Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana has announced its not moving forward with a merger with Elevance Health. The Indiana-based company was attempting to buy the non profit health insurance company for two-point-five billion dollars. Several lawmakers were concerned about this deal. Blue Cross says its stakeholders need more time and information to understand the benefits of the changes proposed.

Love is in the air on this Valentine’s Day and it’s making a dent in the economy with a record 25 billion dollars expected to be spent on gifts this year. That’s according to the National Retail Federation and Vice President of Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen says that’s the third highest dollar figure in their survey’s history.
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Consumers plan to spend on average $186 for Valentine’s Day this year, that’s up almost $8 more than the average spending over the last five years.

Today marks the first day of Lent and during the Lenten season many Christians give up something like sweets or alcohol. LSU Professor of religious studies Michael Pasquier…
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Many Christians abstain from meat during Lent, especially today and on Fridays. Crawfish is in short supply, but Harlon Pearce, owner of Harlon’s L-A Fish in Kenner, says there are plenty of other seafood choices like crabs, oysters and shrimp. He says fish is also a great choice during Lent…
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When it comes to crawfish, Pearce says give it give another month or so and there should be more mudbugs available.