The New Orleans region is now projected to run out of ventilators for COVID-19 patients on April 6th. Governor Edwards says they’re scouring the medical community trying to figure out where they might have ventilators that are not in need, even if they aren’t high-powered ICU models.

Cut 9 (10) “…at all.″

490 COVID-19 patients are on ventilators in Louisiana as of the noon update.
LSU’s DeepDrug team is using artificial intelligence to analyze anti-viral drugs, or drug combinations that could be used to treat COVID-19 patients. The FDA has approved about 90 antiviral treatments for general use, and LSU Computer Science Professor Supratik Mukhopadhyay (Moo-co-pod-a) says each will be simulated to see how it would treat COVID patients.

Cut 13 (07) “…them”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is encouraging small businesses to get a jump on filling out applications for the Payroll Protection Act. Small businesses can apply to receive low-interest loans, with money that is used for payroll being forgiven. Graves says applications will be accepted starting April 3.
Cut 3 (10)  “…applications are accepted.”  
The program is part of the $2.2 trillion emergency relief legislation, but this particular allocation is subject to a funding cap, adding to the urgency of filing quickly.
As oil prices continue to drop the outlook for Louisiana workers in the industry continues to look bleak. Oil is trading in the low twenties and President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Gifford Briggs says if prices do not recover by June first, storage facilities for oil will reach capacity and that’s when the industry will most definitely see a reduction in workers.
Cut 8 (10) “…everywhere else.”

34 people died over the last day from COVID-19 in Louisiana, down from yesterday’s high of 54, but still one of the highest days on record. We’re now over 6,400 confirmed state cases with 1,500 hospitalizations for COVID, and 490 patients on ventilators.

And with the economy stalling out, Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves urges small businesses to start filling out the application for the Payroll Protection Act….

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

As oil prices hover in the low 20s the outlook for Louisiana workers in the energy sector is looking increasingly precarious. President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Gifford Briggs says local companies are taking a huge hit in profits not only from the virus but also from Saudi Arabia and Russia ramping up production. Briggs says the two factors have resulted in a 90-percent reduction in prices for Louisiana Light Sweet Crude Oil since January.

Cut 7 (07) “…three months.”

Briggs also blames the Saudi/Russian price war for industry struggles.

When you combine requests to the feds and private companies, Louisiana has requested 14,000 ventilators ahead of what could be a shortage impacting the state starting this weekend. Governor Edwards says when you see that 14,000 number though, that doesn’t mean that many people will need the devices.

Cut 11 (11) “…time.”

The New Orleans region could run out of ventilators for COVID-19 patients sometime this weekend. Governor Edwards says they’re scouring the medical community trying to figure out where they might have ventilators. The state will be receiving about 150 ventilators from the feds today, but that number has already been factored into models warning of a shortage this weekend. At least…
Cut 10 (09) “…ICU”
490 COVID-19 patients are on ventilators in Louisiana as of the noon update.
LSU’s DeepDrug team is using artificial intelligence to analyze anti-viral drugs, or drug combinations that could be used to treat COVID-19 patients. LSU Computer Science Professor Supratik Mukhopadhyay (Moo-co-pod-a) says drugs like hydroxychloroquine appear promising, but cardiac patients shouldn’t take the anti-malarial…
Cut 12 (07) “…patients”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is encouraging small businesses to get a jump on filling out applications for the Payroll Protection Act. Small businesses can apply to receive low-interest loans, with money that is used for payroll being forgiven. Graves says the funds will help keep businesses from making layoffs and firings.
Cut  4 (07)_ “…families above water.”
The program is part of the $2.2 trillion emergency relief legislation, but this particular allocation is subject to a funding cap, adding to the urgency of filing quickly.

As oil prices continue to drop the outlook for Louisiana workers in the industry continues to look bleak. Oil is trading in the low twenties and President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Gifford Briggs says the situation is dire and two weeks ago when he surveyed members the predictions were extreme.
Cut 6 (11) “…90 days.”

The state is reporting 6424 cases of the coronavirus and 273 deaths an increase 1,187 cases, just shy of yesterday’s highest reported increased. The death toll increased by 34 today.  1498 of the reported cases are currently hospitalized.

The oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia and the coronavirus pandemic has brought the state’s oil and gas industry to its knees. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

The New Orleans region is facing a potentially life-threatening situation, according to current projections, of running out of ventilators sometime this weekend. Governor Edwards says they’re currently scouring the medical community trying to figure out where they might have ventilators that are not in need, even if they aren’t high-powered ICU models.

Cut 9 (10) “…at all.″

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is encouraging small businesses to get a jump on filling out applications for the Payroll Protection Act. Graves says the funding is not intended to float the payrolls of small businesses for the rest of the year.

Cut 5 (08)  “…4 month period.”

The program is part of the $2.2 trillion emergency relief legislation, but this particular allocation is subject to a funding cap, adding to the urgency of filing quickly.

Tuesday was the deadliest day in Louisiana’s fight against the coronavirus as the state reported 54 new deaths to bring the death toll to 239. Louisiana is also reporting 52-hundred cases as over 12-hundred new cases were reported yesterday. Governor John Bel Edwards…
Cut 8 (09) “…gets.”
Edwards says they know that the stay-at-home order and social distancing works and we’ll eventually see the results.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is encouraging businesses to get a jump on filling out applications for the Payroll Protection Act. Small businesses can apply to receive low-interest loans, with money that is used for payroll being forgiven. Graves says applications will be accepted starting April 3.

Cut 3 (10)  “…applications are accepted.”  

Pastor Tony Spell of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central in East Baton Rouge Parish faces six misdemeanor charges for holding large services, which goes against Governor Edwards ban on large gatherings. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore on why six counts…

Cut 11 (11) “…different days.”

More charges could be coming, as Reverend Spell held another large service last night.

Tulane Medical Center Laboratories might have an answer to the widespread frustration over the wait for test results for the coronavirus. Medical Director Dr. Byron Crawford says they already have the recently approved FDA equipment on-site and he’s confident this kind of technology will be widely available to other medical centers, and soon.

Cut 15 (08)“…patients”

The project is a joint venture by Tulane, LSU School of Medicine, Children’s Medical Center, and UMC

The 54 new COVID-19 deaths reported yesterday were by far the largest total of deaths the state has seen in any 24-hour period. Matt Doyle has reaction from the Governor…

Cut 2 (30) “…Matt Doyle ”

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Office announces a curfew on all residents beginning at 9 p.m. today. The curfew will run every day from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. due to the imminent threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the alarming rise of cases. Essential workers are exempt.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission has given the green light to eligibility for gig economy workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers to apply for unemployment assistance.  LWC executive director Ava Dejoie says if someone has recently applied and been denied, for being a 1099 employee, waiter or waitress, or rideshare driver, eligibility will be retroactive.

Cut  4 (10)_ “…of your filing”

There’s widespread frustration about how long it can take to get results back for a coronavirus test, but at the Tulane Medical Center Laboratories results only take four hours. Medical Director Dr. Byron Crawford says initially the only FDA approved test was a manual procedure, but the feds recently OK’d a new procedure using equipment Tulane has on-site.

Cut 13 (07) “…hours.”

Louisiana reported its biggest increase in COVID-19 cases and related deaths in a 24 hour period yesterday, evidence the state has yet to begin flattening the curve. 1,212 new positive tests were reported and 54 deaths. Governor John Bel Edwards says for those who haven’t been socially distancing…
Cut 7 (07) “…right now”
Edwards hopes the dramatic increase was just a logjam of tests coming in.

Rev Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Central was issued a summons Tuesday on six counts of violating the governor’s order banning large gatherings. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore…
Cut 10 (08) “…calls for.”
The summons didn’t stop Spell from having another service last night that featured a large gathering.

A new COVID-19 test can give the results in four hours. The new test kit created by L-C-M-C Health and its partners will be available to patients at Tulane Medical Center and at the University Medical Center in New Orleans. Tulane Medical Director Byron Crawford says finding out who has the coronavirus and who doesn’t it, is vital in the fight against the virus…
cut 14 (11) “…equipment”
Crawford says he’s confident this kind of technology will be widely available to other medical centers soon.

In a non-COVID-19 story, a 17-year-old in Caddo Parish has been charged in a fatal hit-and-run. The victim, 38-year-old Joshua Parrish was found at the end of a driveway on Monday night. Authorities say the unidentified teen turned himself in yesterday morning and told detectives he though he hit a sign, but did not stop to investigate.

Governor John Bel Edwards says yesterday’s large increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases and deaths should be a wake-up call for Louisiana. The state reported 1,212 new cases and 54 new deaths…
cut 9 (08) “…I was startled”
Edwards says Louisianans need to do a better job at staying at home and social distancing.

Self-employed workers are now eligible for unemployment insurance as a result of the federal stimulus bill that passed last week. Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie says they have yet to receive federal guidelines on to handle applications from independent contractors, but they can apply now…
cut 5 (10) “…no longer working”

Rev. Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Central faces six misdemeanor charges for violating the governor’s stay-at-home order. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Pastor Wesley Jackson of the Calvary Pentecostal Church in Jeanerette. Authorities are urging him to stop violating the state ban on large gatherings. The letter was delivered during a church service yesterday where an estimated 50 people were in attendance.

The 54 new COVID-19 deaths reported yesterday were by far the largest total of deaths the state has seen in any 24 hour period. Matt Doyle has the governor’s reaction…
Cut 2 (31) “…Matt Doyle ”

Edwards also says the New Orleans area could run out of ventilators int he New Orleans area by Saturday. The governor says 150 ventilators are on their way from the federal government. Also, one-thousand hospital beds in the New Orleans convention center will be ready by Sunday.

Pastor Tony Spell of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central in East Baton Rouge Parish faces six misdemeanor charges for holding large services, which goes against Governor Edwards ban on large gatherings. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore on why six counts…
cut 11 (09) “….different days”
More charges could be coming, as Reverend Spell held another large service last night.

Last week’s passage of the federal stimulus bill means independent contractors and self-employed workers are able to apply for unemployment insurance. The stimulus bill provides 600-dollars a week through July 31st, but Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie admits the crush of applicants is making it difficult for many to apply…
cut 6 (12) “…process for everyone”

Tuesday was the deadliest day in Louisiana’s fight against the coronavirus as the state reported 54 new deaths to bring the death toll to 239. Louisiana is also reporting 52-hundred cases as over 12-hundred new cases were reported yesterday. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 8 (09) “….gets’
Edwards says they know that the stay-at-home order and social distancing works and we’ll eventually see the results.

Police in suburban Baton Rouge cites a pastor for violating the state’s order that limits crowd sizes. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says with courts closed, it’s hard to say when Reverend Tony Spell will make a court appearance…
cut 12 (07) “…arraignment”
Spell held another large service last night. The charges he faces are misdemeanors that carry a maximum punishment of 500-dollars and up to six months in jail.

Gig economy workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers have been given the green light to apply for unemployment assistance from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”