Coronavirus
Gov. John Bel Edwards ‘considering’ mask mandate as Louisiana hospitals fill with COVID-19 patients
Louisiana has more people entering hospitals with COVID-19 symptoms than ever before, the most single-day deaths since March 10 and the highest number of new cases per capita in the nation as of Friday. Despite the grim numbers, Gov. John Bel Edwards has still not reinstated mitigation measures such as a face mask mandate and […]
As Louisiana COVID-19 numbers keep going up, epidemiologists worry about the future
BATON ROUGE – Louisiana’s COVID-19 numbers keep getting worse. On Tuesday, the state marked the highest single-day increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since March 2020, the month the virus was first detected in the state. There were 169 more COVID-19 patients hospitalized than there were Monday for a total of 1,390 and 45 more people on […]
Masks, virtual classes are challenging for Louisiana students who can’t hear or see
BATON ROUGE – The requirements to submit to daily temperature checks, wear masks, repeatedly wash hands and stay apart from one another has made education in the time of the novel coronavirus tedious and difficult for all students. However, students whose hearing or vision is impaired have had even more challenges to endure to learn […]
Louisiana (and every other state) needs to impose mask mandates now | Tammy C. Barney
From banning smoking in businesses to forcing drivers and passengers to wear seat belts to prohibiting texting while driving, governments have never had a problem passing laws to protect residents from themselves. Yet, even though Louisiana has the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita in the United States, our officials refuse to do the […]
COVID-19 numbers increasing the fastest in Louisiana, Gov. Edwards says
BATON ROUGE – Louisiana now has the highest growth in COVID-19 cases per capita in the country, Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a Friday afternoon press conference, and he pleaded with the people of the state to get vaccinated to protect themselves from sickness and death. While the state’s vaccine lottery campaign has helped […]
Unvaccinated Louisiana residents face heightened risk of COVID-19 amid new spike
With a confirmed surge in COVID-19 cases, the Louisiana Health Department warned residents that unvaccinated people were at much higher risk during the ongoing pandemic. On Wednesday, the state reported 1,936 new COVID-19 cases, 10 new deaths, 468 COVID-19 patients hospitalized and 40 COVID-19 patients on ventilators. Since May, according to the health department, 94% […]
Delta variant of the novel coronavirus driving up Louisiana’s COVID-19 numbers
With the Delta variant of the novel coronavirus spreading across Louisiana parishes, recent data indicate a corresponding uptick in COVID-19 cases. Hospitalization rates have been steadily rising in the past few days, starting on July 1 with 259 COVID-19 patients hospitalized. On July 7, 348 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized. According to the Louisiana Department of […]
Louisiana Senate committee passes resolution that would protect clergy who defy emergency orders
Clarification: The story and headline of this story have been edited to reflect that the proposed resolution may not benefit Pastor Tony Spell as his attorney asserted in a previous committee meeting.The resolution does not have a retroactivity clause and its sponsor says he doesn’t intend it to be retroactive. A resolution that would suspend […]
Legislation that slashes unemployment benefits by half gets support of Senate committee
A Senate committee approved a bill Thursday that would cut unemployment benefits in Louisiana, leaving laid-off workers to collect about half the total amount they are eligible for under the current program in exchange for an extra $30 per week. Senate Bill 225, sponsored by Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, proposes multiple formulas that tie an […]
House passes second version of vetoed elections bill
For the second consecutive legislative session, on Tuesday the Louisiana House passed an elections bill that would prohibit state and local officials from receiving money from private or nonprofit organizations to help defray election-related expenses. Rep. Blake Miguez, R-Erath, sponsored last year’s legislation, which Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed, and is sponsoring this year’s bill, […]
Unemployment bills compete for deep cuts or slow increases in benefits
State lawmakers will have at least two competing unemployment bills to consider that would change unemployment insurance in Louisiana, bringing either deep cuts or slow increases in benefits to out-of-work residents: House Bill 610 would increase unemployment benefits to rates in line with the rest of the country, while Senate Bill 225 would bring deep cuts […]
Louisiana paid out at least $405 million in unemployment insurance to ineligible workers, audit finds
Louisiana paid more than $405 million in fraudulent or ineligible pandemic relief benefits to nearly 100,000 people as an overwhelmed unemployment system was also affected by legislation passed by lawmakers last year, according to a report by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. The Legislative Auditor’s office conducted a review of all state and federal COVID-19-related unemployment […]