The tort reform legislation that supporters say will lower your auto insurance rates is closer to final legislative passage as it passes out of a House committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

____________________________

A COVID-19 treatment could be ready by fall according to one famed Louisiana politico. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m matt Doyle” 

_____________________________

Eight teenagers were injured when shots were fired early Monday morning during an unsupervised graduation party involving about 200 people at a business in Lake Charles on Highway 90. Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says chaos ensued when bullets started firing.

Cut 3 (11)  “…trampled on.”  

Guillory says they one of the gunmen, 17-year-old Devin Levier, suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…the weapon.”

When Levier is released from the hospital, he will be charged booked into jail on numerous charges. Guillory says they continue to search for two more suspects.

He says it’s shocking that so many teens were out celebrating at that hour and he’s surprised that more were not injured.

Cut 5 (09)  “…amazing to me.”

23-year-old Mary Brignac was also arrested she is charged with possession of a stolen firearm.

_________________________________________________

A Senate-backed tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance premiums is heading to the House floor after getting approval from the House Civil Law Committee. Democrats are skeptical, but River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says  his legislation that requires insurance companies to reduce rates by 10-percent

Cut 6 (08) “ …not one”

Talbot says auto insurance companies will be able to reduce rates because the legislation makes several changes to the state’s civil justice system. Talbot says one of the provisions would lower the jury threshold from 50-thousand to five-thousand dollars…

Cut 7 (06) “…than us”

Talbot says lowering the jury trial threshold will help settle cases for a more reasonable amount. Democrats would rather see laws passed that would prevent a person’s credit score, gender, or marital status from determining a person’s auto insurance rates. But Talbot argues that will not lower premiums…

Cut 8 (09) “…gets higher.”

_______________________

Former south Louisiana Congressman and international pharma lobby head Billy Tauzin believes there will be an effective, non-vaccine treatment for COVID-19 by September.

Tauzin says over 100 different treatments are being tested that could do everything from reducing the severity of COVID-19 to giving recipients temporary immunity.

Cut 9 (10) “…work”

Tauzin says those treatments are focused on three categories: plasma infusions from COVID survivors, “decoy” proteins, and lab-created antibodies…

Cut 10 (04) “…a shot”

Tauzin notes current plasma treatments appear to be effective for about 50 percent of patients.

Experts note a vaccine may not be ready until 2021, and Tauzin says these treatments could help us weather what could be a severe second wave of the virus later this year.

Cut 11 (09) “…vaccine”

_________________________

The Manning Passing Academy scheduled for next month in Thibodaux has been canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis. College and pro football analyst Mike Detillier says it was a difficult call for the Manning family, but it was the right decision

Cut 12 (10) “…coming down”

The Manning Passing Academy attracts over 12-hundred campers and over 200 coaches, trainers, and support staff. Detillier says the Louisiana Line Camp held at Nicholls State has also been canceled for this year

Cut 13 (11) “ big loss”  

This year’s Manning Passing Camp scheduled for the last weekend in June was set to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The Manning family says they will be back next year. Detillier says most of the starting quarterbacks in the NFL have attended as a camper or a counselor and the camp is not just for quarterbacks

Cut 14 (10) “…been here”

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is encouraging Louisiana residents to use the holiday weekend to explore their state. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (24) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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Louisianans who are feeling stressed by this new normal are encouraged to reach out to the newly activated Crisis Counseling Text Line. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

_____________________________

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is encouraging Louisiana residents to explore their state over the holiday weekend.  Louisiana’s state parks have canceled all out of state bookings through phase one and Nungesser says now is the time for locals to check them out because there is something for every member of the family.

Cut 3 (06)  “…got canoeing, tubing.”  

When visiting the state’s landmarks, Nungesser says make sure to snap pics and share them to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or wherever your out of state friends and family may see them.

Cut 4 (13)_ “…unlike a commercial.”

Nungesser says the state is actively working now at luring tourists for the when it is safe for them to return as last year, they left behind $1.9 billion in tax revenue.

Cut 5 (10)  “…tax base back.”

_________________________________________________

The statewide average for a gallon of gas sits at 1.63 heading into Memorial Day weekend.

Despite the low price Fuel Analyst Don Redman does not expect the roads to be packed as the list of travel destinations is limited right now.

Cut 6 (11) “ …can go.”

In 2019 the U.S. set a record for Memorial Day travel.

Redman says Memorial Day gas prices haven’t been this low since the Bush Administration.

Cut 7 (11) “…right now.”

If you are driving into Texas or Mississippi the average for a gallon there is actually a few cents lower, while those headed to Florida will be greeted by prices at 1.87 a gallon.

Redman expects this to be the last holiday weekend that prices will be this low, and by the 4^th of July…

Cut 8 (09) “…right now.”

The price for a barrel of crude oil is hovering in the low 30s after dipping into the negatives a month ago.

_______________________

The Crisis Counseling Text Line is now active in Louisiana for residents who need help coping with the mental stress of the pandemic.

GOHSEP Preparedness Section Chief Rubby Douglas says all you have to do is text reach out in all caps, one word to 741-741 to get help 24 hours a day.

Cut 9 (12) “…19.”

The money to run the text line comes from the feds.

There are crisis call centers already active but Douglas says not everyone is comfortable voicing their fears to another person.

Cut 10 (07) “…lot more”

If additional help is needed those on the text line may refer the texter to the appropriate behavioral health provider.

The Crisis Counseling Text Line is different from 211 which focuses on providing medical information to people about COVID-19 and the spread of coronavirus.

Cut 11 (10) “…some time”

_________________________

The SEC announces student-athletes can resume on-campus workouts at their schools starting on June eighth, but there will be stringent health protocols in place. LSU’s Executive Deputy Athletics Director, Verge Ausberry, says they’ve been preparing to welcome football players back next month

Cut 12 (11) “…right now”

There’s been a moratorium on on-campus activities since March 12th.

The SEC says the decision was made by the league’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force. LSU Infectious Diseases Expert Catherine O’ Neal is on that panel and Ausberry says Doctor O’ Neal is a great resource for them

Cut 13 (12) “the year”  

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says they are preparing to begin the fall sports season as currently scheduled and this limited resumption of voluntary athletic activities on June 8th is an important initial step. Ausberry it’s their hope the football season can start on time

Cut 14 (06) “…into to”

LSU’s season opener is September 5th at home against Texas-San Antonio

_________________________________________________

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 is down to 867. Governor John Bel Edwards says the hospitalization rate for this disease is at its lowest level since the end of March. Edwards says the state has also been supplied with thousands of viles of Remdesivir, a drug known to reduce the hospital stay of COVID-19 patients

Cut 15 (11)“  an allocation”

Edwards says the state is also boosting up its contact tracing efforts. Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns that the state will mandate people to participate if they get a call from a contact tracer. Edwards says there’s not a mandate for anyone to participate and Louisiana has done this before

Cut 16 (11) “…long time.”

Sales of fishing licenses spike for March and April during the Governor’s stay at home order. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

_____________________________________

The CDC now indicates that coronavirus is not easily spread through contaminated surfaces.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

___________________________________________

The state is hosting baseball tournaments today in the Baton Rouge area and Lake Charles as part of the Governor’s Games. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

____________________________________________

The House will take up a few controversial gun rights bills this morning.

Capitol observer Clancy DuBos says HB 140 by Erath Representative Blake Miguez would block local governments from limiting where guns can be carried.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…topic.”

HB 334 allows concealed carry in houses of worship. Bill sponsor Thibodeaux Representative Bryan Fontenot says it is only with the permission of the house of worship, but DuBos says the legislation makes no mention of needing permission…

Cut 5 (10)  “that.”

Another bill by Miguez would bar local governments from restricting the sale or transfer of guns and ammo during a public emergency. Miguez says it was partially inspired by a declaration of emergency in New Orleans that restricted those rights.

Cut 6 (09) “…was.

HB 781 also eliminates state and local government’s ability to seize firearms and ammunition during an emergency which Miguez says was an issue during Hurricane Katrina.

_______________________________________

More Louisiana residents are occupying their time during the COVID-19 pandemic by going fishing according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.  The sales of fishing licenses has seen a sharp uptick.  LDWF spokesperson Ed Pratt says basic fishing license sales has seen a 53% increases over the same time last year.

Cut 7 (12) “…the huge difference.”

Pratt says the sales are not just limited to the basic fishing license as the saltwater fishing license has also seen a 35% increase.

Cut 8 (09) “…on the water.”

The spike in sales was noticeable as early as March, but Pratt says there is never a bad time to take up fishing as it is great for social distancing and it won’t break the bank.

Cut 9 (08) “…is just $5.”

Sales of licenses help provide funding for various LDWF programs.

__________________________________

The CDC now indicates that coronavirus is not easily spread through contaminated surfaces.   Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says it is still important to keep surfaces clean, even if it’s less of a threat that human-to-human transmission.

Cut 10 (06) “…is a risk.”

Kanter says despite the change of wording concerning surface transmission, Kanter says it’s still a good idea to keep on high alert when it comes to hygiene.

Cut 11 (12) “…high touch surfaces.”

Kanter says the human-to-human transmission is still the predominant means of spread and the risk fluctuates based on the proximity between individuals as well as the duration of that contact.

Cut 12 (06) “…that’s a risk.”

___________________________

The Governor’s Games will play host to baseball tournaments starting this morning, some of the first organized team sports to be played in the state since the shutdown.

Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness Executive Director Rudy Macklin says it won’t be like any tournament these players have participated in before.

Cut 13 (13) “…sanitized” 

Games will be played in Lake Charles and the Baton Rouge area. About 100 teams will participate.

Families will have to sit in one area together six feet away from other family units in the stands. Macklin says for players or parents…

Cut 14 (11) “…you out”

Macklin says he and the rest of his team will be patrolling the grounds enforcing the rules and taking notes that will help craft sporting event policy for the age of COVID-19.

Cut 15 (09)“…future”

NOAA predicts the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be a busy one. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

____________________________

The Governor’s budget clears House Appropriations with an amendment barring the state from requiring mandatory participation in the COVID-19 contact tracing program.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

_____________________________

Governor Edwards indicates he is open to compromising with the Legislature on tort reform legislation aimed at lowering auto insurance rates.

Edwards made the comments on his monthly talk show Ask the Governor. He says River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot’s bill has some merits…

Cut 3 (11)  “…possible.”  

Edwards did not specify what those provisions are.

The regular session ends June 1^st but Edwards is confident something can be passed to lower Louisiana’s 2nd highest in the nation auto insurance rates.

Cut 4 (07)_ “…happen.”

But Edwards expressed disappointment over legislation that was rejected in the Senate he feels would have been effective in lowering rates.

Cut 5 (12)  “…record.”

The signature tort reform bill passed the Senate on a veto-proof majority and is now being considering in the House.

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NOAA predicts a busy hurricane season in 2020 with the potential of 13 to 19 named storms, six to ten hurricanes, and three to six major hurricanes. NOAA’s lead hurricane season forecaster Doctor Gerry Bell

Cut 6 (13) “ …African monsoons.”

Bell says they do not anticipate an El Nino forming, which can suppress hurricane activity.

During the announcement, FEMA activity deputy administrator for resilience Carlos Castillo assured the public that the agency will be able to respond to a hurricane during the coronavirus pandemic and history shows it can

Cut 7 (13) “…2017 hurricane.”

NOAA acting administrator, Doctor Neil Jacobs, says they are also upgrading their weather research and forecast system and other models and also incorporate new data from satellites and radar

Cut 8 (06) “…time frame.”

_______________________

House Appropriations passes the Governor’s budget for the next fiscal year with an amendment that blocks state funding for COVID contact tracing programs that require mandatory participation.

Amendment sponsor, Erath Representative Blake Miguez says he’s been bombarded by constituents demanding…

Cut 9 (09) “…manner.”

Oakdale Representative Dewith Carrier says his rural constituents are concerned about contact tracing…

Cut 10 (13) “…they do”

Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews says making participation in contact tracing mandatory would undermine the fight against COVID-19.

Cut 11 (11) “…the table”

A Louisiana Department of Health spokesperson told lawmakers they have no plans to arrest or penalize infected people who refuse to answer questions about who they have been in contact with.

_________________________

Louisiana has surpassed 25-hundred COVID-19 deaths as the state reported 21 more fatalities today bringing the death toll to 2,506. LSU Infectious Diseases expert Doctor Catherine O’ Neal says we could see an increase in the death rate in the next couple of weeks, because of COVID outbreaks in nursing homes

Cut 12 (09) “…go down”

The number of people hospitalized by COVID-19 dropped again today and it now stands at 884 .

State health officials report that 67-percent of the people listed as a COVID-19 death were over the age of 70. O’Neal says that’s why it’s critical to slow the spread of the virus in nursing homes

Cut 13 (11) “the hospital”  

O’Neal estimates that it will be early spring before a successful vaccine can be mass-produced. She says that will help protect the vulnerable population, but there will still be a risk

Cut 14 (10) “…seasonal virus”

Today NOAA unveils its initial outlook for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.  Brooke Thorington has a preview of what to expect.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_____________________________________

 The budget for the next fiscal year is up for debate today in House Appropriations. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

___________________________________________

Governor Edwards applauds citizens for crossing milestones in COVID-19 fight.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

____________________________________________

Today NOAA announces its initial outlook for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season that starts June 1.  State climatologist Barry Keim anticipates a forecast that leans towards an above normal season with the primary factor being the sea surface temps in the Atlantic.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…for the storms.”

Keim says sea surface temps will be main factor because of the expectations of ENSO-neutral conditions, where it is expected there is neither an El Nino nor La Nina.

Cut 5 (11)  “…does the opposite.”

A normal season is twelve named storms.  Keim anticipates NOAA will call for a wide range of 10 to 16 named storms.

2020 has already seen the formation of Tropical Storm Arthur that has stayed offshore.

Cut 6 (09) “…already had one.”

Colorado State University’s most recent forecast calls for 16 named storms with eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

_______________________________________

House Appropriations is set to take its first crack at the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1st this morning.

There are less than two weeks left in the regular session and political analyst Bernie Pinsonat believes it is a safe bet that a special session will need to be called.

Cut 7 (10) “…budget.

The regular session ends June 1^st and a budget must be passed before July 1^st.

Pinsonat says many Republicans are quietly supportive of a special session. He says it would give them a chance to override potential vetoes on tort reform and coastal lawsuits.

Cut 8 (09) “…apple”

Tort reform aimed at lowering auto insurance rates and legislation ending local government lawsuits against the oil and gas companies are likely targets for a potential veto override in the special session.

Pinsonat says the newly inaugurated, more fiscally conservative legislature is also likely to want more time to put their fingerprints on the budget.

Cut 9 (05) “…cut.”

Between federal funding and the use of rainy day funds, the budget deficit for the next fiscal year has shrunk to only 80 million dollars. That number could rise or fall after the fall Revenue Estimating Conference forecast.

__________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards highlights a milestone in the state’s fight against COVID-19 as hospitalizations have dropped below 1000 for the first time since March 28^th.  Edwards says this is a significant improvement from a time when the state faced the possibility of running out of ventilators and hospital bed space.

Cut 10 (11) “…to go down.”

As of Wednesday’s Department of Health report, there are 931 COVID-19 hospitalizations.  110 patients are on ventilators, down from a peak of 571 on April 4^th.

Edwards credits citizens for their handling of spread mitigation efforts for being the reason behind the progress made over the last two months.

Cut 11 (10) “…turned that around.”

The state has been in phase one of the economic reopening for less than a week and Edwards says more time is needed to gather data on how spread mitigation efforts are going before entering the conversation about moving into phase two.

Cut 12 (13) “…get the data.”

Edwards anticipates being able to make an announcement about moving into the next phase on June 1.

___________________________

A bill significantly expanding medical marijuana access is nearing final passage.

Under the legislation any condition a doctor considers “debilitating to an individual patient” would be eligible to receive medical marijuana. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills says the current limitations are too strict.

Cut 13 (06) “…not me” 

Mills authored the first medical marijuana bill.

The legislation lifts the requirement that a doctor is specifically licensed to prescribe medical marijuana. Mills says that has severely limited access.

Cut 14 (12) “…issue”

The doctor must be in good standing to authorize the treatment.

Bill author Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says the legislation was brought due to popular demand.

Cut 15 (08)“…access”

The bill easily passed the full House 77-15, and cleared a Senate committee 5-1. It moves to the full Senate for final passage.

___________________

Following closure since mid-March, casino guests are excited to get back on the gaming floor. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

____________________________

Louisiana scores 190 million dollars from the feds to significantly expanding COVID-19 testing capacity. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

_____________________________

The Louisiana Department of Health is investigating a COVID-19 outbreak that’s infected about 100 people at three Acadiana crawfish farms.

The outbreaks are centered on dormitory housing for migrant workers. Crawfish Promotion Board Chairman David Savoy says these farm outbreaks are unlikely to spread into the local community.

Cut 3 (11)  “…together.”  

The outbreak was discovered as part of the state’s efforts to expand testing in congregate housing settings.

Savoy says the outbreak occurred at the end of the season and likely will not impact overall production.

Cut 4 (05)_ “…too great.”

Savoy says the workers live in communal spaces where social distancing is not possible and does not believe the industry could have done anything differently to avoid the outbreaks.

Cut 5 (09)  “…cost.”

_________________________________________________

Casinos are experiencing a promising start to reopening after being closed since mid-March.  Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says players are showing up and are not pushing back against virus spread mitigation efforts of wearing masks and social distancing.
Cut 6 (09) “ …the virus hit.”

Jones adds that people were lined up at the doors waiting on the casinos to reopen on Monday.

Jones says out of town guests are showing up since a majority of the state’s gaming tourism does not rely on air travel.

Cut 7 (11) “…some Louisiana folks.”

Properties are limited to 25% occupancy and can operate half of their gaming positions.  Before guests are allowed on the gaming floor, they go through a temperature check, sanitize their hands, are given masks, and encouraged to wear them.

Two Boyd Gaming properties are set to reopen today, bringing the grand total to 13 casinos back in business.  Jones says there is still a chance that Diamond Jack Casino in Bossier City, which had previously announced a permanent closure, may still reopen.

Cut 8 (08) “…back in business.”

_______________________

The feds award Louisiana 190 million dollars to expand COVID-19 testing.

Early on in the pandemic, it could be hard to get a test even if you thought you were exposed, but Congressman Garret Graves says once this funding is applied that will no longer be the case.

Cut 9 (09) “…tested.”

The money will also be used to establish antibody testing in the future once the FDA approves a procedure.

Governor Edwards has expressed optimism the state will move into Phase Two in June. Graves says this funding ensures we have the testing capacity to meet the federal benchmarks to do so.

Cut 10 (11) “…program”

The money came to the state through legation passed by Congress three weeks ago that also refilled the Payroll Protection Program fund.

Graves says the level of testing this funding provides is vital to returning to some sense of normalcy before a vaccine is made.

Cut 11 (11) “…reemergence”

_________________________

The state’s top school board selects Jefferson Parish Schools superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley as the state’s new education superintendent. Brumley will fill the position once occupied by John White. The Sabine native was one of 21 applicants and during his interview, he described a team effort to improve public education

Cut 12 (11) “…those things”

Brumley has led Jefferson Parish Schools since 2018. Before that he spent six years as the superintendent of the DeSoto Parish School System which became an A-rated district under his watch.

Dr. Brumley says early childhood education is very important to him…

Cut 13 (13) “early brain”  

Dr. Brumley on what he would like to see from teachers in the classroom…

Cut 14 (14) “…child faces”

BESE will now work to finalize a contract with Dr. Brumley.

NASA’s Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans is slowly ramping up production again after an extended closure due to the pandemic. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

_____________________________________

Senator Bill Cassidy introduces federal legislation aiming to deliver $500 billion in emergency funding to states and communities with the SMART Act. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

___________________________________________

 A legislative effort to allow all registered voters in the state to vote by mail fails to get out of a House Committee. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

____________________________________________

More workers are returning to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to continue building rockets for the Artemis Program, which aims to put the first woman on the moon by 2024.

Michoud Director Robert Champion says some technicians returned Monday after a long hiatus.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…project.”

Champion says they’ll still be under 25 percent of their full production capacity as they enter NASA’s Stage 3 Return to On-site Work.

Cut 5 (11)  “…where needed”

Stage 3 of NASA’s plan roughly coincides with the federal government’s Phase One.

Michoud will still have engineers who can work from home continue to do so, but Champion says they’ve found creative ways to make that work…

Cut 6 (10) “ attitude.”

The decision to return more technicians to the facility was made after NASA officials observed a decrease in COVID numbers across the New Orleans region over a 14-day period.

_______________________________________

Senator Bill Cassidy is one of two lawmakers introducing bipartisan federal legislation aiming to deliver $500 billion in emergency funding to states and communities with the State and Municipality Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Act.  Cassidy says a state’s share of funding in a series of payments is based upon three factors.

Cut 7 (12) “…the financial impact.”

The first payment could go out immediately, the second would go out at the end of June, and the third at the end of the year.

Cassidy says estimates indicate the state’s tax revenue has taken a hit in the range of 42-46% and points to the state’s reliance on tourism as a big contributing element of the revenue shortfall.

Cut 8 (11) “…in Lafayette, etc.”

Cassidy says the President has indicated support for the measure, but there are other hurdles in getting the bill to his desk, adding that the faster the money gets into local and state governments, the better.

Cut 9 (09) “…have to do.”

__________________________________

A House committee shoots down a proposal allowing all registered voters in Louisiana to vote by mail.

Vote by mail advocate and recent LSU grad Catherine McKinney says vote by mail is already an option for Louisiana college students…

Cut 10 (11) “…plan”

The legislation would have allowed all voters to request the Secretary of State’s office mail them a ballot. Voters would have to submit their license to file their vote.

The proposal ran into opposition from Republicans like Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges who says vote by mail is more prone to fraud than showing up at a booth.

Cut 11 (08) “…integrity”

But McKinney countered that actual voter fraud is incredibly rare under all voting systems in the state.

Cut 12 (10) “…by mail.”

Voters in high-risk groups have expressed fear that polling locations could infect them with COVID, but Hodges says she is confident safety protocols can be written to prevent that.

Cut 13 (09) “…to vote” 

_______________________

Cal-Maine Foods, based out of Pine Grove, donates nearly 600,000 eggs to food banks in Louisiana.

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says Cal-Maine had an excess and wanted to donate it, so they rolled in with two tractor-trailer trucks with 1,560 cases of eggs each in tow…

Cut 14 (03) “…people”

Strain says that’s 23,400 dozen cartons of eggs.

Cal-Maine General Manager Corey Davis explains how his company came into having so many excess eggs on hand…

Cut 15 (13)“…customers”

Cal-Maine has roughly 40 egg-producing plants nationwide.

Davis says they look forward to distributing the eggs to food banks later this month

Cut 16 (10) “with them”

____________________

_______________________________

Other than whether there is a season, the big question for the LSU football Tigers is can Myles Brennan lead the Bayou Bengals to another successful season. Offensive Coordinator Steve Ensminger says he’s seen enough from Brennan to have a lot of confidence in him…

Cut 17  (19) “…let’s go” 

Brennan will have two proven receivers to target in the passing game, Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall Junior. Ensminger says he thinks Racey McMath can have a break out season in 2020 and he likes the speed that a lot of the young receivers have shown…

Cut 18  (26) “…double team Ja’Marr”   

LSU will have to rebuild its offensive line as Lloyd Cushenberry, Damien Lewis and Sahdiq Charles were drafted. But Ensminger they have several guys coming back that saw a lot of snaps last year…

cut 19 (25) “…enough talent”  

LSU is returning the Pete Maravich Assembly Center to normal after using it to produce personal protection equipment.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

_____________________________________

If your child received free or reduced-price meals at school, you could receive an EBT card to make up for those lost meals due to school closures. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

___________________________________________

The Senate passes the Omnibus Tort Reform bill on a near party-line 29-8 vote. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

____________________________________________

The Louisiana Department of Health has made public a list of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities where residents and or staff have tested positive for COVID-19. Governor Edwards says you can find the 12-page document on LDH’s coronavirus webpage and click on the tab that says nursing homes

Cut 4 (11)_ “…deaths.”

Louisiana is reporting 4,084 total resident cases in nursing homes along with 987 resident fatalities and 1,737 staff cases. 

LDH has also issued formal guidance to all adult residential facilities on prevention measures going forward…

Cut 5 (12)  “…so forth.”

And the Acadiana region is reporting an uptick in COVID cases. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says around 100 people at three crawfish farms have tested positive…

Cut 6 (09) “ settings.”

_______________________________________

The Pete Maravich Assembly Center at LSU has hosted a PPE production facility for about the last month and now the operation is wrapping up.  Director of Economic Development at LSU Greg Trahan says during that time, they made a big impact on the PPE needs of the state’s healthcare workers.

Cut 7 (06) “…10,000 face shields.”

Over one million square feet of billboard vinyl was used to make gowns and roughly 100 employees assisted in the project.  Trahan says the project showcased LSU’s ability to bring together different departments to tackle a project and do so in a highly productive manner.

Cut 8 (08) “…challenges like that.”

The project also produced over 2,000 gallons of hand sanitizer.  Trahan anticipates the project will have a long-lasting legacy at LSU.

Cut 9 (12) “…direct this energy.”

__________________________________

Louisiana public school students who received free or reduced-priced meals at school can now receive 285-dollars per child to offset the loss of those meals due to COVID-19 school closures. Louisiana has been approved by the USDA to issue Pandemic EBT cards to help feed approximately 600-thousand students. State Department of Education spokesperson Syndi Dunn

Cut 10 (08) “…debit card.”

The application is available online at the LDE website in a P-EBT portal or you can call 1-888-524-3578.

Dunn says families will receive up to $285 for each eligible child.

Cut 11 (09) “…SNAP program”

Dunn says the state expects to begin mailing EBT cards as early as May 26.

Cut 12 (09) “…your card.”

Dunn says benefits on the cards will expire in 365 days and you can now register now online for benefits until June 7^th.

________________________________________________

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. He says the legislation will also result in more companies writing auto insurance policies in Louisiana

Cut 14 (05) “…go down”

Tort reform is a major priority of Republican lawmakers and business lobbying groups. Many freshmen members made supporting tort reform a central message of their campaigns.

Democratic Senator Jay Luneau of Alexandria opposes the bill. He says it has been written with loopholes that allow insurers to skip out on passing along tort related savings.

Cut 15 (10)“…rates.”

In committee, opponents testified that passage of the bill would lead to lower settlements for victims of corporate or personal negligence.

Luneau also targeted the legislation for undermining critical funding sources for local courts and says it fails to address the real reasons behind rising auto insurance rates.

Cut 16 (07) “…of us”

The legislation is pending House introduction.

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Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin says seven players worked out at the team’s training complex in Metairie yesterday on the first day it’s been open since March 20th. Griffin says they could have had more, but the NBA has put a lot of stringent restrictions in place when it comes to what players can do inside team facilities

Cut 17  (26) “…their own” 

Players can work out with one staff member, but not with the head coach or an assistant. And the staff member who is working with the player must wear gloves if that person is rebounding for the player.

Play was halted with 18 games left in the regular season and the Pels 3.5 games back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Griffin says when the season resumes, the schedule will likely look different

Cut 18  (26) “…schedule”   

It’s been reported the NBA is looking at resuming the season by holding games in Las Vegas and Orlando. But Griffin says there’s a chance games could be played in the Smoothie King Center, without fans…

cut 19 (18) “…something different”