LRN PM Newscall November 19

If you haven’t updated your driver’s license to a Real ID, time is running out. Andrew Greenstein is at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport with more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Two Louisiana high school football teams have been disqualified from the playoffs. Kace Kieschnick tells us why…

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

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At the beginning of the special session on tax reform, the state’s film tax credit program was on the chopping block. But Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says there’s an effort to preserve it. Connick says they are looking to lower the amount of credits distributed to film producers each year from 180-million to 125-million dollars…

Cut 3 (07) “…jobs here.”

Governor Landry wants to scale back the film tax credit program and several other tax credits, so the state can afford to lower the state’s income tax rate on individuals. Connick says there has been healthy dialogue between legislators and those in the film industry…

Cut 4 (12) “…fluid over here.”

Film industry leaders have told legislators if the film tax credit program is eliminated, hundreds of jobs will go away. But Connick says these tax credits mostly benefit producers who do not live in Louisiana…

Cut 5 (13) “…and New York.”

The special session must come to a conclude next Monday night.

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Starting May 7th, you will need to upgrade your ID to a Real ID in order to board a flight. During a news conference at Baton Rouge Municipal Airport, Dan Casey, the commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles, says just a small percentage of those without Real ID would represent a lot of travelers.

Cut 6 (12) “…unable to travel.”

Casey says getting a Real ID is easy. All you need to do is to go to your local OMV office and bring with you a birth certificate or passport and two pieces of mail, and your ID will be upgraded to a Real ID.

Cut 7 (10) “…they meet requirements.”

Casey says Louisiana has a long way to go to get everyone updated to Real ID.

Cut 8 (07) “…are real ID.”

The difference between a regular ID and a Real ID is that Real ID verification records are kept by the state. There is no additional charge to update your ID to a Real ID.

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Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has been a loud voice in Washington D-C for flood insurance reform. Cassidy says Risk Rating 2.0 has led to flood insurance premiums that are no longer affordable. He has new numbers on how costly flood insurance has become. Cassidy says premiums in Louisiana have increased by 234 percent.

Cut 9 (14)  “…last year.”

Cassidy criticized FEMA saying its creating a program that is going bankrupt, and he has a plan to make NFIP affordable, accountable, and sustainable…

Cut 10 (06) “…find away forward.”

Cassidy says NFIP has been in desperate need for reform for years and Republicans will have an opportunity to to deliver for the American People next year…

Cut 11 (05) “…next congress.”

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Starting in May, you can fly nonstop between Shreveport and Nashville. Mark Crawford, the airport business and development manager for the Shreveport Airport Authority, says Allegiant Airlines is offering twice-weekly non-stop flights between the two cities on a seasonal basis.

Cut 12 (07) “…things go well.”

Crawford says they had been trying to get daily nonstops between Shreveport and Nashville for about eight years due to the demand.

Cut 13 (08)  “…every single day.”

And Crawford says if you plan properly, you can actually get a round-trip flight for less than 100 dollars.

Cut 14 (04) “…for that price”

The flights begin May 22nd and will be offered Thursdays and Sundays.