For the first time since March 28^th the state is reporting less than thousand COVID-19 hospitalizations. The Health Department released numbers today and currently, 931 patients are hospitalized with the coronavirus, down 73 from the previous day. Vent usage also declined by two to 110.

The state reported 27 new fatalities bringing the total to 2,485.

The state’s top school board selects Jefferson Parish Schools superintendent Cade Brumley as the state’s new education superintendent. Brumley will fill the position once occupied by John White. The Sabine native was one of 21 applicants and during his interview, he described a team effort to improve public education

Cut 12 (11) “…those things”

Brumley has led Jefferson Parish Schools since 2018.

The feds award Louisiana 190-million dollars to expand COVID-19 testing and establish antibody testing in the future once the FDA approves a procedure. Congressman Garret Graves says the level of testing this funding provides is vital to returning to some sense of normalcy before a vaccine is made.

Cut 11 (11) “…reemergence”

Governor Edwards has expressed optimism the state will move into Phase Two in June.

Casinos are off a promising start reopening after being closed since mid-March and Two properties are set to reopen today. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says there is still a chance that Diamond Jack Casino in Bossier City, which had previously announced a permanent closure, may still reopen.

Cut 8 (08) “…back in business.”

The feds award Louisiana 190 million dollars to expand COVID-19 testing and establish antibody testing in the future once the FDA approves a procedure. Governor Edwards has expressed optimism the state will move into Phase Two in June. Congressman Garret Graves says this funding ensures we have the testing capacity to meet the federal benchmarks to do so.

Cut 10 (11) “…program”

The Louisiana Department of Health is investigating a COVID-19 outbreak that’s infected about 100 people at three Acadiana crawfish farms. Crawfish Promotion Board Chairman David Savoy says the outbreak occurred at the end of the season and likely will not impact overall production.

Cut 4 (05)_ “…too great.”

Savoy says the workers live in communal spaces where social distancing is not possible.

Casinos are experiencing a promising start to reopening after being closed since mid-March.  Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says out of town guests are showing up since a majority of the state’s gaming tourism does not rely on air travel.

Cut 7 (11) “…some Louisiana folks.”

Properties are limited to 25% occupancy and can operate half of their gaming positions.  Before guests are allowed on the gaming floor, they go through a temperature check, sanitize their hands, are given masks, and are encouraged to wear them.

Louisiana reports 27 new COVID fatalities and 278 new confirmed cases but drops below a thousand hospitalizations for the first time since March 28^th, continuing the general decline of coronavirus spread. Current hospitalizations are at 931 and those on vents are down two at 110.

Louisiana reports 27 new COVID fatalities and 278 new confirmed cases but drops below a thousand hospitalizations for the first time since March 28^th, continuing the general declining curve of coronavirus spread.

The feds award Louisiana 190 million dollars to expand COVID-19 testing. Early on in the pandemic, it could be hard to get a test even if you thought you were exposed, but Congressman Garret Graves says once this funding is applied that will no longer be the case.

Cut 9, 9 seconds, tested

The Louisiana Department of Health is investigating a COVID-19 outbreak that’s infected about 100 people at three Acadiana crawfish farms. The outbreaks are centered on dormitory housing for migrant workers. Crawfish Promotion Board Chairman David Savoy says these farm outbreaks are unlikely to spread into the local community.

Cut 3 (11)  “…together.”  

Senator Bill Cassidy introduces legislation that would deliver $500 billion in emergency funding to states and local governments. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

Jefferson Parish schools superintendent Cade Brumley is named the next Superintendent of Education in Louisiana. He replaces former Superintendent John White.

Casinos are experiencing a promising start to reopening. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says players are showing up and are not pushing back against virus spread mitigation efforts of wearing masks and social distancing.
Cut 6 (09) “ …the virus hit.”

The House Governmental Affairs Committee has rejected a bill that would allow all registered voters in Louisiana to vote by mail. Republican legislators express concerns that mail ballot voting would lead to an increase in voter fraud, but St. Francisville resident Catherine McKinney testified it will not…
cut 12 (10) “…by mail
Despite this argument, the measure died on a nine-five vote.

NASA’s Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans is slowly ramping up production again after an extended closure due to the pandemic. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Cal-Maine Foods in St. Helena Parish is donating nearly 600-thousand eggs to five food banks. General Manager Corey Davis says they had an excess of eggs because schools and restaurants have been closed…
cut 16 (10) “…with them”

A legislative effort to allow all registered voters in the state to vote by mail fails to get out of a House Committee. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

Two State Police Troopers are injured after being dispatched to assist Hammond Police with a pursuit around 2:15 this morning. A tire deflation device was deployed, disabling the suspect’s vehicle, and upon the troopers retrieval of the device, they were struck by a Hammond Police unit involved in the pursuit. One trooper has been treated and released, the other is in critical condition.

More workers are returning to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to continue building rockets for the Artemis Program, which aims to put the first woman on the moon by 2024. Michoud Director Robert Champion says they’ll still be under 25 percent of their full production capacity as they enter NASA’s Stage 3 Return to On-site Work.

Cut 5 (11)  “…where needed”

Stage 3 of NASA’s plan roughly coincides with the federal government’s Phase One.

Senator Bill Cassidy has introduced bipartisan legislation that would deliver $500 billion in emergency funding to states and communities through what’s called the State and Municipality Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Act.  Cassidy says a state’s share of funding would be based on three factors.

Cut 7 (12) “…the financial impact.”

A House committee shoots down a proposal allowing all registered voters in Louisiana to vote by mail. Recent LSU grad Catherine McKinney and supporter of the legislation says vote by mail is already an option for Louisiana college students…
Cut 10 (11) “…plan”
The legislation would have allowed voters to request the Secretary of State’s office mail them a ballot. The proposal ran into opposition from Republicans like Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges who says vote by mail is more prone to fraud than showing up at a booth.
Cut 11 (08) “…integrity”
The vote was nine to five against and the proposal is dead for the session.

Some technicians are back at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans continuing their work on a rocket for a spaceship that will take the first woman to the moon by 2024. Michoud Director Robert Champion says many engineers continue to work from home…
cut 6 (10) “….attitude”
The decision to return technicians to the facility was made after NASA officials observed a decrease in COVID numbers across the New Orleans region over a 14-day period.

Cal-Maine Foods in St. Helena Parish donates nearly 600,000 eggs to food banks in Louisiana. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says Cal-Maine had an excess and wanted to donate it, so they filled two tractor-trailer trucks with 1,560 cases of eggs each and they are on their way to food banks…
Cut 14 (03) “…people”
Strain says that’s 23,400 dozen cartons of eggs.

Workers are back at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to continue building rockets for the Artemis Program, which aims to put the first woman on the moon by 2024. Michoud Director Robert Champion says technicians returned Monday.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…project.”
Champion says they are still under 25 percent of their full production capacity, but they are still on schedule.

A House Committee has rejected a bill that would have allowed all registered voters to vote by mail. There’s a push to allow eligible voters to vote by mail to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, but Denham Springs Representative Valerie Hodges is confident safety protocols can be put in place so voters can still safely go to the polls…
cut 13 (09) “….to vote”

Senator Bill Cassidy introduces legislation that would deliver $500 billion in emergency funding to states and local governments. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Cal-Maine Foods in St. Helena Parish is donating nearly 600-thousand eggs to five food banks. General Manager Corey Davis says they had an excess of eggs because schools and restaurants have been closed…
cut 16 (10) “…with them”

A legislative effort to allow all registered voters in the state to vote by mail fails to get out of a House Committee. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is expected to vote on a new Superintendent of Education today. Jefferson Parish Superintendent Cade Brumley, Assistant Superintendent for the department of education Jessica Baghian and former St. James Parish superintendent Lonnie Luce (loose) are the three finalists.

Senator Bill Cassidy wants to help state and local governments who face significant budget cuts because of a downturn in revenues. Cassidy and Democratic New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez have co-introduced the SMART Act which provides 500-billion dollars in emergency funding to states and communities. Cassidy says Louisiana’s tax revenue has taken a hit of 42-percent and points to all of the tourism dollars lost…
cut 8 (11) “….in Lafayette etc”

Cal-Maine Foods in St. Helena Parish has donated 600-thousand eggs to five food banks in Louisiana. General Manager Corey Davis says they were able to make this donation, becuase they had an excess of eggs…
cut 15 (13) “….customers”
Cal-Maine will distribute the eggs by the end of the month.

NASA’s Michoud Assembly Center in New Orleans East is slowly ramping up production again after an extended closure due to the pandemic. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The head of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board says the reopening of riverboat casinos and video poker truck stops are off to a really good start. Ronnie Jones says a few casinos reported crowds like you would see on a Friday instead of a Monday.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has formally introduced his legislation that would provide 500-billion dollars to state and local governments who are losing tax revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cassidy says the President has indicated his support for the measure, but there are hurdles to clear to get the bill to his desk. He says the faster the money gets to local and state governments, the better…
cut 9 (09) “….have to do”
The Edwards administration believes right now they can avoid deep budget cuts, based on the federal money they’ve already received.

Cal-Maine Foods, based out of Pine Grove, donates nearly 600,000 eggs to food banks in Louisiana. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says Cal-Maine had an excess and wanted to donate it, so they rolled in with two tractor-trailer trucks with 1,560 cases of eggs each in tow…
Cut 14 (03) “…people”
Strain says that’s 23,400 dozen cartons of eggs.

Forbes Magazine reports Mercedes Benz will not renew its naming rights deal with the Superdome when it ends in 2021. UNO Senior Associate Dean and Marketing Professor, Paul Hensel, says during these tough economic times it will not be easy to find a new naming rights sponsor, but a company will emerge that believes it’s a good investment
Cut 13 (12) “events too”
The Mercedes Benz Superdome is scheduled to host its next Super Bowl in 2024. But it will have a different name by then. Mercedes-Benz became the Superdome’s first naming rights sponsor in 2011 and the 10-year deal is worth a reported 50-to-60 million dollars.

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas teamed up with Raising Cane’s today to provide front-line workers throughout the New Orleans area with three-thousand meals. Way to go Can’t guard Mike.

Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin says he anticipates NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will make a decision in the first two weeks of June on whether 2019-20 season will resume. Play was halted with 18 games left in the regular season and the Pels 3.5 games back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Griffin says when the season resumes, the schedule will likely look different
Cut 18 (26) “…schedule”
It’s been reported the NBA is looking at resuming the season by holding games in Las Vegas and Orlando. But Griffin says the league has not dismissed the option of games played at NBA arenas across the country.