8-17-20
THERE WAS A SHARP DROP IN THE NUMBER OF NEW COVID-NINETEEN CASES IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THERE ARE FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN MORE CASES, AS THE TOTAL APPROACHES ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED. THE STATE ADDED NINETEEN MORE DEATHS, MOVING THE TOTAL PAST FOUR THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED. AFTER MORE THAN TWO WEEKS OF DECREASING HOSPITALIZATIONS, THE NUMBER WENT UP TODAY BY THIRTY. HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS DECREASED BY FIVE.
ACADIANA HAD SIX MORE DEATHS. FOUR WERE IN EVANGELINE PARISH, WHILE IBERIA AND ST. MARTIN PARISHES ADDED ONE EACH. THE TOTAL IS NOW AT FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO. THERE WERE EIGHTY-THREE MORE CORONAVIRUS CASES IN THE REGION, INCLUDING TWENTY-NINE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH. THE TOTAL IS NOW TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-EIGHT.
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD ONLY NINE MORE CORONAVIRUS CASE, WITH THE MOST BEING IN ALLEN PARISH, WHICH HAD FOUR. THERE ARE TEN THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN TOTAL. THE REGION RECORDED FOUR MORE DEATHS INCLUDING TWO IN BEAUREGARD PARISH AND ONE EACH IN ALLEN AND CALCASIEU PARISHES. THE TOTAL IS TWO HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN.
AN ELECTION WAS HELD SATURDAY IN LOUISIANA, MOSTLY FOR LOCAL TAX RENEWALS AND SOME TAX PROPOSITIONS. VOTERS IN PARTS OF ACADIA AND ST. LANDRY PARISH APPROVED A TEN MILL PROPERTY TAX THAT WILL ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ACADIA ST. LANDRY HOSPITAL WITH IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY. IT WILL BE BUILT ON HIGHWAY THIRTY-FIVE, SOUTH OF CHURCH POINT WHOLESALE. HORACE JOHNSON WON AN ELECTION IN VILLE PLATTE TO BE THE NEXT CITY MARSHAL. SEVENTY-SIX PERCENT OF VOTERS IN CALCASIEU PARISH AGREED TO RENEW A PARISHWIDE PROPERTY TAX THAT FUNDS THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
A new report estimates that about one in four Louisiana students lack the internet access needed to take the virtual classes at school. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the state is in a better position than it was months ao, but still has a long way to go. The Advocate reports that new findings released last week for the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shows that 86% of Louisiana school districts are starting the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person classes. However, the same report found that about 25% of student lack the internet access crucial for remote learning.
Authorities say a 19-year-old Louisiana man died when his boat slammed into rock jetties at night. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says Ross Broussard of Hackberry and a second occupant were both thrown onto the rocks about 9:15 p.m. Thursday, but the second person was unhurt and called for help. Enforcement Division spokesman Adam Einck says investigators think the boat was going fast but don’t think alcohol was a factor. The crash occurred in the Calcasieu Ship Channel in the Hackberry area.
A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM FRANKLIN WAS KILLED SATURDAY IN A JET SKI ACCIDENT ON BELLE RIVER IN LOWER ST. MARTIN PARISH. HANNAH LANDRY OF FRANKLIN WAS OPERATING A JET SKI WHEN SHE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER JET SKI BEING DRIVEN BY A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL. LANDRY DIED AFTER BEING TAKEN BY AIR MED TO A HOSPITAL IN DONALDSONVILLE, WHILE THE OTHER GIRL WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE FOR MINOR INJURIES. INVESTIGATORS SAY A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD MALE, WHO ALLOWED THE GIRLS TO USE THE JET SKIS, COULD FACE CHARGES.
