Major news this morning…as Blue Cross Blue Shield has back out of its plan to sell to Elevance Health. Several lawmakers like Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Patrick McMath believed it was a bad deal for Blue Cross’s one-point-nine million policyholders…
cut 12 (14) “…in Louisiana”
The Louisiana Department of Insurance has cancelled a two-day public hearing on the proposed sale that was set to begin today.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of 40 days of Lent. LSU Professor of Religious Studies, Michael Pasquier says this is the Christian holy season leading up to Easter…
cut 13 (10) “…of Jesus”

Catholics, Methodists, Lutherns and Episcopalians are the major religious groups that abstain from eating meat today and Fridays during the Lenten season. Many turn to crawfish during this time of year, but owner Harlon Pearce of Harlon’s L-A Fish in Kenner says mudbugs are expensive because of a low supply…
cut 7 (11) “….have crawfish”

It’s also Valentine’s Day. Vice president of consumer insights at the National Retail Federation, Katherine Cullen says consumers plan to spend a total 25-billion dollars to celebrate Valentine’s Day…
cut 5 (08) “….greeting cards”
Consumers expect to spend 185-dollars on average, nearly eight dollars more than the average Valentine’s Day spending over the last five years.