April 2020

At least 3 parishes going against gov., reopening

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A few Louisiana parishes are bucking the governor’s continued coronavirus order by letting churches and other establishments open their doors to more people Friday.

LaSalle Parish in central Louisiana and East and West Feliciana parishes near Baton Rouge all said churches and businesses may open Friday at 25% of occupancy limits — a change Edwards has said he hopes to make in mid-May. The Felicianas also are reopening libraries and some other establishments.

Trump and friends: The least essential workers of all

One of the few good things that’s happened during the coronavirus pandemic is that we’ve learned how many capable governors and mayors there are across America, of both political parties, who have stepped in to mitigate the terrible harm caused by Boss Trump’s ignorance and impulsivity.

If the man had a particle of honor, or of shame, he would resign and spare a wounded and grieving nation the degrading spectacle that his re-election campaign is certain to be. But he has none, so he won’t.

Build Simple Breakfast to Fuel Your Family

During a period when many families are spending more time at home than normal, eating healthier is likely a popular goal. One of the many aspects to focusing on better nutrition starts with a better breakfast.

To help boost you and your family’s immunity, try focusing on protein- and fiber-packed morning meals that are low in sugar. That doesn’t have to mean hours of prep in the kitchen or stocking up on uncommon ingredients.

A coronavirus drug seems to work. What’s next?

(AP) - News that an experimental drug seems to be the first effective treatment for the new coronavirus has unleashed a flurry of interest – and a clamor to know how soon it might be available.

Talk turned Thursday to how quickly the federal Food and Drug Administration might act on Gilead Sciences’s remdesivir after preliminary results from a major study found it shortened the recovery time by an average of four days for people hospitalized with COVID-19.

Police: Teacher accused of indecent behavior with student

OPELOUSAS (AP) — A male middle school teacher in Louisiana was accused of sending inappropriate text messages to at least one female student, police said.

Toranzo Arvie, 57, was arrested Tuesday and charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile, Opelousas police said in a news release. More charges are pending, the release stated.

A parent of a female student noticed the text messages and contacted police, according to the release. Arvie is a teacher at Opelousas Junior High School, news outlets reported.

Trump says US can never declare ‘total victory’ over virus

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he believes the U.S. can never declare “total victory” over the coronavirus because too many people have died. But he added that he will count it a win when the virus is gone and the economy fully reopened.

With more than 60,000 Americans fallen to the virus, Trump pointed out that the death rate in the U.S. was lower than in many other countries, and he offered the optimistic prediction that the battered economy would be vastly improved in a matter of months and “spectacular” by 2021.

N.O. musicians find way to soothe the city with music

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — On Saturday afternoons, pianist Harry Mayronne wheels a piano onto the front porch of the home of jazz singer Anais St. John for their weekly performance. The duo – spaced 6-feet apart – serenades a handful of friends and neighbors assembled on chairs on the sidewalk and a larger audience online.

Sex assault allegations raise questions for Biden, Dems

WASHINGTON (AP) — A sexual assault allegation is Joe Biden’s first big challenge as the Democrats’ presidential nominee, fueling Republican attacks and leaving many in his own party in an uncomfortable bind.

Biden’s campaign has denied the allegation from his former Senate staffer Tara Reade, who has said Biden assaulted her in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building in the 1990s. But the story garnered fresh attention this week after two of Reade’s associates said she previously told them about elements of her allegations.

President says he won’t extend social distancing guidelines

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday the federal government will not be extending its coronavirus social distancing guidelines once they expire Thursday, and his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, predicted that by July the country will be “really rocking again.”

Meanwhile, Trump said he plans to resume official travel with a trip to Arizona next week. And he said he’s hoping to hold mass campaign rallies in the coming months with thousands of supporters, even though medical experts have said there is little hope of having a vaccine by then.

Police: Callers bombard office in support of defiant pastor

CENTRAL (AP) — A Louisiana police department has been bombarded by callers looking to voice their support of a pastor who was accused of attempting to hit someone with his church bus while violating a ban on mass gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, police said Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, police in the Baton Rouge suburb of Central apologized to residents who couldn’t get through to the agency. Officials said a huge amount of calls supporting Life Tabernacle Church Pastor Tony Spell have tied up the phone lines.