Officials gathered in Lutcher today for a signing ceremony that sets into motion the construction of a $760 million flood protection project for the river parishes. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Thanks to a computer upgrade, the Louisiana Health Department has notified 37-thousand Medicaid recipients they may no longer be eligible for the taxpayer funded program, because they make too much money. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”
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An agreement to begin construction on a $760 million flood protection project estimated to benefit more than 60,000 people in river parish region has been signed. Congressman Garret Graves says the west shore of Lake Pontchartrain project will consist of 18.5 miles of earthen levees and floodwalls… .
Cut 3 (10) “…the last several years.”
Communities on the west shore of Lake Pontchartrain saw extensive flooding during Hurricane Isaac in 2012. Graves says it’s estimated this massive flood control project can reduce annual damaged from flooding by 865-million dollars over the next 50 years….
Cut 4 (12) “…of the interstate″
Graves says for 45 years the state has been attempting to gain the funding for the project and says construction should begin later this year.
Cut 5 (08)“…being made here.”
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Thousands of Medicaid patients have been told they are no longer eligible for the program after a new computer system showed they no longer meet the income requirements for the government health insurance. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says the new program automatically confirms your wages and income with Workforce Development and other agenices…
Cut 6 (10) “…information”
Gee says the usual turnover for Medicaid is 18,000 people a month, and after running the entire database, this month was 37,000.
The Secretary says most of those who no longer qualify are still considered low-wage and income workers, and may qualify for Obamacare subsidies.
Cut 7 (09) “…for it.”
All of those removed from the program qualified under the 2016 Medicaid expansion and are non-elderly adults.
Gee says the new system of checks also will make it easier for prospective Medicaid recipients to figure out whether or not they qualify.
Cut 8 (08) “…navigate.”
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The Edwards administration has presented state lawmakers with a proposed 30-billion dollar spending plan for next fiscal year that would give teachers a pay raise and increase funding for education and health care. But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says funding remains uncertain, because an official forecast that shows increased revenues coming into the state has yet to be adopted
Cut 9 (08) “…recognized.”
State economists project higher tax collections than previously estimated, but Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras has blocked efforts to raise the income forecast. Barras says the economy is volatile and the Revenue Estimating Conference has been wrong before, so why not wait…
Cut 10 (05)“…smaller and smaller”
But Dardenne says eventually state lawmakers will need an official forecast in order to make decisions on funding…
Cut 11 (06) “…do that.”
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Thursday was the deadline for the owner of a million dollar Powerball ticket to claim their prize. The ticket was sold in New Orleans for the August 25th drawing. So did someone show up at Louisiana Lottery headquarters to claim the prize? Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison has the answer.
Cut 12 (05) “…claim the prize.”
Annison says it’s rare that winnings of this magnitude go unclaimed. The prize money will now go into the unclaimed prize fund.
Cut 13 (05) “…throughout the years.”
Annison says the excitement around the lottery headquarters was high as the staff waited to see if anyone would show up in time to claim the prize.
Cut 14 (06) “…it’s surprising.”