The Department of Health releases new COVID-19 numbers for the day and the state reports an increase in cases by 17-hundred. The percentage of new tests that are positive is at 7 percent. Fatalities increased by 42. Hospitalizations decreased by 20. It’s the third day in a row hospital have reported a decline in cases.

The high school graduation rate saw a slight decline from 2018 to 2019, but Louisiana schools did graduate a new record number of students. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened last night in Lake Charles. Trooper Derek Senegal says Lake Charles police officers responded to an alleged carjacking and when officers located the vehicle, a pursuit ensued and ended when the suspect crashed into a house

Cut 9 (07) “…suspect.”

Senegal says the suspect has been identified as 37-year-old William Joseph Latour the Third

Several bar owners in Acadiana have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Governor Edwards over his emergency order that bans onsite consumption at bars. Attorney Jimmy Faircloth is representing the plaintiff and says several of these bar owners met with the governor to find out why casinos can remain open, but a small bar owner can’t have ten patrons inside their establishment

Cut 5 (10)  “…for you”

Several Acadiana bar owners have filed a lawsuit in an effort to get a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against the governor’s emergency order that has shut down bars. The governor’s office points to the 464 confirmed cornavirus infections connected to 41 bars as a reason why the closure is necessary. But Attorney Jimmy Faircloth says that’s a small fraction of the total known cases in Louisiana…
cut 4 (08) “….there’s not”
The governor’s office says he does have the legal authority to close certain businesses during a public health emergency.

Minden Senator Robert Mills has asked the governor to revise an executive order to allow clergy members to enter healthcare facilities to provide mental health support. Mills says for patients who are close to death, this is especially important…
cut 8 (12) “…great relief”
The state education department reports Louisiana’s High School gradutation rate fell a little over one percent to 80-percent for the Class of 2019. But Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says the number of students graduating with college credits or industry credentials went up ten percent….
cut 5 (11) “…this state”

For the 11th straight year, Louisiana Economic Development’s Fast Start program is number one in the nation. L-E-D Fast Start Executive Director Paul Helton credits the program’s use of innovative methods of training for the high marks…
cut 12 (09) “…our clients”
Since 2008, LED Fast Start has delivered a half-million hours of training to more than 31-thousand employees.

Several bar owners in Acadiana have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Governor Edwards over his emergency order that bans onsite consumption at bars. Attorney Jimmy Faircloth is representing the plaintiffs and he says bar owners have been signaled out.
Cut 3 (06)  “…to why”  
A spokesperson for Edwards says the governor has taken both legal and necessary action to protect the health of Louisiana residents by prohibiting on-premise consumption at bars.

A Minden Senator is asking the Edwards administration to allow clergy members into healthcare facilities to tend to sick and/or dying patients. The current public health emergency bars family from entry, but Robert Mills says clergy should be considered mental health support personnel.

Cut 7 (10) “…community.”

This would include nursing homes, hospitals, and adult residential facilities.

Governor Edwards addressed concerns about COVID-19 among the state’s incarcerated population during his most recent coronavirus press conference.  Edwards says another corrections officer, Sgt. Rosa Thomas who worked at Angola for nearly 13 years, recently died from the virus.As of Tuesday, Edwards says two inmates are currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

Cut 14 (07) “…who have died.”

The Louisiana High School Graduation rate for the Class of 2019 was 80-percent. That’s down from 81-percent for the previous graduating class. New Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says it’s a disappointing development after years of gains in the graduation rate.
Cut 4 (08)_ “…direction”
Louisiana public high schools graduated 42,650 students for the class of 2019, which is a state record.

For the 11th straight year, Louisiana’s Economic Development Fast Start program is ranked as the best in the nation. Business Facilities puts the ranking together every year and Fast Start executive director Paul Helton says the program provides workforce training, recruitment, and selection services for Louisiana companies who are expanding or businesses who are re-locating to the Bayou State…
cut 11 (07) “…like that”

The state department of education reports the state’s high school graduation rate for the Class 2019 was 80-percent, a slight decline from the previous year. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says it’s too early to determine whether the pandemic will result in an even lower graduation rate for the Class of 2020, but….
cut 6 (11) “….do that’

The state reports Sergeant Rosa Thomas is the latest prison employee at Angola to die from COVID-19. Kevin Barnhart has more…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened last night in Lake Charles. Investigators say Lake Charles police officers responded to an alleged carjacking. A pursuit ensued and the suspect drove several blocks before crashing into a home. L-S-P says the suspect was in possession of a firearm and officers shot at him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The state education department reports Louisiana’s High School gradutation rate fell a little over one percent to 80-percent for the Class of 2019. But Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says the number of students graduating with college credits or industry credentials went up ten percent….
cut 5 (11) “…this state”

For the 11th straight year, Louisiana Economic Development’s Fast Start program is number one in the nation. L-E-D Fast Start Executive Director Paul Helton credits the program’s use of innovative methods of training for the high marks…
cut 12 (09) “…our clients”
Since 2008, LED Fast Start has delivered a half-million hours of training to more than 31-thousand employees.

Benton Senator Robert Mills is asking Governor Edwards to add clergy members to the list of mental health support personnel allowed in hospitals, nursing homes and adult residential care homes. Mills also plans on filing legislation to allow clergy visitations at hospitals…
cut 9 (11) “….out”
Mills says he’s trying to protect religious liberties of patietns during a declared public health emergency.

Nearly one-point-three million COVID-19 tests have been reported to the state and 112-thousand have come back positive. Governor Edwards says regular coronavirus testing is being conducted at prisons…
cut 15 (11) “…our parish jails”
This week 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have reported in the Vermilion Parish Jail.

The high school graduation rate saw a slight decline from 2018 to 2019, but Louisiana schools graduated a record number of students.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Eleven Louisiana bar owners in Acadiana filed a lawsuit against Governor Edwards over his order that has closed bars. The plantiffs argue only a small number of known cases can be traced back to bars. A spokesperson for Edwards says the governor did what was legal and necessary to protect the health of Louisiana residents.

Business Facilities Magazine ranks Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart program as the top workforce development program in the nation for the eleventh consecutive year. Executive Director of the FastStart program Paul Helton, says there is no secret to the success, they just produce results.
Cut 10 (12) “…delivers on that.”
The magazine also ranks Louisiana number one for best industrial electricity rates.

The state is reporting another Department of Corrections officer has died as a result of COVID-19. Governor John Bel Edwards..
cut 13 (09) “….worker at Angola”
The Department of Corrections says Sergeant Rosa Thomas died on Sunday and the Natchez, Mississippi native spent nearly 13 years working at the State Penitentiary. She leaves behind three children.

The Louisiana High School Graduation rate for the Class of 2019 was 80-percent, down from 81-percent for the Class of 2018. New Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says it’s a disappointing development after years of gains in the graduation rate.
Cut 4 (08)_ “…direction”
Louisiana public high schools graduated 42,650 students for the class of 2019, which is a state record.

SEC athletic directors have reportedly approved a ten-game conference-only schedule for football this year due to the pandemic. But the proposal still needs approval from university presidents, who will meet today, but they might delay their vote to next week. LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron says if the schedule changes they will be ready…
cut 16 (11) “….pasture”

Minden Senator Robert Mills has asked Governor Edwards to allow clergy to enter health care facilities to support the mental health of patients. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state reported 69 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday, raising the death toll to 3,769. Louisiana’s health department also reported 17-hundred new cases, but for the third time in four days, the state reported fewer COVID patients in the hospital.

Sports Illustrated reports SEC Athletics Directors have agreed to join the Big Ten and PAC 12 in moving to a conference only schedule for the upcoming college football season. The plan is not set in stone yet though as school presidents must approve it. They are scheduled to meet virtually tomorrow to discuss the proposal.

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to provide funding for states to replenish their unemployment insurance trust funds. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut 2 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Louisianans are pouring into state parks in numbers never before seen. After breaking records earlier in the pandemic Nungesser is celebrating the fact that last weekend was the biggest attendance weekend in Louisiana State Park history.

Cut 8 (09) “safely”

Attendance records were first recorded in 2008.

The state Agriculture Department has received about 300 calls from Louisianans who’ve received mystery packages of seeds from China and Eastern Europe. Commissioner Mike Strain says its part of some kind of nationwide plot.

Cut 4 (09)_ “its seeds”

If you get a package, do not open it and call the Ag department.

Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reports that the SEC athletic directors support the idea of a ten-game conference-only football schedule. Dellenger has learned SEC presidents will meet virtually tomorrow to consider the proposal. But a vote might wait until next week.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the recent slowing case growth is making him confident that fall football will be played. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The Louisiana Department of Agricultural says since Friday its office has received about 300 calls from people who say they received a mysterious package of seeds. The seeds have a mailing address from either China, United Arab Emirates, or Uzbekistan. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says this could be brushing scam
Cut 3 (10)  “…seeds”  
Strain says the packages have arrived in mailboxes across the country…

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to consider funding Louisiana’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund in the current proposal for COVID-19 relief legislation.  Edwards says the state’s unemployment was 17^th strongest in the nation before the pandemic took a toll on the fund.
Cut 10 (11) “…the solvency.”
Louisiana law mandates the Louisiana Workforce Commission impose a surtax on businesses up to 30% on taxable payroll.

69 more Louisianans are reported to have died from COVID-19, but our case count continues to come in lower than last week, with a notable decline in hospital bed usage after weeks of continual escalation. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says if we can keep up this rate of declining case growth the state could move to Phase Three in a few weeks.

Cut 7 (10) “…we won’t’”

Nungesser made the comments on Talk Louisiana.

Governor Edwards asks the Congressional Delegation to push for funding of state unemployment insurance trust funds as Louisiana is nearing depletion of the once flush account. Edwards says if the fund gets to the point where it needs to borrow money from the feds, that borrowing is available interest-free, but a mechanism has to be set up to pay it back.

Cut 11 (09) “…and their payroll.”

A mystery philanthropist makes a 20 million dollar donation to Xavier University, a historically black college in New Orleans. Xavier President Dr. Reynold Verret says representatives of the anonymous donor requested that the funds be used to create a tuition endowment.

Cut 13 (10) “…ability” 

The Associated Press suggests the donation may have been made by MacKenzie Scott, the recently divorced former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The state Agriculture Department has received about 300 calls from Louisianans who’ve received mystery packages of seeds from China and Eastern Europe. Commissioner Mike Strain says its part of some kind of nationwide plot.

Cut 4 (09)_ “its seeds”

If you get a package, do not open it and call the Ag department.