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”

Today is the last day of the special session and a number of tort reform bills aimed at lowering auto insurance rates are trying to cross the finish line by six o’clock tonight. LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says there are two bills with real traction…
Cut 4 (08)_ “…right now.”

Also, lawmakers have to put the finishing touches on a 34-billion dollar budget. Republican lawmakers are also looking to pass tax breaks for businesses in order to keep employees. But Democrats say the state is not doing enough to help individual citizens. Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt of Slidell…
cut 30 (11) “…light bills”
The House convenes at 10 AM, while the Senate is set to return to their chamber at 10:30.

The US Supreme Court overturns a 2014 Louisiana law requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges. Matt Doyle has a reaction from a local advocate and a Congressman…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Caddo Parish District Attorney James Stewart has called a virtual news conference for 11 AM to discuss returns from a grand jury. Shreveport TV stations are reporting eight Shreveport police officers have been indicted for allegedly using excessive force against two men at the conclusion of a traffic chase in January. Six of the officers have been accused of malfeasance.

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…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Jefferson Parish president Cynthia Lee Sheng says starting tomorrow everyone inside a business, must wear a mask or face covering. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says she’ll shut down grocery stores who don’t require masks. And if you are heading to Florida for the Fourth of July holiday, several beaches are closed.

Louisisana released a jobs report for May and it shows that 320-thousand residents were receiving unemployment benefits. Now there’s word that the trust fund the state uses to pay out unemployment could run dry in 14 weeks. Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie…
cut 8 (12) “…is what’s left”
If the state runs out, they’ll have to borrow from the federal government, like other states do.

The C-D-C is now saying pregnant women are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 than women who are not expecting. But CEO of LSU’s Healthcare Services Division, Doctor Rebekah Gee says pregnant women are no more likely to die from the virus…
cut 10 (09) “….are not pregnant”

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 over one billion dollars, will run dry within 14 weeks
Cut 7 (05) “…state unemployment benefits.”
If the fund runs out of money, Dejoie says the state will have to borrow from the federal government to pay out unemployment benefits.

The C-D-C says pregnant women are at an increased of suffering from severe illness of COVID-19 than women who are not expecting. Doctor Rebekah Gee, CEO of LSU Healthcare Services Division, says pregnant women are five times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly twice as likely to be put on a ventilator…
Cut 11 (10) “…be more careful.”

Louisiana abortion providers will not need admitting privileges as the US Supreme Court has struck down a state law passed in 2014. Congressman Mike Johnson, who served as co-counsel for the state when the law was argued before a federal judge, says the law was designed to protect women from unsafe abortion procedures.
Cut 13 (09) “Louisiana”
Civil Rights attorney S.Mandisa Moore-O’Neal says the ruling makes it clear requiring privileges is an undue burden.
Cut 15 (08) “…that”

Tort reform aimed at lowering auto insurance rates has taken center stage through most of the regular and special session and now lawmakers have until 6PM Tuesday afternoon (this afternoon) to pass their last ditch efforts before the session ends.

LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says legislators are still considering everything from resolutions temporarily suspending portions of current tort law, to new bills by a freshman and the House Speaker…

Cut 4, 8 seconds, right now

House Speaker Clay Shexnayder’s bill, which is less expansive than legislation vetoed by Governor Edwards, is in conference committee. Alford says one of the most interesting new developments is a bill by Mandeville freshman Representative Richard Nelson that includes items like a lower jury trial threshold, but also…

Cut 5, 5 seconds, rates

Outside of the central battle over tort lawmakers have a number of other issues to finalize.

Legislation shielding public and private schools from suits related to potential COVID outbreaks on their campuses is one vote away from final passage. The now 35 billion dollar budget still needs to be finalized. A number of tax breaks and credits for COVID impacted businesses are still being considered as well, but are finding opposition from Democrats who say the state doesn’t have the revenue to do that right now.

The US Supreme Court overturns a Louisiana law authored by Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson in 2014 requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges. Senator Jackson spoke about the ruling this morning…

Cut 3 (10) ”…deeply saddened  

Opponents say the law was an effort to subvert Roe vs. Wade, and if it remained law, it would have shut down two of the state’s three remaining abortion clinics. 

The U-S Supreme Court has ruled against an abortion law passed in Louisiana requiring admitting privileges at a nearby hospital for abortion doctors. If the measure became law, it would have shut down two of the state’s three remaining abortion clinics. Associate Director for the Louisiana Right to Life Angie Thomas says Louisiana law requires admitting privileges for many doctors who perform outpatient surgeries, but not abortion providers…
Cut 4 (10)_ “…abortion industry.”
The decision was 5-4 against Louisiana’s law.
Health officials believe that recent demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd by police have not resulted in a significant addition of new COVID-19 cases. Assistant state health officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says that’s probably because the virus doesn’t spread well outside and protestors were wearing mask, but adds no matter what other mitigation efforts are taken, it is still always best to avoid large crowds.

Cut 12 (07) “…for their family.”

The special session ends at six o’clock tomorrow night and lawmakers are debating several different tax break bills for businesses. Republicans say it will create jobs during a time of high unemployment for COVID-19. But New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson says individuals are struggling too

Cut 13 (11) “…helping people”   (2x)

Shreveport Senator Barry Milligan says COVID-19 has put several businesses on the brink of going out of business and they need the state’s help…

Cut 14 (12) “…our people”

Any tax breaks approved would result in less revenue and fewer dollars available for the state.