A fight is brewing between state lawmakers, who passed a bill allowing telemedicine visits for medical cannabis prescriptions and the state Board of medical Examiners, who says doctors must first see the patient in-person. Gretna Representative Joe Marino is the law’s author. He says he wants the attorney general to make a ruling, because the current dispute hurts rural residents, who rely on telemedicine…:

CUT 05  (10)        “…smaller group.”

The Senate Health & Welfare committee will also discuss the disagreement this week.

The Secretary of State’s office predicts only about 15 percent of registered voters will cast a ballot in the December 10^th election. Deputy Secretary of State Joel Watson says roughly 115-thousand of us cast early votes or voted absentee…:

CUT 06(09)      “…for the election.”

District 1 Congressman Steve Scalise says he’ll work on fixing the ever-rising cost of National Flood Insurance in his next term. FEMA’s “Risk Rating 2.0” rate formula has meant drastically high premium increases for thousands of Louisianans. Some had to just give it up. Scalise says the House passed a flood insurance reform bill years ago, but it was killed in the Senate. He aims to revive that bill…:

CUT 11(05)      “…and make it work.”

Look for hot and sweaty pre-Christmas weather for the next week at least. State Climatologist Barry Keim says afternoon highs will range from the 70’s, then the mid-60’s…then into the 80’s. The reason? Warm wet air from the Gulf…:

CUT 12(10)      “…entire state.”

Keim says the warm will be with us for about another week.

Trial began today for a Baton Rouge woman accused of poisoning two men; her husband and a long-term boyfriend. Meshell Hale allegedly killed Damian Skipper in 2015. An autopsy detected the poison in his system. She’s also accused of killing husband Arthur Noflin in 2016 by a similar method. Noflin has a $750-thousand insurance policy, with Hale as sole beneficiary.

It may be Christmastime, but warm and muggy weather is expected across Louisiana for about the next week. Stat Climatologist Barry Keim says temperatures are running about 15 degrees above normal for early December, and Thursday we should see afternoon highs in the 80’s. After Thursday however, things will cool off a little bit…:

CUT 14          (11)    “…above normal.”

He says moisture from the Gulf is causing all this heat and humidity.

District 1 Congressman Steve Scalise says fixing the ever-rising cost of federal flood insurance is a priority for his next term in the U.S. House…:

CUT 02          (29)    “…Gallagher.”

Another Louisiana high school was locked down today for yet another threat. This time it was Port Barre High, where a bomb threat NOTE was posted on a bathroom wall. This is that school’s third threat in two weeks. Numerous schools across the state have had bomb threats and threats of violence made against them.

Only about 15-percent of registered voters have voted or are expected to vote in Saturday’s election. Ballots statewide will have three important constitutional amendments to decide, plus some runoffs and other local initiatives. Deputy Secretary of State Joel Watson says about 115-thousand people have early voted; 47-percent Democrat and 39-percent Republican…:

CUT 08  (11)        “…Election Day.”

Polls open Saturday at 7 am and close at 8 pm. Sampler ballots and poll locations are online at ”GeauxVote.org”

Warm, muggy and sometimes wet weather will pervade over the next several days across Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says highs in the 70 and upper 60’s will be with us a while…:

CUT 13(07)      “…of Louisiana.”

He says it’ll be about a week before we see any really cooler temperatures.

A state lawmaker seeks a legal opinion on whether medical marijuana patients can get a prescription through telemedicine. Marsanne Golsby has more…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby.”

Despite a season that saw them go from unranked to leading the SEC West, LSU is outranked by Tulane in the AP regular season college football poll. The Green Wave finished 11-2, while the Tigers finished 9-4. By number: Tulane #14, LSU 16.

A state lawmaker seeks a legal opinion on whether medical marijuana patients can get a prescription through telemedicine. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 1(30)  “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

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District 1 Congressman Steve Scalise says fixing the ever-rising cost of federal flood insurance is a priority for his next term in the U.S. House…:

Cut 2 (29)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher..”

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The author of a law allowing telemedicine appointments for new medical marijuana patients says the state board that governs doctors cannot stop doctors from prescribing medical marijuana to new telemedicine patients without an in-person visit first. Gretna state Representative Joe Marino is the author of the law.

Cut 3 (10) “..this program.” 

The Board of Medical Examiners recently refused to change its policy about telemedicine and new medical marijuana patients. Marino says he is seeking an attorney general’s opinion today.

Cut 4 (07)  “…person visit” 

Marino says the board’s decision has a chilling effect on doctors who won’t risk their medical licenses if the rules are unclear. He says the confused situation hurts rural patients the most because they rely on telemedicine.

Cut 5 (10) “…smaller group”

The Senate Health & Welfare Committee is scheduled to take up the matter Wednesday.

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The Secretary of State’s office predicts up to 15 percent of registered voters will cast a ballot in the December 10^th election. Deputy Secretary for Outreach Joel Watson says 110-thousand votes were cast for early voting either in person or by absentee ballot from November 26th through December third.

Cut 6 (09)  “…for the election.”

Watson says just under 39-thousand votes were absentee ballots. When you compare the predicted turnout for this election to previous December elections Watson says it’s about on track. In 2018 he says turnout was almost 18 percent and in 2020 after the presidential election when there was a congressional runoff and amendments on the ballot.

Cut 7 (04)  “…for that race.”

When you look at the party breakdown for the early voting for the December 10^th election Watson says 47 percent were Democrat and 39 percent Republican. He says typically more Democrats vote early and there are more registered Democrats in the state versus Republicans.

Cut 8 (11)  “…election day.“

Polls open Saturday at 7 am and close at 8 pm. For more information and your voting location visit GeauxVote.com

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District 1 Congressman Steve Scalise says he’ll work to reform the federal flood insurance program in the next Congress. FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 pricing system has kicked in; causing dramatic increases in flood coverage for tens of thousands of Louisianans. Scalise says that’ll be one of his projects for 2023…:

Cut 9 (10) “….and taxpayers.” 

Scalise says flood rates have increased so dramatically that untold numbers of homeowners have had to let their flood insurance coverage lapse because they simply cannot afford it any longer. He says FEMA has been reluctant to even explain the sharp spike in rates to Congress…:

Cut 10 (10) “…that’s unacceptable.” 

Scalise says House republicans passed a National Flood Insurance program reform bill a few years ago to control rising costs, but it was killed in the Senate. He aims to revive that bill…:

Cut 11 (05)  “…and make it work.”

_______________________________________________

While it might be beginning to look a lot like Christmas, it sure isn’t feeling like it. The Bayou State is experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures for December and State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’re getting a lot of moisture off the Gulf right now.

Cut 12 (10) “…entire state.” 

With highs in the mid-70s today and under 70’s tomorrow, Keim says it’s not going to cool off anytime soon.

Cut 13 (07) “…of Louisiana.”  

Keim says temps are running about 15 degrees above normal for early December. After Thursday however, things will cool off a little bit.

Cut 14 (11)   “…above normal.”

The above average temps will persist for the next week.

While it might be beginning to look a lot like Christmas, it sure isn’t feeling like it. The Bayou State is experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures for December and State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’re getting a lot of moisture off the Gulf right now…:

CUT 12(10)      “…entire state.”

He says the above average temps will persist for the next week.

A fight is brewing between lawmakers who passed a medical marijuana law and a state board who seems to be contravening it. The Board of Medical Examiners says doctors MUST have an in-person visit with a patient BEFORE they can use tele-medicine to prescribe medical cannabis. The law says that’s NOT required. Gretna Representative Joe Marino says he’s asking the Attorney General’s office to render its opinion…:

CUT 04(07)      “…in-person visit.”

Marino authored the law.

District 1 Congressman Steve Scalise says he’ll work to reform the federal flood insurance program in the next Congress. FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 pricing system has kicked in; causing dramatic increases in flood coverage for tens of thousands of Louisianans. Scalise says flood rates have increased so dramatically that untold numbers of homeowners have had to let their flood insurance coverage lapse because they simply cannot afford it any longer. He says FEMA has been reluctant to even explain the sharp spike in rates to Congress…:

CUT 10(10)      “…that’s unacceptable.”

He means to revive a flood insurance reform bill that passed the House a few years ago, but failed in the Senate.

A Sabine Parish volunteer reserve Sheriff’s deputy has been fired, after he was arrested over the weekend in a huge barroom brawl in the town of Zwolle. Kobe Cartinez, of Many, is charged with 2^nd-degree battery. He is out on $8000 bond. Two other men were also arrested.

The Secretary of State’s office says only about 15-percent of Louisiana registered voters have early voted or will vote this Saturday. Deputy Secretary Joel Watson says December elections are usually low-turnout affairs. He says one of highest turnouts for a December election was 2020, when there was a congressional runoff and amendments on the ballot…:

CUT 07(03)      “…for that race.”

Polls open Saturday at 7 am and close at 8 pm. For more information and your voting location visit GeauxVote.com

District 1 Congressman Steve Scalise says he’ll work to reform the federal flood insurance program in the next Congress. FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 pricing system has kicked in; causing dramatic increases in flood coverage for tens of thousands of Louisianans. Scalise says that’ll be one of his projects for 2023…:

CUT 09(10)      “…and taxpayers.”

The author of a new law that says telemedicine can be used for doctors to prescribe medical marijuana says the state board that governs doctors cannot make rules that go against that law…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby.”

Police in Monroe say they responded to four overdoses deaths within a 2-day span, from December 1^st thru the 3^rd. On the MPD Facebook page they say all four are fentanyl-related. Detectives are working toward tracking down the source of the deadly drugs.

The author of a law allowing telemedicine appointments for new medical marijuana patients says the state board that governs doctors cannot stop doctors from prescribing medical marijuana to new telemedicine patients without an in-person visit first. Representative Joe Marino is the author of the law…:

CUT 03(10)      “…this program.”

Marino says he is seeking an Attorney General’s opinion today.

The Secretary of State’s office predicts up to 15 percent of registered voters will cast a ballot in the December 10^th election. Deputy Secretary for Outreach Joel Watson says 110-thousand votes were cast for early voting either in person or by absentee ballot from November 26th through December third…:

CUT 06(09)      “…for the election.”

A good old fashioned barroom brawl in the town of Zwolle led to the three arrests; one of them a Sabine Parish reserve deputy. That man, Kobe Cardinez, is charged with 2^nd degree battery, like the other two. All three had bond set at $8000.

The runoff election for Louisiana Public Service Commission District 3 is getting national attention—and a lot of money is being spent…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Golsby.”

With the holiday shopping season up and running for over a week now, economists are predicting spending this year to increase anywhere from six to eight percent from last year.  LSU Marketing Associate Professor Dan Rice says online shopping is up two percent from last year and the majority of online transactions are purchased via a smartphone versus a tablet.

Cut 14 (11)  “…mobile device.”

After losing in the SEC Championship game, LSU will have an opportunity to win its tenth game of the season in Orlando when they play Purdue in the Citrus Bowl on January second at noon. Coach Brian Kelly believes it’s already been a successful season winning the SEC West, but getting to ten wins would be really sweet…

Cut  16 (10)  “…about it.” 

Federal officials say inflation has slowed somewhat in recent weeks. But is it enough to be felt at street level, by the average consumer?

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Early voting tallies are in from the Secretary of State’s office. More than 110-thousand ballots were cast, about 65 percent were in person the remainder absentee. About 47 percent were registered Democrats and 39 percent were Republicans. For more voting locations for the December, 10^th elections visit geauxvote.com