A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last summer after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says it’s the definition of a tragedy and one no one saw coming from Jordan who was described as a good student on his way to college.

Cut 13 (08) “…tragedy” 

Stephanie Payne was idling at a Baton Rouge intersection on July 22^nd when Jordan slammed his vehicle into hers at over 90 miles per hour.

There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says the official forecast track calls for this system to develop into a hurricane as it approaches the Louisiana-Texas coastline

Cut 9 (08) “…very good”

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week with the total weekly tally of cases appearing on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

The state reports nearly 1100 new COVID-19 cases today, Fatalities increase by 50. Hospitalizations decrease by 36 to 1051, with 172 patients on ventilators, down by 6.

It’s looking likely we will see two named storms enter the Gulf of Mexico next week, the first time we’ve seen two named storms in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time since 1933. One system seems to be aiming for the Louisiana-Texas border, while another, Tropical Storm Laura, is expected to make landfall as a hurricane on the northern gulf coast on Wednesday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says keep an eye out…

Cut 11 (08) “…both of them.”

Heavy rainfall is the greatest threat to the area, with two to six inches forecasted Monday through Thursday. Strong winds and elevated tides are also possible. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is bracing for that possibility. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says it’s time to get prepared…

Cut 16 (11) “…things become strained.” 

Hopes for Louisiana obtaining any form of herd immunity in the next few months from COVID-19 appear to be slim. An Ochsner study of the Baton Rouge region showed despite being a hotspot the city only had ten percent of its population with coronavirus antibodies in mid-late July…

Cut 8 (05) “area”

That’s Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan who says 2,100 people were tested for the survey.

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last summer after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says Jordan’s next court hearing is in October.

Cut 14 (11) “…released”

Stephanie Payne was idling at a Baton Rouge intersection on July 22^nd when Jordan slammed his vehicle into hers at over 90 miles per hour.

There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says southwest Louisiana needs to be on guard and so does southeast Louisiana as that part of the state is in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Laura which will most past south Florida on Monday.

Cut 10 (07) “…successive days.”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is bracing for the potential of two tropical systems impacting Louisiana next week.  GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says conference calls among coastal parishes have already begun and a Unified Command Group meeting has been called by the Governor for this afternoon.

Cut 15 (13) “at that time.” 

An Ochsner anti-body survey of the Baton Rouge region uncovers some unsettling data about COVID-19. Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan says those who reported the loss of smell and taste were eight and a half times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, and it’s no simple allergy season kind of sensory loss…

Cut 7 (10) “…severe.”

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last year after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says three medical experts observed his client and said was not of sound mind at the time of the incident, and ultimately the DA agreed.

Cut 12 (10) “…that time”

The state reports nearly 1100 new COVID-19 cases today, with the grand total now at 141,720. Fatalities increase by 50. Hospitalizations decrease by 36 to 1051, with 172 patients on ventilators, down by 6.

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting two hurricanes will be in the Gulf of Mexico next week. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the main goal is to pinpoint where outbreaks occur in an effort to mitigate further spread.

Cut 3 (11)  “…early as possible.”  

The total weekly tally of cases reported by universities will appear on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

The Louisiana Municipal Association calls on Congress to include aid to struggling local governments in the next pandemic relief package. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says they’ve been hammered by dual disasters in last year’s tornado and the pandemic. To survive this period they need federal aid.
Cut 10 (10) “…this.”
The National League of Cities estimates 90 percent of municipalities will not be able to meet their budgets.

There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says the official forecast track calls for this system to develop into a hurricane as it approaches the Louisiana-Texas coastline

Cut 9 (08) “…very good”

Keim says the other system is Tropical Storm Laura has the potential of making landfall in southeast Louisiana on Wednesday as a hurricane.

An Ochsner anti-body survey of the Baton Rouge region uncovers some unsettling data about COVID-19. Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan says they discovered 61 percent of those who tested positive for a contagious infection were not showing symptoms and likely didn’t know they were carrying the virus.

Cut 6 (04) “…or not”

2,100 people in the region were tested for the survey.

The 2020 US Census is in its final months, but the Bayou State is in danger of being undercounted due to lack of response. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The AP reports that only 64 percent of those who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-May have been interviewed by contact tracers, and only 25 percent of those found positive responded to contact tracers within 24 hours of receiving their results. Of those 64 percent who are contact, 70 percent are claiming that they have no close contacts that they could have infected.

Governor Edwards feels the latest metrics are showing the state is trending in the right direction in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.  The state overall has seen its daily percentage of positive tests drop below 10 percent.  Broken down by region, Edwards says four out of nine are testing below that mark.

Cut 14 (11) “…of the state”

On Thursday, the state reported the largest single-day drop in COVID hospitalizations in three months, a decrease of 73.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin gave emotional and at times teary-eyed testimony at a Senate Committee Thursday over his controversial fall election plan that rolls back the summer’s mail-in balloting options. Governor Edwards has outright rejected the plan on public health grounds. Ardoin says his plan needs Legislative and Executive support to be implemented or it will head to the courts…

Cut 7 (08) “…this plan.”

The Louisiana Municipal Association calls on Congress to include aid to struggling local governments in the next pandemic relief package. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says they’ve been hammered by dual disasters in last year’s tornado and the pandemic. To survive this period they need federal aid.
Cut 10 (10) “…this.”
The National League of Cities estimates 90 percent of municipalities will not be able to meet their budgets.

As the deadline to complete the 2020 Census looms, the Bayou State is falling short in responses. Being undercounted could adversely affect funding for schools, roads, and hospitals and U-S Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says it could also affect Congressional representation.

Cut 5 (09)  “…that seat.”

You are required by law to answer the Census and Ross says the questionnaire takes 10 minutes to complete, if you do not, you will be personally visited by a Census worker.

Tropical Storm Laura has formed in the Atlantic as there’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. The other storm system is a Depression in the Carribbean and it is expected to move into the Gulf on Sunday and strengthen into a hurricane, possibly making landfall in Texas or Louisiana. Laura is also expected to strengthen into a hurricane and impact the Florida-Alabama coast.

Governor Edwards says the state is trending in the right direction in the fight against the spread of COVID-19…..
cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin started crying while speaking to a Senate Committee as there’s not a consensus on who should be allowed to cast mail-in ballots for the fall elections…
cut 9 (13) “….my state”
Republicans supports Ardoin’s plan, but Governor Edwards says it’s woefully inadequate because it doesn’t contain any provisions for people who must quarantine or those susceptible to the virus. The courts may have to decide on Louisana’s election rules.

Louisiana mayors are stressing over the loss of revenue as a result of the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter expects sales tax revenue to be down 6-12 percent, and gaming revenue, which makes up a large portion of the budget, is down 15 percent.
Cut 12 (07) “…Lake Charles.”
There’s a stalemate in Congress over providing additional funding to local govenrments.

On Thursday, the state reported the largest single-day drop in COVID hospitalizations in three months as the total fell to 1,087, a decrease of 73. For the first time since July 9th, COVID hospitalizations are below eleven-hundred. Governor John Bel Edwards says less than a month ago, there were 16-hundred coronavirus patients hospitalized…
Cut 15 (11) “…we currently do”

US Commerce Secretary Wilbert Ross estimates only 58-percent of Louisana’s households have filled out their census questionnaire. He says it only takes 10 minutes to complete and if you do not, a Census worker will visit your home…
cut 6 (12) “….send it in”

Local governments are suffering big budget shortfalls and the Louisiana Municipal Association says cities and towns need more federal aid…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

If the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t enough for the state to handle. The National Hurricane Center says there’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. One of the storms is expected to make landfall possibly Tuesday or Wednesday morning in Louisiana or Texas as a hurricane. The other system, which has been named Tropical Storm Laura, is expected to impact the Florida panhandle and the Alabama coast.

The 2020 US Census is in its final months, but the Bayou State is in danger of being undercounted due to a lack of responses.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Louisiana’s universities will publicly report the number of students and faculty members who test positive for the coronavirus. Governor Edwards says it’s important to track outbreaks on college campuses…
cut 16 (06) “….those institutuions’

Several Louisiana mayors are expressing the need for federal aid to make up for a drop in sales tax revenues as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In Kenner, Mayor Ben Zahn says his city is facing a 20-million dollar shortfall. He says sales tax revenue makes up 70-percent of his budget…
cut 13 (12) “…badly”
Woodworth Mayor David Butler says small towns like his are already on tight budgets with little room to cut. They’ve seen a 10-12 percent drop in sales tax revenue, and declining franchise fees.
Cut 11 (10) “…already”
Negotiations in Congress are stalled over how to help communities recover from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.

Governor Edwards says the latest metrics indicate the state is trending in the right direction in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

State officials are also watching the tropics and so should you as there are two tropical depressions that the National Hurricane Center expects will be hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. One of the potential storms could impact southwest Louisiana, the other southeast Louisiana on Wednesday.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin got very emotional as he discussed his fall election plan to a Senate Committee. Governor Edwards has called the proposal woefully inadequate as he says it does not allow people who are ordered to quarantine to mail-in their ballot and the governor says it also forces people who are susceptible to the virus to vote in person. But Ardoin believes his plan has the best chance to be implemented….
cut 8 (07) “….passed”
Under Ardoin’s plan, the only COVID-related reason for a mail in ballot is if a voter tests positive during early voting or in the days before the election.

As the deadline to complete the 2020 Census looms, the Bayou State is falling short in responses, which could put the state in danger of losing federal funding. U-S Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says the national response rate to the Census is 64-percent and Louisiana is at 58-percent.
Cut 4 (12)“ ..ten years.”
Go to census-dot-gov to fill out the census.