Data released out of LSU shows the motor vehicle crash fatality rate in 2019 reached an all-time low as there was a decrease of 46 fatalities from 2018 to 2019. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Director Lisa Freeman says the number of motor vehicle crashes has remained the same, but vehicles are built safer and fewer people are drinking and driving…
cut 12 (11) “….previous years”
But Freeman says fatalities as a result of distracted driving are on the rise.

It sure feels like Fall outside today, but many fall festivals have been canceled because of COVID-19. The hope is that Mardi Gras celebrations will not be impacted next year. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is hopeful…
cut 15 (08) “….I’m cautiously optimistic”
The state reported 608 more COVID-19 cases yesterday bringing the state’s total to 166-thousand. The death toll increased by eight to 5,329.

The Louisiana House meets this morning and they are expected to vote on several different measures that seek to reduce the governor’s authority when issuing emergency orders. On the agenda is House Speaker Clay Schexnayder’s resolution that would overturn John Bel Edwards’ coronavirus orders for a month after the Special Session ends. Edwards says those orders are saving lives and not up for debate…
cut 8 (11) “….in place” (3X)

Lawmakers have also complained about a 24-million dollar emergency rental assistance program that’s only distributed about 400-thousand dollars to help tenants get caught up on rent. Louisiana Housing Corporation Director Keith Cunningham says they’ve reduced the application length and allowing electronic signatures…
cut 5 (10) “…has beeN”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission reports the highway fatality rate dropped to a record low in 2019. Executive Director Lisa Freeman says based on data from the LSU Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety, 727 people died on Louisiana highways in 2019, a decrease of 46 fatalities from 2018, reversing a five-year trend…
cut 10 (08) “…incredible news”

A new report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association indicates 38% of Louisiana hotel jobs have been lost because of the coronavirus pandemic. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the job losses could have been worse.
Cut 13 (09) “…around the state.”
The Lt. Governor’s office says statewide leisure and hospitality jobs have improved by 44-percent since record lows in April.

The 24 million dollar emergency rental assistance program has been streamlined with the hope of getting more money out to struggling low-income renters, and faster…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The 2^nd special session of the year was called in large part to address Legislative grievances with Governor Edwards’ handling of pandemic public health restrictions and a number of instruments are now passing quickly through the process tackling that issue.

The most ambitious appears to be 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 this would strip the Governor of his power to set restrictions and give the Legislature time to craft their own…

Cut 6 (04) “…better”

But Governor Edwards argues his orders have and continue to save lives, and revoking his authority would be irresponsible.

Cut 8 (11) “…in place” AM

That resolution is heading to the House floor.

While lawmakers tangle over whether mask mandates should be in place one lawmaker excoriated her colleagues for refusing to wear a mask while working at the Capitol. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson says many lawmakers are setting a poor example for the public and endangering their staff…

Cut 12 (10) “…other members’ health.”

The Senate backs a bill by Slidell Senator Haron Hewitt stripping the Governor of his ability to veto emergency election plans. Governor Edwards recently rejected a Legsialtively backed plan by Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin that would have restricted the level of COVID-related absentee ballots in the upcoming fall election. A federal judge ruled against the order forcing the state to revert to its previously implemented summer plan.

The major committees all have the day off Friday so expect a quiet day at the capitol.

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 session is scheduled to end late October.

Senator Karen Carter Peterson expresses her displeasure with a lack of spread mitigation efforts from fellow lawmakers.  Peterson highlights that mask usage is the top recommendation of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

Cut 13 (13) “…we should do.”

Peterson says it is imperative that lawmakers set a good example for constituents.

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.”

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 earlier 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.”

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…

cut 2 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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…

Cut 1 (30) “…Matt Doyle”  

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.