61 additional COVID-19 deaths are reported in Louisiana today bringing the total number of fatalities from the disease to 1,601. Total confirmed cases are now over 26,000, but nearly 15,000 state residents who have tested positive have recovered and are no longer infectious.

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 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. Joe Burrow, K’Lavon Chaisson, Justin Jefferson, Patrick Queen, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire made for a record-setting LSU class. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says he’s particularly excited about Edwards-Helaire’s fit in Kansas City.

Cut 13 (07) “…chiefs.”

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo highlights an act of kindness as a Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing on the national news of the Easter Sunday tornado’s impact on the community.  Mayo says the he was deeply touched by the letter from a total stranger wanting to help.

Cut 8 (05) “…wanting to help.”

The money will be used at a local food bank.

61 additional COVID-19 deaths are reported in Louisiana today bringing the total number of fatalities from the disease to 1,601. Total confirmed cases are now over 26,000, but nearly 15,000 state residents who have tested positive have recovered and are no longer infectious.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says debris from the Easter tornado may have traveled far, acts of kindness have traveled in from much further.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

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 buildings east of Highway 71 suffered significant damage, some are a total loss. The wheat plots for research will also have to be re-built, but their cattle herd is safe. She says they working with other units in the Ag Center community to gain access to equipment so research continues

Cut 5 (06)  “…immediately.”

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, and the state performed over 140,000 tests over the last six weeks.

Cut 11 (09) “…everyday”

Less than five percent of all tests completed in Louisiana have been done in state labs, but Edwards says they’re looking to improve that number.

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.

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 says linebacker was a more pressing need, but the center was the best interior lineman in the draft.

Cut 12 (09) “…contract”

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.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.  Mayo read a letter from the donor.

Cut 7 (13) “…and rebuilding lives.”

The money will be used at 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 thankfully the LSU-Alexandria campus did not suffer any major damage and no injuries were reported. She says the mega-shelter that the state uses during hurricanes also took a direct hit

Cut 4 (07)_ “…fairly unharmed”

61 additional COVID-19 deaths are reported in Louisiana today bringing the total number of fatalities from the disease to 1,601. Total confirmed cases are now over 26,000, but nearly 15,000 state residents who have tested positive have recovered and are no longer infectious. This means nearly 60 percent of all confirmed cases in Louisiana have recovered.

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 coronavirus pandemic may result in the demise of many department stores according to retail experts at Columbia University’s Business School.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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…

Cut 3 (11)  “…the station”  

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt starts an online petition to give Louisiana residents a chance to urge Governor John Bel Edwards to allow parishes to make their own decisions on when and how they reopen their economies. Hewitt says a statewide stay at home order is not working for areas of the state with low case counts.
Cut 13 (10) “…guidelines.”
The online petition can be found at open-L-A-now-dot-com. Edwards is planning to lift some restrictions after April 30th, but he wants everyone to have their expectations properly set for what it will look like.
Cut 16 (09) “…before”
The governor is expected to provide more details early next week.

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.

While there is limited evidence cats can suffer from COVID-19, the Louisiana SPCA is asking owners not to seek tests for their pets.  If your pet is suffering from what appears to be COVID-like symptoms Louisiana SPCA CEO Anna Zorrilla says talk to your vet before doing anything else.

Cut 11 (09) “…care”

If you are positive, Zorrilla says you should practice extra caution when interacting with your pet.

A school-record five LSU Tigers were selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Joe Burrow went number one overall to the Cincinnati Bengals. And the first round ended with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs selecting Clyde-Edwards Helaire. The Saints took Michigan center Cesar Ruiz.

A petition is circulating urging Governor Edwards to allow parishes to make their own decisions on when, and how to lift the stay at home order and implement the federal phase one reopening…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The Louisiana Supreme Court extends an order delaying all jury trials until June 30^th. The order was initially filed April 6^th and there’s some fear that a three-month delay in cases will create a nightmare of a trial backlog, but Legal Analyst Tim Meche says it’s unlikely the extended delay will result in any legal or constitutional challenges that would impact the court once trials resume.

Cut 9 (09) “…that occur.

While there is limited evidence cats can suffer from COVID-19, the Louisiana SPCA is asking owners not to seek tests for their pets. While cats can catch the virus, CEO Anna Zorrilla says the SPCA recommends people suffering from mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 still keep their pets with them.

Cut 12 (12) “at the time”

If you are positive, Zorrilla says you should practice extra caution when interacting with your pet.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has ordered that all jury trials in Louisiana should be suspended until June 30th because of the coronavirus pandemic. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Louisiana’s court system can handle the trial backlog in cases and dealt with something similar after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He also says D-A’s and sheriffs have made an effort to release low-risk detainees who are awaiting trial…
cut 8 (08) “…running”

It’s possible some department stores could re-open sometime next month, but retail experts at Columbia University say very few will survive the economic shutdown. Local retail analyst Wade Ragas agrees with that opinion, but he says other shopping brands are doing well…
cut 6 (09) “…Costco”

An animal protection organization is asking folks not to request COVID-19 tests for their pets. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow has officially changed his stripes as the Bengals selected the former record-breaking LSU quarterback with the top pick last night. Burrow was one of five Tigers selected in the first round, which is a school record. The Saints used their first-round pick on center Cesar Ruiz, who was a two-time All-Big 10 selection.

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt starts an online petition to give Louisiana residents a chance to urge Governor John Bel Edwards to allow parishes to make their own decisions on when and how they reopen their economies. Hewitt says a statewide stay at home order is not working for areas of the state with low case counts.
Cut 13 (10) “…guidelines.”
The online petition can be found at open-la-now-dot-com. Edwards is planning to lift some restrictions after April 30th, but he wants everyone to have their expectations properly set for what it will look like.
Cut 16 (09) “…before”
The governor is expected to provide more details early next week.

The Louisiana Supreme Court extends an order delaying all jury trials until June 30th. The order was initially filed April 6th and there’s some fear that a three-month delay in cases will create a nightmare of a trial backlog, but Legal Analyst Tim Meche says Louisiana learned from Katrina and Rita…
Cut 7 (08) “…hurricanes”
Meche says DAs and sheriffs have made an effort to release low-risk detainees who are awaiting trial.

Department stores have been closed since March and retail experts at Columbia University’s Business School say few of them will be able to survive. Retail analyst Wade Ragas says brick and mortar department stores can’t compete with e-commerce and social distancing also creates hurdles for the current business model…
cut 5 (11) “….into the store”

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt has started an online petition for residents to sign that would urge Governor John Bel Edwards to open Louisiana on a parish by parish basis. Hewitt says this grassroots online petition at open-LA-now-dot-com restores the voice of Louisiana voters….
cut 14 (08) “….heard”
But Edwards says he does not plan on allowing local parishes to open before the stay at home order ends, or to allow parishes to relax restrictions more than others.
Cut 15 (09)“…phase one.”
Part of that threshold calls for Louisiana to have 140-thousand coronavirus tests conducted a month. Edwards says that should be doable in May.

The coronavirus pandemic may result in the demise of many department stores according to retail experts at Columbia University…
cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow was the first pick in last night’s N-F-L draft and will now battle Andy Dalton to be the starting Q-B in Cincinnati…
cut 17 (10) “….this city”
A school-record five LSU Tigers were selected in the first round, including running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to the Super Bowl champion Chiefs. The Saints used their first-round pick to take Michigan center Cesar Ruiz.

A school-record five LSU Tigers were selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Joe Burrow went number one overall to the Cincinnati Bengals. And the first round ended with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs selecting Clyde-Edwards Helaire. The Saints took Michigan center Cesar Ruiz.

A petition is circulating urging Governor Edwards to allow parishes to make their own decisions on when, and how to lift the stay at home order…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Few department stores are likely to survive once the coronavirus pandemic is over, according to retail experts at Columbia University’s Business School. New Orleans consultant of real estate valuations Wade Ragas says department stores already have a tough time competing with e-commerce…
Cut 4 (12)_ “…with this country.”

While there is limited evidence cats can suffer from COVID-19, the Louisiana SPCA is asking owners not to seek tests for their pets. CEO Anna Zorrilla says right now we want to make sure COVID testing is focused on humans, who have a more critical need.
Cut 10 (09) “infected”
Two cats tested positive in New York City, but the CDC reports there is no evidence cats can transmit the virus back to humans.