A bill is advancing that would require four members of the state legislature to sit on the Louisiana High School Athletic Association executive board. Jeff Palermo has more…

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Assistant State Public Health Officer, Dr. Alex Billioux’s last day with the department is Friday. Billioux, who’s been overseeing the state’s coronavirus response, tells The Advocate that football games drawing thousands of fans could lead to “three to five deaths per week.”

As the special session continues at the Capitol, Senator Karen Carter Peterson expresses her displeasure with a lack of spread mitigation efforts from fellow lawmakers.  Peterson slammed those lawmakers who were not using masks.

Cut 12 (10) “…other members’ health.”

Peterson says the Capitol should hold itself to a higher standard than places like Walmart and grocery stores who mandate masks while inside.

A House committee approves a resolution that would suspend the Governor’s COVID public health emergency order for 30 days after the current special session ends. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says his resolution would eliminate all COVID public health restrictions established by the Governor and give the Legislature time to craft their own.

Cut 6 (04) “…better”

The session is expected to end in late October.

A House committee approves a resolution that would suspend the Governor’s COVID public health emergency order for 30 days after the current special session ends. Haughton Representative Doddie Horton says the orders infringe on resident’s liberty and need to be eliminated quickly. She says that starts with the mask mandate in schools.

Cut 8 (11) “…face.”

The resolution moves to the House floor. The session is expected to end late October.

Don’t let the fall weather fool you.  Hurricane season is not over in Louisiana.  State climatologistBarry Keim says it’s too early to let your guard down because the history books reflect that storms can make a Louisiana landfall in October.

Cut 3 (10)  “…of the month.”  

The records date back to 1851.

The Senate Education Committee approves legislation that would require the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to have four state legislators serve on the executive board of the LHSAA. Executive Director of the LHSAA Eddie Bonine told the panel he is okay with lawmakers on the executive board, he just doesn’t think a law is needed.

Cut 11 (11) “…and Speaker.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor for more consideration.

The Ragin’ Cajuns game Wednesday at Appalachian State has been postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak at App State.  The game will be rescheduled for either Friday, Dec. 4th, or Saturday, Dec. 5th, in North Carolina. An App State student died this week from complications related to COVID-19.

A House committee advances a resolution by the House Speaker that would suspend all COVID public health orders by the Governor for 30 days after the special session ends. Matt Doyle has the story…

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The state reports just over 600 new COVID-19 cases today, with 8 new fatalities. Total hospitalizations… 534, down by 19… Ventilator usage also sees a decrease to 75, down by 4.

Don’t let the fall weather fool you.  Hurricane season is not over in Louisiana.  While many of the state’s October landfalls have happened ealier in the month, Hurricane Juan made landfall on October 29, 1985, looped around, and made a second landfall on October 31.  State climatologist Barry Keim says Juan is the latest into a season that a hurricane has made landfall in Louisiana, meaning no storm has made a Louisiana landfall in the last month of hurricane season.

Cut 5 (08) “…are not zero.”

The records date back to 1851.

The Senate Education Committee approves legislation that would require the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to have four state legislators serve on the executive board of the LHSAA. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey says during the summer when the LHSAA was trying to figure out how to play high school football during a pandemic, his phone was blowing up about the possibility that the season would be canceled…

Cut 10 (10) “…lit up.”

A House committee approves a resolution that would suspend the Governor’s COVID public health emergency order for 30 days after the current special session ends. Much of the discussion at the committee centered on the damage done to businesses by the ongoing orders. Sulphur Representative Les Farnum says the restrictions exacerbated Laura’s economic hit…
Cut 7 (09) “…punch.”
The Senate Education Committee approves legislation that would require the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to have four state legislators serve on the executive board of the LHSAA. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey says this will help keep lawmakers more informed on issues involving high school sports

Cut 9 (09) “…institutions.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor for more consideration.

Don’t let the fall weather fool you.  Hurricane season is not over in Louisiana.  While many of the state’s October landfalls have happened ealier in the month, Hurricane Juan made landfall on October 29, 1985, looped around, and made a second landfall on October 31.  State climatologist Barry Keim says it may not have been the most powerful hurricane, but its stationary nature pummeled south Louisiana.

Cut 4 (12) “…end of October.”

Weather pros are keeping an eye on an area of disturbance over the west-central Caribbean. The national hurricane center is giving the area a 40% chance of formation into a tropical depression within the next 48 hours.

Don’t let the fall weather fool you.  Hurricane season is not over in Louisiana.  State climatologist Barry Keim says it’s too early to let your guard down because the history books reflect that storms can make a Louisiana landfall in October.

Cut 3 (10)  “…of the month.”  

While many of the state’s October landfalls may be frontloaded, Hurricane Juan made landfall on October 29, 1985, looped around, and made a second landfall on October 31. The records date back to 1851.

The pace of new donations to Hurricane Laura relief is slowing down, but advocates on the ground say more assistance is still badly needed. Community Foundation of Lake Charles CEO Sara Judson says their organization has raised six million dollars so far with that money focused on efforts that will get people back into housing.

Cut 7 (13) “…thing”

A House committee approves a resolution that would suspend the Governor’s COVID public health emergency order for 30 days after the current special session ends. The resolution was brought by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder who says it would allow the Legislature to then craft a new public health plan themselves.

Cut 6 (04) “…better.”

The session is expected to end in late October.

A Denham Springs man is facing multiple sex crimes after he traveled from his home in Louisiana to have sex with an underage girl in Spring Hill, Florida. Hernando County Sheriff Detective Tom Cameron says 36-year-old Johnathan Lee Rossmoine actually lived in the girl’s closet for the last five weeks and the victim’s parents did not know…
Cut 14 (10) “…of the closet.”
Rossmoine was found when the victim’s mother saw something move in her daughter’s bedroom closet.

A Senate-approved bill requiring the Governor inform lawmakers seven days prior to the extension of any public order, and explain why the extension was necessary is being taken up in a House committee today. Shreveport Senator Barry Milligan says forcing the Governor to give lawmakers some heads up will save everyone a lot of heartburn…

Cut 5 (05) “…live.”

The bill creates a committee of legislative leaders that could question the Governor about the order but has no authority to stop the order from being extended. Because the bill doesn’t challenge the Governor’s power it had the full backing of Senate Dems, but New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says if the House were to amend it to strip public health authority from the Governor that would change quickly…

Cut 6 (09) “dangerous”

Some House Republicans have indicated they would like to see the Governor’s unilateral authority reduced on emergency orders, a sentiment that could work its way into the bill.

A Denham Springs man is arrested after he’s found hiding in a Florida teenager’s closet, where authorities estimate he’s been staying off and on for over a month.  Hernando County Sheriff’s Detective Tom Cameron says 36-year-old Johnathan Lee Rossmoine was found when the victim’s mother saw movement in her daughter’s bedroom.

Cut 13 (08) “…in the closet.”

The victim and the suspect had first met through a chatting app two years ago. 

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill providing civil and criminal immunity to people who gather for religious services against state orders during an emergency is ebing heard today in committee. McCormick says the bill was in part inspired by the story of Central Pastor Tony Spell who faces charges for holding large services against state orders…

cut 11 (10) “….liberty”

The Senate unanimously approves legislation that will be heard in a House committee today requiring the Governor to consult with a ten-member legislative committee before extending emergency orders. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The House Governmental Affairs Committee will consider this legislation this morning. The Associated Press reports there are several House Republicans who believe this measure does not go far enough because it does not expand the legislature’s ability to override the governor’s decisions.

When the pandemic started in March, the governor shut down schools, many businesses and churches in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick has a bill that would prohibit a church leader from being sued or charged criminally for holding a church service during an emergency order…
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McCormick says the bill was in part inspired by the story of Central Pastor Tony Spell who was arrested and charged after holding services against state orders.

The Community of Foundation of Lake Charles is concerned that as we get further away from the landfall of Hurricane Laura that donations will continue to slow down. Foundation C-E-O Sara Judson says their goal is to raise at least 10-million dollars and they have a website where you can donate at…help-s-w-l-a-dot-org…
cut 9 (10) “…volunteers”

A Denham Springs man is facing multiple sex crimes after he traveled from his home in Louisiana to have sex with an underage girl in Spring Hill, Florida. Hernando County Sheriff Detective Tom Cameron says 36-year-old Johnathan Lee Rossmoine actually lived in the girl’s closet for the last five weeks and the victim’s parents did not know…
cut 14 (10) “…of the closet”
Rossmoine was found when the victim’s mother saw something move in her daughter’s bedroom closet.

A House committee will take up a bill today by an Oil City Republican that aims to block the state from criminally charging a person for holding a religious service during a declared emergency. Representative Danny McCormick says the decision to close churches during the early stages of the pandemic was unconstitutional…
cut 10 (3) “…constitution”
Under current Phase 3 coroanvirus restrictions, maximum building capacity for places of worship is limited to 75-percent.

Relief groups in southwest Louisiana still need donations to help hurricane victims get back into livable housing. Matt Doyle spoke to one group trying to make that happen…
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The National Hurricane Center says there’s a high chance a tropical wave over the west-central Caribbean Sea will develop into a tropical depression in the Caribbean or possibly in the south-central-Gulf of Mexico over the next five days. This system would be named gamma if it strengthens into a tropical storm.

A Denham Springs man is in a Florida jail after he’s found hiding in a teenager’s closet and authorities estimate he’d been living in that closet for over a month. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana’s Health Officer, Doctor Jimmy Guidry, told state lawmakers that he anticipates another spike of coronavirus once the flu season gets here. Guidry also believes this spike will be just as bad if not worse than what we saw in the spring.

A House committee will consider a bill today that would prevent criminal charges against a person who holds a religious service during a declared public emergency. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says the bill was in part inspired by the story of Central Pastor Tony Spell who faces charges for holding large services against state orders…
cut 11 (10) “….liberty”
The legislation also provides for civil immunity.

The Community Foundation of Lake Charles is seeking to raise 10-million dollars to help with the Hurricane Laura recovery efforts. Foundation CEO Sara Judson says they’ve raised about half of that…
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Judson says the donations they receive go to local relief organizations. She says if you would like to help go to help-swla-dot-org.

Today, a House committee will consider Senate approved legislation that would require the Governor to consult with a ten-member legislative committee before extending an emergency order beyond 30 days. Covington Senator Patrick McMath says it gives lawmakers a seat at the table.
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The bill won unanimous approval in the Upper Chamber.

A Denham Springs man is in a Florida jail after he was allegedly caught hiding in a teenager’s closet at her home in Hernando County. Authorities believe the victim and suspect met in a chatting app two years ago and 36-year-old Johnathan Lee Rossmoine drove to her house on multiple occasions to have sex with her. Detective Tom Cameron says the victim is receiving counseling…
cut 15 (07) “….boyfriend from her”

The pace of new donations to Hurricane Laura relief is slowing down, but advocates on the ground say more assistance is still badly needed. Community Foundation of Lake Charles CEO Sara Judson says their organization has raised six million dollars so far with that money focused on efforts to get people back into housing.
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An estimated 12 to 14 billion dollars in damage was done to the region as a result of Laura’s landfall. If you would like to donate go to help-s-w-l-a-dot-org.