Oil prices rose to a two month high today at over 30 dollars a barrel on rising optimism about the world economy. Matt Doyle has the story.

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The Department of Health reports 15 new COVID-19 fatalities today, bringing the state’s total death toll to 2,440. Total cases: 34,709, up by 277. LDH is also now breaking down the numbers of each nursing home with positive cases with a weekly report, detailing cases among both residents and staff as well as fatalities.

The search continues for the gunmen involved in a mass shooting that wounded 13 people in Bogalusa on Saturday night. Between 500 to 800 people gathered at an intersection to remember the life of Dominique James, who was recently murdered. Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal is calling on those that have information about shooting to come forward and talk to police, saying it is much more effective than marching in protest of the violence.

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Governor Edwards is recommending to legislative leaders to use federal money to close a one-billion-dollar budget hole that’s been caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says a portion of the rainy day fund can be used as well, leaving just 80-million dollars in cuts

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Dardenne says this plan would keep the TOPS scholarship program fully funded.

Rosier economic forecasts push oil prices above 30 dollars a barrel, a two month high for the commodity. Oil started the year over 60 dollars a barrel, and while that is unlikely to return this year LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes says the industry can sustain at these prices.

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Dismukes says today’s notable 11 percent spike was the result of new positive news related to vaccine development.

The search continues for the gunmen involved in a mass shooting that wounded 13 people in Bogalusa on Saturday night. Major Wendell O’ Berry says between 500 to 800 people gathered at an intersection to remember the life of Dominique James, who was recently murdered. O’ Berry says as the crowd grew shots were fired…

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O’ Berry says 12 of the 13 victims were male and some are critically wounded.

Ochsner reports having treated three cases of a suspected COVID-linked disease called Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Louisiana. Ochsner Lafayette Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. Katherine Lindle says the disease, impacting children, tends to result in rashes, abdominal pain, and inflammation, but fatal outcomes for children afflicted by the disease are rare.

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More than half of the reported cases have been found in New York.

Louisiana sees 277 new confirmed positive COVID cases along with 15 new fatalities but does report an increase in hospitalizations and ventilator use linked to infection.

One person is dead and nine others are being treated at a hospital from severe weather that hit a rural area in northeast Acadia Parish last night. The one fatality took place on Prudence Highway north of Church Point. Sheriff KP Gibson says a suspected tornado damaged several homes.
Cut 3 (09) “with moderate damage.”
Gibson says the loss of life could have been worse as the forecast did not call for this type of severe weather.

The price of oil has soared to over 30 dollars a barrel after sinking to negative numbers just a month ago. LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes explains why…
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Dismukes says today’s notable spike was the result of a coronavirus vaccine trial that’s showing promising early results.

Casinos can open today after a two-month-long shutdown. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Movie theaters are also allowed to show movies again, but the number of customers can not be more than 25-percent of the maximum capacity. Many theaters have yet to re-open, President of the Trisstate Independent Association, Adam Holland, says one reason is that there are no new films to show…
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One person has reportedly died and several others suffered injuries during severe weather that hit rural Acadia Parish last night. The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s office says the one fatality took place on Prudence Highway north of Church Point where a suspected tornado damaged several homes. Damage has also been reported in Evangeline Parish.

Ochsner says its treating three children in Louisiana for an illness the CDC believes is linked to COVID-19. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Casinos can reopen their doors today. They’ve been closed since mid-March and Casino Association of Louisiana executive director Wade Duty admits getting their employees back is a challenge the industry is facing…
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Those who worked at DiamondJacks Casino and Hotel remain out of job today as the Bossier City casino has announced it is NOT reopening.

Two big issues are set to be debated on the Senate Floor this afternoon, tort reform that aims to lower auto insurance rates by at least 10-percent and a measure to prevent parishes from pursuing lawsuits against oil companies over coastal damages. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the governor is not a supporter of either of these measures…
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The Senate will convene today at 2 PM.

Eleven Office of Motor Vehicle locations reopen today to provide limited services, such as renewing a driver’s license or I-D cards, ordering a duplicate title, renewing vehicle registrations and title transfers. Casinos can also reopen today, but maximum capacity can not exceed 25-percent.

Movie theaters can reopen under Phase One guidelines, but most remain closed. Brooke Thorington explains.
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Two of the bigger bills in the legislative session are scheduled to be debated in the Senate today. One of the bills seeks to reduce auto insurance rates by 10-percent by making changes to our legal system and the other would end the effort by parishes to sue oil companies for damages to the coast. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the coastal land loss lawsuit legislation had strong GOP support, but local leaders are pushing coastal Republicans away from the bill…
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The Senate meets at 2 PM today.

Louisiana pediatricians are seeing cases of Pediatric Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome, which is connected to COVID-19. Ochsner Lafayette Pediatric Cardiologist Doctor Katherine Lindle says sometimes it takes weeks for symptoms to show…
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The symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, sore throat, breathing issues, and rahses.

A suspected tornado near Church Point reportedly injured at least nine people and damaged several homes in rural Acadia Parish last night. Authorities say the injuries range from minor to severe. There’s also suspected tornado damage in the Mamou and Eunice areas.

Ochsner says its treating three children in Louisiana for an illness the CDC believes is linked to COVID-19. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The state only reported 12 COVID-19 deaths yesterday bringing the state’s death toll to 2,425.

Casinos and video poker parlors can re-open today. The state has been without gaming revenue since mid-March. Casino Association of Louisiana executive director Wade Duty says they are optimistic players will visit Louisiana casinos and they should get out of state visitors too…
cut 6 (09) “….first to benefit”
But not all casinos will reopen. DiamondJacks Casino and Hotel has announced a permanent closure.

Movie theaters can reopen under phase one guidelines, but many of them are still closed. President of the Tristate Independent Theatre Association Adam Holland says theaters do not have new releases to show and plus theater operators need to put procedures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19…
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Holland is confident the industry will survive because many people still like to watch movies in a theater.

Today is the first day casinos can open since a state-ordered closure in mid-March. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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A Gonzales man who shot at East Baton Rouge Sheriff Deputies following a routine traffic stop is dead. 39-year-old Bernard Ledlow was fatally shot by deputies yesterday to conclude a six-hour search for him in a wooded area. One deputy was treated and released after a bullet grazed his leg. Ledlow was released from federal prison in January after serving a 17-year sentence on gun and drug charges.

Two big issues are set to be debated on the Senate Floor this afternoon, tort reform that aims to lower auto insurance rates and a measure to prevent parishes from pursuing lawsuits against oil companies over coastal damages. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the governor is not a supporter of either of these measures…
cut 15 (11) “….weaken it”
The Senate will convene today at 2 PM.

Movie theaters are allowed to be opened under the phase one guidelines. But many theaters remain dark. President of the Tristate Independent Theatre Association, Adam Holland, says there is not a rush since there are no new releases to show…
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Today is the first day casinos and video poker parlors can open since the governor ordered them closed in mid-March. State Police had to approve each casino’s spread mitigation procedures and operators are looking at whether they can still break even with occupancy limits in place. Casino Association of Louisiana executive director Wade Duty says not every casino will open today.
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Diamond Jacks Casino and Hotel in Bossier City has announced a permanent closure due to market conditions.

The CDC warns physicians to be on the lookout for a possibly COVID-linked illness that has impacted over a hundred children across the country. Ochsner Lafayette Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. Katherine Lindle says the symptoms do not look like COVID-19 in adults.
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Lindle says they have seen a handful of cases in Louisiana.

The full Senate is scheduled to tackle two major bills today, one being tort reform aimed at reducing auto insurance rates and the other revoking local governments’ ability to sue oil companies for coastal damages. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there are enough votes in the upper chamber to pass tort reform…
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But Pinsonat says the bill that would prevent parishes from suing oil companies because of coastal damages might not have enough votes to pass.

There are three weeks left in the legislative session and the top priority is passing a budget. The Edwards administration provided lawmakers with a budget proposal late on Friday and it uses federal dollars and rainy day money to prevent deep budget cuts.