The 2019 Senior Report is showing positive trends in health for many Louisiana residents 65 and over. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Gary Landrieu of the Landrieu family fame is running for governor as an Independent. Matt Doyle talked to the candidate…
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Advocates are at the Capitol today pushing lawmakers to pony up for more early childhood education funding. Matt Doyle has the story…
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A recent report from the United Health Foundation shows in the past six years, physical inactivity among those 65 and older has decreased by 18% in Louisiana. United Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rhonda Randall says the study indicates that now only 31.5% of that older group in Louisiana now say they are physically inactive.
Cut 4 (10) “… of daily living.”
Louisiana is not following national trends as many other states are flat or on the increase.
Randall says in Louisiana, hospice care use has increased by 20% over the past five years. There are also more in home health workers.
Cut 5 (11) “…terrific to see.”
Randall notes that there is a 43% increase in depression over the last six years. While the study doesn’t show the exact reason, there is a correlation of those seniors with chronic illnesses as well as there are many activities in a senior’s lifestyle that have shown links to increased depression.
Cut 6 (12) “…rates of depression.”
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The fall ballot will now feature a fourth name in the gubernatorial jungle primary, Independent Gary Landrieu, who is a cousin of former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu but holds starkly conservative views.
Landrieu says one of his first moves as governor would be to crackdown on undocumented immigrants by issuing an executive order…
Cut 7 (11) “…ICE.”
Landrieu accused candidate and Congressman Ralph Abraham of being a “Republican in Name Only”, called the Governor “Dumbbell”, and Eddie Rispone “The God Father”.
The Independent says his legislative agenda would focus on repealing the .45 percent sales tax passed in last year’s session, building a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, TORT reform, eliminating traffic light cameras, and…
Cut 8 (08) “…choice”
Landrieu ran for Congress against Cedric Richmond as a Democrat in 2012, losing with 25 percent of the vote.
The candidate admits his politics deviate significantly from the rest of his family’s, and as an independent he is an underdog candidate. But he says despite his family’s association with Democratic politics, he can use the name recognition to his advantage…
Cut 9 (09) “…personality.″
Landrieu was booked with aggravated battery in 2012 after allegedly grabbing a woman by the hair, and dragging her several feet alongside his car as he drove away.
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House Republicans push to undo a seven-year sales tax rate put in place in 2018 was successful in advancement of a bill following a 12-5 favorable vote in the House Appropriations Committee. Alexandria Rep. Lance Harris’s bill looks to eliminate the .45% state sales tax over four years. Despite government growth, Harris believes the money is better in the hands of the tax payers.
Cut 10 (10) “…as they want.”
But the bill has seen opposition from the Edwards’ administration as the Governor’s Executive Council Matthew Block says the government needs the tax revenue as often many pressing issues are brought up only to be told the state doesn’t have the money to spend.
Cut 11 (09) “…about infrastructure.”
Block says prior to the tax rate change, a discussion needs to be had as to where to make cuts in the state’s spending to accommodate the change.
Cut 12 (11) “…discussion with you.”
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Today is Early Childhood Education Day at the Capitol, and proponents are hoping to convince lawmakers to pump tens of millions more into a program that subsidizes early childhood programs for working class families.
Louisiana Policy Institute for Children executive director Melanie Bronfin says giving kids a good educational foundation is vital to their academic future.
Cut 13 (11) “…stay behind.”
She says 80 percent of brain development occurs prior to age 3.
Bronfin has previously called for an immediate 80-million-dollar investment, with an additional 80 million over ten years to insure all children in Louisiana can have high quality early childhood education. She says the return on investment for that would be 13 percent for every dollar invested.
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15,000 kids are in the early childhood subsidy program, down from 39,000 in 2008, but bronfin estimates even more families would take interest if the program was funded.
The issue has become a flash point at the capital, as Governor Edwards calls for 39 million in new K-12 education funding, but many Republicans say that money should go towards early childhood education. Bronfin says no successful educational program is successful without both…
Cut 15 (07) “those things.”
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After missing the last month with an elbow injury, freshman right-hander Cole Henry will start tonight in LSU’s SEC Tournament game against South Carolina. Coach Paul Mainieri says looked good in his last bullpen session
Cut 16 (21) “…throw five innings”
LSU has won a conference-high 12 tournament titles and the Tigers have won six of the past 11 SEC Tournament crowns. Pitcher Zack Hess says the team is looking forward to having more success in Hoover, Alabama
cut 17 (17) “make a run”
Aaron Fitt with D-1 baseball believes LSU needs to win a game or two to secure hosting an NCAA Regional…