We are a month away from a gubernatorial primary that hasn’t provided many fireworks. Teiko Foxx has the story…
Cut 1 (32)……I’m Teiko Foxx”
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A new state audit finds the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services can improve incoming hotline calls for child abuse and neglect. Teiko Foxx has more
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”
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A lawsuit seeking transparency of how FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 flood insurance rates are calculated will be heard in federal court in New Orleans today. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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We are one month away from the gubernatorial primary and still not a lot of buzz over the governor’s race. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says if you have to give a lot of credit to the front-runner Jeff Landry for keeping this a mundane race…
Cut 4 (06) “…gaining on him.”
Recent polls show Landry and Democrat Shawn Wilson in a good position to face off in a run-off. Stockley says the other candidates need to campaign hard in order to overtake Wilson for a second-place finish in the primary…
Cut 5 (12) “…with the state.”
There is a statewide TV debate tomorrow night featuring all seven major candidates. But Stockley says the problem with the debate is that it’s on a Friday night…
Cut 6 (09) “…gubernatorial debate”
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A state audit reveals the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services needs to improve the handling of calls for child abuse and neglect hotline. That includes the average time to answer calls and the number of calls abandoned over the last five years. DCFS Secretary Terri Ricks says the agency needs 14 additional staffers to help lessen the seven-minute wait.
Cut 7 (12) “…are needed.”
The audit found early 19 percent of people who called to report child abuse last year hung up while waiting for someone to pick up. Ricks says the agency will research best practices for speed to answer calls. She says callers do not have to abandon the call – there are call prompts for staffers to return the call.
Cut 8 (11) “…available again.”
The agency aims for staff to answer 66 percent of hotline calls without the caller needing to leave a voicemail. Auditors found that staff answered only 60 percent of calls last year. Ricks says they will monitor outcomes daily to better the performance targets.
Cut 9 (12) “…the information”
If you know a Louisiana child is being abused or neglected, call 855-4LA-KIDS.
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In New Orleans this morning a lawsuit seeking transparency of FEMA’s flood insurance rates will be heard. Legal action was filed after multiple failed inquiries into how FEMA calculates Risk Rating 2.0 flood insurance rates for property owners. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon…
Cut 10 (11) “…individual properties.”
Donelon says under the previous guidelines, rates were based upon elevation, certified levees, pumping capacity, and things that were encouraged for decades back to 1965. It was in the aftermath of Hurricane Betsy that private companies stopped offering flood insurance. Donelon says rates before Risk Rating 2.0 were transparent.
Cut 11 (10) “…etc.”
Donelon says billions were spent by both the federal and local governments to accommodate the previous requirements and improve flood resistance by communities.
Now he says rates are supposedly based on the so-called risk of your individual home, separate and apart, priced individually.
As for if Donelon believes Attorney General Jeff Landry, who’s leading the lawsuit against the federal government will be successful…
Cut 12 (10) “…is try.”
In addition to Louisiana, nine other states, as well as 43 parishes, 12 levee boards, and two municipalities are suing FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration declaring the new rating system for setting flood insurance premiums unlawful.
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US Senator Bill Cassidy is sponsoring bipartisan legislation, the Savings Penalty Elimination Act, to protect individuals who receive supplemental security income (SSI) from losing their benefits for simply working hard. It’s the first push to reform the program in almost 40 years. Cassidy says it…
Cut 13 (12) “…after that.”
SSI was created in the 1970s to provide additional income for disabled and elderly Americans. Cassidy says the current cap of $2,000 was set in the 1980s.
Cut 14 (11) “…to inflation.”
Cassidy says the current cap is a negative work incentive, and it deprives a disabled person of the dignity of work.
Cut 15 (07) “…poverty.”
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LSU and Mississippi State kick off at 11 AM on Saturday. The Tigers did not play well in a pair of 11 a.m. kickoffs last year. They got behind early to Tennessee last October and fell to the Volunteers 40-13 and played a sluggish game on a cold day in November in Fayetteville, but still beat Arkansas 13-10. Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo knows they need to bring the juice this Saturday.
Cut 16 (12) “…ready for it.”
LSU will go up against Mississippi State’s 3-3-5 defense, which means three defensive linemen, three linebackers, and five defensive backs. This unit forced five turnovers in an overtime win over Arizona last Saturday. The Bulldogs defense also had nine tackles for a loss, eight pass breakups, and one sack. LSU offensive lineman Emery Jones says the Dogs like to move people around at the line of scrimmage.
Cut 17 (21) “…some runs.”
LSU also has to prepare for thousands of fans ringing cowbells. This is receiver Malik Nabers’ second trip to Davis Wade Stadium and he remembers what it sounds like…
Cut 18 (18) “…my job done.”
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Louisiana Tech hosts former Conference USA foe North Texas this Saturday night at Joe Aillet Stadium. The Bulldogs are coming off a 51-21 win over Northwestern State. Bulldogs Quarterback Hank Bachmeier wants to finish off more drives with a touchdown…
Cut 19 (21) “…right direction.”
North Texas is still looking for its first win as they have losses against Cal and FIU. They beat Tech 47 to 27 last year and Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie says they bring back a lot of their skill position players…
Cut 20 (21) “…on offense.”