Governor Edwards is expected to issue a proclamation today that will call for schools to be closed for the remainder of the academic year. The school term is scheduled to end May 20th and distance learning will be held to finish the school year. But only 39 of the 69 school districts offer online learning. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says there are other ways to still educate…
cut 11 (12) “….into the home”

Oil prices saw a minor increase after OPEC and other oil producers agreed to reduce production. LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes says the price increase appears to be short-lived…
cut 5 (09) “…teens”

The National Weather Service says it was an EF-3 tornado that hit Monroe on Easter Sunday with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. At least 200 homes in the Monroe area were damaged and several hundred people have been displaced. Governor John Bel Edwards toured the storm damage yesterday and says it was a miracle no one was killed.

Edwards also discussed the coronavirus pandemic during a Monday afternoon press conference. The governor is concerned we will see a new wave of COVID-19 cases if people do not follow the stay at home order…
cut 2 (28) “..I’m Matt Doyle

Governor John Bel Edwards says the curve has been flattening, but it will not stay that way if residents ignore the stay at home order as they did over the Easter weekend. Edwards says the Unacast Social Distancing Dashboard tracks movement by cell phone GPS data and Louisiana is not performing well…
Cut 7 (07) “…moving around.”

A lot of people apparently got together over the Easter Weekend for crawfish or maybe a backyard barbeque. Did you have trouble finding beef? Chairperson of the Louisiana Beef Industry Council Amelia Kent says the coronavirus has closed some meat plants. Kent says the disruption is trickling back to the farm level as cattle coming out of feed yards are having no way to advance into harvesting.
Cut 14 (09) “…to do so.”

The Governor indicates a proclamation is coming today that will keep schools closed for the remainder of the school year. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Families and businesses are picking up the pieces following a tornado outbreak on Easter.  President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says the devastation is widespread.

Cut 3 (11)  “…to their homes.”  

the sytem killed 11 in Missisipi, while Louisiana escaped without any fatalities, but it did do an estimated 25-30 million in damages at the Monroe Regional Airport. Congressman Ralph Abraham says he saw debris littered runways, destroyed buildings, and the remains of small jets poking out from under a collapsed hangar. The airport is closed today and Abraham says it could be some time before it gets back up and running.

Cut 8 (09) “airport“

Abraham says they’ve reached out to both state and federal officials to begin the process of getting aid for the airport and other businesses that have been destroyed.

Thousands in north Louisiana are without power a day after powerful storms ripped through the region. Entergy Louisiana spokesperson David Freese warns some customers may not have their power back on until later this week due to the extensive amount of damage to infrastructure.

Cut 11 (09) “…restoration.”

At the Sunday afternoon peak, 26,500 customers were without power, but that number has come down over the last 24 hours. SWEPCO is reporting eight-thousand of its Louisiana customers are without power as well. It may take until Wednesday afternoon before most of their Shreveport customers have electricity.

Louisiana residents who are receiving unemployment should see a substantial increase in assistance starting today. Governor Edwards says previously unemployed workers were only eligible for up to 247-dollars from the state

Cut 13 (06) “…July 31st”

That additional 600 dollars comes courtesy of the feds.

Governor Edwards took a tour this afternoon of the widespread damage in Ouachita Parish, one of five parishes in north Louisiana reporting storm damage. Edwards says two tornadoes touched down in Ouachita Parish and he says it’s a miracle that no one in Louisiana died from these twisters.

But the governor says 8-thousand structures are without power in Ouachita Parish. Matt Doyle reports it will take time to restore the electricity…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A suspected tornado did an estimated 25-30 million in damages at the Monroe Regional Airport. Congressman Ralph Abraham says he saw debris littered runways, destroyed buildings, and the remains of small jets poking out from under a collapsed hangar.
Cut 6 (08) “repair”
Abraham says his office has reached out to the White House to begin the process of getting aid for the airport and other damaged businesses.

The state health department reported 44 more COVID-19 deaths today, bringing the total number of deaths to 884. There are over 21-thousand positive cases. Louisiana does not report on how many people have recovered from the coronavirus. Governor Edwards says capturing that information is difficult
Cut 12 (06) “recovered individual”
And Edwards says Louisiana residents receiving unemployment should see a 600-dollar increase in assistance starting today as a result of the federal stimulus bill approved by Congress.

Another 44 people are reported dead from COVID-19 today bringing the state’s total to 884 dead from the disease caused by coronavirus infections. With many employers still shut down due to the risk of spreading the virus, a record number of workers have filed for unemployment insurance. Governor Edwards encourages all Louisiana residents who have lost work or hours to file for unemployment at Louisiana-works-dot-net

Cut 14 (10) “…about this”

This week the first of the 600 dollar federally enhanced unemployment checks began going out.

Families and businesses in north Louisiana are picking up the pieces following a tornado outbreak on Easter. President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says around 250 families have been displaced from their homes and two public housing communities took a significant hit, including one about a mile from the airport.

Cut 5 (10)  “…were damaged there.”

A suspected tornado did an estimated 25-30 million in damages at the Monroe Regional Airport. Abraham says they’ve reached out to both state and federal officials to begin the process of getting aid for the airport and other businesses that have been destroyed.

Cut 7 (11) “…supplies”

Abraham says he saw debris littered runways, destroyed buildings, and the remains of small jets poking out from under a collapsed hangar.

Entergy reports 200 poles, 450 spans of wire, and 50 transformers will either need to be repaired or replaced and thousands are still without power due to Easter storm system.  Entergy Louisiana spokesperson David Freese says they’re pulling in emergency workers to get it done.

Cut 10 (09) “state”

SWEPCO is reporting eight-thousand of its Louisiana customers are without power as well.

At this hour, Governor John Bel Edwards is getting a first-hand look at the damage in the Monroe area from yesterday’s tornados that destroyed between 200 and 300 homes in Ouachita Parish. An estimated 30-million dollars of damage was done to planes inside a hangar at the Monroe Regional Airport.

Hundreds of families have lost their homes. Kevin Barnhart reports the coronavirus pandemic presents new challenges when it comes to sheltering….
voicer 1 (31) “..I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Thousands are without power as a result of yesterday’s severe weather across the I-20 corridor. Entergy says 200 poles, 450 spans of wire, and 50 transformers will either need to be repaired or replaced. Spokesman David Freese says they’re pulling in emergency workers to get it done.
Cut 10 (09) “state”
SWEPCO is reporting eight-thousand of its Louisiana customers are without power as well. It may take until Wednesday afternoon before most of their Shreveport customers have electricity.

Louisiana residents who are receiving unemployment should see a substantial increase in assistance starting today. Governor Edwards says previously unemployed workers were only eligible for up to 247-dollars from the state
Cut 13 (06) “…July 31st”
Edwards says gig workers and 10-99 employees can begin receiving 600-dollars in unemployment assistance starting today.

6,900 Ouachita Parish residents and thousands of other customers were still without power as of 10 AM this morning due to Sunday’s devastating tornadoes. Matt Doyle has more.

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The Monroe Regional Airport is closed today after it is estimated to have sustained 25-30 million in damages. Congressman Ralph Abraham says it could be some time before it gets back up and running.

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The state health department reported 44 more COVID-19 deaths today, bringing the total to 884 deaths. There are over 21-thousand positive cases. Louisiana does not report on how many people have recovered from the coronavirus and Governor Edwards says capturing that information is difficult

Cut 12 (06) “recovered individual”

A survey of the state’s childcare providers shows that roughly a third of childcare facilities that closed do not see a path to reopening. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Libbie Sonnier-Netto says a majority of childcare centers have reported losing revenue.
Cut 13 (07) “…lost $1.7 million dollars”
Sonnier-Netto says over 90% of childcare providers indicated grants could be used to pay employees during the closures and would support their response to COVID-19 both now and in the future to the pandemic.

Families and businesses are picking up the pieces following a tornado outbreak on Easter.  The coronavirus has presented challenges in how displaced families are sheltered following the storm and President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says they are taking a new approach to sheltering in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…a permanent location.”

Thousands in north Louisiana are still without power today.  Entergy Louisiana spokesperson David Freese says at the Sunday afternoon peak 26,500 customers were without power, but they’ve managed to pull that number down over the last 24 hours.

Cut 9 (11) “…area″

Entergy damage assessment reports 200 poles, 450 spans of wire, and 50 transformers will either need to be repaired or replaced.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Doctor G-E Ghali is encouraging those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma because it can be used to treat critically ill patients. Ghali says they’ve already seen encouraging results from this type of treatment…
cut 11 (08) “….months away”
Ghali says the antibodies counteract with the antigens of the virus to help the body fight off coronavirus.

The latest report rises the state’s COVID-19 death toll by 44 to a total of 884 fatalities. Confirmed cases: 21,016, up by 421. 2,134 are hospitalized, up 50.  Use of ventilators has increased to 461, up by 3.

Parts of north Louisiana are reeling after a deadly Easter Sunday tornado system ripped through the area destroying numerous businesses in Louisiana and killing 11 people in Mississippi. President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says the devastation is widespread.

Cut 3 (11)  “…to their homes.”  

The damage to homes has many people seeking public shelter, a particularly difficult problem with the widespread prevalence of coronavirus. Ouachita Parish has 367 reported cases.

The system did an estimated 25-30 million dollars in damages to the Monroe Regional Airport. Congressman Ralph Abraham was on scene and says he saw debris littered runways, destroyed buildings, and the remains of small jets poking out from under collapsed hangar roofs.

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There’s growing concern from national health experts that reopening closed economies May 1^st may result in a significant spike in COVID-19 cases, but many businesses owners say they can’t afford to keep their doors closed until June. Oil City Republican Rep. Danny McCormick says the economy absolutely must reopen May 1^st, but it can be done with public health in mind.

Cut 9 (08) “…logic we are following.″

Louisiana is set to reopen May 1^st, but Governor Edwards says that may have to be delayed.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali urges those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma so it can be used to treat critically ill patients. Ghali says donors must have tested positive for the virus, but are now symptom-free for two weeks and tested negative, or symptom-free for 28 days.

Cut 10 (10) “…ill patients.”

Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Monroe this afternoon to survey the damage from Sunday’s severe weather outbreak that has destroyed over 200 homes in the Monroe area. There’s also storm damage in DeSoto, Webster and Bossier parishes and power is out for thousands. But no fatalities have been reported.

North Louisiana state representative Danny McCormick believes businesses that are closed now, should re-open when the governor’s stay at home order expires on April 30th. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Doctor G-E Ghali encourages Louisiana residents who have recovered from the coronavirus to donate their blood. Ghali says it will serve two purposes…
cut 12 (11) “…COVID-19 patients”
Ghali says they are seeing some initial encouraging results by pumping plasma from those who have recovered from COVID-19 into those who are critically ill from the virus.

There are many who would like to see federal and state government re-open the economy in May. Senator Bill Cassidy says a rollout that would allow those under the age of 30 without co-morbidities back into the workplace is possible since they rarely have severe symptoms…
cut 6 (11) “….know it”
Cassidy says expansive immunity testing could be the real game-changer.