• Louisiana health officials reported 234 new coronavirus cases today, bringing the total to 43,050 confirmed cases statewide.
• Research from genetic-testing giant 23andMe Inc. found differences in a gene that influences a person’s blood type can affect a person’s susceptibility to COVID-19, Bloomberg reports.
• The Capital Area Court Appointed Special Advocate Association has received a $50,000 Community Crisis & Disaster Response Grant from The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation. The grant will help CASA volunteers continue their work for abused and neglected children in foster care during the ongoing public health emergency.
• Scores of shale drilling companies turned off wells to reduce output when U.S. oil prices fell to negative territory in late April. Now that more of the world is reopening and prices are rebounding, companies are starting to turn some of those wells back on, even as they continue to put off most new drilling, The Wall Street Journal reports.
• Americans are starting to get away again, and it’s reportedly causing a spike in Airbnb vacation rentals. The number of nights booked in the U.S. was higher from May 17 to June 3 compared with the same weeks in 2019, according to Airbnb via Bloomberg. USA Today has the full story.
Read more stories on how the coronavirus is impacting the Baton Rouge business community. See a roundup of resources available to those impacted by the pandemic. Click here to see a 225 magazine list of local restaurants offering patio seating or indoor dining during phase two of reopening.
