Today’s numbers show there can be no doubt, Louisiana is back on a sharply upward trajectory of COVID transmission. 1,354 new cases have been discovered, and 47 additional people have been hospitalized bringing the total COVID hospitalizations to 700 compared to our post-April low of 542 June 14^th and marks the highest number since June 2^nd. 26 additional fatalities are also being reported.

Governor Edwards is pinning this spike in cases not on the move into Phase Two, which increased capacity allowances for many businesses, but on a public that is beginning to slack off on their spread mitigation efforts like mask-wearing and social distancing. Edwards says to reverse this trend they’ll have state workers more aggressively enforce COVID compliance on businesses.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…mandates”

UL System President Jim Henderson says a combination of sports revenue loss and lower student enrollment is leading them to plan for a five percent revenue loss for the coming fiscal year. Many students appear to be considering putting off returning to college while campus life undergoes significant pandemic era changes, and Henderson says they aren’t sugar coating what some of those changes may be…

Cut 7 (08) “…2019”

For the current fiscal year ending June 30^th, the UL System is set to suffer a 28 million dollar net loss.

Blaine Kern, Sr., who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, has died. He was 93.  Kern was the founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy remembers Kern as a key figure in the history of Mardi Gras.

Cut 9 (10) “…he improved it.”

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley unveils the guidelines schools will be operating under as students return in August. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Blaine Kern, Sr., founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades, has died. Kern is credited for turning Mardi Gras float building into a multimillion dollar business. His wife confirmed his death on Facebook. Kern, who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, died at his home in New Orleans. He was 93.

COVID-19 is impacting summer travel. The AAA travel forecast shows Americans will take 700 trips, down nearly 15% compared to last July through September. Driving sees the smallest decrease in travel volume, down 3.6% over the year. While summer gas prices haven’t been this low since 2016, AAA spokesperson Don Redman says it is not enough to spur travel.
Cut 12 (11) “…off the roads.”
Redman says the last time the AAA travel forecast showed a dip in over the year travel was 2009, following the 2008 recession.
Louisiana’s first harvested batch of industrial hemp has been tested and is in compliance with rules for the crop.  State Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the crop received the green light after being tested to make sure THC concentration level is below the legal limit of .3%. Strain says in Louisiana there are over 100 people licensed as growers, processors, transporters, or seed sellers and producers and with the budding industry is a further exploration of additional utility for the crop.
Cut 15 (06) “…at other uses.”

The state department of education’s plan for reopening schools in August requires that students from third grade and above wear masks even in the classroom. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says student health will be closely monitored throughout the day…
cut 5 (09) “…check”
Brumley says hand washing must take place every two hours and students who get sick will be quarantied on campus until they can be removed.

The Lafayette Police Department confirms the F-B-I is assisting in the investigation into the stabbing of 18-year-old Holden White. The family says the stabbing of the gay teeenager from Kaplan was a hate crime. But authorities have only charged the suspect with attempted second-degree murder. Lafayette P-D says if they find evidence of a hate crime, additional charges could be filed against 19-year-old Chance Seneca.

Louisiana’s first harvested batch of industrial hemp gets the green light to move forward with processing….
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Air Quality alerts are up for Lake Charles, Lafayette, Houma, Baton Rouge and New Orleans as a plume of Saharan dust moves into Louisiana, increasing particle concentration, which could exasperate breathing issues for those who suffer from asthma or allergies. DEQ Air planning administrator Jason Myers says there is some good news associated with the dust plume…
cut 9 (07) “…sunset”

The State Department of Education is requiring face masks for students third grade and above as part of its plan for reopening public schools in August. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says if a student or teacher tests positive the Department of Health will consult with the district on whether the school needs to close. Brumley says that means…
Cut 6 (07) “closed”
Schools that are ordered closed may stayed closed for three to five days for a deep clean.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality warns residents with breathing issues to remain indoors as a Saharan Dust Plume begins impacting the Gulf Coast today. LDEQ Air Planning Administrator Jason Myers says the dust can exasperate existing respiratory conditions.
Cut 7 (07) “…inside.”
Air quality alerts are up for Lake Charles, Lafayette, Houma, New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

AAA indicates COVID-19 is having a significant impact on summer travel plans. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

At the state capitol, lawmakers have approved a resolution that creates a task force to study police training and what can be done to remove officers from the force who are considered bad apples. The 25-member task force will meet next month and provide recommendations to the state legislature by February first.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley outlines COVID safety guidelines for the upcoming school year, including the mandatory use of face coverings. Brumley says school districts will have to answer to the Louisiana Department of Health if there is non-compliance.
Cut 4 (10)_ “building”
The face mask requirement is for students third grade and above. Brumley is also encouraging school districts to make online learning available for students who do not want to return to the classroom.

Air quality alerts are up for much of southeast Louisiana, Lafayette and Lake Charles because of particle pollution from the Saharan dust cloud. If you have respiratory issues, DEQ Administrator Jason Myers recommends wearing an N95 mask while outside…
cut 8 (10) “…now”

COVID-19 is impacting summer travel. The AAA travel forecast shows Americans will take 700-million trips, down nearly 15% compared to last July through September. AAA spokesperson Don Redman most people will drive to their destinations, while other transportation methods will see a sharp decline.
Cut 10 (09) “…are the cruises.”
Most cruise lines ahve suspended all deparatures until at least August 1st.

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the first batch of hemp grown in Louisiana and tested by their laboratory is in compliance. Strain says the next step is for the hemp that was grown in southwest Louisiana to be dried out and that can happen at a processing facility…
cut 14 (09) “….extract CBD products”

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley unveils the guidelines schools will operate under when students return in August. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

AAA estimates summer travel will be down 15-percent from July to September. Spokesperson Don Redman says in our region, 98-percent of travelers are planning to get to their destination by car…
cut 11 (06) “….at state parks”

Louisiana’s first harvested batch of industrial hemp has been tested and is in compliance with rules for the crop. State Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the crop received the green light after being tested to make sure THC concentration level is below the legal limit of .3%
Cut 13 (10) “…CBD from that.”
Across the country, there has been widespread crop failure because of excessive amounts of THC, so having this first batch meet state and federal regulations is a victory for the state’s hemp industry.

We are having internet issues again. Trying to resolve, but literally out of my hands. Hopefully, it comes back soon.

Jeff

Governor Edwards officially signs an executive order extending Phase Two for another 28 days, and orders groups of no more than 250 for indoor gatherings.

This extension has drawn the ire of some House conservatives who feel the extension will do too much damage to Louisiana businesses. As a result, Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh has resumed pushing a petition that if signed by half of the Legislature would end the Governor’s declaration of emergency. Seabaugh needs 53 additional lawmakers to join him in the House…

Cut 12 (11) “…to having 53.”

But Democrats oppose revoking the order. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says some economic boosts are not worth the added risk to the lives of vulnerable Louisianans.

Cut 15 (11) “…a business open.” 

State workers will not be getting their scheduled pay raises if the budget remains it its current state. Senate Finance Committee members agreed to pause the raises and reconsider them later in the year, citing concern over the  “optics” of giving state workers a pay raise while so many private-sector employees have lost their jobs, but Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne notes that most of the workers who will be impacted don’t make a lot of money.

Cut 8 (09) “…workers”

But Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says if we pass a raise some of them may end up not having a job…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

A resolution by Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields to establish a task force to study policing policy gains final passage. The resolution had unanimous support in its final form, which removed previous language about George Floyd and racial profiling by police.

The state education department releases guidelines for schools to reopen with students in the classrooms. Jeff Palermo reports from third grade and on up masks will be required…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

And for additional school guidelines if the state remains in Phase Two when schools reopen in August maximum group sizes for students would be constrained to 25, no contact sports or band would be allowed, and school bus capacity would be capped at 50 percent. If we move to Phase Three contact sports are in and the number roughly double.

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma determines a 63-year-old black man died of febrile delirium while in the custody of Shreveport first responders last April. Thoma says first responders worked quickly to apply medical care to Austin.

Cut 5 (13)  “…a preventable death”

A group called 45 days of Action Shreveport seeks answers on why Austin and Tommie McGlothen died in police custody in April.

State workers won’t be getting their scheduled pay raise if the budget remains in its current form. A Senate committee backed a pause in pay raises with plans to reevaluate the possibility later in the year. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says the economy is too uncertain right now…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

The state education department released a plan today on how public schools can reopen for the upcoming school year and do so without contributing to the spread of COVID-19. One of the guidelines calls for children in third grade and above to wear masks and students with a breathing condition could wear a face shield. The plan also calls for symptom monitoring of students when they arrive and throughout the day, including an initial temp check. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says sick students need to be isolated quickly…
Cut 10 (05) “…recovery time.”
Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh is once again pushing his petition to end Louisiana’s state of emergency because of COVID-19. While it is unclear if Seabaugh has enough backing, Rosepine Republican Charles Owen is among those showing support for the measure and believes lawmakers need more input on the decision making of advancing the state in reopening.
Cut 13 (08) “…ahead of time.”  

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma determines a 63-year-old black man died of febrile delirium while in the custody of Shreveport first responders last April. Thoma says paramedics and police were called to Wavey Austin’s apartment because he was delusional and uncooperative, so he was handcuffed to conduct a medical evaluationThoma says there was no struggle with police or significant signs of trauma…
Cut 4 (08)_ “…or broken bones.”
Febrile delirium is an acute and transient confusional state with a high fever.  Austin was running a fever of 101.5 at the time of this death and was found to have an enlarged heart contributing to arrhythmia.
When the Senate Finance Committee approved a budget for the next fiscal year Wednesday they put a pause on scheduled pay raises for state workers. Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says right now a public sector pay raise just wouldn’t look good.
Cut 6 (11) “…deal with”
The proposal heads to the Senate where it could be adjusted.