PM Newscall, November 2nd, 2015

It appears we’ll have at least one gubernatorial debate before the November 21st runoff election. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donleon is issuing some reminders to the public, now that the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period is underway. Don Molino reports…:

CUT 2 (32)  “I’m Don Molino”

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It appears we’ll have at least one gubernatorial debate before the November 21st runoff election. Republican David Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards will face off November 16th in a WVLA-TV debate televised statewide. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Louisiana voters deserve to hear the two candidates exchange ideas…

CUT 3 (07)  “and contrast” 

The debate will begin at 6PM from The Dunham School in Baton Rouge. A recent poll shows Vitter’s unfavorable rating at 52-percent. Stockley believes this has a lot to do with Senator’s negative campaign strategy. He says Vitter will have to walk a tightrope during the debate…

CUT 4 (11)  “as negative”

He says Vitter will have to find a way to expose the weaknesses of Edwards without coming across as negative. Edwards placed first in the primary with 40-percent of the vote, followed by Vitter’s 23-percent. Stockley says Edwards’ campaign strategy is working and he shouldn’t change anything…

CUT 5 (11)  “just fine”

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State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donleon is issuing some reminders to the public, now that the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period is underway. He says during enrollment, which runs November 1st through January 31st, 2016, families that do not receive healthcare through their employers can sign up through the online Health Insurance Marketplace…:

CUT 6 (09) “the 15th”

The state department of insurance has launched a webpage with key information about open enrollment at ldi.la.gov/5things. Donelon says, historically, about 20% of people in Louisiana are uninsured. He says, under the Affordable Care Act, the tax penalty fee for not having coverage is substantially bigger in 2016 than it was in 2015…:

CUT 7 (11)  “not covered”

Donelon says if you do not elect coverage by January 31st, you will be unable to get healthcare insurance unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to a life change such as marriage or pregnancy. He says going to out-of-network providers can be expensive…:

CUT 8 (10)  “gonna choose”

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Rapides Parish continues to clean up after severe weather ripped through the area over the weekend. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Tommy Carnline says a tornado touched down Saturday morning in the Elmer community that caused some damage…

CUT 9 (07)  “were damaged”

He says, fortunately, no injuries were reported. Tornados also touched down near the Tangipahoa Parish town of Tickfaw and the Livingston Parish town of Albany Saturday. Carnline says clean up and repair efforts are underway…

cut 10 (10)  “the roadway”

Cleco estimates all power in the area will be restored this afternoon. Carnline encourages motorists to exercise caution on the roadways and pay special attention to roads where there is standing water…

Cut 11 (05)  “just safer”

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November is National Lung Cancer Awareness month and health officials are encouraging individuals, especially older current or former smokers, to talk to their doctor about lung screening. Dr.Brad Vincent is a pulmonologist with Mary Bird Perkins – OLOL Cancer Center in Baton Rouge. He says lung cancer kills more Americans than colon, breast and prostate combined…:

cut 12 (08)  “lethal cancer”

Vincent says screenings can detect lung cancer even before the first symptoms appear and are set to be covered by Medicare and health insurance companies beginning next year. He says the horrible thing about lung cancer is that patients typically don’t have any symptoms early on…:

cut 13 (08)  “to treat”

Vincent says the National Cancer Institute says lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in the US, but when caught early, treatment can help patients to live longer, healthier lives. He says the earliest symptom is a simple cough that many patients dismiss, so it’s important to know your risk factors…:

cut 14 (11) “or less” 

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