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…

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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.
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The Louisiana Health Department reports over 12-hundred new cases and 54 additional deaths to bring our total COVID 19 cases to 5,237 and 239 deaths. Since the state is showing no signs of flattening the curve. Edwards have now requested double the hospital beds for the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order until April 30th, which means schools will remain closed for at least the next month. The state has already waived standardized tests for this year, but what if school does not resume this year. How can you decide if a child should be promoted to the next grade or if they are eligible to graduate high school?  Edwards says the state department of education is trying to figure out those questions…
Cut 13 (07) “…young people”
The Bonnet Carre Spillway may be opened later this week due to forecasts of the river rising above flood stage.

Legislators returned to the state capitol today, introduced some bills and left about an hour later. It’s unclear when they’ll return. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says because of the uncertainty around the COVID-19 outbreak, they are not setting a return date
Cut 14 (11) “…come back”
The 2020 legislative session must conclude by June 1st and a budget must be approved by July 1st.
Due to Louisiana’s hotbed of COVID-19 cases, Texas’s Governor is attempting to mitigate the spread with a mandate requiring a quarantine for Louisiana travelers coming into the Lone Star State. Louisiana State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says anyone who has a previously scheduled medical trip along with a few other exemption statuses can skip the quarantine.
Cut 8 (09) “…apply to them.”
Dwight adds that he has not heard about any checkpoints at the Texas line.

Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order until April 30th, which means schools will remain closed for at least the next month. The academic year is scheduled to be completed in May. Edwards says acting state superintendent Beth Scioneaux is working to develop a plan

Cut 12 (10) “…of things”

Due to Louisiana’s hotbed of COVID-19 cases, Texas’s Governor is attempting to mitigate the spread with a mandate requiring a quarantine for Louisiana travelers coming into the Lone Star State. Louisiana State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says Louisiana travelers need to fill out a form from Texas Department of Public Safety before embarking on their trip.

Cut 7 (10) “…14-day quarantine station.”

Legal ramifications have come down on Rev. Tony Spell, the pastor at the helm of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central that has repeatedly defied the Governor’s ban on large gatherings with congregations regularly exceeding 1,100.  Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says Spell was charged with six counts of violation of the emergency order.

Cut 10 (11) “…him this week.”

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to answer seniors concerns about the coronavirus. State Director Denise Bottcher says Dr. Benjamin Springgate with LSU Health Sciences will be on the call to answer health-related questions.

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A Central pastor is charged with six counts of violating of the Governor’s emergency order after continuing to hold services with congregations of over 11-hundred people.  Matt Doyle has the story.

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The Louisiana Health Department reports over 12-hundred new cases and 54 additional deaths to bring the total COVID 19 cases to 5,237 and 239 deaths. The Governor plans to extend his stay at home order to April 30^th.

Legislators returned to the state capitol today, introduced some bills and left about an hour later and it’s unclear when they’ll return. The 2020 legislative session must conclude by June 1st and a budget must be approved by July 1st. The chambers were not full as the legislators present practiced social distancing.  House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says at this point it’s better to be flexible on a return date

Cut 15 (08)“…to work.”

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting tomorrow to answer seniors’ concerns about the coronavirus. State Director Denise Bottcher says they wanted to hold it call for not just members but everyone, especially people in outlying areas of the state, to make sure they are aware of resources during this critical period.

Cut 5 (11)  “…they are.”