Paul Braun

A Louisiana judge upheld Gov. John Bel Edwards’ statewide mask mandate, closure of bars and 50-person limit on indoor gatherings Thursday, rejecting four Jefferson Parish business owners’ claims that the state’s coronavirus restrictions violate their constitutional rights.

Representatives of Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration were in court Wednesday defending the state’s coronavirus restrictions during the preliminary hearings in a legal challenge brought by four Jefferson Parish business owners.

Gov. John Bel Edwards confirmed Tuesday that Louisiana will remain under Phase 2 coronavirus restrictions for another 21 days as the state attempts to build upon recent gains in its fight against the virus.

The Louisiana Department of Health has revoked the food permit for Firehouse BBQ in Watson for failure to comply with Gov. John Bel Edwards’ statewide mask mandate. It's the first punitive action the state has taken against a restaurant for failure to comply with Edwards’ coronavirus regulations.

But the restaurant remains open in defiance of the state’s sanctions. 

The executive order keeping Louisiana in Phase 2 of reopening from the coronavirus is set to expire at the end of next week. But Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday that Louisianans shouldn’t expect any big changes.

As Congress debates a fifth coronavirus relief package and the future of the $600-per-week federal unemployment benefit that’s set to expire at the end of the month, Gov. John Bel Edwards said the lower amount proposed by Senate Republicans is not enough to support individuals thrown out of work by the coronavirus.

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday that Phase 2 of coronavirus restrictions will remain in place through at least August 7. 

A surge of applicants forced Louisiana to suspend its emergency rental assistance program Sunday, just four days after Gov. John Bel Edwards and state officials launched the effort to stave off a looming eviction crisis brought on by the coronavirus.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not meet with Mike Pence when the vice president visits Baton Rouge Tuesday, according to multiple media outlets.

Mark Ballard of The Advocate reports that Landry notified his staff of his diagnosis with an email Tuesday.

“Out of an overabundance of caution with the Vice President coming to our state, I was tested for Cornavirus,” Landry wrote. “Though experiencing no symptoms, I tested positive for COVID-19.”