The state announces 18 new COVID-19 fatalities bringing the death toll to 2,458. Total Cases: 35,038, up 329. Hospitalizations: 1004.

Governor Edwards is optimistic Louisiana can move to phase two of reopening of the economy in early June. Edwards says they’ll use two weeks of data to determine if Louisiana is still doing a good job in stopping the spread of COVID-19
Cut 8 (10) “…easing of restrictions”

Edwards plans to announce a decision as early as June 1st.

Louisiana receives an additional $58 million in fishery disaster funding.  Congressman Garret Graves says the money will be used to offset the impacts of the 2019 Bonnet Carre Spillway opening on the seafood industry. Graves says of the three states receiving funding, Louisiana is receiving 2/3 of the allocated $88 million.

Cut 4 (07)_ “…clearly represents that.”

Legislation passes the House urging Governor Edwards to reconsider his order limiting businesses to 25 percent occupancy during Phase One. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Louisiana receives an additional $58 million in fishery disaster funding.  Congressman Garret Graves says the money will be used to offset the impacts of the 2019 Bonnet Carre Spillway opening on the seafood industry.

Cut 3 (12)  “…the United States.”  

Earlier this month, the state had received $14.7 million allocated to Louisiana fisheries to relieve the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which Graves had called abysmal.

Governor Edwards is optimistic Louisiana can move to phase two of reopening of the economy in early June. Edwards says he plans to announce a decision as early as June 1st. He says the public will play a huge role in that decision…

Cut 7 (12) “our cases”

Legislation that seeks to reduce auto insurance rates by changing the state’s legal system clears the upper chamber on a veto-proof 29-8 vote. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his measure would result in more jury trials and other reforms that aim to limit damage claims against insurance companies and other businesses. Talbot says these reforms will lead to at least a 10-percent savings more motorists…

Cut 13 (10) “…accordingly” 

Talbot says Louisiana has some of the highest auto insurance rates in the country and these changes put Louisiana in line with other state’s tort policy. But Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau, who is also a lawyer, argued the bill makes it more difficult for people to get in a courtroom and have their case resolved. And Luneau says it fails to address the real reasons behind our high auto insurance rates…
Cut 16 (07) “…of us”

The state health department has published a list of nursing home facilities with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Louisiana is reporting just over four-thousand total cases in nursing homes, along with 987 resident fatalities. Governor Edwards has issued formal prevention measures for all adult residential facilities going forward…
cut 5 (09) “….so forth”

PPE production work at LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center has completed and about 100 school employees helped produce 21-thousand gowns and 10-thousand face shields for frontline healthcare workers over a 30-day period. Director of Economic Development at LSU Greg Trahan says they are proud of their work…
cut 8 (08) “….challenges like that”
The project also produced over two-thousand gallons of hand sanitizer.

If your child received free or reduced-price meals at school, you could receive an EBT card to make up for those lost meals due to school closures. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Forbes Magazine reports Mercedes Benz will not extend its naming rights deal with the Superdome in New Orleans, which means the iconic arena will have a new name after the current deal ends in 2021. Mercedes-Benz also has a naming rights deal with the Atlanta Falcons new stadium and reportedly doesn’t need two stadiums in the NFC South named after the high-end automobile company.

Governor Edwards is optimistic Louisiana can move to phase two of reopening of the economy in early June. Edwards says they are watching COVID-like symptoms being reported to emergency rooms, the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and testing capacity
cut 6 (11) “…that decision”
Edwards says he plans to announce a decision on June 1st.

If you had a child who received free or reduced-priced meals at a public school, then you are eligible for 285-dollars per child to offset the loss of meals when schools closed. Department of Education spokesperson Sydni Dunn says the application is available at Louisiana-believes-dot-com…
cut 12 (09) “….your card”

LSU is returning the Pete Maravich Assembly Center to normal after using it to produce personal protection equipment. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The National Weather Service says it was an EF-3 tornado that touched down north of Church Point on Sunday night and reached peak wind speeds of 150 miles per hour and 100 yards wide. The twister traveled four miles and killed a 26-year-old woman. Nine others were injured. There’s a marginal risk for severe weather across central Louisiana and northwest Louisiana tonight.

Legislation that seeks to reduce auto insurance rates by changing the state’s legal system clears the Senate on a veto-proof 29-8 vote. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his measure would result in more jury trials and other reforms that aim to limit damage claims against insurance companies and other businesses. Talbot says these reforms will lead to at least a 10-percent savings for motorists…
Cut 13 (10) “…accordingly”
Tort reform is a major priority of Republican lawmakers and business lobbying groups. But Democratic Senator Jay Luneau of Alexandria opposes the bill. He says the wording of the legislation does not guarantee a rate cut.
cut 15 (10) “…raise rates”
The measure heads to the House for more debate.

If your child received free or reduced-priced meals at school, but lost out on those meals because of school closures then your family could receive financial assistance under a new USDA program. State department of education spokesperson Syndi Dunn says about 600-thousand students are eligible for what is called a Pandemic EBT card that has up to 285-dollars on each card…
cut 11 (09) “…SNAP program”
To apply, go to Louisiana-believes-dot-org.

LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center has wrapped up its PPE production operation. Director of Economic Development at LSU Greg Trahan says in a month they created more than 20-thousand gowns for frontline healthcare workers…
cut 7 (06) “….10,000 face shields”
Over one million square feet of billboard vinyl was used to make gowns and roughly 100 employees assisted in the project.

The Louisiana Senate has approved a tort reform bill that supporters say will reduce auto insurance rates by 10-percent. The Bayou State has some of the highest auto insurance rates in the country and Senate Bill 418 makes significant changes to Lousiana’s legal system that would result in a decrease in lawsuits involving auto accidents. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says his bill will result in more companies writing auto insurance policies in Louisiana…
cut 14 (05) “…go down”
But Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau, who is also a lawyer, argued the bill makes it more difficult for people to get in a courtroom and have their case resolved. And Luneau says it fails to address the real reasons behind our high auto insurance rates…
cut 16 (07) “…of us”
The measure heads to the House for more consideration.

State health officials say they are investigating 100 coronavirus cases at three crawfish farms in Acadiana. Assistant health secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says it’s the state’s first cluster of cases at a workplace…
cut 6 (09) “…settings”
L-D-H is not identifying the farms impacted, but Billioux says the outbreak involves migrant workers.

Louisiana public school students who received free or reduced-priced meals at school can now receive 285-dollars per child to offset the loss of those meals due to school closures. State Education Department spokesperson Syndi Dunn says Louisiana has been approved by the USDA to issue Pandemic EBT cards to help feed about 600-thousand students…
Cut 10 (08) “…debit card.”
You can apply at Louisiana-believes-dot-com.

The state health department has made public a list of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities where residents and staff have tested positive for COVID-19. Governor Edwards says you can find the list on LDH’s coronavirus webpage and click on the tab that says nursing homes
Cut 4 (11)_ “…deaths.”
The figures show 863 nursing home residents have died after testing positive for the coronavirus. That’s 35-percent of all COVID-19 deaths.

If you had a child who received free or reduced-priced meals at a public school, then you are eligible for 285-dollars per child to offset the loss of meals when schools closed. Department of Education spokesperson Sydni Dunn says the application is available at Louisiana-believes-dot-com…
cut 12 (09) “….your card”

The Louisiana Senate has overwhelmingly passed a tort reform bill that supporters say will lower auto insurance rates. Matt Doyle has the story..
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

This measure heads to the House for more consideration. A bill to prevent parishes from pursuing litigation against oil and gas companies for coastal damage was sent to Senate Finance to examine the cost to the state.

One of the signature fights of the session, tort reform, easily clears the Senate on a veto-proof 29-8 vote. The legislation lowers the jury trial threshold from 50,000 dollars to 5,000 dollars, increases the prescriptive period for filing a suit, and implements a swath of other lawsuits reforms.

Author River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says these changes will save auto insurers money and bill requires they pass on a minimum ten percent savings to customers…

Cut 13 (10) “…accordingly” 

Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau took issue with the bill. He says it has been written with loopholes that allow insurers to skip out on passing along tort related savings. He read from the bill…

Cut 15 (10)“…rates.”

The price of oil may have rebounded but it still sits far below the level needed to maintain revenue for the state budget in the next fiscal year, and that combined with the COVID economic shutdown has left Louisiana with a gargantuan billion dollar deficit. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is working with the administration to craft a balanced budget and says they’ve begun identifying ways to utilize federal dollars to reduce that deficit. Dardenne says a portion of the rainy day fund can be used as well, leaving just 80-million dollars in cuts

Cut 12 (09) “…budget”

Dardenne warns that 80 million will largely have to come out of the Louisiana Department of Health’s budget, along with a two percent reduction in budgets for many other agencies, and adds…

Cut 13 (08) “be spent”  

Governor Edwards is recommending to legislative leaders to use federal money to close a one-billion-dollar budget hole that’s been caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says a portion of the rainy day fund can be used as well, leaving just 80-million dollars in cuts

Cut 12 (09) “…budget”

Dardenne says this plan would keep the TOPS scholarship program fully funded.

27-year-old woman is dead, and nine people are being treated at a hospital from severe weather that hit a rural area in northeast Acadia Parish last night. The one fatality took place on Prudence Highway north of Church Point.  Sheriff KP Gibson says the loss of life could have been much worse as many residents were unprepared for the impact of the severe weather.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…everybody off guard.”

The price of oil has soared to over 30 dollars a barrel after sinking to negative numbers just a month ago. LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes explains why…
Cut 6 (10) “Activity”
Dismukes says today’s notable spike was the result of a coronavirus vaccine trial that’s showing promising early results

The search continues for the gunmen involved in a mass shooting that wounded 13 people in Bogalusa on Saturday night. Major Wendell O’ Berry says between 500 to 800 people gathered at an intersection to remember the life of Dominique James, who was recently murdered. O’ Berry says as the crowd grew shots were fired…

Cut 9 (11) “…wounded.”

O’ Berry says 12 of the 13 victims were male and some are critically wounded.

Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal is calling on Bogalusa residents to come forward with information about a mass shooting that wounded 12 at a memorial gathering of 300-500 people Saturday. Seal says marching in protest of the violence won’t end the violence…

Cut 10 (10) “…our community back.”

12 of the 13 victims were male and some are critically wounded.

The state is facing a billion dollar budget shortfall for the next fiscal year and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says it appears likely most of the cuts necessary to pass the constitutionally mandated balanced budget will have to occur within the Louisiana Department of Health’s budget. He says many other agencies are taking a two-percent cut…

Cut 13 (08) “be spent”  

A woman is dead and two juveniles were taken to the hospital after a train collided with their stalled out vehicle in Webster Parish when the woman attempted to push her vehicle off the tracks. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says if your vehicle ever becomes stranded on the track, immediate exit and get all other passengers away from the vehicle, then call the number on the nearby white and blue sign.

Cut 16 (10) “…crossing.”

51-year-old Rebecca Woodard of Minden was identified as the victim.

A 27-year-old woman is dead and nine others are being treated at a hospital from severe weather that hit a rural area in northeast Acadia Parish last night. The one fatality took place on Prudence Highway north of Church Point.  Sheriff KP Gibson says a suspected tornado damaged several homes.

Cut 3 (09)  “with moderate damage.”