The State Department of Corrections has set up a special review panel that will consider whether certain non-violent offenders within six months of the completion of their sentence should be released from jail. Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc….
cut 11 (12) “….public health emergency”
LeBlanc says this effort to alleviate the crowding in jails due to the coronavirus pandemic mirrors what U-S Attorney General William Barr has recommended with federal prisons.

At 4 PM today, Governor John Bel Edwards will provide a COVID-19 response update. Joining him will be Acting State Superintendent of Education Beth Scioneaux to discuss how to handle the remainder of the school year as physical campuses will remain closed for the rest of the academic year…
cut 15 (06) “….should”

An abortion-rights group files a lawsuit against the state for designating abortion clinics as non-essential and requiring those services to be shut down as part of the Governor’s stay at home order…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Congressman Ralph Abraham will ride along with the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team for a flyover at 1 PM today over the Monroe area in four World Two-era planes. Abraham says they are doing this to thank first responders and healthcare workers and it should be a great show…
cut 5 (08) “….possible”

Louisiana has surpassed one-thousand deaths from COVID-19. The state reported 129 more fatalities bringing the death toll to 1,013. Governor John Bel Edwards says much of the spike was the result of a reporting backlog, but that doesn’t make it any easier to process…
cut 13 (10) “….anyone”
Today, the governor holds his monthly call-in show at two PM.

The Center for Reproductive Rights has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the state’s efforts to close abortion clinics because of the coronavirus pandemic. Kathleen Pittman, administrator for the Hope Medical Group in Shreveport, says their facility is practicing social distancing and they do not use equipment needed by most hospitals…
cut 8 (08) “…issued”
Attorney General Jeff Landry says the abortion clinics are trying to make the argument that the rules do not apply to them.

The coronavirus pandemic is giving about 12-hundred non-violent inmates a chance for a medical release. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell recommends no more festivals for the remainder of 2020 due to the coronavirus. If that becomes a reality, it would mean the cancellation or postponement of events such as Jazzfest, Essence Fest, French Quarter Fest, and Voodoo Experience. Cantrell expressed concern over not only the local efforts to flatten the curve, but how other states where visitors live are preventing further spread.

National Weather Service indicates at least seven tornadoes ravaged north Louisiana and that number is expected to grow. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

There’s activity underway again at the PMAC on LSU’s campus but it’s not the norm. Ashley Arceneaux, Chief of Staff for the LSU President says the university community is working together to support medical providers and the facility has become a production center for PPE, like reusable gowns from billboard vinyl with locally donated materials.

Cut 3 (10)  “…themselves.”  

Arceneaux says the vinyl is donated by Lamar Advertising and Circle Graphics.

LSU Health New Orleans has enrolled its first patient in a clinical trial that will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine alone or with Azithromycin as a treatment for COVID-19. Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Meredith Clement says they are enrolling patients who meet these criteria…

Cut 9 (11) “prior″

The study may enroll up to 600 at University Medical Center, if they have enough patients eligible.

LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow was a guest on the ESPN morning show in Baton Rouge Off the Bench with Jordy Culotta and T-Bob Hebert and had a lot of great things to say. Burrow says during the coronavirus pandemic he’s been living at home and only going outside to work out. Burrow is expected to be picked by the Bengals with the top overall pick and says he had nothing to do with star wide receiver A-J Green getting the franchise tag.

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is getting paid. The 23-year-old has reportedly agreed to a four-year, 64 million dollar contract. So that gives you an idea on what running back Alvin Kamara could demand, as he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract set to make just over two million dollars.

And could see the next college football season in the spring. ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler says that idea is gaining momentum because starting the season in early September doesn’t seem realistic.

The Louisiana Sports Writers Association has named LSU’s Skylar Mays as the men’s’ basketball player of the year in the Bayou State. The senior from Baton Rouge averaged nearly 17 points a game. Ragin Cajuns Forward Jalen Johnson is the newcomer of the year as he averaged 16 points a contest. LSU’s Trendon Watford is the freshman of the year after averaging 14 points and seven rebounds a game. And Louisiana Tech’s Eric Konkol is the coach of the year as the Bulldogs went 22 and 8 last season.

LSU employees are now producing personal protective equipment at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for front line healthcare workers. Chief of Staff for the LSU president, Ashley Arceaneaux, says billboard vinyl donated by Lamar Advertisting is helping to produce the heavy-duty, reusuable gowns…
cut 4 (11) “…front line”
Masks are also being produced and then the P-P-E goes to the state office of emergency preparedness, who distributes them to hospitals in need.

Louisiana hit a somber milestone today as it reported a single-day high 129 additional deaths from COVID-19, bringing the state’s death toll past a thousand to 1,013. Governor Edwards says the virus is nothing to mess with, so it’s incumbent that residents follow the Stay at Home order…

Cut 15 (06)“…the order”

There’s activity underway again at the PMAC on LSU’s campus but it’s not the norm. Ashley Arceneaux, Chief of Staff for the LSU President says the university community is working together to support medical providers and the facility has become a production center for PPE, like reusable gowns from billboard vinyl with locally donated materials. Arceneaux says the vinyl is donated by Lamar Advertising and Circle Graphics.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…frontline.”

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least seven tornadoes ravaged north Louisiana on Easter Sunday. N-W-S Meteorologist Brad Bryant says the most powerful twister started in West Monroe and traveled for about eight miles.Unlike neighboring Mississippi, Louisiana had no fatalities from the storm activity.  Bryant says it is surprising that there was no loss of life in the state.

Cut 8 (11) “…it’s a win.”

LSU Health New Orleans has enrolled its first patient in a clinical trial that will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine alone or with Azithromycin as a treatment for COVID-19. Patients will be sorted into three groups that either get the treatment or don’t, and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Meredith Clement says once admitted…

Cut 10 (09) “state”

Patients receiving the treatment will do so for five days.

During today’s press briefing Gov Edwards says the majority of the deaths reported in today’s increase of 129 from COVID-19 did not occur in the last 24 hours. The toll now stands at 1,013.

The state health department says most deaths come eleven days after the onset of symptoms. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says if you are in a high-risk group, take extra precautions…

Cut 16 (14)  …people” 

Covington Representative Mark Wright is calling for the stay at home order to end April 30th so businesses can implement partial reopenings. He says those who are most vulnerable to the virus are aware and can make their own decisions.

Cut 13 (10) “…open”

The PMAC at LSU is now producing reusable gowns and masks for healthcare workers instead of points on the scoreboard. Ashley Arceneaux, Chief of Staff for the LSU President says for health precautions no more than 40 employees can be in the PMAC at one time but says it’s a joint effort of hundreds of employees and outside vendors coming together for the greater good.

Cut 5 (10)  “…operation works.”

The PPE will be distributed by GOHSEP.

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least seven tornadoes ravaged north Louisiana on Easter Sunday.  Unlike neighboring Mississippi, Louisiana had no fatalities from the storm activity.  N-W-S Meteorologist Brad Bryant says it is surprising that there was no loss of life in the state.

Cut 8 (11) “…it’s a win.”

Louisiana reports, by far, it’s single largest 24-hour increase in deaths today with 129 new COVID fatalities, bringing the state’s total fatalities to over 1,000. The jump is significant but Governor Edwards has cautioned in the past that these numbers do not reflect the total deaths over the past 24 hours, and many of these deaths likely occurred over the last week or more but are just not being marked as COVID until now.

The PMAC at LSU has turned into a production facility for PPE. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

Covington Republican Representative Mark Wright is calling on Governor Edwards not to further extend the stay at home order that is set to end April 30^th. Wright says it’s an economic imperative that Louisiana being to reopen and says the state needs to look at easing restrictions like our neighbors in Texas and Oklahoma and starting May 1^st reopen as much as possible.

Cut 14 (08) “…future”

Federal models call for the continuing of stay at home orders nationwide through May to avoid another major reoccurrence of COVID-19.

LSU Health New Orleans begins a clinical trial testing the effectiveness of using hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin on COVID patients. The combo has anecdotal reports of being an effective treatment, but Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Meredith Clement says the drugs are not without their side effects, so patients will be closely monitored.

Cut 11 (09) “…restoration.”