Governor Bobby Jindal is looking at selling the remainder of a multi-billion dollar settlement from tobacco manufacturers to help the state’s budget problems. The Jindal administration says it could be used finance the TOP’s scholarship program for the next seven to eight years, but State Treasurer John Kennedy doesn’t like this idea…

cut 13 (10) “through a goose”

The money under discussion is from a 1998 settlement.

Latest employment numbers show that there were 7500 less people working in January than in December in Louisiana, ending a long streak of monthly employment gains. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink says it’s not unusual to see a decline in jobs at the start of the year…

cut 10 (10) “usually are shed”

At 7 percent the unemployment rate for January ranked as the third highest among states.

Residents will soon have to pay more for flood insurance. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the increases are the result of changes to the National Flood Insurance Program that were passed by Congress last year. He says the premium hikes for primary residences are capped at 18-percent each year…

cut 7 (08) “a higher premium”

He says premium increases for second residences, commercial, and rental properties are capped at 25-percent per year. In addition to the rate increases, property owners will have to pay a surcharge, $25 per year for your primary residence and $250 for businesses, rentals, or secondary residences. Donelon says the increases will go into effect April 1.