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.

American Airlines will suspend flights to 15 smaller US cities starting October 7^th. Matt Doyle spoke with the Lake Charles Regional Airport Director about their inclusion on the list…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The state reports the largest single-day drop in COVID hospitalizations in three months as the total falls to 1,087, down by 73, and marks the first time since July 9^th it has been below 1100. Just over 1000 new cases today, total cases: 140,821… Total deaths, 4,496, up by 28.

Seven SEC teams have released their reduced stadium capacities so far, with all of them having capacities somewhere between 20 and 25 percent. Governor John Bel Edwards says he is also waiting on plans from ULM, UL Lafayette, and La Tech as well as LSU. He’s confident their proposals will be adequate.

Cut 8 (08) “look like.”

Face coverings will also be mandatory at all SEC games.

The Louisiana Treasury Department announces they returned a record 63-million dollars in unclaimed property for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. State Treasurer John Schroder says the previous record was 52-million dollars, which was set during the previous fiscal year

Cut 12 (11) “…keeps climbing”

Schroder says he’s pleased to set a new record during a pandemic

All eyes are on the tropics as two tropical depressions are expected to form into named storms today.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says the closest system to Louisiana is tropical depression 14 and is currently getting better organized in the Western Caribbean.  Keim says the tropical depression 13 is also gaining steam but is about 750 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands in the Atlantic.
Cut 10 (10) “…as a hurricane.”
Keim says Louisiana could be a landing spot for either or both storms.
Eight SEC teams have announced their plans for fans at football games this season, with all of them having capacities somewhere between 20 and 25 percent. Governor Edwards expects we will know the situation at Tiger Stadium in the next ten days…
Cut 6 (09) “…26th”
LSU opens the season in Baton Rouge on September 26^th against Mississippi State.

American Airlines is suspending flights out of Lake Charles from October 7^th through November 3^rd. American says it the first step in an evaluation of their network, but Lake Charles Regional Airport Director Heath Allen says it’s surprising considering how strongly they’ve bounced back.

Cut 3 (11)  “…percent”  

The Louisiana Treasury Department announces they returned a record 63-million dollars in unclaimed property for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. Each year millions of dollars in unclaimed cash, such as payroll checks, royalties, and life insurance proceeds are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office. State Treasurer John Schroder says this past year his office returned more than two million dollars to a family in New Orleans and he has another great example

Cut 13 (08) “…$268,000 too” 

Gulf Coast residents are warily eying two tropical depressions that are expected to form into named storms today and move into the Gulf by early next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the closest system to Louisiana is tropical depression 14 and is currently getting organized in the Western Caribbean.

Cut 9 (13) “…cone of uncertainty.”

The storm is expected to peak at tropical storm strength.

The Louisiana Treasury Department announces they returned a record 63-million dollars in unclaimed property for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. State Treasurer John Schroder says he’s pleased to set a new record during a pandemic.

Cut 14 (10) “…better timing”

Senator Bill Cassidy is diagnosed with COVID-19.

Governor Edwards expects we will know the new capacity limits at Tiger Stadium within the next ten days. So far eight SEC teams have announced, with all of them only allowing 25 percent of less of their total capacity to attend games. Edwards says setting capacity isn’t just about spacing people out in the stands, it’s about getting them there safely first…

Cut 7 (12) “…the game.”

Face coverings will also be mandatory at all SEC games.

American Airlines is suspending flights out of Lake Charles from October 7^th through November 3^rd. Lake Charles Regional Airport Director Heath Allen says  their data indicates they had been filling American flights out of Lake Charles at 70 percent, which is a healthy number right now, so the decision is surprising.

Cut 4 (09)“ …the fall.” 

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has tested positive for COVID-19. A press release from his office the Republican senator was notified last night he had been exposed, he was tested today and it revealed he’s positive. A spokesperson from his office says the Senator is also suffering from mild symptoms that began this morning. He was in Shreveport yesterday visiting two hospitals which included the VA medical center.

Two tropical depressions have the attention of weather experts. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut 2 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

American Airlines is suspending flights out of Lake Charles from October 7^th through November 3^rd.

American says it the first step in an evaluation of their network, but Lake Charles Regional Airport Director Heath Allen says thankfully they still have United providing flights to Dallas, but the loss of access to the American network will be difficult to recover from.

Cut 5 (05)  “…away”

The Louisiana Treasury Department announces they returned a record 63-million dollars in unclaimed property for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. State Treasurer John Schroder says the previous record was 52-million dollars, which was set during the previous fiscal year

Cut 12 (11) “…keeps climbing”

Schroder says he’s pleased to set a new record during a pandemic

American Airlines will suspend flights to 15 smaller US cities starting October 7^th. Matt Doyle spoke with the Lake Charles Regional Airport Director about their inclusion on the list…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The state reports a sharp decline in hospitalizations today, down by 73, the first time the rate is below 1100 since July 9th, new cases reported up by 1034, and US Senator Bill Cassidy has tested positive for COVID-19.

Seven SEC teams have released their reduced stadium capacities so far, with all of them having capacities somewhere between 20 and 25 percent.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he is also waiting on plans from ULM, UL Lafayette, and La Tech as well as LSU. He’s confident their proposals will be adequate.

Cut 8 (08) “look like.”

Face coverings will also be mandatory at all SEC games

All eyes are on the tropics as two tropical depressions are expected to form into named storms today.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says both storms are likely to impact the US and Louisiana could be a landing spot for either or both.

Cut 11 (10) “…both of them.”
A tropical wave coming off of Africa is a third area of concern, but Keim says that is still very far off.

All eyes are on the tropics as two tropical depressions are expected to form into named storms today.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says the closest system to Louisiana is tropical depression 14 and is currently getting better organized in the Western Caribbean. Keim says the tropical depression 13 is also gaining steam but is about 750 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands in the Atlantic.

Cut 10 (10) “…as a hurricane.”

Keim says both storms are likely to impact the US and Louisiana could be a landing spot for either or both.

American Airlines is suspending flights out of Lake Charles from October 7^th through November 3^rd. American says it the first step in an evaluation of their network, but Lake Charles Regional Airport Director Heath Allen says it’s surprising considering how strongly they’ve bounced back.

Cut 3 (11)  “…percent”  

Seven SEC teams have released their reduced stadium capacities so far, with all of them having capacities somewhere between 20 and 25 percent. Governor John Bel Edwards says the capacity limits won’t just be based on how safely you can space people out in the stadium, but how safely you can move people around the stadium.

Cut 7 (12) “…the game.”

Face coverings will also be mandatory at all SEC games.

The state reports the largest single-day drop in COVID hospitalizations in three months as the total falls to 1,087, down by 73, and marks the first time since July 9^th it has been below 1100. Just over 900 new cases today, total cases: 140,821… Total deaths, 4,496, up by 28.

Seven SEC teams have released their reduced stadium capacities so far, with all of them having capacities somewhere between 20 and 25 percent. Governor John Bel Edwards expects we will know the situation at Tiger Stadium sometime very soon.

Cut 6 (09) “…26th”

LSU opens the season in Baton Rouge on September 26^th against Mississippi State.

All eyes are on the tropics as two tropical depressions are expected to form into named storms today.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says the closest system to Louisiana is tropical depression 14 and is currently getting better organized in the Western Caribbean.

Cut 9 (13) “…cone of uncertainty.”

A major disagreement between the Legislature and Governor over how to run the fall elections appears likely to end up in court. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey says the plan requires approval from both the Governor and Legislature, and the Governor has promised to reject a plan approved yesterday in committee that seems to have the backing of legislative Republicans…

Cut 13 (13) “is now” 

Governor Edwards has called the restrictions on mail-in balloting woefully inadequate.

A new report estimates about a quarter of Louisiana students do not have access to the internet to participate in virtual classes. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says the expanded distribution of Wi-Fi hotspots puts the state in a much better position than it was at the beginning of the pandemic, but it’s not a reliable long-term solution…

Cut 5 (07)  “…solution?  Absolutely not.”

Governor Edwards announces nursing homes will be receiving fast-results tests that should allow more visitation in the next few weeks. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

Interim LSU President Thomas Galligan says LSU has been investigating the claims made against former Tigers running back Derrius Guice and will continue to do so. Allegations published in a recent investigative report by USA Today accuse Guice of raping two former students during his freshman year in 2016, and claimed school officials did not follow proper procedures after reporting the incident.

A new report estimates about a quarter of Louisiana students do not have access to the internet to participate in virtual classes.  Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says the findings are deeply concerning, adding that in her district, it’s about 46% who are without internet. Mizell adds the lack of rural broadband has a much wider impact that stretches beyond virtual education.

Cut 6 (13) “…have no broadband.”

Louisiana’s guidelines for the fall election are appearing more likely to have to be settled in court after a House committee passes a plan Governor Edwards vows to reject. Barry Ivey was the lone Republican to vote against the plan Wednesday in committee. Ivey says instead of sending the issue to court the Legislature needs to cease advancing the Secretary of State’s plan and negotiate a deal with the Governor, or the end result is inevitable.

Cut 14 (04) “…to me”