On a day when Louisiana reported 22-hundred more coronavirus cases, Vice President Mike Pence expressed confidence the state will slow the spread of the virus. Pence encouraged Louisiana residents to listen to the guidance from state officials and that means wearing a mask in public…
Cut 10 (08) “…do it again.”
The state is reporting 1,362 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. That’s the highest the number has been since May 7th.

Grocery store clerks, bus drivers, garbage collectors, and nurses who were required to work during the first couple months of the pandemic can now apply for a 250-dollar hazard paycheck. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson…
cut 8 (11) “…prior year”
To apply go to front-line-workers-dot-la-dot-gov.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved a set of health rules for public schools to safely reopen and they call for masks inside the classroom. There is a new state law protecting schools from COVID-related suits, but State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says protection can be lost if they do not follow BESE’s guidelines.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…ability.”
The adopted minimum safety standard approved by BESE calls for every adult and students in grades 3 through 12 wearing a face covering to the greatest extent possible and practical.

A heat advisory is in effect once again for the northern half of the state as heat index values will range between 105 to 110 degrees. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 14 (09) “….particularly heat sensitive”

Vice President Mike Pence has wrapped up today’s visit to Louisiana. Pence says this is a serious time as the state reported 22-hundred new cases today and hospitalizations rose by 54. He says the White House is making sure the state has what it needs

Cut 13 (10) “…Louisaina.” 

Pence also said during his visit that the state has flattened the curve once already and feels confident that it can be done again.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers says 58-percent of teachers and parents who participated in their online survey do not feel comfortable returning to school next month. L-F-T president Larry Carter says certain precautions and mandates need to be in place to create a safe environment

Cut 6 (10) “…rights”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has tested positive for the coronavirus. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

Louisiana Lottery launches a smartphone app.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the app will help make lottery transactions easier and contactless.While tickets will not be able to be purchased on the phone, Chopin says the app adds more convenience in allowing players to manage their lottery play on their phone as they can also use the app to find out if you have a winning ticket.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…lot more transparency.”

Vice President Mike Pence has wrapped up a meeting at LSU with Governor John Bel Edwards and higher education leaders. Pence began his visit to Baton Rouge by meeting with emergency responders at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Pence thanked the federal and state workers who have put in long hours and he says the Trump administration stands ready to assist…
cut 12 (06) “…the past”
Senator John Kennedy says Pence has been both a rock and rock star during this experience.
cut 14 (12) “…his composure”
Kennedy says Louisiana has received 60 cases of remedsivir this week thanks to the Trump administration. COVID-19 hospitalizations rose by another 54 today.

Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says their recent online survey found that 45-percent of the 64-hundred respondents who identified themselves as an employee of a school system would prefer to work from home given the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic…
cut 8 (11) “…that’s safe”
Schools are set to reopen next month. BESE is meeting at this hour to decide if face masks should be a mandate for most school children.

Cleco is giving its customers struggling to pay their utility bills, 18 months to catch up on past due bills. Spokesperson for the Pineville-based utility company, Fran Pheonix, says they are calling it a long-term payment plan…
cut 10 (12) “…months”
On September 1st, Cleco will reinstate disconnect procedures and late fees.

Vice President Mike Pence is in Louisiana and his first stop after arriving in Baton Rouge was to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Pence is in the Bayou State on a day when Louisiana reported 22-hundred new cases and hospitalizations rose by 54. He says the White House is making sure the state has what it needs…
cut 13 (10) “…Louisiana”
Senator John Kennedy also spoke to emergency responders at GOHSEP. He expressed the need to get public schools open again…
cut 15 (12) “…their lives”
Kennedy says only 30 children in the U-S under the age of 15 have died from COVID-19, which shows children are not as susceptible.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has tested positive for the coronavirus. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Lottery has launched its own official mobile app. The app allows players to check their tickets and create digital payslips for ticket purchases at retail. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says this will reduce the amount of contact between the retail worker and player…
cut 5 (10) “….more relevant now”

Vice President Mike Pence is in town to talk coronavirus response with state officials in Baton Rouge as Louisiana leaps over the 82,000 total case mark and adds 54 new COVID hospitalizations. Pence thanked the federal and state workers who have put in long hours and he says the Trump administration stands ready to assist

Cut 12 (06) “…the past.”

and according to a recent survey of Louisiana Federation of Teachers members and parents, 58 percent say they are not comfortable going back to school. LFT President Larry Carter says it’s because the state and feds haven’t done enough to make schools safe. Carter says that’s why LFT is pushing the US Senate to approve the HEROES Act, and asking for the Trump administration to sign it if received. Carter says that legislation would provide 1.5 billion dollars to Louisiana to help implement the COVID safety protocols.

Cut 7 (10) “gear in school.”

Cleco announces they will resume disconnection procedures for delinquent accounts September 1^st. Spokesperson Fran Phoenix says that’s because they’ve worked out an installment plan offer to help account holders who’ve had trouble paying the electric bill since March.

Cut 11 (10) “…fees.”

Starting September 30^th Cleco will also cease reimbursement for the two-dollar fifty-cent credit card fee charge for paying bills.

Louisiana Lottery launches a smartphone app.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the app will help make lottery transactions easier and contactless.

Cut 3 (07)  “…print the ticket.”  

Those digital play slips can be created with various number selection methods and saved until a player visits a retailer.

The state’s total COVID-19 case count rises to 82,042, with the addition of 2,215 new cases.  Attorney General Jeff Landry is among those that have tested positive for the virus and is reportedly feeling asymptomatic.  Landry was supposed to appear with Vice President Mike Pence today, who is currently in Baton Rouge.

An online survey of nearly 15-thousand parents and teachers finds 58-percent of them are not comfortable sending their children back to the classroom. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

State and federal tax returns for 2019 are due Wednesday.  The original due dates were in April and May, but Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says the pandemic inspired the state and feds to push it back two to three months.

Cut 13 (12) “….15th” 

Robinson says the turnaround for getting tax returns is right in line with the three to four-week wait you’d expect from the usual tax season.

Louisiana Lottery launches a smartphone app.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the app will help make lottery transactions easier and contactless.While tickets will not be able to be purchased on the phone, Chopin says the app adds more convenience in allowing players to manage their lottery play on their phone as they can also use the app to find out if you have a winning ticket.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…lot more transparency.”

58 percent of Louisiana Federation of Teachers members surveyed say they are not comfortable with school restarting next month. L-F-T president Larry Carter says part of that is because the feds and state have not done enough to make schools safe.

Cut 7 (10) “gear in school.”

Cleco announces customers who’ve had trouble paying their energy bills can get an installment plan to pay their past due amounts back over up to 18 months. Spokesperson Fran Phoenix says this offer is good for payments due from March 13^th through July 16^th, and if accepted will be added to your monthly bill as an installment.

Cut 9, 11 seconds, challenges

Cleco is also announced starting September 1^st disconnection procedures for derelict payments will resume.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will hold a 1:30 meeting about the future of K-12 education in the state. The meeting is expected to be firey and touch on topics like mandatory mask wearing for students. BESE President Sandy Holloway says they hope to have a good idea of what schools will look like by the end of the meeting.

Cut 10 (10) “…not quite sure.”

State and federal personal, partnership, and corporate income tax returns for 2019 are due Wednesday. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says  if you still need extra time you can file for an extension. She says that extends the requirement to file the return, but…

Cut 15 (10) “….outstanding” 

Robinson says the turnaround for getting tax returns is right in line with the three to four-week wait you’d expect from the usual tax season despite COVID impacting the Department’s operations.

Vice President Mike Pence visits with Governor John Bel Edwards in Baton Rouge today.   Edwards says the visit comes following the selection of Baton Rouge as one of the three metropolitan areas in the nation to be selected to receive federal resources for surge testing.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…of that radar.”
Attorney General Jeff Landry will not be present as he has tested positive for coronavirus.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers says 58-percent of teachers and parents who participated in their online survey do not feel comfortable returning to school next month. L-F-T president Larry Carter says certain precautions and mandates need to be in place to create a safe environment
Cut 6 (10) “…rights”
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education holds a vote this afternoon on whether school children should be required to wear masks.

For high school football to happen, Louisiana will need to reach Phase 4. That’s according to LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine who appeared before the House Education Committee. Rosepine Representative Charles Owen says the stark reality is that Louisiana must do a better job at mitigating the coronavirus spread…
Cut 16 (10) “…another direction” 
The state is currently is stuck in phase two, after reporting 17-hundred new cases on Monday.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo loses his reelection effort, ending a 19 year run in the office.  Friday Ellis, an Independent, won 52 percent of the vote while Mayo received 38 percent in a 41 percent turnout election. We asked Mayo what he thought was behind the loss…
Cut 9 (11) “…ideas.”

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets this afternoon and they’ll make a decision on if masks should be required in most public school classrooms when schools reopen next month. BESE President Sandy Holloway says they’ve already received a lot of public input…
cut 12 (07) “…..across the state”
Education Superintendent Cade Brumley has recommended that students third grade and up should wear a face covering if possible and practical.

Also this afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence will be in Baton Rouge to discuss the state’s coronavirus response with Governor John Bel Edwards. The meeting will take place at LSU’s Tiger Stadium and Edwards says higher ed leaders will also be present to discuss fall reopening plans….
cut 5 (11) “…distance learning”
The meeting begins at 3 PM.

After 19 years in office Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo is unseated by Independent Friday Ellis. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

New Orleans Police detectives are looking for a white two-door Jeep Wrangler that may have been involved in last night’s triple shooting in the Seventh Ward that left a nine-year-old dead and two teenagers in stable condition at a local hospital. Authorities have not released any information about a possible motive.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education holds a special meeting today to approve the safety standards they want school systems to follow for the upcoming school year. BESE president Sandy Holloway says she’s received hundreds of emails in advance of today’s meeting at 1:30….
Cut 10 (10) “…not quite sure.”
State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley is recommending that students from third grade and up should wear face coverings to the greatest extent possible and practical.

Vice President Mike Pence will be in Baton Rouge later today to discuss the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Pence will meet with Governor John Bel Edwards and other health and education officials at LSU’s Tiger Stadium at 3 PM…
cut 6 (10) “…that fine university”

Tomorrow is Tax Day, federal and state taxes are due on July 15th. Federal taxes are normally due on April 15th, while State taxes are traditionally due on May 15th, but the tax filing deadlines were pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic….
cut 14 (11) “….tax day”
That’s Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson who says they are still waiting on a lot of returns.

Jamie Mayo is in his last few days as mayor of Monroe after losing his re-election bid on Saturday night. He’s served as Monroe’s mayor since 2001. Mayo says it’s disappointing, but…
cut 7 (12) “….years”
Independent Friday Ellis won Saturday’s election with 52 percent of the vote.