The special session has concluded and many tort reform advocates are celebrating a deal cut in the final few hours of the session that led to the passage of a reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance rates.

The bill sets the jury trial threshold at 10,000 dollars, limits when insurance company’s names can be mentioned in court, removes a ban on mentioning a crash victim’s seatbelt status, and make other adjustments to collateral source, which appeared to be the biggest stumbling block in negotiations between the GOP and Governor

Crowley Representative John Stefanski calls it an important step forward…

Cut 4 (11)_ “…rates.”

But Baton Rouge Representative C. Denise Marcelle asked the question on everyone’s mind…

Cut 5 (07)  “…insurance”

Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud celebrated the bill’s passage, saying it would help fix the ongoing crisis in commercial auto insurance markets.

Cut 6 (09) “…the books”

Edwards signaled his approval of the legislation, complementing Republicans for compromising.

Legislation blocking civil suits against schools for COVID outbreaks also passed and Governor Edwards says he intends to sign it.

The Legislature wrapped up work on the 34 billion dollar budget. Despite the influx of hundreds of millions of dollars in CARES Act money Edwards warns there will still have to be some cuts due to COVID-related revenue shortfalls.

Cut 13 (11) “amounts” 

Edwards indicated he is concerned about the revenue impact of a series of tax cuts for businesses that passed…

Cut 14 (09) “…go back”

The special session has wrapped up.  Legislation passed with a veto-proof majority aimed at lower auto insurance rates, but there is no guarantee of a price break as the bill does not promise lower rates within an allotted time.  It’s less expansive than a previous tort reform bill vetoed by the Governor earlier this month.

Jefferson Parish will join Orleans in requiring people to put on a mask before entering a business. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The state reported one-thousand new cases today as the state’s total case number surpassed 58-thousand. Governor John Bel Edwards’ next COVID-19 press briefing is tomorrow. Edwards has said he’s looking for more compliance from businesses. Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says the governor would rather see everyone do more when it comes to spread mitigation efforts, than returning the state to Phase one coronavirus restrictions…

Cut 13 (10) “…our reopening” 

According to the state health department, only 59% of those who tested positive from COVID-19 since mid-May have responded to phone calls from contact tracers and only one-third are answering calls within the crucial first 24 hours after the test results.  State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says there has been an uptick in the number of people paying attention to the advice of health officials with the recent upswing in cases.

Cut 7 (08) “…are going back up.”

Louisiana reports an additional one-thousand new coronavirus cases on Tuesday as hospitalizations and deaths also continue to rise. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

According to the state health department, only 59% of those who tested positive from COVID-19 since mid-May have responded to phone calls from contact tracers.  Governor Edwards says there is a great appreciation for those that answer the phone and comply with contact tracers but he’s pressing for more cooperation.

Cut 8 (05) “…thing to do.”

Orleans and Jefferson Parish have issued mandatory mask-wearing ordinances for those visiting parish businesses. Jefferson Parish President Lee Sheng says their proclamation takes effect Wednesday and is the only way the parish will be able to one day move into Phase Three.
Cut 3 (08) ”…indoors  
Sheng says the parish is still working out the details of how it could be enforced, and what punishments would be handed out to businesses in violation.

Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart announces a grand jury has returned an indictment against eight Shreveport police officers for allegedly using excessive force against two men who were apprehended on January 24th.

Stewart says the eight men charged were booked and released on bond…

Cut 10 (11) “…those cases.”

The D-A’s report says the men who were beaten by Shreveport officers suffered injuries, including a broken nose and broken orbital plate

The state reported one-thousand new cases today as the state’s total case number surpassed 58-thousand. Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says COVID hospitalizations are at their highest level since May 28th…
Cut 11 (10) “…going up as well.”
The number of COVID patients hospitalized is 781 and the number of patients on ventilators is up to 83.
Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart announces a grand jury has returned an indictment against eight Shreveport police officers for allegedly using excessive force against two men who were apprehended on January 24th. Stewart says each officer is facing one count of malfeasance in office.
Cut 9 (08) “…about the case.”
A written report from Stewart’s office says dash camera video from a Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy vehicle shows the eight Shreveport police officers physically striking two individuals at the end of a police chase.

Jefferson Parish will join Orleans in requiring people to put on a mask before entering a business. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

According to the state health department, only 59% of those who tested positive from COVID-19 since mid-May have responded to phone calls from contact tracers and only one-third are answering calls within the crucial first 24 hours after the test results.  State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry…

Cut 6 (07) “…not having it.”

The state logs just over another 1,000 positive COVID-19 tests. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says the growth in new cases over the past two weeks seems to have captured the public’s attention.

Cut 7 (08) “…are going back up.”

Guidry is also asking those who did test positive to please answer their phones when contact tracers call to ask about who they may have infected. Only 59% of those who tested positive from COVID-19 since mid-May have responded to phone calls from contact tracers.

Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says the contact tracing data they do have indicated 90 percent of new cases are the result of community spread.

Cut 12 (10) “…in spread”

The number of COVID patients hospitalized is up to 781.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell threatens to close a city Walmart for not complying with an order mandating all people entering businesses wear a mask.

Cut 5 (09)  “…unfortunately”

Jefferson Parish is set to join Orleans Parish tomorrow in requiring mask-wearing while in businesses.

Any Louisianan planning on heading to New York or New Jersey for the 4^th of July may have to change their plans. Both states are now urging travelers from a number of other states, Louisiana included, to self-quarantine for 14 days upon entry. New York and New Jersey were early epicenters of the pandemic but have seen cases drastically fall off. State health officials there say they don’t want travelers from growing hotspots to undo the progress they’ve made.

Starting Wednesday people entering Jefferson Parish businesses will need to wear masks. Jefferson Parish President Lee Sheng says this now applies to workers inside office buildings when they are in common areas. Sheng explains how that might look…

Cut 4 (12)_ “…mask off”

In Orleans Parish Mayor Cantrell has already threatened to close one Walmart that was allegedly in gross non-compliance.

According to data from the state department of health, of those that have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-may, only 59% have responded to phone calls from contact tracers. Governor Edwards says there is a great appreciation for those that answer the phone and comply with contact tracers but is pressing for more cooperation.

Cut 8 (05) “…thing to do.”

Only one-third are answering calls within the crucial first 24 hours after the test results. 

Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart announces a grand jury has returned an indictment against eight Shreveport police officers for allegedly using excessive force against two men who were apprehended on January 24th. A written report from Stewart’s office says dash camera video from a Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy vehicle shows the eight Shreveport police officers physically striking two individuals at the end of a police chase. Stewart says the eight men charged have been booked and released on bond…

Cut 10 (11) “…those cases.”

The D-A’s report says the men who were beaten by Shreveport officers suffered injuries, including a broken nose and broken orbital plate.

Louisiana records just over a thousand new COVID-19 cases today, with another large jump in total hospitalizations. The total number of cases now sits at over 58,000 but of them, over 42,000 have recovered.

Louisiana chalks up just over a thousand new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total to 58,095. Hospitalizations rise by 44 to 781.
According to data from the state department of health, of those that have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-May, only 59% have responded to phone calls from contact tracers and only one-third are answering calls within the crucial first 24 hours after the test results.  State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry…
Cut 6 (07) “…not having it.”
Orleans and Jefferson Parish have issued mandatory mask-wearing ordinances for those visiting parish businesses as state case counts continue to rise at a concerning rate. Jefferson Parish President Lee Sheng says their proclamation takes effect Wednesday and is the only way the parish will be able to one day move into Phase Three.
Cut 3 (08) ”…indoors  
Sheng says the parish is still working out the details of how it could be enforced, and what punishments would be handed out to businesses in violation.

Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart announces a grand jury has returned an indictment against eight Shreveport police officers for allegedly using excessive force against two men who were apprehended on January 24th. Stewart says each officer is facing one count of malfeasance in office

Cut 9 (08) “…about the case.”

A written report from Stewart’s office says dash camera video from a Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputy vehicle shows the eight Shreveport police physically striking two individuals at the end of a police chase.The D-A’s report says the men who were beaten by Shreveport officers suffered injuries, including a broken nose and broken orbital plate. The charges against them, which included drug charges and resisting arrest have been dropped.

The House and Senate are now in progress for the last day of the special session, and lawmakers have until 6 PM to wrap up their business. After months of legislative battles there’s still a big unknown as to what the status of tort reform aimed at lowering auto insurance is, and LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says no one knows if the Governor, who has expressed concern about many of the changes, or the GOP, who’ve pushed them since the start of the regular session will prevail…

Cut 6 (05) “…right now.” AM

Louisiana crossed the 57,000 case mark yesterday and many are anxiously awaiting today’s numbers to see if our rise in cases and hospitalizations continues. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says the only good news about the new numbers is that it seems to have wakened people up who had started slacking off on wearing masks and social distancing.

Cut 7 (08) “…are going back up.”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports over half of the money in the state’s unemployment trust fund has been spent during the coronavirus pandemic.   LWC Executive Director Ava Dejoie says there is growing concern the fund, which was at one time just one billion dollars, will run dry within 14 weeks

Cut 7 (05) “…state unemployment benefits.” AM

Currently, most unemployed workers are receiving $247 weekly from state funds and $600 weekly from the CARES Act funding, but those federal dollars are set to expire at the end of July.

A new report from the CDC indicates pregnant women are more likely to experience symptoms or even be hospitalized after contracting COVID-19.  LSU Health New Orleans Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology assistant professor Dr. Rebekah Gee says pregnant women are no more likely to die from the virus.

Cut 10 (09) “…are not pregnant.”

The special session ends at 6 PM today and lawmakers are still scrambling to pass a tort reform bill aimed at lowering auto insurance rates. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Department of Justice reports there are cards and flyers that have begun circulating the internet bearing their seal indicating the cardholder is exempt from mask-wearing because of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The problem is, they were not distributed by the DOJ and the documents are bogus. The DOJ warns that misuse of their seal in a federal crime.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports over half of the money in the state’s unemployment trust fund has been spent during the coronavirus pandemic.   If the fund goes empty, out of work residents would still receive unemployment. LWC Executive Director Ava Dejoie says several states have already run out of unemployment money and if it happens to Louisiana, the state will borrow money from the feds like the other states.

Cut 9 (09) “…not an option.”

A new report from the CDC indicates pregnant women are more likely to experience symptoms or even be hospitalized after contracting COVID-19.  LSU Health New Orleans Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology assistant professor Dr. Rebekah Gee says expecting mothers should talk to their healthcare providers about best practices and rely on others when possible to avoid exposure.

Cut 12 (12) “…don’t go out.”

With a current balance of less than $500 million, the Louisiana Workforce Commission indicates the state’s unemployment trust fund is on course to run dry in about 14 weeks…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The special session ends tonight and Republican lawmakers will look to pass a tort reform bill that could lead to lower auto insurance rates. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says one bill has support from both sides of the aisle, because it would make changes to the state’s civil legal system, but it would come off the books if rates do not go down…
cut 5 (05) “…rates”

Louisiana’s abortion providers will not be required to have an admitting priviledges agreement with a local hospital, as the U-S Supreme Court has struck down a Louisiana law. If the law went into effect, two of the state’s three abortion clincis would close. Supporters of the legislation say the law was an effort to protect the safety of woman who make the decision to seek an abortion. But Louisiana Coalition for Reproductive Freedom Executive Committee member Katrina Rodgers says it’s obvious the law was an attempt to shutter abortion clinics.
Cut 14 (09) “…care”
Republican Congressman Mike Johnson says he fears this ruling will lead to legal challenges against other abortion regulations.
Cut 16 (09) “…regulations”