A report from America’s Health Rankings says Louisiana seniors have the worst health outcomes in the nation. Michael Farrar has the story.
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State troopers from Louisiana and Mississippi are working together to promote highway safety. Becca Dill has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Becca Dill”
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A tax plan to address the fiscal cliff that would require 126 million in cuts to balance the budget is the only bill to escape a House committee. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Red Snapper season is now underway, with a two fish bag limit and 16 inch catch minimum in place for anglers looking to head out on the waters. This season should be even more convenient than past years, as federal waters have been ceded to the state. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Finfish Program Manager Jason Adriance says that means…
Cut 4 (10) “commissioned sets”
The season will run seven days a week until 743,000 pounds are harvested.
Adriance says the expanded season and more open waters mean fishermen get more flexibility to pick and choose their times.
Cut 5 (08) “like this”
And before you head out, LDWF is encouraging sportsmen to check into their new electronic reporting system on their recreational offshore permit page. Adriance says the new, voluntary program is in place to improve the quality of LDWF’s research and reporting.
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An America’s Health Rankings has Louisiana ranked dead last in the nation for the quality of senior’s health. The report detailed the particularly perilous situation that many of Louisiana’s rural seniors find themselves in, relative to urban based elderly. Dr. Rhonda Randall with the United Health Foundation says senior obesity rates are up 26 percent in the last five years.
Cut 7 (10) “of seniors”
Louisiana seniors were particularly vulnerable to social isolation, which isn’t just the distance from other people, but whether or not they have any routine social interaction. Randall says they’ve found states with the worst isolation tend to be the lowest rated in other categories as well.
Cut 8 (08) “this year”
Randall says after identifying two major problem areas, social isolation and obesity, she hopes the report can spur people into action.
Cut 9 (08) “as individuals”
In the six years the report has been released, Louisiana has never ranked higher than 47th.
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Amidst increased Memorial Day weekend travel, Louisiana Troopers are partnering with Mississippi Highway Patrol in a new highway safety initiative called “Line to Line.” Trooper Dustin Dwight says the program is designed as a high-visibility.
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More troopers on the road will hopefully reduce the number of crashes and help respond time. Trooper Dwight says the goal of the program is to keep motorists safe during increased travel times.
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Trooper Dwight advises drivers to remain vigilant on the road during peak holiday traffic.
Cut 12 (09) “of driving”
“Line to Line” will begin on Friday, May 25th and last until Monday, May 28th.
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House GOP Caucus Chairman Lance Harris’s tax bill passed House Ways and Means and is on it’s way to the floor. The proposal would retain one third of the expiring penny sales tax, as well as a few other sales tax breaks, and cut government spending by 126 million dollars. Harris says this is the compromise legislation that would get the votes needed to go into law.
Cut 13 (10) “in cuts”
Harris’s legislation would raise 366 million dollars in revenue.
Harris says the proposal does not fill the 648 million dollar budget gap that has brought legislators into the second special session of the year. The Alexandria Republican says it’s time to start cutting government spending.
Cut 14 (07) “a row”
House Republicans voted down Governor Edwards’ legislative agenda to renew a portion of the expiring sales taxes. The administration’s favored plan, New Iberia Representative Terry Landry’s tax bill, would have raised 543 million dollars.
But Monroe Representative Democrat Marcus Hunter says Harris’s proposal has deep cuts that would damage the economy, and lead to mass layoffs of public sector workers.
Cut 15 (11) “those cuts”
The fiscal cliff is the result of one point four billion dollars in expiring sales taxes that were put into place two years ago to address the last budget crisis.
Hunter came out strong against the bill. He says people deserve to know exactly where those 126 million dollars in cuts would land.
Cut 16 (05) “be realized”
The special session ends June 4th.