The state’s homeowner insurer of last resort is asking for a 63-percent rate increase. A coalition of realtors says if it’s approved it will price some homeowners right out of their homes. Marsanne Golsby has more.
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby.”
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With a total of 33 severe cases of West Nile, Louisiana is fourth in the nation for the virus. Whitney Thomas has more
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”
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Because New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell refuses to reimburse the city for her travel expenses to France, councilman JP Morrell and other council members are working on a plan to recoup the more than $43 thousand in expenses.
Cut 3 (09) “…when we do the budget.”
Morrell says Cantrell’s expenses set a horrible precedent on two levels; one is that elected officials should be treated differently than city employees and second in a city that faces tremendous costs with an $80 million crime plan coming up and a 70% increase in sanitation…
Morrell says while the travel to France was in some semi-official capacity for the city, he believes Cantrell could have used a portion of her more than $1 million in campaign funds to finance the trip.
A recall effort is also underway to have Cantrell removed from office.
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New Orleans Realtors are asking the insurance commissioner to put the brakes on a 63-percent rate hike for 100 thousand Louisiana homeowners that have insurance with Citizens Insurance.
Realtor Cody Caudill (pronounced coddle) is part of a coalition trying to stabilize the housing market.
Louisiana Citizens is the state’s insurer of last resort. Citizens is asking for the increase to be effective on January 1st.
And the problem doesn’t just affect New Orleans. More insurance companies are pulling out of the state, becoming insolvent, or refusing to write policies south of I-12.
But Caudill sees signs of improvement in the insurance market. He says they have indications a couple of private insurers will return to the market if we can make it through this hurricane season without a major storm.
Donelon says he will decide based on what the numbers show about the need for an increase.
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Louisiana has the fourth highest rate of West Nile in the country according to the CDC. A total of 33 cases, and 3 West Nile fever cases have been reported. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says there are ways to avoid catching West Nile.
More people are at risk due to the high number of positive pool samples in the Northshore area. Only 1% of people with West Nile contract severe symptoms from the virus. The five individuals diagnosed with severe neurological disease caused by the virus this year have died. Dr. Kanter says the symptoms are hard to miss…
Cut 10 (13) “…difficulty walking.”
Dr. Kanter says protecting yourself and your home will make a difference
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SWEPCO is constructing its first solar farm to supply customers in North Caddo Parish with renewable energy. PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell praised the utility provider’s efforts to help lower energy costs for some 12-thousand homes with the plant.
Cut 12 (09) “…all around the state.”
The SWEPCO solar facility will be built just outside of Hosston and Foster says it also sets a good example that Louisiana is using more renewable sources of energy.
Foster says the installation of more renewable energy sources not only benefits the state environmentally, but it also entices more companies and families to relocate to the Bayou State.