Schools, non-essential businesses and restaurants will remain closed to dine-in services for all of April as Governor John Bel Edwards announces he will extend his stay at home order through April 30th.
cut 10 (11) “…are on”
Louisiana has 4,025 positive cases and has reported 185 deaths from the coronavirus.

With a stay at home order that will last through April 30th, the 2020 legislative session will likely not resume on a full-time basis until May. Senate President Page Cortez says it’s possible a few committee meetings can take place before then…
cut 13 (10) “… the place is lifted’
Some legislators will return to the capitol today to officially introduce bills that must be introduced by today to be considered in the 2020 session.

The LSU School of Medicine will soon begin testing whether hydroxychloroquine can be used to treat COVID-19 patients. Doctor Steve Nelson says between 500 and one-thousand people will participate in the trials here…
cut 8 (11) “….this virus yet”
Nelson says a French researcher has found that hydroxychloroquine can improve the lungs of COVID-19 patients, but it was a small study.

Starting today all food stamp recipients in Louisiana will automatically receive the maximum benefit, which will impact 265-thousand households in Louisiana. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says work requirements and interviews with caseworkers are also being waived…
cut 5 (05) “…about that”
Walters says many food stamp recipients should see their snap cards uploaded with additional benefits tonight and it will be loaded again on April 17th.

Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order through April 30th. It’s currently set to expire April 13th. But not everyone is complying with the order. An East Baton Rouge church in Central continues to have over a thousand people attend services. Edwards was asked if he’ll pressure local authorities to enforce the order…
cut 12 (11) “…comply”
In Florida, a pastor at a Tampa church was arrested after holding two large Sunday services.

State lawmakers return to the capitol today to read bills into the record that need to be read in before a March 31st deadline. The session is set to end June 1st and there’s no word on when legislators can meet on a daily basis. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder remains hopeful they can pass a budget…
cut 15 (06) “…finish business”

Testing will soon begin in Louisiana on the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19 patients…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Starting today all food stamp recipients will receive the maximum benefit, which will impact 265-thousand Louisiana households. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters for those families interested in receiving food stamps, your best bet is visiting their website…
cut 6 (07) “…we do”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he plans to extend his stay at home order through April 30th to match the federal government’s social distancing recommendations. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 2 (23) “…April 5th”

Following the governor’s press conference, his office announced the state received 100 ventilators from vendors and President Donald Trump has committed to sending 150 ventilators to Louisiana. In total, Louisiana has ordered 14-thousand ventilators, including five-thousand from the federal government’s strategic national stockpile. Currently, 385 patients require ventilation.

Food stamp recipients who are not currently receiving the maximum total possible on their SNAP cards will now start receiving the max. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says only 37 percent of recipients currently receive the maximum.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…benefits”
The max for a single individual recipient is $194 a month.

LSU’s med school plans to begin clinical trials this week on how effective hydroxychloroquine can be in treating COVID-19 and also looking to see if healthcare workers on the frontline should take it, as a way to prevent getting the coronavirus. Dean of the LSU Health Sciences School of Medicine Doctor Steve Nelson says they already know hydroxychloroquine is a safe drug to take….
cut 9 (06) “…1940s”
Nelson says the state has received a large donation of hydroxychloroquine in order for LSU to conduct the study.

Governor John Bel Edwards says ventilators continue to be the most pressing need in the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak…
cut 11 (09) “….Louisiana”
The governor’s office then announced late Monday that the state received 100 ventilators from vendors on Monday and President Trump has committed to sending 150 more ventilators to Louisiana. Currently, 385 patients require ventilation.

State lawmakers will reconvene the 2020 session today and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says they will practice social distancing…
cut 14 (09) “…should be fine”
Schexnayder says they will gavel in today to read some bills into the record and then adjourn again for at least another two weeks.

Testing will soon begin in Louisiana on whether hydroxychloroquine can be used to treat COVID-19 patients or if it can be used as a preventive measure for healthcare workers on the frontline. Dean of LSU Health Sciences School of Medicine Dr. Steve Nelson says the drug has been shown in a test tube to kill coronavirus, but there has only been a small number of clinical trials.
Cut 7 (11) “…a small number.”
Nelson says the biggest hurdle has been getting their hands on the drug for testing, but with a donation of 400-thousand hydroxychloroquine sulfate tables from a pharmaceutical company, they expect trials to begin later this week.

Louisiana now has over 4,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and sees 34 new deaths and 485 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours. Legendary Saints kicker Tom Dempsey is one of those newly reported infections as 28 nursing homes are reporting cases of COVID-19.

President Trump announces he will extend federal social distancing guidelines until April 30^th.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is doing all it can to be prepared…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Louisiana has become a COVID-19 hotspot, ranking in the top three locations in the nation for confirmed cases of the illness, and number two in per capita deaths linked to the virus. Attorney General Jeff Landry says with the number of cases exploding locally, LSU’s medical school has received approval to begin clinical testing of hydroxychloroquine, a potential treatment for COVID-19

Cut 7 (06) “…a treatment medicine.”

He also announced Louisiana has received 400,000 hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets from a donation.

After a two-week break, LSU’s spring semester resumes today, but all classes have been moved online. English Professor Kevin Cope says the school has not been able to invest in its online capabilities due to chronic underfunding of state schools.

Cut 5 (12)  “…scramble”

LSU’s campus is currently set to stay closed at least through the end of May.

Legendary Saints kicker Tom Dempsey is reportedly positive for COVID-19. Dempsey had been living at Lambeth House, a nursing home in New Orleans that was one of the earliest reported hubs for coronavirus activity, and now one of 28 nursing homes in the state to get the virus. Dempsey is best known for his, at the time, record breaking 63-yard field goal in 1970 that lifted the Saints over the Lions.

ESPN reportedly offers Saints QB Drew Brees the Monday Night Football analyst position once he retires from the NFL. Brees recently signed a two year contract with the team.

In more Brees news, the QB recently posted about taking long nature hikes during the COVID-19 shutdown, including one where he ran into a rattlesnake. Coach Sean Payton shot back that he should pick a new trail.

The NCAA is reportedly set to vote on potentially offering spring athletes who lost their season due to COVID-19 an extra year of eligibility today.

In a podcast that can be found on the Saints website, General Manager Mickey Loomis says he’s surprised the team was able to re-sign defensive tackle David Onyemata and left guard Andrus Peat.

Loomis says the key to what he believes has been a successful free agency period is that Q-B Drew Brees re-signed on a salary cap friendly

deal

Cut 18  (25) “…compeitive team.”   

ESPN is reporting that the SEC is allowing its football coaches to have two hours of virtual instruction and video conferencing per week. That includes film review. It’s an attempt to make up for the loss of spring football. But ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit says he would be shocked if we have an NFL or college football season this fall.

1,158 Louisianans are now hospitalized with COVID-19, and 385 of them are on ventilators as statewide cases cross the 4,000 mark. 185 people have now died due to coronavirus related causes, an increase of 34 in the past 24 hours. Governor John Bel Edwards says by the end of this week the New Orleans area could reach its ventilator capacity. Edwards says he’ll likely extend his stay-at-home order beyond April 13th as Louisiana ranks second in the nation in per capita deaths related to COVID-19….

Cut 11 (11) “…as wel know”

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces a donation of 400,000 hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets to the state. Landry says it is vital to have this drug on hand for medical professionals, not only to possibly treat COVID-19 patients, but to defend themselves.

Cut 8 (07) “…with this crisis.”

President Donald Trump has extended the nation’s social distancing guidelines that were set to expire today for another month through April 30th. Senator Bill Cassidy says the restrictions will likely extend into May, unless the curve is flatten or scientists discover a treatment. Over 11-hundred COVID-19 patients are hospitalized. Cassidy very concerned about the state’s energy-producing companies
Cut 14 (10) “…price war”
After a two-week break, LSU’s spring semester resumes today, but all classes have been moved online. English Professor Kevin Cope says the transition to online learning has gone about well as it could considering the short notice, but LSU was not fully prepared to make the jump.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…subscription.”
LSU’s campus is currently set to stay closed at least through the end of May.

Legendary Saints kicker Tom Dempsey is reportedly positive for COVID-19. Dempsey had been living at Lambeth House, a nursing home in New Orleans that was one of the earliest reported hubs for coronavirus activity, and now one of 28 nursing homes in the state to get the virus. Dempsey is best known for his, at the time, record breaking 63-yard field goal in 1970 that lifted the Saints over the Lions.

ESPN reportedly offers Saints QB Drew Brees the Monday Night Football analyst position once he retires from the NFL. Brees recently signed a two year contract with the team.

In more Brees news, the QB recently posted about taking long nature hikes during the COVID-19 shutdown, including one where he ran into a rattlesnake. Coach Sean Payton shot back that he should pick a new trail.

The NCAA is reportedly set to vote on potentially offering spring athletes who lost their season due to COVID-19 an extra year of eligibility today.

In a podcast that can be found on the Saints website, General Manager Mickey Loomis says he’s surprised the team was able to re-sign defensive tackle David Onyemata and left guard Andrus Peat.

Loomis says the key to what he believes has been a successful free agency period is that Q-B Drew Brees re-signed on a salary cap friendly

deal

Cut 18  (25) “…compeitive team.”   

ESPN is reporting that the SEC is allowing its football coaches to have two hours of virtual instruction and video conferencing per week. That includes film review. It’s an attempt to make up for the loss of spring football. But ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit says he would be shocked if we have an NFL or college football season this fall.

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces a donation of 400,000 hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets from Amneal Pharmaceuticals to the state. The drug has been identified as a possible treatment for COVID-19, which Landry says has created a high demand.

Cut 6 (11) “…that supply crunch.”

The medication will be part of clinical studies with LSU’s medical school.
Governor John Bel Edwards says by the end of this week the New Orleans area could reach its ventilator capacity and out of bed space by April 10th. The state health department reports about 400 patients are currently using the machines to help COVID-19 patients breathe. Edwards says one-thousand hospital beds will be ready within a week inside the convention center.

Cut 10 (11) “discharged home”

President Donald Trump has extended the nation’s social distancing guidelines that were set to expire today for another month through April 30th. Senator Bill Cassidy says the restrictions will likely extend into May, unless the curve is flattening or scientists discover a treatment. Over 11-hundred COVID-19 patients are hospitalized. Cassidy says hospitals are doing what they can to keep up with the surge in cases

Cut 13 (09) “…have a problem.”

After a two-week break, LSU’s spring semester resumes today, but all classes have been moved online. English Professor Kevin Cope says there will be something lost in the translation to online for all students, but he expects those in traditional liberal arts classes will fare best, while…

Cut 3 (11)  “education”  

34 Louisianans died from COVID-19 in the last day, bringing the state’s total up to 185 total COVID related deaths. Death totals are increasing across the nation, and hospitals are desperate to find an effective treatment for the disease. One potential treatment has been identified as hydroxychloroquine, and 400,000 tablets of the treatment have been donated to the state…

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

President Donald Trump has extended the nation’s social distancing guidelines that were set to expire today for another month through April 30th. Senator Bill Cassidy says the restrictions will likely extend into May unless the curve is flattening or scientists discover a treatment

Cut 12 (10) “…my opinion”

The state health department reported an additional 485 coronavirus cases today, bringing the total number of positive cases to just over four-thousand.

Governor John Bel Edwards says by the end of this week the New Orleans region could reach its ventilator capacity. The state health department reports about 400 patients are currently using the machines to help COVID-19 patients breathe. Edwards says they are seeking over 12-thousand ventilators

Cut 9 (10) “…several weeks no

Edwards says the New Orleans area could run out of bed space by April 10th.