Even though Louisiana is approaching 15-thousand coronavirus cases and has surpassed 500 deaths, Governor John Bel Edwards believes Louisiana may have begun to flatten the curve in its battle against the spread of COVID-19. Edwards says the state is no longer on track to run out of ventilators or hospital beds in the New Orleans region this week…
cut 13 (07) “…good thing”

LSU Health Shreveport is testing the impact of using inhaled nitric oxide on COVID-19 patients with severely damaged lungs. Professor of Pediatrics, Surgery & Medicine Dr. Keith Scott says treatment with the gas could potentially kill coronavirus in the lungs and improve oxygen delivery to injured tissue.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…anti-viral activity.”
The study is a collaboration with two other institutions in the US and sites in Europe.

Following the deaths of five prisoners, the ACLU is suing Oakdale Federal Prison in Allen Parish for the release of inmates that are most at-risk for COVID-19. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor Edwards says recent numbers indicate the state may be flattening the curve of new coronavirus infections, and we could be dodging a doomsday scenario where the New Orleans region runs out of healthcare capacity.

He also noted hypertension is now the clear leading underlying condition in COVID-19 fatalities, along with data that suggests a disturbing racial disparity. 70 percent of COVID deaths in the state were African Americans, who only make up 32 percent of the state’s population.

The state also reported a fatality for a newborn related to COVID-19. The East Baton Rouge Parish girl’s mother had contracted COVID-19, and the child was prematurely born as a result. EBR Coroner Beau Clark explains why pregnant moms are in the high-risk group…

Cut 8 (14) “…situation.”

Former Saints kicker Tom Dempsey, who once held the NFL record for the longest made field goal, has died from complications of the coronavirus. He was 73. Demspey kicked 159 field goals in eleven NFL season, even though he was born without toes on his right foot. His former teammate and ex-Saints Q-B Billy Kilmer…

Cut 9 (11) “…he was.″

In 1970 at old Tulane Stadium, Dempsey booted a 63-yard field goal as the Saints beat the Detroit Lions on the record-breaking kick. 

Dr. Ray Authement, who served as the president of UL Lafayette for 34 years, has died.  Upon his retirement in 2008, he was the longest-serving public university president in the United States.  Current UL Lafayette President Joe Savoie says Authement’s impact on the campus can still be seen today.

Cut 12 (10) “…changed the place.”

The Louisiana Department of Health will now begin reporting the demographics of those impacted by COVID-19. Governor Edwards announced today that so far, just over 70% of the state’s COVID fatalities are African American, while only making up about a third of the population. The state is currently at 512 deaths.
An East Baton Rouge Parish mother loses her baby after her COVID-19 symptoms resulted in the child’s premature birth. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Former Saints kicker Tom Dempsey, who once held the NFL record for the longest made field goal, has died from complications of the coronavirus. In 1970 at old Tulane Stadium, Dempsey booted a 63-yard field goal as the Saints beat the Detroit Lions on the record-breaking kick. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Dempsey told him he never saw the ball go through the uprights.
Cut 10 (13) “…the field”
Dempsey was 73.
Normally, flu activity goes down at this time of the year.   However, State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says the state has not yet seen that dip as one in ten visits to a doctor is for flu-like symptoms. With the high rates of testing for COVID-19, the math paints a picture of flu activity being much higher than normal.
Cut 4 (12)_ “… fact the flu.”

Saints legendary kicker Tom Dempsey has died from complications of the coronavirus. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

LSU officials are taking extra steps to prevent the university’s live mascot, Mike VII, from contracting COVID-19. Caretakers are taking the extra precautions after a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City tested positive for the virus over the weekend.

A one day old infant in East Baton Rouge Parish dies after being prematurely born due to complications stemming from her mother’s COVID-19 case. EBR Coroner Beau Clark says the child’s death is being counted in the parish’s total COVID fatalities, because…

Cut 6 (10) “labor”

He adds this is the first such case in Louisiana, but similar incidents have been reported nationwide.

Dr. Ray Authement, who served as the president of UL Lafayette for 34 years, has died at the age of 91.  Upon his retirement in 2008, he was the longest serving public university president in the United States.  Current UL Lafayette President Joe Savoie says Authement started at the school as a math professor.  Upon his retirement, he came back to the University to teach math again.

Cut 14 (12) “…to the university.”

Authement died Sunday at the age of 91.

The state reports 34 new COVID deaths bringing Louisiana’s total coronavirus fatalities to 512. One of the lives claimed was a newborn in East Baton Rouge Parish who died after being born severely premature due to her mother’s COVID symptoms. Pregnant women are considered a COVID-19 high-risk group, and EBR Coroner Beau Clark explains why…

Cut 8 (14) “…situation.”

Influenza cases should be going down at this time of the year but State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says the state has not yet seen that dip as one in ten visits to a doctor is for flu-like symptoms.

Cut 3 (13)  “…to slow down.”  

Former Saints kicker Tom Dempsey, who once held the NFL record for the longest made field goal, has died of COVID-19. He was 73. NFL analyst Mike Detillier remembers the two appeared together at a public event in 2011 and fans stood in a long line to get Dempsey’s autograph

Cut 11 (05) “…still remembered”

Dempsey’s record stood for more than four decades. Matt Prater broke the record in 2013 with a 64-yard field goal in Denver.

Dr. Ray Authement, who served as the president of UL Lafayette for 34 years, has died. Current UL Lafayette President Joe Savoie says it was Autement’s own time in college that guided his handling of a student’s experience.

Cut 13 (12) “…could be successful.”

Upon his retirement in 2008, he was the longest-serving public university president in the United States.

COVID-19 is now to blame for 512 deaths linked to the illness in Louisiana.  Among them, a one day old infant in East Baton Rouge Parish.  The child died after being prematurely born due to complications stemming from her mother’s COVID-19 case.  The baby will be tested for coronavirus, but EBR Coroner Beau Clark says it’s not clear yet whether the virus is vertically transmissible.

Cut 7 (09) “…child.”

Former Saints kicker Tom Dempsey, who once held the NFL record for the longest made field goal, has died from complications of the coronavirus. He was 73. Demspey kicked 159 field goals in eleven NFL season, even though he was born without toes on his right foot. His former teammate and ex-Saints Q-B Billy Kilmer…

Cut 9 (11) “…he was.″

Normally. flu activity goes down at this time of the year.   However, State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says the state has not yet seen that dip as one in ten visits to a doctor is for flu-like symptoms.Many of the spread mitigation efforts of coronavirus run parallel to combatting the flu as well.  Welch says the one big difference maker is having a vaccine for the flu.  While it doesn’t guarantee someone won’t get the flu, it will reduce the severity of the illness and reduce the chance of hospitalization.

Cut 5 (08)  “…want to avoid.”

Dr. Ray Authement, who served as the president of UL Lafayette for 34 years, has died at the age of 91.  Upon his retirement in 2008, he was the longest serving public university president in the United States.  Current UL Lafayette President Joe Savoie says Autement’s impact on the campus can still be seen today.

Cut 12 (10) “…changed the place.”

Louisiana reports 35 new COVID-19 deaths today just a day after reporting a record high 68 deaths yesterday. Total positive test cases have risen to just under 15,000, with over 500 now confirmed dead from the disease.

One of those fatalities was a one-day old infant in East Baton Rouge Parish that died after being prematurely born due to complications stemming from her mother’s COVID-19 case. EBR Coroner Beau Clark says the child’s death is being counted in the parishes total COVID fatalities, because…

Cut 6, 10 seconds, labor

Flu numbers are up in Louisiana, but State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says that’s in part due to the substantial number of coronavirus tests…

Cut 4 (12)_ “… fact the flu.”

The deadline to submit ACT scores for TOPS qualification has been extended to September 30^th as the ability to take a test is non-existent at the moment. LOSFA Executive Director Dr. Sujuan Boutte says a student would still need a 2.5 GPA and 20 on their ACT to qualify for at least some level of TOPS.

Cut 7 (09) “eligibility”

The traditional April national ACT test was delayed until June, and Boutte says they’re working with ACT to try to make June a possibility even if restrictions are still in place.

The uncertainty around the COVID-19 outbreak makes it extremely challenging for families to reassure children. LSU Psychology Assistant Professor Dr. Anna Long says a change in a child’s behavior is typical during a crisis.
Cut 24 (11)_ “… are feeling.”
Long advises parents to keep your child on a daily schedule and don’t forget to take care of yourself and manage your stress.

Governor Edwards has issued a proclamation that changes some of the TOPS eligibility requirements. A high school senior still needs a 2.5 GPA to qualify, but they now have until September 30th to achieve a 20 on the ACT. LOSFA executive director Doctor Sujuan Boutte says some school districts will issue a pass-fail grade for classes that ended abruptly, but that will not impact a student’s GPA…
cut 9 (11) “….go up”
For more information go to LOSFA’s website.

Normally flu activity goes down at this time of the year. However, State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in about one in ten doctors visits for flu-like symptoms.
Cut 3 (09) “…very very high.”
Welch says one reason for the state reporting a high number of flu cases is that people are going to the doctor over concerns they have the coronavirus, only to find out they are testing positive for the flu.

Governor Edwards is encouraging small business owners to apply for assistance with payroll, rent and other operational expenses through the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Edwards says the state is also providing additional support through a new Louisiana Loan Portfolio Guaranty Progam…
cut 14 (12) “….through the SBA”
For more information go to Opportunity-Louisiana-dot-com-slash-COVID-19.

High school students now have until September 30th to submit ACT scores to LOSFA to quality to receive the TOPS tuition scholarship. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…Matt Doyle” 

Dr. Ray Authement, who served as the president of UL Lafayette for 34 years, has died.  Upon his retirement in 2008, he was the longest-serving public university president in the United States.  Authement died Sunday at the age of 91.

The COVID-19 outbreak is not only impacting our physical health but mental as well. Unlike other disasters, the uncertain reality we are all facing makes it extremely challenging for families to reassure children.  LSU Psychology Asst. Professor Dr. Anna Long says when children ask questions, be honest and reassure them but also let their questions guide the conversation

Cut 6 (12) “…to normal”

New testing is starting to become available for those who may have been an asymptomatic COVID-19 positive carrier and now have recovered and likely have immunity.  State immunization director Dr. Frank Welch says this testing could be most useful in strategic hospital staffing.

Cut 12 (12) “…get it again.”

The testing is not yet widely available in Louisiana but could be more available in the coming months.

Today marks the start of the third week Louisiana has been under a stay at home order and the cases and deaths from the coronavirus continues to climb. Louisiana has over 13-thousand positive cases and 477 deaths, an increase of 68 marking the largest single-day jump in fatal cases. The economy is also suffering and Governor John Bel Edwards looks forward to the day when the state can ease its restrictions…
cut 15 (11) “…possibly can”
The stay at home order is through April, but the governor released a graph on Friday that showed the state is on course to require 25-hundred new hospitalizations a day in the New Orleans area by mid-May.

A field hospital at the New Orleans Convention Center can begin accepting patients today.

Louisiana is giving TOPS applications until September 30th to achieve a 20 on their ACT in order to qualify for the scholarship. The previous deadline was April, but the April tests have been canceled and LOFSA Executive Director Sujuan Boutte says they hope to schedule an A-C-T testing date in June…
cut 8 (07) “…safe”

The coronavirus is impacting children as uncertainty and change of routine has made life unpredictable…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”