Legislation by Senate President Page Cortez requiring the Governor to meet with the Legislature before extending public health emergencies clears committee. Included in the proposal, the Chief Justice of the Louisiana State Supreme Court must also be informed of any decisions ahead of time. Cortez says the ongoing pandemic inspired the legislation.

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Democrats are pushing back against those Republican efforts in the special session to restrict or change the Governor’s public health authority or require him to consult with the Legislature. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says nearly all Democrats back the Governor’s pandemic decisions and says there’s a difference between campaigning and governing.

Cut 10 (10) “…for”

Aiding southwest Louisiana with hurricane Laura recovery efforts is a topic of the current special session. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says there’s a series of laws on the books that state if a business is non-operational for a certain amount of time they lose their license.

Cut 13 (09) “…come back”

Johns says his first priority though is securing funding for the region’s school districts.

The state surpasses 5,300 COVID-19 fatalities with 10 new deaths being reported today. The total case count is 165,624… increasing by 553 out of just over 18,000 tests. Hospitalizations increase by 15 to 578, with 80 of those on ventilators.

Senate President Page Cortez introduces legislation requiring the Governor to meet with the Legislature before making any decisions related to extensions of public health emergencies. Cortez says the Governor would still maintain his constitutional authority to issue orders, this just gives lawmakers a seat at the table.

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Democrats are pushing back against Republican efforts in the special session to restrict or change the Governor’s public health authority or require him to consult with the Legislature. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James doesn’t expect any of the GOP efforts to make it into law because most Democrats refuse to support the bills, which he says are hypocritical.

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Legislators will take a look at ways to help Hurricane Laura-ravaged southwest

Louisiana recover in the ongoing special session. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says his first priority is securing funding for the region’s school districts. He says at the moment many students are scattered across the state leading to misleading school attendance rolls…

Cut 12 (10) “…funding”

Two people are dead after deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office fatally shot a man they witnessed murder his girlfriend on Monday night.  Sheriff Joe Lopinto says deputies arrived to find the couple in the street and arguing prior to the shooting.

Cut 6 (13) “…killing the suspect.”

The victims have been identified as 54-year-old Louvenia Penwright and her partner Willie Shropshire, 57.

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says he doesn’t expect GOP efforts in the special session to curb the Governor’s public health authority will be successful. Jeff Palermo spoke with the Democrat…
cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care. The state’s 53rd governor is 90-years-old. He served as the state’s governor from 1996 to 2004. The former state senator from Franklin was easily elected to a second term. Foster supported businesses and expanded TOPS during his time in office.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says his deputies fatally shot a man who killed his girlfriend as deputies watched. Lopinto says his deputies responded to a call of a male beating up a female. When they got to the scene, the two were arguing in the street and the man shot the woman in the neck and that’s when deputies returned fire…
cut 8 (10) “…shot also’
The identities of the deceased have not been released.

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

The Senate President files legislation aimed at requiring the Governor to consult with the Legislature before extending public health emergencies beyond the first 30 days. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…Matt Doyle”  

The state surpasses 5,300 COVID-19 fatalities with 10 new deaths being reported today. The total case count is 165,624… increasing by 553 out of just over 18,000 tests. Hospitalizations increase by 15 to 578, with 80 of those on ventilators.

Two people are dead after deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office fatally shot a man they witnessed murder his girlfriend on Monday night.  Sheriff Joe Lopinto says deputies arrived to find the couple in the street and arguing prior to the shooting.Lopinto says authorities arrived at the Avondale home after receiving a 911 call from a neighbor indicating a male was beating a female.

Cut 7 (08) “…called into 911.”

The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.

Radishes from UL Lafayette will soon be growing in space.  UL Lafayette vegetable researcher Dr. Karl Hasenstein says radishes were selected for their ability to be grown rapidly with a greater quantity in a smaller amount of area on the International Space Station.  The usefulness of the plants also extends beyond the ability to be a food source.

Cut 11 (09) “…consumed by humans.”

Senate President Page Cortez introduces legislation requiring the Governor to meet with the Legislature before making any decisions related to extensions of public health emergencies. Cortez says his legislation would create a committee of legislative leaders who the Governor must speak with should he want to extend an expiring public health order.
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The order would also change the petition process for ending a public health emergency or state of emergency, now requiring a majority of surviving members in both chambers to sign off, instead of just one chamber.
Two people are dead after deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office fatally shot a man they witnessed murder his girlfriend on Monday night.  Sheriff Joe Lopinto says deputies arrived to find the couple in the street and arguing prior to the shooting.

Cut 6 (13) “…killing the suspect.”

Lopinto says authorities arrived at the Avondale home after receiving a 911 call from a neighbor.

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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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”