Health
Louisiana House will consider law to protect pastor who violated COVID-19 restrictions
The Louisiana House will take up legislation that would protect a pastor who defied state regulations by holding church services during the first few weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. The House Criminal Justice Committee voted 6-3 Wednesday (Oct. 7) to send a bill aimed at clearing Pentecostal Pastor Tony Spell of charges he faces for […]
Louisiana House backs proposals to undo COVID-19 restrictions
The Louisiana House of Representatives made its intentions clear Friday when it passed seven bills that would limit the governor’s authority during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic — and one extra piece of legislation that could throw out all of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions until the end of November. None of the measures can go […]
Louisiana lawmakers need to acknowledge that COVID-19 is still with us
When Republican members of the Louisiana House Health, Education and Welfare committee argued with two of the state’s top public health experts Wednesday, they were illustrating the contempt much of the American public has developed for experts and their expertise. Jimmy Guidry, the state public health officer, and Joseph Kanter, the assistant state health officer, […]
Trump and Biden quarrel over mask mandates and state shutdowns in first presidential debate
The two men vying to become the next president offered a stark contrast to voters on face mask requirements and on how soon state economies should reopen amid the pandemic, just two of many areas where they squabbled during Tuesday’s contentious and often chaotic first debate. The exchange between President Donald Trump and former Vice […]
New Orleans allows go-cups amid Phase 2 restrictions
In the latest easing of Phase 2 coronavirus restrictions, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced Friday that restaurants may resume serving alcoholic drinks via drive-through, takeout and curbside pickup options between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. The new guideline took effect at 5 p.m. on Friday and applied to all restaurants within Orleans Parish, according […]
Louisiana restaurants, casinos, bars get to sell alcohol for one more hour
Gov. John Bel Edwards adjusted his Phase 3 emergency order Thursday to allow Louisiana restaurants, casinos and bars in certain geographic areas to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption for an extra hour — until 11 p.m. Under the original Phase 3 plan announced last week, those establishments had to stop selling alcohol for on-site drinking […]
Will a COVID-19 vaccine be safe?
by Trish Zornio for Colorado Newsline In normal times, vaccine safety is easily recognized. These aren’t normal times. Despite robust science, public trust of a COVID-19 vaccine is at an all-time low. After months of coronavirus lies and misinformation fueled by President Trump, a recent poll found 54% of Americans would not get immunized if the […]
Louisiana’s Phase 3: Restaurants, retail shops and churches will be at 75 percent capacity
Restaurants, retail shops and churches will be among the venues moving from 50 percent occupancy to 75 percent occupancy under the state’s new Phase 3 COVID-19 rules that will be released Friday afternoon, Gov. John Bel Edwards said in an interview with WWL Radio. The governor is expected to shared the full details of Phase […]
Louisiana to begin Phase 3 on Friday
In a press conference Thursday, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that the state will move to Phase 3 of its coronavirus response on Friday, lifting some restrictions but leaving the face-mask mandate in place. Phase 3 is expected to loosen some restrictions on businesses, schools and public gatherings, but the governor did not elaborate […]
Should Louisiana have a special election plan due to coronavirus?
A two-day hearing to decide if the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic warrants an emergency election plan in Louisiana concluded Wednesday after U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick heard testimony from expert witnesses. Dick told the parties involved that she would issue her ruling “as quickly as humanly possible.” The case of Harding v. Edwards was brought […]
As Louisiana’s COVID-19 response continues, the state’s top public health official is resigning
The person who oversees Louisiana’s public health office — and the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic — is leaving his job. Alex Billioux, a medical doctor and the assistant secretary for the Louisiana Department of Health, will step down at the end of the month, the health department confirmed Wednesday. He has been in […]
Louisiana Prisons Need To Do More COVID-19 Releases, Advocates Say
The Department of Corrections says there are 9,000 fewer people detained in Louisiana prisons and jails than when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March, but over half of that reduction is the result of changes to how parole violations, immigration infractions and pre-trial detention are handled. There hasn’t been a dramatic change […]