AM LRN Newscall March 5

Louisiana Workforce Commission has a new process for employers to report people who receive unemployment benefits who are no-shows or decline a job offer. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

_______________________________________________

There was a saying that life begins at 50. For St. John Parish Police Juror, Dixie Ramirez, Political life began at 90. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

____________________________________________

After debate over concealed carry without a permit that passed in the crime special session, a bill to clarify gun-free zones has a gun has been filed for the regular session. Brooke Thorington

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

______________________________________________

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says employers can now report job candidates who do not show up for interviews or refuse job offers on its website. LWC Secretary Susana Schowen says employers want to know if potential job seekers are acting in good faith when they apply for positions.

Cut 4 (12) “…to them.”

Schowen says employers are required to submit job applicants’ information on two forms. She says it’s a simple process and once the report is filed LWC will investigate the claim within three business days.

Cut 5 (12) “…from there.” 

Typically, the maximum weekly unemployment benefits someone would be eligible for is around $275. Schowen says this initiative helps to identify unemployment recipients who are abusing the system.

Cut 6 (12) “…they’re calendar.”

Anyone found avoiding job opportunities while collecting benefits could face disqualification from the program.

__________________________________________

It’s said that with age comes wisdom and if last year’s election of Police Juror Dixie Ramirez is any indication, the voters of St. John Parish must agree…

Cut 7 (10) “…the votes.”

Ramirez attended the 100th Louisiana Police Jurors Convention in Lake Charles.

Ramirez, a former business owner and Notary Public previously worked in government in the Clerk of Court’s Office and for the parish heading the Jobs Training program. But when a group of people asked her to run for office, Ramirez wasn’t sure she wanted to…

Cut 8 (09) “…to be doing.” 

Ramirez says there’s much to be done and things are changing fast. And she has something to say to women about getting involved in local politics…

Cut 9 (09)  “…is thriving.”

________________________________________________________

After a bill to allow non-felon adults to conceal carry without a permit in Louisiana passed in the special session, a lawmaker wants to provide more clarification to the law. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry says her bill would clearly define where one can and cannot carry instead of multiple laws she says can be conflicting.

Cut 10 (10) “…the language.”

Current law prohibits firearms in a bar or near a school, and then another law bans guns at parades, but Landy says vague language doesn’t define what “near” means and there are also concerns about one of the state’s most popular tourist destinations.

Cut 11 (11) “…French Quarter.” 

Landry says private businesses have always been allowed to prohibit employees and patrons from carrying firearms on their property.

But with the new concealed carry law, which doesn’t require training on how to use a gun nor education on state laws going into effect July 4th, Landry wants to provide clarification on where you can and cannot carry a firearm before Independence Day.

Cut 12 (11) “…bring it.” 

House Bill 627 would define that a firearm is prohibited within 1,000 feet of a parade or a demonstration at a government entity, for example, a rally at the state capitol.

_______________________________________________________

March is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month and colorectal cancer is on the rise among adults under 55. GI Alliance Gastroenterologist Doctor Charles Berggreen says more millennials develop abnormal growths called polyps in the ascending portion of the colon.

Cut 13 (11)  “…left side of the colon.”

Cancer rates in people younger than 50 years of age have been increasing by one percent to two percent a year since the mid-1990s, according to the American Cancer Society.

Berggreen says colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men under 55. While it’s unknown why there is an uptick in colorectal cancer in adults under 55, Berggreen says it could be a variation of factors.

Cut 14 (11) “…is changing.”

The ACS estimates nearly 153 thousand new cases of colorectal cancer in 2024. Men will account for more than 81 thousand cases, and women will account for more than 71 thousand.

Berggreen says colorectal cancer is a very treatable and beatable disease. He says there are mail-in tests available to detect colon cancers, but the most effective method is getting a colonoscopy.

Cut 15 (12) “…called ColoGuard.”

____________________________________________________________________

LSU returns to the football practice field today as Spring Practice kicks off. New defensive coordinator Blake Baker will begin installing his system and linebacker Harold Perkins will move back to inside linebacker. The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander says Baker probably wants Perkins to play a similar role that Ty’Ron Hopper played at Missouri last season…

Cut 16 (10) “…plays ou.t” 

LSU is thin at defensive tackle as Mekhi Wingo, Maason Smith, and Jordan Jefferson are preparing for the NFL draft. Jacobian Guillory and Jalen Lee are the only returning defensive tackles. JUCO transfer Shone Washington is expected to participate in spring football and Alexander says some offensive linemen are switching sides to provide added depth

Cut 17 (16) “…Ahmad Breaux.” 

Garrett Nussmeier enters spring as the starting quarterback. He’ll face competition from Vanderbilt transfer A.J. Swann and redshirt freshman Rickie Collins. Alexander says getting Nussmeier to be more accurate will be a focus during the spring…

Cut 18 (17)  “…passer.” 

_________________________________________________________

The Ragin Cajuns softball team pulled off a stunning victory on Sunday, ending Oklahoma’s NCAA record 71-game winning streak. U-L Lafayette won seven to five in eight innings. Despite the big victory, the Cajuns have a losing record at 10-12. Coach Gerry Glasco says a losing record is unacceptable…

Cut 19 (14) “…my responsibility.”

Glasco says the historic win over Oklahoma shows how much talent they have, but consistency is lacking…

Cut 20 (16) “…work to do.”

The Cajuns will be in Conway, Arkansas this weekend to take on Stephen F Austin and Central Arkansas.