Governor Edwards could announce today a loosening of restrictions on residents and businesses once the current stay at home order ends on Thursday…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Reverend Tony Spell still led his congregation at Life Tabernacle Church in East Baton Rouge Parish yesterday even though he was under house arrest for an aggravated assault charge. District Attorney Hillar Moore says they didn’t address the matter yesterday because a Baton Rouge officer was fatally shot in the line of duty. The suspected cop killer is in police custody.

Several medical clinics reopen today to perform elective surgical procedures. State Health Officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says non-emergency surgeries and screenings that have been put on hold can now happen…
cut 14 (13) “….get healthy”
Guidry says social distancing will be practiced inside these centers, so that means there will be very few people in a waiting room.

Students and staff at LSU’s Stephenson Disaster Management Institute have developed an app that allows for the tracking of COVID-19 medical equipment and supplies, like ventilators and personal protective equipment. S-D-M-I director Brant Mitchell says it’s a great tool for the Louisiana National Guard…
cut 9 (10) “….on the mission”

Governor Edwards is expected to announce today new restrictions on businesses and residents that will go into place on Friday. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says there is an underestimated problem in getting commerce and industry going again and that is the potential legal liabilities against a business if an employee or customer gets COVID-19…
Cut 6 (10) “…a major issue.”

A WalletHub survey of 350 Americans finds that 84-percent want another stimulus check. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is not sure if that will happen. Cassidy says it depends on how well the economy recovers…
cut 10 (09) “…reopening”

Louisiana’s ban on elective surgeries ends today, which means after a month-long hiatus, doctors can go back to performing non-emergency surgical procedures…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

One Baton Rouge police officer is dead and another is fighting for his life after they engaged in a shootout with a homicide suspect yesterday afternoon. Police Chief Murphy Paul says the officers went to a home looking for 36-year-old Ronnie Kato, who is accused of killing another man earlier that morning. Kato is in police custody.

Governor John Bel Edwards COVID-19 briefing is scheduled for 4 PM today and he’s expected to announce what restrictions will be loosened on businesses and residents when the current stay at home order ends on Thursday. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says as states look to get the economy going again, testing needs to be ramped up to the point that once a person tests positive for the coronavirus, they are quickly quarantined in a hotel or at home and meals are provided…
cut 12 (10) “….economy”

Elective medical procedures resume today. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says emergency procedures have been happening, but doctors can catch up on time-sensitive, but less pressing surgeries.
Cut 13 (10) “…carefully.”
Guidry says medical facilities that are re-opening will follow strict social distancing guidelines.

A veteran cop is dead and another is fighting for his life after gunfire was exchanged in north Baton Rouge yesterday afternoon between a homicide suspect and police. Suspected cop killer 36-year-old Ronnie Kato was eventually taken into custody after a lengthy standoff. Authorities say officers went to a home looking for Kato, who is suspected of killing another person earlier that day, and that’s when the shootout began. Baton Rouge Police has not identified the officers who were shot.

A team from LSU develops a smartphone app to help track medical equipment and supplies that are in transit around the state. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Saints are reportedly close to signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston. The Heisman Trophy winner out of Florida State led the NFL in passing yards and threw 33 touchdowns last season, but he was intercepted a league-high 30 times. Winston had LASIK surgery in the offseason.

Winston would fill the role Teddy Bridgewater had with the Black and Gold. While Taysom Hill would continue to play a variety of positions. The Saints value Hill’s versatility and signed him to a two-year contract reportedly worth 21 million dollars. Hill has scored nine touchdowns over the last two seasons.

LSU tied a record by having 14 players drafted in a seven-round draft. Alabama had nine players and 63 players from the SEC were drafted. It also goes down as the most watched draft ever, with 55-million viewers over the course of three days. And NFL’s Draft a thon helped raise six-point-six million dollars to support COVID-19 relief efforts.

The Saints 2020 draft class consists of just four players, but the franchise believes it will be a successful class. In the first round New Orleans drafted Cesar Ruiz, a center from Michigan and then traded multiple picks to select two players in the third round, Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun and Dayton tight end Adam Trautman. G-M Mickey Loomis says it’s about the quality of the picks, not how many you made…
cut 16 (25) “…find there”
The Saints traded a 2021 draft pick to the Texans to take Mississippi State Quarterback Tommy Stevens. He has a lot of athleticism and could play a Taysom Hill role for the Black and Gold.

Governor John Bel Edwards could announce on Monday new restrictions on residents and businesses that will go into effect on May 1st. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says a big question is whether Louisiana’s coronavirus testing capacity can stay ahead of the epidemic…
cut 4 (11) “…of reopening”

Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May. Edwards says the minimum testing capacity needed to enter Phase One of reopening the economy is 140-150,000 tests a month.
Cut 11 (09) “…everyday”

The Saints 2020 draft class consists of just three players, but the franchise believes it will be a successful class. In the first round New Orleans drafted Cesar Ruiz, a center from Michigan and then traded multiple picks to select two players in the third round, Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun and Dayton tight end Adam Trautman. G-M Mickey Loomis says it’s about the quality of the picks, not how many you made…
cut 16 (25) “…find there”
Trautman had 70 catches for 916 yards and 14 T-Ds last season at Dayton, while Baun registered 12.5 sacks and one interception at Wisconsin.

Governor Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May. The Governor says to meet that number, the state is trying not to have to rely so much on importing testing supplies.
Cut 10 (10) “…so forth”
Edwards says the minimum testing capacity needed to enter Phase One of reopening the economy is 140-150,000 tests a month.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says a Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing about the destructive tornado that hit Ouachita Parish on Easter Sunday. Mayo is deeply touched by the letter from a total stranger.
Cut 8 (05) “…wanting to help.”
The money will be used at a local food bank.

A team from LSU develops a smartphone app to help track medical equipment and supplies that are in transit around the state. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Five more LSU Tigers were selected in last night’s NFL Draft. Two former Tigers are heading to Cleveland, safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Jacob Phillips. The Saints made two trades so they can take Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun and Dayton tight end Adam Trautman in the third round. New Orleans is out of draft picks for 2020.

Louisiana is now reporting the number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19. The state health department estimates there have been nearly 15-thousand recoveries. Louisiana has 26-thousand positive cases and 16-hundred have died.

States need to meet certain COVID testing benchmarks before they can implement federal Phase One reopening guidelines, but Governor Edwards says Louisiana is setting a higher bar…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The N-F-L draft resumes today, but the Saints are out of picks. They traded up twice last night to select a pair of players in the third round, Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun and Dayton tight end Adam Trautman.

Five more LSU players were selected last night and a school-record ten Tigers have been drafted in the first three rounds. Grant Delpit went to Cleveland, Miami selected Kristian Fulton, Seattle took Damien Lewis, Denver drafted Lloyd Cushenberry and the Browns also picked Jacob Phillips.

U-L Lafayette offensive lineman Robert Hunt was selected in the second round by Miami and NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier expects Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson will be selected today…
cut 14 (04) “…flat out play”
The draft resumes at 11 AM this morning.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is mourning the death of his 31-year-old brother Jace Prescott who was a star offensive lineman at Hauhgton High School and also played at Northwestern State. A cause of death has not been given.

Louisiana is reporting 1,601 COVID-19 deaths and 26,140 positive cases. According to the state health department, Louisiana has a death rate of about two percent. Most deaths in the state have occurred in Orleans Parish, where 392 people have died. But analysis from the New York Times shows that New Orleans, Hammond, Houma, Shreveport, and Lafayette have seen a large decline in new cases and new deaths.

Governor Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May. Edwards says the minimum testing capacity needed to enter Phase One of reopening the economy is 140-150,000 tests a month.
Cut 11 (09) “…everyday”

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says debris from the Easter tornado may have traveled far, while acts of kindness have traveled in from much further. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Clean-up continues at the Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria. A tornado hit the facility on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith says they are working to gain access to equipment so research continues…
cut 5 (06) “…extension center”

Louisiana added 61 new deaths from COVID-19 today but the state remains on a slow downward trajectory of viral spread and Governor Edwards says he’s looking at relaxing a few restrictions after the stay at home order ends April 30^th. To do that, Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May. Edwards says currently the biggest challenge to meeting that mark is not lab capacity.

Cut 9 (08) “…specimen″

The Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria will need to be rebuilt after taking direct hit from a tornado on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith says the mega-shelter that the state uses during hurricanes also took a direct hit

Cut 4 (07)_ “…fairly unharmed”

The NFL held the first round of it’s “Virtual Draft” last night and the Saints grabbed a highly regarded interior lineman, while a school-record five LSU Tigers were drafted in the 1^st round. At 24 the Saints grabbed Michigan big man Caesar Ruiz. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier liked the pick because…

Cut 12 (09) “…contract”

Detillier expects Ruiz will play center, while last year’s 2^nd round pick Eric McCoy replaces Warford at guard.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says the city has been blessed by many charitable acts since the easter tornado hit. A Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing of the tornado’s impact on the town.  Mayo read a letter from the donor.

Cut 7 (13) “…and rebuilding lives.”

Governor Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May.  Edwards says currently the biggest challenge to meeting that mark is not lab capacity.

Cut 9 (08) “…specimen″

Louisiana is second in the nation for per capita testing behind Rhode Island.

The NFL held the first round of it’s “Virtual Draft” last night and continues tonight with rounds two and three.  NFL Analyst Mike Detillier expects three LSU tigers to go off the board pretty early tonight in Grant Delpit, Kristian Fulton, and Lloyd Cushenberry.  Detillier says you may see UL Lafayette’s Robert Hunt and Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson find new homes.

Cut 14 (10) “…play.”

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says the Easter Sunday tornado that swept through the city carried paperwork from the Masur Museum in Monroe into a Mississippi town 138 miles away.  Mayo says someone found it and mailed it back.

Cut 6 (12) “…into the trash.”

Mayo says that wasn’t the only act of kindness as a Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing of the tornado’s impact on the town.  That money will be used by a local food bank.

The Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria will need to be rebuilt after taking direct hit from a tornado on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith says the damage will impact the research and extension programs

Cut 3 (11)  “…the station”