A Pentecostal Pastor in Central has been issued a summons after repeatedly holding services of over a thousand people in defiance of the Governor’s shelter in place order. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says the public’s health and safety should priority number one and Tony Spell’s continued actions were directly working against that.

Cut 11 (11) “…spread this virus.”

Another service is still on the schedule for tonight.

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 the mandate does not close the border.

Cut 6 (07) “…roadway in Louisiana.”

The 14 days will be done at a quarantine station of the traveler’s choosing and they can only leave for medical treatment. Travelers can also quit the quarantine any time they want and head back to Louisiana.

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to answer seniors concerns about the coronavirus. State Director Denise Bottcher says LaVonda Dobbs of 211 will also be on the call to speak about services that are available to seniors.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…SNAP benefits.”

The call takes place at 10:10 AM

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.  Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran (Cork oh ran)  says Spell has now been summoned.

Cut 9 (10) “…give his fingerprint.″

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 answer health-related questions and LaVonda Dobbs of 211 will also be on the call to speak about services that are available to seniors across the state.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…SNAP benefits.”

The latest numbers from 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. Governor John Bel Edwards says since the state is showing no signs of flattening the curve, he plans to extend the stay at home order to April 30th.

Texas tightens restrictions on travelers from Louisiana.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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, Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order beyond April 13th to April 30th…
cut 10 (11) “…are on”

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 25 (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.

Texas is requring that Louisiana residents who come into their state self quarantine for 14 days. Louisiana State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says the 14 days will be done at a quarantine station of the traveler’s choosing and there’s a form you can fill out with the Texas Department of Public Safety…
cut 7 (10) “…14-day quarantine station”
Dwight says this order does not prohibit or limit a motorists’ ability to travel into Texas for scheduled medical treatment.

AARP Louisiana is holding a Telephone Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to answer senior’s 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.
Cut 3 (10) “… be doing”
To participate, call 1-877-229-8493 the call will take place as 10:10 am.

The statewide shelter in place order has been extended to April 30^th following a similar federal extension of social distancing recommendations. This means schools will remain closed at least until May, leading to tough questions like how can you decide if a child should be promoted to the next grade? Governor Edwards says the state department of education is trying to figure out those questions…

Cut 13 (07) “…young people”

The Advocate reports that a survey finds that 39 of Louisiana’s 69 school districts are offering online instruction.

Texas’s Governor is attempting to mitigate coronavirus spread in his state by requiring visitors from Louisiana quarantine themselves upon entry, but Louisiana State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says the mandate does not close the border.

Cut 6 (07) “…roadway in Louisiana.”

______________________________

Testing will soon begin on the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets in combatting COVID-19…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Lawmakers are back at the Capitol today to read in bills before adjourning until further notice, with a reported 58 of the 108 House members present, most of the absentees being from the New Orleans area. 37-year-old Baton Rouge Representative Ted James is also not in attendance and hospitalized with pneumonia stemming from a COVID-19 infection. James posted on social media that he hopes his case is a reminder for people of all ages to stay home.

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.”

The governor’s office announced late yesterday afternoon 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, but the state has requested 14-thousand ventilators.

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”

The 2020 legislative session remains on hold, but lawmakers will meet briefly today. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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.