The Edwards administration has proposed a budget that does not call for deep cuts to state services. According to the Associated Press, a billion dolllar loss in revenues and fees would be made up by using federal dollars from the CARES ACT and rainy day money.

The spending plan was presented to legislative leaders on Friday night. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the A-P that the reworked budget proposal is not as bad as most people would expect. Higher ed and health care services will still see cuts, but TOPS, public schools and the social services department do not see a reduction in funding.

When the session started, Edwards hoped to provide teachers a pay raise and increase funding for K-12 schools and early childhood education but that’s not possible anymore.

Legislators have until June 1st to pass a budget for the next fiscal year. If they can’t, they’ll need a June special session.

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…
Cut 13 (12) “…states”
Opponents of the tort reform bill say it would not lower auto insurance rates and would make it harder for victims of negligence to be properly compensated.

The coastal land loss lawsuit legislation had strong GOP support, but Pinsonat says local leaders are pushing coastal Republicans away from the bill.
Cut 14 (09) “…debt”
Pinsonat says it is possible the bill will be shelved today due to a lack of votes. He says the governor does not support both of these proposals…

Cut 15 (11)“…weaken it.”

The Senate will convene today at 2 PM.

Starting Monday, casinos and video poker truck stops throughout the state begin to reopen. However, Diamond Jacks Casino and Hotel in Bossier City will not be among them as they have announced a permanent closure. Ownership cites the sudden, unforeseeable market conditions from the COVID-19 pandemic for prompting the decision. According to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the casino brings in $7.5 million to the state and $1.5 million to Bossier City in tax revenue. More than 300 will be without a job.

Each of the state’s casino is having to work through spread mitigation procedures and make sure they can open in a way where they can at least break even. Casino Association of Louisiana executive director Wade Duty does not anticipate that all casinos will be looking to reopen on day one.
Cut 4 (06)_ “…them to open.”

A real estate expert predicts the COVID Crisis will have a lasting impact on the way office spaces are laid out. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser calls on Louisianans to kick start the tourism economy by making 2020 the “Year of the Louisiana Road Trip”. Nungesser says if Louisianans can prove you can safely tour the state more out of state visitors will return.

Cut 14 (08) “…Louisiana”

This is the first weekend of loosened restrictions on businesses since the coronavirus pandemic began. Governor Edwards thinks the state can do this and still keep cases down and manageable…

Cut 16 (15) “…their opportunity.”

The state reported 348 new cases on Friday and 31 more COVID-19 deaths. But hospitalizations dropped by 102 to less than eleven-hundred.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser calls on Louisianans to kick start the tourism economy by making 2020 the “Year of the Louisiana Road Trip”. South Louisianans are missing their spring festivals but Nungesser says you can still have some quality time with the family and social distance by loading up the car and heading north…

Cut 12 (12) “…meat pie”

Many of Louisiana’s 450,000 small businesses are struggling to make rent amid the COVID-driven economic crisis. Beau Box Commercial Real Estate New Orleans VP Cress Gardner expects when workers are cleared to return to office spaces those environments will reflect the New Normal.
Cut 8 (09) “…Thursday”
The National Federation of Independent Business indicates a feeling of optimism as Louisiana moves into phase one of economic reopening.  NFIB state director Dawn Starns says more should be done to target the recovery of Louisiana small business, citing bowling alleys, which are still closed, versus movie theatres which can resume operation today.

Cut 10 (10) “…up and running.”

Spas, massage and tattoo parlors are not allowed to open under phase one guidelines.

Starting Monday, the Office of Motor Vehicles will begin limited office services at eleven locations throughout the state, including the issuance or renewal of driver’s licenses and photo IDs, ordering a duplicate title, renewing vehicle registrations, and title transfers. Customers are still encouraged to make use of the OMV website, expresslane.org, when possible.

That fresh new license will be handy when getting behind the wheel to take in-state road trips as the Lt Governor encourages residents to help in saving the state’s tourism economy…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Many of Louisiana’s 450,000 small businesses are struggling to make rent amid the COVID-driven economic crisis. Beau Box Commercial Real Estate New Orleans VP Cress Gardner says if your business is struggling to make rent reach out to your landlord with detailed accounting demonstrating how your business will bounce back after the crisis cools.

Cut 7 (11) “.accsessed”

The National Federation of Independent Business says many its Louisiana members are glad to open their doors this weekend, even at a reduced capacity, but NFIB state director Dawn Starns says the 25% cap on capacity is difficult for many to endure for long.

Cut 9 (09) “…past few months.”

Spas, massage and tattoo parlors are not allowed to open under phase one guidelines. Bars that do not serve food also remain shuttered…

Governor Edwards says if you get a call from a number that reads 877-766-2130, it’s a contact tracer. Edwards says it’s important you answer the contact tracer’s questions because they will inform you that a person you’ve been in contact with has tested positive for the coronavirus. He says it’s been used in Louisiana before…

Cut 15 (07)“ hepatitis A.”

The state previously had 70 contact tracers employed, but they’ve just trained about 300 more.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser calls on Louisianans to kick start the tourism economy by making 2020 the “Year of the Louisiana Road Trip”. Nungesser says tourism dollars saved every Louisianan 1,100 dollars in taxes last year, and if Louisianans can prove you can safely tour the state more out of state visitors will return.

Cut 14 (08) “…Louisiana”

The National Federation of Independent Business indicates optimism as Louisiana begins phase one of the economic reopening. However, spas, massage and tattoo parlors are not allowed to open under the phase one guidelines. NFIB state director Dawn Starns says bars that do not serve food are also shuttered…

Cut 11 (12) “…challenges with it.”

Many of Louisiana’s 450,000 small businesses are struggling to make rent amid the COVID-driven economic crisis. Beau Box Commercial Real Estate New Orleans VP Cress Gardner says the divide between which sectors are and are not having trouble paying rent is significant.

Cut 6 (09) “ 50/50”

This is the first weekend of loosened restrictions on businesses since the coronavirus pandemic began. Governor Edwards thinks the state can do this and still keep cases down and manageable…

Cut 16 (15) “…their opportunity.”

The state reported 348 new cases on Friday and 31 more COVID-19 deaths. But hospitalizations dropped by 102 to less than eleven hundred.

Many of Louisiana’s 450,000 small businesses are struggling to make rent amid the COVID-driven economic crisis. Beau Box Commercial Real Estate New Orleans VP Cress Gardner expects when workers are cleared to return to office spaces those environments will reflect the New Normal.
Cut 8 (09) “…Thursday”
The National Federation of Independent Business indicates optimism as Louisiana moves into phase one of economic reopening.  NFIB state director Dawn Starns says more should be done to target the recovery of Louisiana small business, citing bowling alleys, which are still closed, versus movie theatres which can resume operation today.

Cut 10 (10) “…up and running.”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser calls on Louisianans to kick start the tourism economy by making 2020 the “Year of the Louisiana Road Trip”. W

hile south Louisiana’s iconic festivals may have been canceled, Nungesser says you can still enjoy the coast’s natural offerings.

Cut 13 (11) “Basin”  

You can build an itinerary at LouisianaTravel.com/RoadTrip.

Governor Edwards says if you get a call from a number that reads 877-766-2130, it’s a contact tracer. Edwards says it’s important you answer the contact tracer’s questions because they will inform you that a person you’ve been in contact with has tested positive for the coronavirus. He says it’s been used in Louisiana before…

Cut 15 (07)“ hepatitis A.”

The state previously had 70 contact tracers employed, but they’ve just trained about 300 more.

Parts of southeast Louisiana are drying out today after over a foot of rain fell in an area north of Lake Ponchartrain. Phil Grigsby with the National Weather Service in Slidell says their highest rainfall total was 15 inches

Cut 3 (11)  “ten inches”  

Rivers continue to rise and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff deputies were still conducting water rescues on Friday morning.

Many of Louisiana’s 450,000 small businesses are struggling to make rent amid the COVID-driven economic crisis. Beau Box Commercial Real Estate New Orleans VP Cress Gardner says if your business is struggling to make rent reach out to your landlord with detailed accounting demonstrating how your business will bounce back after the crisis cools.

Cut 7 (11) “.accsessed”

The National Federation of Independent Business says many its Louisiana members are glad to open their doors today, even at a reduced capacity, but NFIB state director Dawn Starns says the 25% cap on capacity is difficult for many to endure for long.

Cut 9 (09) “…past few months.”

DiamondJacks Casino and Hotel in Bossier City announces they will not open next week when casinos can reopen across the state during Phase One. The casino says due to business circumstances caused by the unexpected impact of the virus they will close permanently. All employees were notified and are eligible to apply for unemployment.

A real estate expert predicts the COVID Crisis will have a lasting impact on the way office spaces are laid out. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

Parts of southeast Louisiana are drying out today after over a foot of rain fell in an area north of Lake Ponchartrain. Phil Grigsby with the National Weather Service in Slidell says a handful of people had to be rescued from their homes last night as the water kept rising. Grigsby says heavy rain bands from a low-pressure system produced the flooding and more rain is in the forecast…

Cut 5 (09)  “…last evening.”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser calls on Louisianans to kick start the tourism economy by making 2020 the “Year of the Louisiana Road Trip”. Nungesser says tourism dollars saved every Louisianan 1,100 dollars in taxes last year, and if Louisianans can prove you can safely tour the state more out of state visitors will return.

Cut 14 (08) “…Louisiana”

You can build an itinerary at LouisianaTravel.com/RoadTrip.