Voodoo Fest joins the growing list of major New Orleans festivals calling it quits for 2020 as concerns over the viability of any large gatherings happening anytime this year grows. Jazz Fest and Essence fest canceled earlier this week and CEO of New Orleans and Company, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau, Mark Romig says this is going to blow a major hole in the city’s budget…

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Jazz Fest alone generated 400 million dollars in economic activity last year.

Dangerous weather conditions are expected with the arrival of two cold fronts into the state this weekend. State climatologist Barry Keim say the first front will roll in late Friday night into Saturday morning.

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The worst weather will be found between I10 and I20

The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation is raising money to help bar owners stay afloat and keep your favorite local watering hole alive through the COVID Crisis. LHF Executive Director Jennifer Kelley says all bars are closed and unlike restaurants or retailers these businesses don’t have the option of takeout or delivery.

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To help you can contribute, or to seek aid visit LHF’s website and look for the South Louisiana bar owner Relief Fund.

The state department of education has provided additional guidance to local school districts on determining if a student should advance to the next grade. Assistant state superintendent Ken Bradford says the districts can have the freedom to allow teachers to break away from the traditional time restrictions for that decision…

Cut 12 (10) “through the summer.”

For the first time in it’s 50-year history Jazz Fest will not happen. Matt Doyle has the story.

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A parishioner at the Life Tabernacle Church in Central has died from complications related to COVID-19. The pastor at that church in suburban Baton Rouge, Reverend Tony Spell, has refused to obey the governor’s order of no gatherings of ten people or more. An attorney for Spell is also hospitalized with COVID 19.

LSU Health Shreveport is bringing testing online that will allow them to check people’s blood for antibodies that may indicate they are immune to coronavirus. But Immunology Professor Matthew Woolard says it’s not just enough to know if you have anti-coronavirus antibodies, we need to know how effective they are, and how many are needed to be effective.
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If a person is found to have effective antibodies they could return to a normal life without fear of getting themselves or others sick.
A group dedicated to delivering meals to children in Southeast Louisiana is granted $50,000 to continue its operations through the summer from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana for Community Crisis and Disaster Response.  Operation Manager for The Three O’clock Project Jeff Landry says he has hired more than 350 workers to prepare and distribute the meals.

Cut 13 (10) “…case may be.”

The state department of education has provided additional guidance to local school districts on determining if a student should advance to the next grade, with schools closed for the rest of the academic year. Assistant state superintendent Ken Bradford says in some cases a sit down must occur between the parents, teachers, and counselors to discuss how a child can catch up in time for next school year…
cut 11 (07) “….through the summer”

The three o’clock project is a group that delivers meals to students across much of south Louisiana. Operation manager Jeff Landry says they just received a 50-thousand grant so they can continue this service into the summer. Landry says they’ve hired more than 350 workers to prepare and distribute 20-thousand meals a day…
cut 14 (10) “…as we speak”

LSU Health Shreveport will start to conduct serology testing that will help determine if someone had COVID-19 but were asymptomatic. Once a person has COVID-19 they build antibodies to fight the virus if it tries to re-enter their body. Immunology Professor Matthew Woolard says they will also document the rate at which a person loses antibodies by retesting a person’s blood regularly…
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The cancellations of Jazz and Essence Fest will pummel New Orleans’ expected 2020 tourism revenue, with more festivals likely to announce similar decisions. CEO of New Orleans and Company, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau, Mark Romig says the loss of those iconic events is a blow, but they’ll be back.
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Jazz Fest previously announced a postponement until the fall.

LSU Health Shreveport now has the ability to conduct serology tests that check to see if a person has coronavirus immunity. Matt Doyle has more.
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This afternoon, Governor Edwards will visit LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center, where university employees have been making Personal Protective Equipment for those on the frontline of the fight against COVID -19. They are using vinyl from old billboards to make gowns, facemasks are also being produced.

The news that Jazz Fest is canceling its music festival this year is another blow to the state’s tourism industry. Jazz Fest produces a 400-million dollar economic impact for the region. Other large gatherings are also off the calender for this year, but CEO of New Orleans and Company Mark Romig, the city’s visitors bureau, says they wait for the time restaurants can begin offering dine-in services again….
cut 9 (11) “….vaccum”

The three o’ clock project has received a 50-thousand dollar grant so they can deliver hundreds of thousands of meals to children across southeast Louisiana this summer. Operation Manager for the Three O’ Clock Project Jeff Landry says they set a single-day meal distribution high this week…
cut 15 (10) “…36,000”
For more information go to three o’ clock project dot org.

A parishioner at the Life Tabernacle Church in Central has died from complications related to COVID-19. The pastor at that church in suburban Baton Rouge, Reverend Tony Spell, has refused to obey the governor’s order of no gatherings of ten people or more. An attorney for Spell is also hospitalized with COVID 19.

For the first time in its 50-year history Jazz Fest will not happen. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Historically, school systems used assessments to determine promotion to the next grade for students. Assistant state superintendent Ken Bradford says this year, the Department of Education is advising districts to use other tools…
Cut 10 (09) “…went on throughout the year.”
Bradford says for those students who are on the border of advancing, there needs to be a sit down discussion between the parents, teachers, and counselors to hammer out how they can be caught up in time for next school year.

LSU Health Shreveport will launch COVID-19 Antibody Testing, which will determine if a person is immune to the coronavirus. Immunology Professor Matthew Woolard says this work is important because many have had the virus in their system but didn’t know…
cut 6 (11) “….does’

The state Education Department has provided guidelines to local districts on how students will advance to the next grade. Kevin Barnhart has more.
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President Trump has laid out a roadmap on how the country can return to normal activity. The president says it will be a gradual process and restrictions will first be eased in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus. Governor Edwards says Louisiana will not be one of the first states to reopen because of its high rate of infections and deaths.

LSU Health Shreveport will begin to conduct serology testing, a process that will allow them to check a person’s blood for antibodies that may indicate they are immune to coronavirus. But Immunology Professor Matthew Woolard says it’s not enough to have anti-coronavirus antibodies, they need to know how effective they are, and how many are needed to be effective.
Cut 4 (08)_ “…standard.”

There will be no Jazz Fest this year. The music festival at the New Orleans Fairgrounds attracts 475-thousand visitors every year and produces an estimated 400-million dollar economic impact. CEO of New Orleans and Company, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau, Mark Romig says that money and money from other canceled festivals, not easy to replace…
cut 8 (10) “….with that”

An elderly member of Life Tabernacle Church has died of COVID-19 and Pastor Tony Spell is disputing the coroner’s findings saying the man died of other medical conditions. And one of Spell’s attorney Jeff Wittenbrink of Baton Rouge is currently hospitalized with the coronavirus after reportedly attending two events at the church earlier this month. Spell continues to hold large services.

The Paycheck Protection Program is out of money.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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Baton Rouge Representative Ted James has mostly recovered from COVID-19 but says his recovery was grueling and the disease should not be taken lightly. The Legislature does not have a firm date to return, but James, says his experience has convinced him that when they do return the session must be laser-focused.

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James made the statements earlier today on Talk Louisiana.

Food banks are seeing an increase in demand as more people continue to seek assistance due to rising unemployment and Second Harvest that serves 23 parishes across southern Louisiana is no exception. Spokesperson Jay Vise says they have disturbed a million extra pounds of food in the last month compared to a year ago.

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If you need assistance call 211 to find your local food bank or visit NoHunger.org they are also accepting donations due to overwhelming demand.

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James has mostly recovered from COVID-19 but says his recovery was grueling and the disease should not be taken lightly. The 37-year-old Democrat says he became symptomatic March 22^nd when he woke up in a pool of sweat, and a week later he was suffering in a hospital with pneumonia.

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Food banks are seeing an increase in demand as more people continue to seek assistance due to rising unemployment. Second Harvest Spokesperson Jay Vise says all food banks need donations and there are several ways you can help.

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Vise says anything that you would normally buy at the grocery store is what they need in donations, from cleaning supplies to feminine hygiene products. Second Harvest serves 23 southern parishes across the state.

Governor Edwards announces the creation of a commission tasked with producing guidelines that would allow parts of the economy to reopen. Resilient Louisiana Commission Co-Chair Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the real work of the Commission will be handled by 15 task forces dedicated to various economic sectors.

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Congressman Steve Scalise has been appointed to President Trump’s Task Force on Reopening the Economy. Scalise says he’s been on many calls with everyone ranging from local restauranteurs to the heads of some of the biggest companies in the world on taking steps to safely come back.

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The Paycheck Protection Program which provides loans to small businesses to keep their workers employed has run out of money. Congressman Steve Scalise of Metairie says the President is asking Congress to appropriate 251-billion dollars so the program can process loan applications again…
cut 10 (12) “….few days’

As families struggle to put food on the table during the COVID crisis, many are turning to food banks. Second Harvest serves 23 parishes across south Louisiana and their spokesperson Jay Vise says they’ve had to change how they distribute goods at their facilities, with help from the National Guard.
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Baton Rouge Representative Ted James stint in the hospital with COVID-19 caused pneumonia has given him a unique outlook on the virus for a lawmaker. Matt Doyle has the story.
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A lawyer for an East Baton Rouge Parish pastor who has been holding large church services, defying the governor’s order of no gatherings of more than 10 people, is hospitalized with the coronavirus. The Advocate reports Jeff Wittenbrick has been in the hospital since Tuesday. He attended two events at Life Tabernacle Church in Central. Pastor Tony Spell says he’s praying for Wittenbrick.

The loan program set up by the federal government to help small businesses pay employees during the COVID-19 crisis has run out of money. Congressman Steve Scalise of Metairie says the Paycheck Protection Program has already helped out thousands of Louisiana businesses…
cut 9 (11) “…out of money”
President Trump has asked for additional 251-billion dollars for the program and Scalise is hopeful Congress can approve the additional funding in the next few days.

Governor Edwards announced today who will serve on his Resilient Louisiana Commission. Edwards says this panel will make recommendations on how the state can grow its economy again. The governor is looking at loosing some of the rules of his stay at home order and this panel will receive input from business leaders…
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State officials say students will continue education via remote learning for the remainder of the school year as the governor has closed K-12 public schools. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says 13 of the top 20 auto insurers doing business in Louisiana are providing premium reductions and rebates to policyholders since people are driving less. He says the rebate programs are resulting in 187-million dollars back into the hands of consumers.