Starting in July, Louisiana small businesses can apply for a state grant worth up to 15,000 dollars to help offset COVID related losses. Matt Doyle has the story.
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More Louisiana residents will be eligible for medical marijuana treatment under legislation signed into law by the governor. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed a bill that would have provided companies impacted by COVID-19 a rebate for hiring or rehiring employees. Covington Representative Mark Wright says businesses would be eligible for the program if they hired at least five people and added 40-thousand dollars in total payroll
But in the governor’s veto letter, Edwards said the program would create a large pool of eligible businesses and the potential cost to the state could be substantial. But Wright disagrees on the cost of his legislation…
The legislation received overwhelming support in the legislature and it could be brought up again in a potential veto session.
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Governor Edwards signs legislation barring residents from suing a restaurant, claiming they got the coronavirus from their business. Covington Senator Patrick McMath says it’s tough to prove where someone contracted COVID-19, but that wouldn’t stop someone from trying…
But McMath notes that if restaurants refuse to follow COVID guidelines like mandatory mask wearing for employees they could still get sued.
Take-out, drive-thru, and delivery food services are covered under the new law which is retroactive to March 11th. A restaurant could only be sued if there was documented gross negligence.
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The State Treasury Department will launch a 300-million dollar small business COVID relief grant program in July as a result of legislation signed by the governor. Treasurer John Schroder says once the program gets started, they will take applications from businesses that did not receive federal coronavirus relief funding
To qualify your business must have fewer than 50 employees and can demonstrate COVID-19 related losses.
Schroder says they’ve also dedicated a portion of the funds so certain business owners can take advantage.
Qualifying businesses can receive an up to 15,000 dollar grant. Schroder says, assuming you qualify, you don’t have to pay it back like you would a PPP loan. But…
New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell asked Governor Edwards to veto the grant program because it removed 300 million dollars from a fund that’s set to direct dollars to local governments.
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New research from personal finance website WalletHub indicates 6 in 10 Americans think COVID-19 has changed the way we work for the better. WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales says around a third of Americans feel physical offices are a thing of the past and many will choose where to live based on things other than proximity to the office.
Cut 10 (08) “…nearby outdoor activities.”
About a third of respondents also believe businesses should be held responsible for employees getting sick.
Gonzales says the number of those feeling more productive takes a dip when it comes to parents.
Cut 11 (09) “…being more productive.”
Around 67 percent of Americans think people who do not want to return to the office and would rather work from home should not see pushback from employers, but Gonzales says not everyone is as sympathetic.
Cut 12 (10) “…paid on unemployment.”
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Governor John Bel Edwards signs a bill that greatly expands access to medical marijuana. Louisiana Association of Therapeutic Alternatives lobbyist Danny Ford says this measure allows any doctor in good standing to recommend medical cannabis to a patient suffering from a debilitating condition…
Under current law, medical marijuana is only available to a patient suffering from a specific condition or disease. Ford says the requirement that a doctor must have a special license in order to recommend the treatment has also been removed…
The legislation that expands the state’s medical-marijuana program will go into effect August 1st. Ford says the supply of medical cannabis might be tight, but it should improve as LSU is the state’s only licensed grower…