Louisiana’s stay at home order has been extended through April. Matt Doyle has the story…
voicer 1 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

The Army Corps of Engineers re-opens bays on the Bonnet Carre Spillway today to protect New Orleans levees from the rising Mississippi River. It’s the third time the Corps is operating the flood control structure over the last 15 months. The spillway was opened twice last year and fishermen say the diversion of freshwater killed their catch and created large algae blooms.

The state department of education is letting local school systems decide on whether high school seniors will receive their diploma. A school district can either assign a letter grade for classwork done this semester or simply say the student either passed or failed. And Assistant state superintendent Ken Bradford says seniors currently taking dual-enrollment courses have completion options, including an in-progress designation…
cut 12 (13) “…of course”
Bradford says diplomas are scheduled to print and arrive on time.

The State Treasurer is shipping out four million dollars’ worth of unclaimed property checks to Louisianans this week. John Schroder says by working with the Department of Revenue they’ve identified tens of thousands of recipients who are owed money they can use right now.
Cut 7 (06) “…week”

Governor Edwards has officially extended the state’s stay at home order until April 30th. Edwards says it is absolutely critical for each Louisianan to take this order seriously. He says federal modeling shows 1,834 Louisianans will die of COVID-19 by August…
Cut 4 (08)_ “…76.”
Currently, 310 people have died from the coronavirus in Louisiana and new numbers will come out at noon.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services says non-custodial parents are required to pay child support during this time, but Child Support Enforcement Director Lydia Scales says they are not taking any action against deadbeat parents. Scales if you have questions call I-888-L-A-Help-U…
cut 15 (12) “…right direction”

The state department of education is not requiring high school seniors to take standardized tests, so it will be up local school systems to decide on whether a senior graduates. Kevin Barnhart has more…
voicer 2 (28) “…Kevin Barnhart”

Former state legislator Marty Chabert says Lockport Representative Reggie Bagala has been put on a ventilator as he battles the coronavirus. The 54-year-old is the second member of the House to test positive for COVID-19. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James has also tested positive and was hospitalized with pneumonia. James has been released but will quarantine until fully recovered.

Governor Edwards has extended Louisiana’s Stay at home order to April 30th. The number of reported coronavirus cases has surpassed 91-hundred and 310 people have died…
cut 6 (10) “…to happen”
Edwards says federal modeling data shows that Louisiana could see more than 18-hundred deaths by August.

High School seniors are expected to graduate next month, but schools will remain closed through April. Assistant State Superintendent of Education Ken Bradford says local school systems will determine if students have met the requirements to graduate. He says for classes taken this semester students could receive a pass-or-fail grade instead of a letter grade…
cut 11 (10) “…impact their GPA”
All requirements to receive TOPS have remained the same and seniors are still encouraged to complete financial aid planning.

If you owe child support, the Department of Children and Family Services is not relaxing on payments during the pandemic. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The state treasure’s office is mailing over 45-hundred checks worth four-million dollars to Louisiana residents. State Treasurer John Schroder says it’s money from the unclaimed property fund and they used data from the department of revenue to find people who are owed this money…
cut 8 (08) “….week”

Louisiana’s stay at home order has been extended through April. Matt Doyle has the story…
voicer 1 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

State Treasurer John Schroder says his office is mailing four-million dollars worth of unclaimed property checks to Louisiana residents…
cut 9 (05) “…average”
Unclaimed property funds include payroll checks, old bank accounts, royalties, utility deposits, and interest payments.

The state education department is leaving up to local systems to decide if high school seniors have met course requirements in order to graduate. Assistant Superintendent Ken Bradford says seniors do not have to take standardized tests, but local school systems will decide how to award course credits…
Cut 10 (08) “…high school credit.”
Bradford says the school system can determine if the student should receive a letter grade for the class he was taking or a simple pass-fail grade.

The Department of Children and Family Services is not relaxing child support payments due to the pandemic. Child Support Enforcement Director Lydia Scales says non-custodial parents are still on the hook for money owed despite their employment status, but no enforcement actions will be taken.

310 people have died from the coronavirus in Louisiana and Governor Edwards says modeling done by the University of Washington predicts the state will see 18-hundred COVID-19 deaths even if mitigation efforts are in place through May 30th. Currently, over five-hundred people are on ventilators in Louisiana and Edwards says finding more vents is difficult…
cut 5 (11) “….ago”
Edwards says his office has reported cases of price gouging to the Department of Justice.

The price of crude oil surged 25-percent after President Donald Trump posted on Twitter that he expects Russia and Saudi Arabia will step down from their price-cutting war. Also, Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy are asking the president for royalty relief to save Louisiana oil and gas jobs.

The state Department of Education issues guidance for school districts on how to handle the impending graduating class of high school seniors.
Cut 2 (28) “…Kevin Barnhart ”

The Department of Children and Family Services says non-custodial parents are still required to pay child support during the coronavirus pandemic. Child Support Enforcement Director Lydia Scales if a parent loses a job and can’t make a payment, call a child support worker…
cut 14 (08) “…had been doing”

The CDC releases new guidelines and is now recommending wearing protective masks when in public. The state is reporting 37 additional COVID-19 deaths today and over 27-hundred new cases. The death toll is up to 310 and Governor John Bel Edwards says 9,150 total cases should be a wakeup call for anyone still doubting the pandemic’s severity…
Cut 13 (10) “…states”

1,639 COVID patients are hospitalized, with 507 on ventilators, an increase of 17 from yesterday.

If life wasn’t already difficult enough, Colorado State University Hurricane researchers predict an active 2020 hurricane season. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. But C-S-U forecaster Jhordanne Jones says their forecast calls for 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes

Cut 11 (10) “…happening.”

A nurse at New Orleans East Hospital becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.  Larrice Anderson passed away on Wednesday.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the death sends a shockwave through the nursing community andsays the needs of healthcare workers are clear.

Cut 8 (11) “…what is needed.”

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says adding to the strain is that COVID-19 patients spend over a week in the I-C-U

Cut 3 (12)  “…14 days.”  

Thomas says 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators.

State residents just got a text blast from the Governor informing them the statewide shelter in place order has officially been extended through April 30^th, and an offer to sign up for direct alerts on vital COVID-19 Louisiana info from the state by texting LACOVID to 67283. This comes as the state crosses the 9,000 case mark, and adds 37 new official COVID fatalities.

If that wasn’t enough bad news for you, there’s more. Colorado State University researchers predict we will see an active 2020 hurricane season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The state’s first healthcare worker died Wednesday of COVID-19.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the rapidly developing situation has resulted in changes protective measures from the more strict airborne transmission protocol to the relaxed droplet protocol that requires the use of less PPE.  Ducrow says nurses are concerned about these changes.

Cut 7 (10) “…rather than science.”

The nurse was identified as Larrice Anderson.

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says their biggest need is staffing and they are working to hire more nurses as they expand the number of beds…

Cut 5 (11)  “…welcome relief”

Thomas says adding to the strain is that COVID-19 patients spend over a week in the I-C-U.

Louisiana sees a 42 percent increase in confirmed coronavirus cases as of the noon report, but Governor Edwards cautions that number is a reflection of a backlog of test results that were just reported. Edwards says some of the over 2,700 new cases reported today were just recently discovered, but…
Cut 12 (10) “…ago”
The state reported 37 new deaths, bringing our total to 310 COVID fatalities.

If life wasn’t already difficult enough, Colorado State University Hurricane researchers predict an active 2020 hurricane season. C-S-U forecaster Jhordanne Jones says the likely absence of an El Nino is a primary factor

Cut 9 (08) “…hurricane activity.″

A nurse at New Orleans East Hospital becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.  Larrice Anderson passed away on Wednesday.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the death sends a shockwave through the nursing community.

Cut 6 (13) “…what can happen.”

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators. He believes they are in a decent position when it comes to personal protective equipment

Cut  4 (12)_ “…world.”

2,700 new COVID-19 positive tests have been reported in Louisiana today, more than twice the number we saw yesterday, but Governor Edwards is cautioning that today’s spike is more a result of a logjam of tests from the last week or more all finally being reported from private labs. Edwards say it is not evidence that the stay at home order is failing.

Cut 14 (07) “…April”

51,000 tests have now been conducted in Louisiana, 47,000 of them by private labs.

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says adding to the strain is that COVID-19 patients spend over a week in the I-C-U

Cut 3 (12)  “…14 days.”  

Thomas says 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators.

A nurse at New Orleans East Hospital becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.  Larrice Anderson passed away on Wednesday.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the needs of healthcare workers are clear.

Cut 8 (11) “…what is needed.”

Anderson’s employer released a statement remembering the fallen nurse as “a mother, friend, and a caring nurse.”

If life wasn’t already difficult enough, Colorado State University Hurricane researchers predict an active 2020 hurricane season. C-S-U forecaster Jhordanne Jones says the tropical Atlantic is also somewhat warmer than normal right now…

Cut 10 (10) “…the air”

An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, but Jones says their forecast calls for 16.

The state is reporting 37 additional COVID-19 deaths today and over 27-hundred new cases. The death toll is up to 310 and Governor John Bel Edwards says 9,150 total cases should be a wakeup call for anyone still doubting the pandemic’s severity…
cut 13 (10) “…states’
Over 16-hundred COVID patients are hospitalized, with 507 on ventilators, an increase of 17 from yesterday.

If life wasn’t already difficult enough, Colorado State University Hurricane researchers predict an active 2020 hurricane season. C-S-U forecaster Jhordanne Jones says the likely absence of an El Nino is a primary factor
Cut 9 (08) “…hurricane activity.″
An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. But Jones says their forecast calls for 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes.

A New Orleans East Hospital nurse, Larrice Anderson, becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die of COVID-19. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Three inmates have died from the coronavirus at the Oakdale federal prison in Allen Parish. There are nearly one-thousand male offenders at Oakdale and at last report eleven of them have tested positive, 19 others are in the hospital suspected of having the virus.