Vice President Mike Pence visits Baton Rouge this afternoon. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The S-E-C’s 14 athletic directors met in person in Birmingham, Alabama yesterday to discuss the upcoming football season and Commissioner Greg Sankey says they’ll hold off on making any decisions until late July. But Sankey says the current circumstances related to COVID-19 must improve.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet to decide whether teachers and most students will need to wear face masks while in school. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley has recommended face maks for students third grade and above. BESE President Sandy Holloway says if they do enact a face mask requirement, how do you handle those who are not in compliance…
cut 11 (09) “…walk through this”
Today’s BESE meeting is at 1:30.

After 19 years as the mayor of Monroe, Jamie Mayo is preparing to leave his office as his re-election bid was unsuccessful. Mayo says he’s proud of his time as mayor and points to the state’s finances as one of his accomplishments…
cut 8 (10) “….A minus”
Independent Friday Ellis won Saturday’s election, receiving 52-percent of the vote.

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.”
The Governor and the VP will meet at LSU’s Tiger Stadium with education and health officials.

State and federal individual and corporate income tax returns for 2019 are due tomorrow. 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 the filing date back…
Cut 13 (12) “….15th”

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine has told the House Education Committee that in order for high school football games to be played, the state has to reach Phase Four of its reopening. According to the LHSAA guidelines, the only two sports that can compete against other schools in Phase Two are cross country and swimming. Basketball, soccer and wrestling all need to be in phase four too. Volleyball can hold competitive matches in phase three. And Bonine says if some athletic events are able to proceed, they might do so without fans, but that creates other problems…
cut 18 (12) “….the gate”

The state reports just over 1700 new COVID-19 cases, bring the total to just shy of 80,000. The presumed recovered number updated every Monday is now at 46,334. Hospitalizations increase to 1,308.

This sustained rise in cases prompted the Governor’s weekend order mandating face mask use inside all businesses and public facilities. The order comes with a few exemptions from wearing a mask, including people with certain medical conditions. Edwards says he is relying on businesses to help with encouraging individuals to mask up.

Cut 4 (07)_ “…they are trespassing.”

Some Republican legislators are frustrated with the declaration. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says Governor Edwards did not consult with them about the decision and is not responsive to lawmakers concerns about his unilateral decision-making process when it comes to the pandemic.

Cut 8 (08) “…Governor”

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley tells the House Education Committee that reopening schools next month during a pandemic will be a monumental task, but they’ve provided local school systems with guidance on how it can be done. Brumley says it all starts with good hygiene

Cut 9 (10) “…possible”

A decision will be made at tomorrow’s BESE meeting as to whether or not masks will be mandated.

The Lake Charles region has fewer than two dozen ICU beds available as the area has been slammed by rising COVID-19 cases. Region Five Regional Public Health Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh says 67 of their 89 ICU beds are in use…

Cut 12 (11) “…shortages.”

Lake Charles, Jefferson Davis, and Cameron Parish all have a COVID incident rate of over 240 per 100,000, some of the highest in the state.

State and federal personal, partnership, and corporate income tax returns for 2019 are due Wednesday State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley provides the House Education Committee with the guidelines on reopening schools safely…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The Lake Charles region is running low on ICU beds as COVID cases stack up with only 22 beds still available. Region Five Regional Public Health Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh says part of the issue is Lake Charles recent spike in cases began earlier than the rest of the state’s.

Cut 14 (10) “…Memorial Day”

Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate is now in effect and all people entering a business or public building must wear masks when social distancing is not an option. The move has generated a lot of controversy with some Republican lawmakers threatening action against the order. One of those is Oil City Representative Danny McCormick who says the order is an assault on people’s liberty and overreach by the Governor, who is making these decisions without input from lawmakers.

Cut 7 (08) “people.”

But Governor Edwards told residents over the weekend that if they don’t like the mandate, that’s fine, but they still gotta mask up. Edwards says the mandate if followed, will save lives.

Cut 5 (12)  “…me, criticize me.”

Only three parishes are exempt from the mandate due to the per capita infection rate, but mask-wearing is still very much encouraged.  Grant, Red River, and West Feliciana parishes have fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people.

Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate is now in effect.  The new order comes following the state reporting some of the highest new daily case counts of the pandemic.  Edwards says the timing of when mask-wearing is required is clear.

Cut 3 (05)  “…distant from others..”  

The order comes with a few exemptions from wearing a mask, including people with certain medical conditions.

Opponents of the Governor’s statewide mask mandate say Governor Edwards should not have the authority to make decisions like this by himself. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is a signee of a Legislative effort to suspend the Governor’s public health emergency declaration. He says Edwards’ order is an attack on liberty.

Cut 6 (10) “…rights”

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley tells the House Education Committee that reopening schools next month during a pandemic will be a monumental task, but they’ve provided local school systems with guidance on how it can be done. Schools have been closed to in-classroom instruction since Governor Edwards shut down campuses last March. Brumley admits the long time away from the classroom has produced some level of learning loss

Cut 11 (11) “…and math.”

The Lake Charles region has fewer than two dozen ICU beds available as the area has been slammed by rising COVID-19 cases. Lake Charles, Jefferson Davis, and Cameron Parish all have a COVID incident rate of over 240 per 100,000, some of the highest in the state. Region Five Regional Public Health Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh says that’s causing hospitalizations to pile up.

Cut 13 (09) “…closely.” 

How will the state enforce its new mask mandate? Kevin Barnhart has the details…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

Some Republican legislators are frustrated with the declaration. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says Governor Edwards did not consult with them about the decision and is not responsive to lawmakers concerns about his unilateral decision-making process when it comes to the pandemic.

Cut 8 (08) “…Governor”

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley laid out the thought process for returning to school next month. He says one positive coronavirus case will not shut down a school, but several cases could lead to a temporary closure

Cut 10 (07) “   through this” 

Brumley also says they are also recommending face masks for students in grades three through 12. BESE is meeting tomorrow to discuss whether that is going to be a mandate or just a recommendation for districts.

The Lake Charles region has fewer than two dozen ICU beds available as the area has been slammed by rising COVID-19 cases. Region Five Regional Public Health Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh says 67 of their 89 ICU beds are in use…

Cut 12 (11) “…shortages.”

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley provides the House Education Committee with the guidelines on reopening schools safely. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  
The state reports just over 1700 new COVID-19 cases, bring the total to just shy of 80,000. The presumed recovered number updated every Monday is now at 46,334. Hospitalizations increase to 1,308. Fatalities increase by 7 to a statewide total of 3,315.

Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate is now in effect.  The new order comes following the state reporting some of the highest new daily case counts of the pandemic.  Face coverings are required both indoors and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. The order comes with a few exemptions, including people with certain medical conditions. Edwards says he knows that the mask mandate will be controversial, but adds he believes the people Louisiana will be resilient.
Cut 5 (12)  “…me, criticize me.”

Opponents of the Governor’s statewide mask mandate say Governor Edwards should not have the authority to make decisions like this by himself. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is a signee of a Legislative effort to suspend the Governor’s public health emergency declaration. McCormick says the Governor should not have the authority to make such an important decision unilaterally.
Cut 7 (08) “people.”

The state reports just over 1700 new COVID-19 cases, bring the total to just shy of 80,000. The presumed recovered number updated every Monday is now at 46,334. Current hospitalizations increase to 1,308. Fatalities increase by 7 to a statewide total of 3,315.

Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate is now in effect.  The new order comes following the state reporting some of the highest new daily case counts of the pandemic.  Face coverings are required both indoors and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. The order comes with a few exemptions, including people with certain medical conditions. Edwards says he is relying on businesses to help with encouraging individuals to mask up.
Cut 4 (07)_ “…they are trespassing.”
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to grow, is herd immunity a possible answer? Matt Doyle reports the state health department says no…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate is now in effect.  The new order comes following the state reporting some of the highest new daily case counts of the pandemic.  Edwards says the timing of when mask-wearing is required is clear.

Cut 3 (05)  “…distant from others..”  

Only three parishes are exempt from the mandate due to the per capita infection rate, but mask-wearing is still very much encouraged.  Grant, Red River, and West Feliciana parishes have fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people.

Opponents of the Governor’s statewide mask mandate say Governor Edwards should not have the authority to make decisions like this by himself. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is a signee of a Legislative effort to suspend the Governor’s public health emergency declaration. He says Edwards’ order is an attack on liberty.

Cut 6 (10) “…rights”

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley tells the House Education Committee that reopening schools next month during a pandemic will be a monumental task, but they’ve provided local school systems with guidance on how it can be done. Brumley says it all starts with good hygiene

Cut 9 (10) “…possible”

Brumley says they are also recommending that students in grades three through 12 wear face masks.

And young adults are still the primary driver of this recent explosion in cases, with Louisiana nearing 80,000 total confirmed positive tests since the start of the pandemic. Assistant State Health Officer, Doctor Joe Kanter, says those young adults are catching the virus and passing it along to older residents who are then getting very, very sick.

Cut 12 (07)      increase in deaths” 

The state is reporting over 33-hundred deaths.

There is a statewide mask mandate in place as new COVID-19 guidelines take effect today. Businesses are expected to tell their customers they must have a mask on while inside their location. Governor Edwards says the order exempts people with certain medical conditions from wearing a mask, but he says if that’s the case you shouldn’t be near people outside of your household anyways…
Cut 5 (07) “…under any circumstances”

Louisiana is reporting 78-thousand coronavirus cases. The state has four-point-six million people, which means two-percent of the state’s residents have tested positive. Regional public health director for Acadiana, Doctor Tina Stefanski, says if you think herd immunity is the answer for this virus, we are not close…
Cut 10 (10) “…have recovered”

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward and other SEC Commissioners meet today in Birmingham to discuss the upcoming football season. LHSAA Commissioner Eddie Bonine will speak to the House Education Committee at 10:00 AM. House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo is hopeful high school sports can be played this fall…
cut 9 (08) “….health”
Senate Education Chairman Cleo Fields has said fall sports should be canceled.

A recent study shows 73% of pet owners are concerned about returning to work and spending time away from their pets and 59% are worried their dog or cat may suffer from separation anxiety. LSU Vet School Assistant Professor of Community Practice Nancy Welborn says if you are heading back to work soon, prep your pets for that transition.
Cut 13 (08) “…then come back.”