flexible on a return date

Cut 15 (08)“…to work.”

______________________________________________________

Cut 16  (12)  …so forth” 

________________________________

A Pentecostal Pastor in Central has been issued a summons after repeatedly holding services of over a thousand people in defiance of the Governor’s shelter in place order. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says the public’s health and safety should priority number one and Tony Spell’s continued actions were directly working against that.

Cut 11 (11) “…spread this virus.”

Another service is still on the schedule for tonight.

Legislators returned to the state capitol today, introduced some bills and left about an hour later. It’s unclear when they’ll return. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says because of the uncertainty around the COVID-19 outbreak, they are not setting a return date

Cut 14 (11) “…come back”

The 2020 legislative session must conclude by June 1st and a budget must be approved by July 1st. 

Due to Louisiana’s hotbed of COVID-19 cases, Texas’s Governor is attempting to mitigate the spread with a mandate requiring a quarantine for Louisiana travelers coming into the Lone Star State. Louisiana State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says the mandate does not close the border.

Cut 6 (07) “…roadway in Louisiana.”

The 14 days will be done at a quarantine station of the traveler’s choosing and they can only leave for medical treatment. Travelers can also quit the quarantine any time they want and head back to Louisiana.

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to answer seniors concerns about the coronavirus. State Director Denise Bottcher says LaVonda Dobbs of 211 will also be on the call to speak about services that are available to seniors.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…SNAP benefits.”

The call takes place at 10:10 AM

Legal ramifications have come down on Rev. Tony Spell, the pastor at the helm of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central that has repeatedly defied the Governor’s ban on large gatherings.  Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran (Cork oh ran)  says Spell has now been summoned.

Cut 9 (10) “…give his fingerprint.″

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to answer seniors concerns about the coronavirus. State Director Denise Bottcher says Dr. Benjamin Springgate with LSU Health Sciences will answer health-related questions and LaVonda Dobbs of 211 will also be on the call to speak about services that are available to seniors across the state.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…SNAP benefits.”

The latest numbers from The Louisiana Health Department reports over 12-hundred new cases and 54 additional deaths to bring our total COVID 19 cases to 5,237 and 239 deaths. Governor John Bel Edwards says since the state is showing no signs of flattening the curve, he plans to extend the stay at home order to April 30th.

Texas tightens restrictions on travelers from Louisiana.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

The statewide shelter in place order has been extended to April 30^th following a similar federal extension of social distancing recommendations. This means schools will remain closed at least until May, leading to tough questions like how can you decide if a child should be promoted to the next grade? Governor Edwards says the state department of education is trying to figure out those questions…

Cut 13 (07) “…young people”

The Advocate reports that a survey finds that 39 of Louisiana’s 69 school districts are offering online instruction.

Texas’s Governor is attempting to mitigate coronavirus spread in his state by requiring visitors from Louisiana quarantine themselves upon entry, but Louisiana State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says the mandate does not close the border.

Cut 6 (07) “…roadway in Louisiana.”

______________________________

Testing will soon begin on the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets in combatting COVID-19…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Lawmakers are back at the Capitol today to read in bills before adjourning until further notice, with a reported 58 of the 108 House members present, most of the absentees being from the New Orleans area. 37-year-old Baton Rouge Representative Ted James is also not in attendance and hospitalized with pneumonia stemming from a COVID-19 infection. James posted on social media that he hopes his case is a reminder for people of all ages to stay home.

Louisiana now has over 4,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and sees 34 new deaths and 485 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours. Legendary Saints kicker Tom Dempsey is one of those newly reported infections as 28 nursing homes are reporting cases of COVID-19.

President Trump announces he will extend federal social distancing guidelines until April 30^th.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is doing all it can to be prepared…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Louisiana has become a COVID-19 hotspot, ranking in the top three locations in the nation for confirmed cases of the illness, and number two in per capita deaths linked to the virus. Attorney General Jeff Landry says with the number of cases exploding locally, LSU’s medical school has received approval to begin clinical testing of hydroxychloroquine, a potential treatment for COVID-19

Cut 7 (06) “…a treatment medicine.”

He also announced Louisiana has received 400,000 hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets from a donation.

After a two-week break, LSU’s spring semester resumes today, but all classes have been moved online. English Professor Kevin Cope says the school has not been able to invest in its online capabilities due to chronic underfunding of state schools.

Cut 5 (12)  “…scramble”

LSU’s campus is currently set to stay closed at least through the end of May.

Legendary Saints kicker Tom Dempsey is reportedly positive for COVID-19. Dempsey had been living at Lambeth House, a nursing home in New Orleans that was one of the earliest reported hubs for coronavirus activity, and now one of 28 nursing homes in the state to get the virus. Dempsey is best known for his, at the time, record breaking 63-yard field goal in 1970 that lifted the Saints over the Lions.

ESPN reportedly offers Saints QB Drew Brees the Monday Night Football analyst position once he retires from the NFL. Brees recently signed a two year contract with the team.

In more Brees news, the QB recently posted about taking long nature hikes during the COVID-19 shutdown, including one where he ran into a rattlesnake. Coach Sean Payton shot back that he should pick a new trail.

The NCAA is reportedly set to vote on potentially offering spring athletes who lost their season due to COVID-19 an extra year of eligibility today.

In a podcast that can be found on the Saints website, General Manager Mickey Loomis says he’s surprised the team was able to re-sign defensive tackle David Onyemata and left guard Andrus Peat.

Loomis says the key to what he believes has been a successful free agency period is that Q-B Drew Brees re-signed on a salary cap friendly

deal

Cut 18  (25) “…compeitive team.”   

ESPN is reporting that the SEC is allowing its football coaches to have two hours of virtual instruction and video conferencing per week. That includes film review. It’s an attempt to make up for the loss of spring football. But ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit says he would be shocked if we have an NFL or college football season this fall.

1,158 Louisianans are now hospitalized with COVID-19, and 385 of them are on ventilators as statewide cases cross the 4,000 mark. 185 people have now died due to coronavirus related causes, an increase of 34 in the past 24 hours. Governor John Bel Edwards says by the end of this week the New Orleans area could reach its ventilator capacity. Edwards says he’ll likely extend his stay-at-home order beyond April 13th as Louisiana ranks second in the nation in per capita deaths related to COVID-19….

Cut 11 (11) “…as wel know”

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces a donation of 400,000 hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets to the state. Landry says it is vital to have this drug on hand for medical professionals, not only to possibly treat COVID-19 patients, but to defend themselves.

Cut 8 (07) “…with this crisis.”

President Donald Trump has extended the nation’s social distancing guidelines that were set to expire today for another month through April 30th. Senator Bill Cassidy says the restrictions will likely extend into May, unless the curve is flatten or scientists discover a treatment. Over 11-hundred COVID-19 patients are hospitalized. Cassidy very concerned about the state’s energy-producing companies
Cut 14 (10) “…price war”
After a two-week break, LSU’s spring semester resumes today, but all classes have been moved online. English Professor Kevin Cope says the transition to online learning has gone about well as it could considering the short notice, but LSU was not fully prepared to make the jump.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…subscription.”
LSU’s campus is currently set to stay closed at least through the end of May.