A bill to ban the release of most mug shots passes the Louisiana House. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Legislation to limit the number of insurance adjusters for a single claim to three, produces more questions than answers in the Senate Insurance Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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The Louisiana House approves legislation that would prohibit the release of an arrestee’s mug shot before they are convicted. New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis says mug shots are prejudicial…
Cut 3 (07) “..undermines that”
Duplessis has a few exceptions to his legislation if the person is a fugitive or police determine the individual is an imminent threat. But Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews is concerned the banning of mug shots will have a negative impact on public safety…
Duplessis says the release of a mug shot before a conviction can cause irreversible harm to a person, especially if the criminal charges are dropped…
The measure passed on a 75-21 vote and heads to the Senate for more discussion.
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After the Department of Veterans Affairs recommended the closure of the Alexandria VA Medical Center in Pineville last month, Congresswoman Julia Letlow reached out to VA Secretary Denis McDonough. Letlow says she told him closing the hospital is unacceptable.
The report suggests relocating some VA services to a new outpatient clinic in the vicinity of Alexandria and that the current 1950 constructed facility would cost an estimated $157 million to correct to current standards.
After meeting with him personally, Letlow says she’s encouraged by the open dialogue she’s established with Secretary McDonough about the VA facility in the 5th Congressional District.
The report states the estimated enrolled veteran population for CenLa is expected to decline by 288 over a ten-year period and that along with construction costs led to the recommendation of closure. The same report also called for a complete rebuild of the VA Medical Center in Shreveport.
Letlow says she will continue to meet with McDonough in an effort to keep the Pineville facility open.
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Louisiana is receiving $40 million in federal grant funding for flood mitigation. It’s part of the “Swift Current” initiative that’s funded by President Biden’s Infrastructure law that’s allocating $60 million to four states impacted by Hurricane Ida. FEMA spokesperson Melissa Wilkins says the money will assist disaster survivors whose homes flood repeatedly.
To be eligible buildings must be insured through the National Flood Insurance Program to be considered for the funding opportunity.
Wilkins says the goal of the program is to help homeowners get protection for their structures.
Wilkins says FEMA has reduced the grant application process by developing pre-calculated benefits for those eligible for mitigation projects. The application process is open now until October 3rd.
Cut 11 (08) “…floodplain manager.”
For more information visit grants.gov and search Swift Current.
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The Senate Insurance Committee discusses whether there should be a law on the number of adjusters an insurance company use for a single claim. Executive Director for Real Reform Louisiana Eric Holl says after the recent hurricanes some policyholders have dealt with over a dozen adjusters
Cut 12 (09) “…south Louisiana”
New Orleans Senator Joseph Bouie has a bill that would limit the number of adjusters for a single claim to three. But Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says an adjuster can be anyone that touches a case and limiting the number of adjusters could end up hurting the consumer
Cut 13 (13) “…whatever number”
Senate Insurance Chairman Kirk Talbot says “adjuster churning” needs to be addressed, but multiple adjusters have been needed in some cases, because the state has been hit by multiple hurricanes during a pandemic and finding licensed adjusters is also difficult…
After hearing concerns about his bill, Bouie says he’ll tighten up the language and bring it back before the committee at a later date, but believes there should be a limit on the number of adjusters that work on a single claim…