![Associated Press](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2014/09/ap.jpg?w=300&q=75)
Associated Press
![Associated Press](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2014/09/ap.jpg?w=300&q=75)
![Louisiana Lawmaker Scraps Proposal to Cut Unemployment Aid](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2020/05/Beau-Beaulllieu-photo-courtesy-of-Beau-Beaullieu.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Louisiana Lawmaker Scraps Proposal to Cut Unemployment Aid
Rep. “Beau” Beaullieu has shelved his effort to cut state unemployment aid during the coronavirus outbreak after learning the proposal would keep the state from receiving federal assistance.
![Louisiana Resumes Release of Nursing Home Virus Stats](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2015/03/52212173.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Louisiana Resumes Release of Nursing Home Virus Stats
La. has again begun listing details on the extent of COVID infections at individual nursing homes. Also, in Acadiana, there's been an increase in overall cases.
![Pelosi Unveils $3T Virus Bill, Warns Inaction Costs More](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2020/03/GettyImages-1214959648.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Pelosi Unveils $3T Virus Bill, Warns Inaction Costs More
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has unveiled a more than $3 trillion new coronavirus aid package.
![Louisiana Hiring Contract Tracers Amid Pressure to Reopen](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2020/03/GettyImages-592215708.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Louisiana Hiring Contract Tracers Amid Pressure to Reopen
Gov. John Bel Edwards says the state will have 250 workers in place by the end of next week to call people infected with the new coronavirus and track down people they have been in close contact with.
![](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2015/03/Victor-White-III-Photo-Courtest-of-KATC.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Bid to Curb Government Spending Advances in Louisiana House](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2019/12/GettyImages-51481254.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Bid to Curb Government Spending Advances in Louisiana House
Louisiana lawmakers are advancing proposals pushed by conservative Republicans to limit budgetary growth and spending.
![Carnival to Resume Cruises in Summer When Virus Order Ends](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2019/10/GettyImages-480522805.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Carnival to Resume Cruises in Summer When Virus Order Ends
Carnival Cruise Line is announcing it will start cruising again, from Florida and Texas, beginning August.
![Louisiana Lawmakers Return to Virus-related Budget Problems](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2016/06/Louisiana-State-Capitol-Photo-by-Chris-GraythenGetty-Images-280x30011.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Louisiana Lawmakers Return to Virus-related Budget Problems
Louisiana lawmakers have resumed their legislative session and are trying to get their arms around the scale of the financial problems caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
![Macron Confident US Will Join Vaccine Pledge](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2019/06/GettyImages-1154058839.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Macron Confident US Will Join Vaccine Pledge
French president Emmanuel Macron said he is confident that the United States will join a global pledge for research to find a vaccine against the new coronavirus.
![Trump Shifts COVID Focus to Economy, Reopening](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2019/10/President-Trump-Youtube-via-Republican-Party-of-Louisiana.png?w=980&q=75)
Trump Shifts COVID Focus to Economy, Reopening
President Donald Trump is trying to put the coronavirus behind him and the nation, pivoting his focus to highlighting plans to reopen the country even as the virus continues to spread.
![Louisiana Governor Readies to Release Virus Reopening Plans](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2020/03/Governor-Edwards-Coronavirus-Press-Conference-staff-photo.png?w=980&q=75)
Louisiana Governor Readies to Release Virus Reopening Plans
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected soon to announce his plans for a “very gradual effort" to loosen business restrictions and a public gathering ban enacted to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
![One Baton Rouge Officer Shot Dead; Another Injured](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2020/04/Baton-Rouge-Police-Photo-courtesy-of-WAFB.jpg?w=980&q=75)
One Baton Rouge Officer Shot Dead; Another Injured
The identities of the officers have not been made public.
![North Korea’s Silence About Leader’s Health Raises Questions](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2018/06/GettyImages-971893456.jpg?w=980&q=75)
North Korea’s Silence About Leader’s Health Raises Questions
North Korea is a patriarchal society.
![Trump Signs $484 Billion Measure to Aid Employers, Hospitals](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2017/12/GettyImages-887053202.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Trump Signs $484 Billion Measure to Aid Employers, Hospitals
President Donald Trump has signed a $484 billion bill that aids employers and hospitals under stress from the coronavirus pandemic.
![Reworked Louisiana Elections Plan Crosses Legislative Hurdle](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2018/07/Kyle-Ardoin-youtube.png?w=980&q=75)
Reworked Louisiana Elections Plan Crosses Legislative Hurdle
An emergency plan to increase early and mail-in voting options for Louisiana’s summer elections because of the coronavirus has won approval from key state House and Senate oversight panels.
![Tyson Foods Idles Largest Pork Plant as Virus Slams Industry](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2020/04/Tyson-Foods-Youtube-via-Reuters.png?w=980&q=75)
Tyson Foods Idles Largest Pork Plant as Virus Slams Industry
Tyson Foods is suspending operations indefinitely at a large Iowa pork processing plant that was blamed for fueling a coronavirus outbreak in the community.
![Administration Offers Plan to Cover COVID Care for Uninsured](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2020/03/GettyImages-Friday.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Administration Offers Plan to Cover COVID Care for Uninsured
The Trump administration has come out with a plan to start paying hospitals and doctors who care for uninsured COVID-19 patients.
![Lafayette Predicts Budget Shortfall Due to Virus](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2020/02/Lafayette-Downtown.png?w=980&q=75)
Lafayette Predicts Budget Shortfall Due to Virus
The Lafayette Economic Development Authority said Monday the city could see a 35% reduction in tax revenue this year. That's about a $10 million hit.
![As COVID-19 Hospitalizations Taper, More Procedures Allowed](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2020/04/GettyImages-1209295591.jpg?w=980&q=75)
As COVID-19 Hospitalizations Taper, More Procedures Allowed
State officials announced they will lift restrictions on some elective surgeries and other nonemergency medical procedures on April 27.
![Oil Price Goes Negative as Demand Collapses; Stocks Dip](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2012/06/gas-pump.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Oil Price Goes Negative as Demand Collapses; Stocks Dip
Oil prices plunged below zero on Monday as demand for energy collapses amid the coronavirus pandemic and traders didn’t want to get stuck owning crude oil with nowhere to store it.