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Stories about the impact of the coronavirus in Baton Rouge.

The great grift: COVID-19 aid thieves spent lavishly on cars, houses, islands 

A freshwater spring bubbles amid the mangroves, cabbage palms and red cedars on Sweetheart Island, a two-acre uninhabited patch of paradise about a mile...

How billions in COVID aid was stolen

The widespread fraud that occurred during the disbursement of pandemic-related financial aid came from several different avenues, and much of the theft was brazen,...

Pennington part of major study providing insight into long COVID

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge participated in a major federally funded study of long COVID, which refers to symptoms and conditions that continue or develop after an initial COVID-19 infection. 
Coronavirus

As the COVID public health emergency ends, prepping for a new pandemic is next 

After more than three years and 1.1 million deaths, the United States on Thursday ended the public health emergency for COVID-19—and Congress is attempting to better prepare for a possible resurgence of that virus or another.

How ending the federal public health emergency will impact your business 

The Department of Health and Human Services will end the federal public health emergency for COVID-19 on May 11, because of a decline in...

GOP-led House committee targets pandemic relief dollars for review 

More than 1,000 people have pleaded guilty or have been convicted on federal charges of defrauding the myriad COVID-19 relief programs that Congress established in the early days of the pandemic.

COVID policies your company should keep long term

As the three-year COVID-19 mark approaches, it's understandable that some companies may be eager to ditch their early pandemic policies and get back to...

Louisiana schools using COVID funding for capital expenditures 

Louisiana public schools are spending millions in COVID-19 relief funding on new classrooms, cafeteria expansions, teacher bonuses, and HVAC renovations, The Center Square reports. 

What eight people who quit their jobs are doing one year later

The Great Resignation neared its peak one year ago when more than 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs. Some left for higher pay, while...

Millions of US workers are dealing with long COVID 

It’s one of numerous papers, surveys, and studies attempting to assess the effect of long COVID on workers, businesses and the overall economy.

LSU study finds football players recover quickly from COVID 

A  study conducted in collaboration with LSU’s kinesiology and athletics departments, Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Our Lady of the Lake researched how the...

Companies quietly rolling back vaccine mandates 

Some large U.S. companies are rolling back mandates for employee COVID-19 vaccination, but few are making official public statements about it, Axios reports.  The moves...

Baton Rouge PPP trends exemplify shifts in the program over the pandemic 

The experiences of Baton Rouge businesses with the Paycheck Protection Program illustrate how the federal program changed from its first year to its second,...

COVID vaccine required for most Louisiana college students  

Most Louisiana public universities will require the COVID-19 vaccine this fall, though a liberal vaccine exemption policy offered through state law also will also...

What businesses need to know as COVID cases rise

Every time you think it's safe to hatch plans and put COVID-19 behind you, another variant crops up to spoil your efforts.  This time it's...

Ochsner Health back to requiring masks amid latest COVID surge

Ochsner Health will enforce mask-wearing in all common and patient care areas for employees, patients and visitors, the system announced Friday. 

LSU drops COVID-19 vaccine mandate 

LSU sent out notes to students for the upcoming fall semester indicating that being vaccinated for COVID-19

SBA doled out $390B in loans at rates that won’t be seen again for...

Small business owners who took out disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration over the past two years were able to cut quite...

Congress examines massive fraud involving pandemic aid to small businesses

A congressional panel today will examine payouts under a federal coronavirus pandemic aid program intended to help small businesses

Bill would block NOLA-style COVID-19 vaccine requirements in Louisiana

A key step taken by the city of New Orleans to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic would be prohibited under legislation approved Tuesday by a House committee.