New Orleans Police fired tear gas into a large group of George Floyd protestors last night after the crowd allegedly began planning to assault a line of officers. NOPD Chief Shaun Ferguson says they have video evidence of an effort by some in the crowd to break through the police line guarding the Crescent City Connection and get onto the bridge. Ferguson says after rolling one tear gas canister and firing another from a launcher the crowd began dispersing.

Cut 7 (11) “…individuals”

Tracks for Cristobal still have the entire state still in the cone of uncertainty for an estimated early Monday morning landfall. That’s prompted officials to issue a flash flood watch for all of southeast Louisiana until Tuesday morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the forecast calls for up to ten inches of rain in the watch area…

Cut 10 (04) “…watch on”

There are no flood watches posted for southwest Louisiana.

Senator Bill Cassidy believes a coronavirus vaccination could be completed by October, and accessible to the public by the end of the year. Cassidy says if studies indicate the product is effective and it receives the green light from regulators, there will be an ample supply ready.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…the next day.”

Antsy Louisianans crowded state parks these past two weekends with 20,000 people visiting, the highest numbers since 2008. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser thanked Louisianans for supporting their local tourism economy and says despite the pandemic they’re hard at work winning back the big conferences the state is used to.

Cut 15 (07) “…Miami.”

The truckers voted 80%-20% to move the conference after the state offered free catered seafood and an authentic Louisiana jazz band to change locations.

Cristobal has been downgraded to a tropical depression as the system has moved into southern Mexico. But State Climatologist Barry Keim says the National Hurricane still predicts Cristobal will move back into the Gulf of Mexico tomorrow night and then it will head towards Louisiana’s coast
Cut 9 (04) “…Monday morning”
A flash flood watch is in effect for all of southeast Louisiana until Tuesday morning.

New Orleans Police fired tear gas into protestors last night after the crowd allegedly began planning to assault a line of officers. NOPD Chief Shaun Ferguson says social media videos back up their claim that some elements were organizing an effort to break through police lines and get onto the Crescent City Connection bridge.
Cut 6 (09) “…officers.”
Ferguson also disputed claims that officers fired pellets or other projectiles into the crowd.

The state sees 13 news COVID-19 deaths, bringing the death toll to 2,772. Total cases: 41,562… up 429. Senator Bill Cassidy believes a coronavirus vaccination will be ready by October.   Cassidy says he’s been in talks with one of the companies working on a vaccine and feels confident that a product could help resume events with large gatherings this fall.

Cut 3 (09)  “…than anybody thought.”  

Cassidy says if the product receives the green light from regulators, there will be 200 million doses ready the next day.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has issued an apology on his Instagram account regarding the comments he made regarding his stance against kneeling during the national anthem. After receiving a ton of criticism, Brees wrote this morning that it breaks his heart for the pain he’s caused. Brees says he stands with the black community in the fight against systemic racial injustice and police brutality.

Restaurants and bars that serve food are prepping to move to Phase Two tomorrow. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says over 20-thousand people visited a Louisiana State Park over the last two weeks. Nungesser says an offer for Louisiana residents to receive a free night at a cabin at a State Park if they stayed several nights was a big hit…
cut 13 (08) “…available”
And Nungesser says the same discount is now available for all visitors through September seventh. You get a fourth night free if you stay three nights at a State Park Cabin.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is adjusting its hurricane plans because of COVID-19. Edwards says they have tents ready to go up at shelters so they can accommodate social distancing. He says they are also working to establish new deals with other states to house residents should the occasion call for it…
cut 12 (09) “…either”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has posted a lengthy apology on his Instagram account for the comments he made yesterday regarding national anthem protests. Also, New Orleans is reportedly among several cities in the running to host the Republican National Convention now that North Carolina has pulled the plug on hosting the event because of coronavirus concerns.

Meanwhile, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he’s been able to attract a conference to Louisiana that was originally scheduled to be held in Florida…
cut 15 (07) “….Miami”
Nungesser says the state offered free catered seafood and an authentic Louisiana jazz band to the truckers in order to get them to change locations.

Cristobal has been downgraded to a depression as it moves further inland into Mexico, but it will eventually begin moving north and restrengthen in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center expects Cristobal to make landfall along the Louisiana coast Sunday night, Monday morning.

Tomorrow, restaurants and bars that serve food will be able to open at 50 percent capacity as the state moves into Phase Two. President of the Louisiana Restaurant Association Stan Harris believes the transition to increase capacity with effective social distancing will help put restaurants on the road to recovery.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…all of us.”
Protests continue in Louisiana over the death of George Floyd. Governor John Bel Edwards says he does not expect to use the National Guard to control the crowds. Last night on the Crescent City Connection in New Orleans, officers used tear gas on protesters. Here’s Senator John Kennedy on some of the protests nationwide…
cut 8 (13) “…American as baseball”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has apologized in a lengthy Instagram post for the comments he made yesterday in an interview with Yahoo Finance that he would never agree with taking a knee during the national anthem. Brees says he completely missed the mark and said it breaks his heart to know the pain he’s caused. Saints linebacker Demario Davis told CNN that Brees admitting he was wrong is leadership at its finest.

There are not many entertainment options for families, so many of them are using this time to visit a state park. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

George Floyd protests have been peaceful in Louisiana, but last night there was a tense exchange between New Orleans Police officers and a large group of protestors on the Crescent City Connection, a major bridge in New Orleans. The NOPD had to use tear gas to get them off the bridge. Senator John Kennedy says he’s been really concerned by what he’s seen in New York City…
cut 9 (12) “….the business owners”

Back in Louisiana, many businesses are getting ready to move to phase two of reopening of the economy. Including restaurants that will be able to increase capacity to 50-percent. Restaurant workers are still required to wear masks and Stan Harris with the Louisiana Restaurant Association says even though it makes it difficult to socialize, workers have adapted to the new change.
Cut 6 (06) “…beyond this.”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has apologized for his controversial comments regarding players kneeling during the national anthem. Brees said in an interview with Yahoo Finance that he will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag. In an apology posted on Instagram today, Brees says he’s asking for forgiveness and he’s heartbroken over the pain he’s caused. Brees has received a lot of criticism for not understanding why players took a knee during the anthem.

Senator John Kennedy responds to what happened to George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers…
voicer 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Tomorrow Louisiana moves into phase two of reopening of the economy and for restaurants they can increase inside capacity from 25-to-50 percent. Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says Phase One has been a trial run for Phase Two, but true economic recovery will not be reached until Phase Three.
Cut 5 (10) …demand builds.”
Tables can be arranged 6 feet apart in Phase Two as opposed to the current eight to ten feet apart.

The National Hurricane Center believes Tropical Storm Cristobal will make landfall in Louisiana as a tropical storm late Sunday night or early Monday morning. Experts predict an above-normal season and Governor Edwards says he’s concerned about the potential lack of help from humanitarian groups the state relies upon to provide aid in a crisis.
Cut 11 (10) “…catagory.”

Tropical Storm Cristobal is expected to weaken to a depression today as it moves inland over Mexico. But the National Hurricane Center expects Cristobal will get back into the Gulf of Mexico and race towards Louisiana over the weekend, with a potential landfall as a tropical storm along the Louisiana coast Sunday night or Monday morning.

The governor is not anticipating shelters will be needed for Cristobal, but if they are needed during this hurricane season they will still attempt to promote social distancing and keep groups separated…
cut 10 (13) “…necessary”
He says the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has already stock piled masks and gloves inside shelters.

Restaurants and bars that serve food are prepping to move to Phase Two tomorrow, but will it be enough to help them stay open. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Louisiana state parks have seen 20-thousand visits in the last two weeks, the highest number of visitors since 2008. Nungesser says one state park on the coast has done really well…
cut 14 (06) “…island”

New Orleans Police used tear gas on a large group of George Floyd protestors who were marching on the Crescent City Connection last night. NOPD says no arrests were made. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says Floyd was a victim of muder at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers…
cut 7 (11) “…cupable”
Charges have been upgraded against Chauvin and the three other officers on the scene are also facing charges.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says over 20-thousand people visited a Louisiana State Park over the last two weeks. Nungesser says an offer for Louisiana residents to receive a free night at a cabin at a State Park if they stayed several nights was a big hit…
cut 13 (08) “…available”

Tomorrow, restaurants and bars that serve food will be able to open at 50 percent capacity as the state moves into Phase Two. President of the Louisiana Restaurant Association Stan Harris believes the transition to increase capacity with effective social distancing will help put restaurants on the road to recovery.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…all of us.”
Today is the last day restaurants will be restricted to 25-percent capacity.

This weekend looks like a wet one especially for south Louisiana as Tropical Storm Cristobal is expected to start marching towards Louisiana with a landfall along the state’s coast late Sunday night or early Monday morning.

Governor Edwards weighed in on tort reform legislation that’s headed to his desk, indicating he’s not a fan of the River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot’s bill proponents say would lower auto insurance rates by implementing lawsuit reform. The legislation cleared the Legislature without a veto-proof majority Monday, losing several supporters on the last day due to changes made to the bill over the weekend…

21

One of the changes made just before the bill was introduced Monday afternoon drew a rebuke from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, saying the unclear wording could allow people who only suffered minor injuries to collect significant settlements.

New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson’s decision to use a rarely invoked power to block Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones from being reappointed has sparked the ire of Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser who says it is a case of a lawmaker holding a grudge for being hit with a summons for entering a casino unlawfully last year.

Cut 12 (08) “think its retaliation.”

A Louisiana State Police trooper issued Peterson a misdemeanor summons for violating a self-imposed casino ban when she gambled at L’Auberge Casino in Baton Rouge in February 2019.

Speaker Clay Schexnayder and Senate President Cortez form a joint organization to promote their agenda for the special session. Leading Louisiana Executive Director Lionel Rainey says the Governor has a big platform right now and the public deserves to hear a clear message from legislative leaders.

Cut 9 (11) “…the mat”

Tropical Storm Cristobal is slowly moving inland over eastern Mexico, but it’s expected to get back into the Gulf of Mexico and start heading north on Friday. The National Hurricane Center forecasts the storm will stay at tropical storm strength when crossing the Gulf of Mexico, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says conditions for reaching hurricane strength are favorable.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…realm of possibility.”

Landfall along the Louisiana coast is possible Sunday night or early Monday morning
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says the failure to reappoint Ronnie Jones as the chairman of Louisiana’s Gaming Control Board appears to be bad blood.  Jones has held the position since 2013.  Nungesser thinks it is a case of a lawmaker holding a grudge from being summons for entering a casino unlawfully last year.

Cut 12 (08) “think its retaliation.”

Some courts are set to resume operations in Phase Two and with that the resumption of evictions.  Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center Executive Director Cashauna Hill says if the court agrees that you should be removed from your home then you will be given a certain amount of time to leave. If a tenant does not leave within the prescribed time period…

Cut 7 (08) “…the home”

Hill warns that landlords have attempted to force residents out of their homes before the process is complete and that’s illegal.

The Louisiana Speaker of the House and Senate President form a joint organization aimed at promoting a unified message about the work both chambers are doing.  Leading Louisiana Executive Director Lionel Rainey says the organization will be promoting legislation like the 300 million dollar small business grant fund that was sent to the Governor’s desk.

Cut 10 (11) “…to work.”