The price at the pump continues to decline.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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Louisiana’s Medicaid program now has an automated online process that should speed up applications, and check wage eligibility for recipients more frequently. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “Im Matt Doyle.”  

Medicaid has come under fire in the wake of a Legislative Auditor’s report that showed the service may have paid up to 85 million in healthcare costs for people who were not wage eligible for the program at the time they received coverage, and today, Medicaid launched a new verification system that more frequently checks wage eligibility. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says this should prevent that in the future.

Cut 8 (07) “…a while.”

The online system will also provide instant feedback on applications to join Medicaid.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has released a new report highlighting the lack of recorded data published on police activity in Louisiana in reference to traffic stops.  S-P-L-C attorney Jamila Johnson says the goal is put together a structure that can be enforced and to get a better data about policing practices into the community.

Cut 11 (10) “…it wasn’t followed.”

The price at the pump continues to decline.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Two people are dead after being among four men that were shot last night on Gus Young Avenue in Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge Police Department spokesperson Sgt. L’Jean Mckneely says it’s a painful sight.

Cut 14 (08) “…in Baton Rouge.”

Authorities have identified one of the deceased as 42 year old Johnell Davis.

The state’s Medicaid program has launched a new enrollment and verification system online. The new program will check Medicaid recipients wage eligibility quarterly, instead of every 12 months. Because Medicaid uses your monthly income to determine eligibility that could result in more people being tossed off the program. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says if that happens, there is an appeals process in place.

Cut 7 (11) “…the program.”

The system will also provide instant feedback on applications to join Medicaid.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has released a new report highlighting the lack of recorded data published on police activity in Louisiana in reference to traffic stops.  S-P-L-C attorney Jamila Johnson says due to a lack of clear punishments for failures to follow the law, it’s difficult to get the compliance that is needed.

Cut 10 (11)   “…an enforcement mechanism.“

Two people are dead after being among four men that were shot last night on Gus Young Avenue in Baton Rouge. Authorities have identified one of the deceased as 42 year old Johnell Davis. The other is a 39 year old whose next of kin have not yet been notified.  Baton Rouge Police Department spokesperson Sgt. L’Jean Mckneely says the two other victims are expected to survive.

Cut 13 (06) “…all male victims.”

Mckneely says they are reviewing surveillance footage from the incident and are will be interviewing the survivors at a later time.

The price at the pump continues to decline.  The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.34 in Louisiana today, down nine cents since last week. Gas Buddy.com senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says some gas stations in the state are selling gas below $2 per gallon.

Cut 3 (05) “…Thanksgiving travel season”

Louisiana’s Medicaid program now has an automated online process that should speed up applications, and check wage eligibility for recipients more frequently..
Voicer 2 (30) “Im Matt Doyle.”

Gas prices continue to decline. Gasbuddy says the statewide average for regular gasoline is down to $2.34 and Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says the decline shows no sign of stopping…
cut 5 (10) “…new year”

The Southern Poverty Law Center has released a new report highlighting the lack of recorded data published on police activity in Louisiana in reference to traffic stops. S-P-L-C attorney Jamila Johnson says even though the records are mandatory, there is a nearly universal disregard for the data throughout Louisiana law enforcement.
Cut 9 (12) “…published its report.”
Johnson says the records on traffic stops helps bring transparency to policing efforts.

Two people are dead and two others wounded during a shooting last night in a deli parking lot on Gus Young Avenue in Baton Rouge. The motive and suspects are unknown at this time. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. L’Jean Mckneely describes the scene…
Cut 12 (12) “…deli meat market.”
McKneely says they are looking for two shooters. One of the deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Johnell Davis.

The state Medicaid Office has a new enrollment and verification system online today that provides instant feedback on whether or not you’re eligible, that’s for people who apply for the healthcare program online. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says it should cut down on wait times for applicants.

Cut 6, 11 seconds, that time

The new program will also check Medicaid recipients wage eligibility quarterly, instead of every 12 months.

The price at the pump continues to decline.  The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.34 in Louisiana today, down nine cents since last week, putting prices just two cents higher than a year ago.  Gas Buddy.com senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says there are two main contributing factors to the continued drop.

Cut 4 (11) “…bite pretty hard.″

Today is recognized as the Great American Smokeout, an observation started by the American Cancer Society in 1975.  Spokesperson for Louisiana’s Smoking Cessation Trust Jim Pittman says the observation was started in an effort to get tobacco users to kick the habit in favor of using money spent on smoking toward charity. According to a recent report, about 23% of adults in Louisiana smoke.  Pittman says he believes the organization is winning in the battle to get smokers to make the effort to quit.

Cut 11 (12) “…enrollees every month.”

To find more info, visit the organization’s website SmokeFreeLA.org

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces he’s running for re-election, putting an end to his flirtation with the 2019 governor’s race that started in late summer.

The price at the pump continues to decline. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.34 in Louisiana today, down nine cents since last week, putting prices just two cents higher than a year ago. Gas Buddy.com senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says some gas stations in the state are selling gas below $2 per gallon.
Cut 3 (05) “…Thanksgiving travel season”
DeHaan says the decline could be contributed to a decrease in oil prices.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis has announced the Gross Domestic Product grew in Louisiana for the second quarter of 2018, making it the 12th fastest economic growth in the nation, and third among the 12 states of the southeastern region. LSU economist Loren Scott says the state’s percentage rate of growth just barely outpaces the national average.
Cut 13 (12) “…nondurable goods manufacturing.”

US Representative Steve Scalise of Jefferson Parish has been elected as House Minority Whip in the next Congress. There was speculation Scalise might push for Minority Leader, but UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says that move could have tanked his popularity in the caucus…
cut 8 (06) “…aside”
A leadership vote for Speaker has not been held yet by the Democrats.

Today is the Great American Smokeout a day set aside for smokers to take this opportunity to quit smoking. Loisaina’s Smoking Cessation Trust has enrolled 97-thousand residents in its program since it was created in 2012. Spokesperson Jim Pittman…
cut 12 (07) “….addiction to cigarettes”
The smoking cessation program was created as part of the court settlement against big tobacco. Those who started smoking before September 1, 1988 can benefit from the cessation services.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis has announced the Gross Domestic Product grew in Louisiana for the second quarter of 2018, making it the 12th fastest economic growth in the nation, and third among the 12 states of the southeastern region.  LSU economist Loren Scott says Louisiana is way higher than the rest of the country in the contributions to the construction sector.

Cut 14 (09) “…our history frankly.”
Scott says the state’s percentage rate of growth just barely outpaces the national average.

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces he’s running for re-election, after dancing with the idea of running for governor in late summer. The former Republican Congressman has served in the office since 2016. Political Analyst Clancy DuBos says the declaration was unambiguous, and timely for a reason.

Cut 4 (09) “…attorney general″

Today is recognized as the Great American Smokeout, an observation started by the American Cancer Society in 1975.  Spokesperson for Louisiana’s Smoking Cessation Trust Jim Pittman says the observation was started in an effort to get tobacco users to kick the habit in favor of using money spent on smoking toward charity.

Cut 10 (09)   “…a favorite charity“

Shreveport Police have charged two teen suspects in the murder of a pizza delivery driver earlier this month.  When officers arrived at the scene of the shooting they found 28 year old Lester McGee with multiple gunshot wounds.  He later died at a medical facility.  Following the search for the responsible parties, investigators have apprehended a 16-year-old suspect and they are currently on the lookout for 13-year-old Anthony Mandigo.  Crimestoppers is offering a $1000 reward for information that leads to Mandigo’s arrest.