Louisiana ranked 50th in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 Best States, and here’s Sean Richardson to take a look at why.
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The fate of Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe remains to be seen since Steward Health Care declared bankruptcy. Brooke Thorington has more from State Representative Michael Echols.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Minors might be able to work long hours without having to take a mandatory 20-minute meal break as a result of legislation moving closer to final legislative passage. Brooke Thorington has the story…
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Dead last is what Louisiana was ranked out of the 50 states for the second year in a row in US News and World Report’s 2024 Best States report. Managing Editor for Government Rankings Gary Emerling…
Some factors contributing to the poor ranking are Louisiana factories putting more than three-thousand pounds of industrial toxins per square mile compared to the national average of just over 900. Nearly one-third of Louisiana roads are in poor condition and a high crime rate.
Cut 5 (08) “…juvenile incarceration.”
But there were some positive takeaways from the ranking. Pre-K through 12th grade has improved to 40th from 46th in 2019. He says more children under the age of five are also spending time in an education setting…
Cut 6 (03) “…pre-school enrollment for sure.”
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With the future of Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe in peril, Representative Michael Echols says the Dallas-based owner, Steward Health Care, is solely to blame for the hospital declaring bankruptcy. He says the possible closure would have a huge impact on the community.
Cut 7 (11) “…Steward Health group.”
The company says they intend to sell by the end of June. But complicating the issue is that the building and land are owned by Medical Properties Trust. Echols says once the leaders at Steward are investigated…
As for a prospective buyer, Echols says he’s been told the medical community has reached out to Ochsner, Willis-Knighton, and other regional medical facilities.
Glenwood has been cited repeatedly by the Louisiana Department of Health for putting patients in immediate jeopardy of harm. A statement from Steward Health Care said they do not expect interruptions in daily operations due to filing for bankruptcy.
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Legislation is moving closer to final passage that would end the requirement for employers to give minor workers at least a 20-minute meal break if they work five hours or more. Denham Springs Republican Representative Roger Wilder says the state should not hold back teen workers who want to put in the hours…
Wilder’s legislation has already passed the House and it received unanimous approval from the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday. Wilder says he’s been speaking with young workers about staying on the clock for long periods of time…
Wilder also points out that kids in school go for a long period of time, especially if they are involved in extracurricular activities…
The bill heads to the full Senate for final passage.
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According to the Violence Policy Center in 2022, Louisiana ranked second in the nation for gun deaths. Kristen Rand with VPC says states with weak firearm laws and higher gun ownership consistently have higher gun death rates.
Mississippi ranked first for the most gun death rates followed by Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, and Missouri.
VPC says the numbers for 2022 indicate 53-percent of homes in Louisiana have firearms and the gun death rate is 28 per 100,000. Rand says for the Bayou State, this is nothing new…
While the number of firearm homicides in the country decreased by six-percent from 2021 to 2022, gun suicides increased by almost three-percent in 2022. Rand says studies show if you survive a suicide attempt, you’re less likely to try again and that means matter. Meaning if you use a more lethal method, which tends to be a firearm you’re more likely to complete suicide.
Rhode Island had the lowest gun death rate of three persons per 100,000 and household gun ownership was almost 15-percent.
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Cut 16 (06) “…more and more bizarre.”
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Cut 17 (17) “…we’re doing that”
Cut 18 (20) “… we’re in the fight.”
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