The special session is underway and lawmakers will look to begin advancing legislation that will give them more of a say in coronavirus rules. Covington Representative Mark Wight has a bill to limit the amount of time a state of emergency declaration can go without legislative approval…
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care. Foster served as the state’s governor from 1996 to 2004. He is 90-years-old.

The Louisiana Revenue Department says it has processed about 65-percent of the 240-thousand applications they’ve received from eligible workers who are seeking a 250-dollar payment, because of the service they provided during the economic shutdown. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says there are thousands of people who need to respond to requests for additional information before they can get their cash…
cut 15 (07) “….information

UL Lafayette biologist Karl Hasenstein is sending two batches of radish seeds to the International Space Center as part of a vegetable research experiment that NASA is conducting. Researchers are trying to figure out how to reliably grow crops 240 miles above Earth. Hasenstein says upon harvest the radishes will be sent back to earth for further research…
cut 12 (12) “…do the analysis”

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office reports a 200 percent increase in online sexual predator cases during the pandemic. Louisiana Internet Crimes against Children Commander Corey Bourgeois says the increase appears to be linked to the fact kids are spending more time online.
Cut 7 (12) “…minors”
Bourgeois says parents need to be even more mindful of what their child is doing on the internet.

Should legislators have more input on executive orders issued during emergencies? Bills have been filed in the ongoing special session addressing this issue. Covington Representative Mark Wright says it could result in future emergency orders being more effective, because it will have the backing of the legislature as well…
cut 5 (12) “….we have now”

UL Lafayette is participating in a NASA experiment to see if vegetables can be grown in space to sustain astronauts during long missions. UL Lafayette vegetable researcher Dr. Karl Hasenstein says the research has been in the works for three years, but needs to be tested in space to advance cosmic exploration.
Cut 10 (13) “…moon or Mars.”
On Thursday, radish seeds developed by Hasenstein will travel to the International Space Station.

Governor John Bel Edwards is asking Louisiana residents to pray as former Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care at the age of 90. Sources close to the former governor say Foster’s illness is not related to COVID-19. He served as Louisiana’s governor from 1996 to 2004.

A 30-day special session called by Republican lawmakers is underway. Legislation has been filed that seeks to give legislators more of a say when emergency orders are issued by the governor. Covington Representative Mark Wright says similar consultation with lawmakers exists at the federal level as well…
cut 6 (09) “….to declare war”

The 250 dollar Frontline Worker Rebate Program has processed about 65 percent of the over 240,000 applications received. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says they’re confident they will give away all of the money by the October 31st application deadline.
Cut 13 (10) “…available”

With kids spending more time in front of screens these days the number of reported cases of potential online sexual predation of minors was up 200 percent from April to June. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office has charged 27-year-old Natalie Broussard with negligent homicide after she allegedly left a two-year-old in a vehicle on Sunday afternoon. A cause of death of the child has not been released and authorities say the investigation is continuing. Broussard will make her first court appearance today.

The second special session of 2020 began last night and bills have been filed that seek to scale back the governor’s authority during an emergency. House Republican Mark Wright of Covington proposes that any emergency declaration extended beyond 30 days should see more input than just the governor.
Cut 4 (13)“ …of these orders.”
Governor Edwards has said you can’t respond to a public health emergency by committee.

The Louisiana Revenue Department says it has processed about 65-percent of the 240-thousand applications they’ve received from eligible workers who are seeking a 250-dollar payment, because of the service they provided during the economic shutdown. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says there are thousands of people who need to respond to requests for additional information before they can get their cash…
cut 15 (07) “….information”

A UL Lafayette biologist is conducting vegetable research with NASA and launching radishes to space on Thursday. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a broad area of low pressure in the Caribbean that has a 50-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression late this week or over the weekend.

And former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care. He’s 90-years-old and people close to the situation say it’s not COVID related.

The special session is underway and lawmakers will look to begin advancing legislation that will give them more of a say in coronavirus rules. Covington Representative Mark Wight has a bill to limit the amount of time a state of emergency declaration can go without legislative approval…
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care. Foster served as the state’s governor from 1996 to 2004. He is 90-years-old.

Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says there are 22-million dollars available for the Frontline Worker Rebate Program, which had 50-million dollars available to spend. Robinson says over 110-thousand eligible workers have received their money…
cut 14 (03) “….rebates”
The Frontline Worker Rebate Program provides a 250- dollars payment to eligible workers who had to work during the economic shutdown in the spring. Robinson says thousands of people need to respond to additional information before they get their cash.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office says they’ve seen a 200-percent increase in online sexual predator cases since the pandemic started. Louisiana Internet Crimes against Children Commander Corey Bourgeois says they are trying to keep up with the reported cases…
cut 9 (12) “…office”

The 2nd special session of the year gaveled in yesterday at 6 PM with lawmakers returning to the Capitol with three main priorities per the call. Expect a lot of discussion about the rapidly dwindling unemployment trust fund and how to stop it from fully draining, and thus causing significant tax hikes on businesses next year. There will also be quite a few attempts coming out of the house that will seek to limit the governor’s broad authority to implement public health restrictions on businesses. Finally, lawmakers will seek to find some way to facilitate the post-Laura recovery in southwest Louisiana. But the issue that is likely to grab the most headlines will be the challenges to the Governor’s public health orders. Bills have been filed that seek to scale back the governor’s authority during an emergency. House Republican Mark Wright of Covington aims to limit the amount of time a state of emergency declaration can go without legislative approval. Wright proposes that any emergency declaration extended beyond 30 days should see more input than just the governor.

Cut 4 (13)“ …of these orders.” 

Lawmakers are scrambling to find cash to fill the near-empty unemployment trust fund but it appears one possibility is now off the table, and that’s the Frontline Worker Rebate Program…

The 250 dollar Frontline Worker Rebate Program has processed about 65 percent of the over 240,000 applications received.

Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says they’re confident they will give away all of the money by the October 31^st application deadline.

Cut 13 (10) “…available”

Eligible workers have to earn less than 50,000 dollars a year and have worked in a specifically listed frontline job for a certain amount of hours during the pandemic.

Louisiana’s Republican Congressional Delegation has nothing but good things to say about President Trump’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Metairie native Amy Coney Barrett. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Over in Opelousas, police have charged 24-year-old Maleke Guillory with two counts of negligent homicide after he fatally shot his pregnant girlfriend during an argument. The victim, 31-year-old Tyana Thomas was five-months pregnant.

Calcasieu Parish has been working overtime to get the epicenter of Hurricane Laura’s devastation back to some sense of normalcy. Power has been restored to most areas and the debris has been pushed to the sides of nearly all roads in the parish. President of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Tony Guillory says the blue roofs are now a normal sight around the area, a constant reminder to locals of the damage done, long after the national spotlight has moved on.

Cut 8 (12) “…forget about you.”

Enrollment at Natchitoches based Northwestern State University is up five percent this year to a record 11,447 students. Demons President Nick Maggio says he 136-year-old institution was well prepared for pandemic due to its robust online class offerings that have been a big hit with non-traditional students.

Cut 11 (07) “…levels”

It has been one month since Hurricane Laura made landfall, bringing widespread destruction to southwest Louisiana.  President of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Tony Guillory says streets are cleared of debris, with much of it being pushed to roadsides.  About 120 trucks are being utilized for debris pickup.
Cut 7 (09) “…back through again.”
Hurricane Laura made landfall as a Category 4 storm around 1AM on August 27^th.

Louisiana’s Republican Congressional delegation is thrilled with President Trump’s decision to nominate Metairie native Amy Coney Barrett for a seat on the U-S Supreme Court. Benton Congressman Mike Johnson met Barrett at a student leadership event in 1988 when they were high school. Johnson says Judge Barrett is a female version of Justice Antonin Scalia, who served on the court for 30 years until his death in 2016

Cut 14 (12) “…same mold”

The Saints have their first two-game losing streak since 2017 as they lost to Green Bay 37-30 last night. A Taysom Hill fumble in the fourth quarter turned the momentum in the Packers favor, plus New Orleans committed eight penalties. Coach Sean Payton says his team is facing a bit of gut check

Cut 3 (08)  “the truth”  

It’s the second straight week the Saints defense gave up more than 30 points.

Enrollment at Natchitoches based Northwestern State University is up five percent this year to a record 11,447 students. Demons President Nick Maggio says the 136-year-old institution is thriving and seeing gains across the board.

Cut 9 (10) “classes”

Maggio says prospective students are responding well to the University’s focus on promoting a curriculum that prepares them for in-demand jobs, and jobs of the future…

Senator Bill Cassidy backs moving ahead with the nomination process for Supreme Court nominee and Metairie native Amy Coney Barrett. Cassidy says it’s the will of the people who elected a Republican President and the Senate has a Republican majority

Cut 13 (10) “…to do”

Cassidy’s main opponent in the US Senate race, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, has said the Senate should not vote on a justice nominee until next year.

Most of the power has been restored in Hurricane Laura ravaged Calcasieu parish, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean a lot of lights are on at night. President of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Tony Guillory says there are a lot of parish residents who can’t actually live in their homes.

Cut 6 (08) “…next biggest issues.”

Hurricane Laura made landfall as a Category 4 storm around 1AM on August 27^th.

While the Saints as a whole have been pretty terrible running back Alvin Kamara is certainly living up to the hefty contract he signed just before the season started. Alvin Kamara had a huge game for the Black and Gold against the Packers in last night’s 37-30 loss. He gathered 197 yards from scrimmage, including a 52-yard touchdown catch that saw him break five tackles. Meanwhile Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, but he says mistakes keep costing them

Cut 4 (12)“ opportunities” 

Enrollment at Natchitoches based Northwestern State University is up five percent this year to a record 11,447 students. Demons President Nick Maggio says prospective students are responding well to the University’s focus on promoting a curriculum that prepares them for in-demand jobs, and jobs of the future…

Cut 10 (12) “…sciences”

Louisiana’s Republican Congressional Delegation has nothing but good things to say about President Trump’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Metairie native Amy Coney Barrett. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care. The two-term Republican first won the seat in 1996 and was popular enough at the time to avoid having to enter a run-off to win reelection. Foster is 90 and currently lives in Franklin.

Calcasieu Parish has been working overtime to get the epicenter of Hurricane Laura’s devastation back to some sense of normalcy. Power has been restored to most areas and the debris has been pushed to the sides of nearly all roads in the parish. President of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Tony Guillory says the blue roofs are now a normal sight around the area, a constant reminder to locals of the damage done, long after the national spotlight has moved on.

Cut 8 (12) “…forget about you.”

Enrollment at Natchitoches based Northwestern State University is up five percent this year to a record 11,447 students. Demons President Nick Maggio says he 136-year-old institution was well prepared for pandemic due to its robust online class offerings that have been a big hit with non-traditional students.

Cut 11 (07) “…levels”