LRN AM Newscall January 15

If you need to sign up for or renew your health insurance through HealthCare-dot-gov, time is running out for this year. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says it’s time for the F-D-A to tighten its rules on the mailing of abortion drugs. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

____________________________________________

A man who allegedly kidnapped a Louisiana teenager is under arrest. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

______________________________________________

If you need to sign up or renew your health insurance through HealthCare-dot-gov, you have until midnight tonight to do so. Mike Bertaut, a healthcare economist with Louisiana Blue, says for some people, there’s a very important change that will have a major impact on their budgets.

Cut 4 (11) “…of January 1st.”

Bertaut says the elimination of the enhanced tax credits does not mean that there’s no assistance available for everyone.

Cut 5 (10) “…dramatically or disappeared.”

Bertaut says in order to buy health insurance on HealthCare-dot-gov, there are a few requirements.

Cut 6 (13) “…at their workplace.”

New coverage or changes to existing coverage will take effect February 1st.

________________________________________________________

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill went to Washington, D-C, to urge the Food and Drug Administration to end its mail-order abortion pill policy. Murrill says out of state doctors are dispensing the abortion pill mifepristone through the mail to pregnant women in Louisiana, and the results in many cases are devastating.

Cut 7 (14) “…in a toilet.”

Murrill testified at a U.S. Senate hearing on chemical abortion drugs. Mifepristone is a Schedule Four controlled substance in Louisiana. It can be prescribed in Louisiana, but only in hospital inpatient settings.

Murrill says the Biden administration removed a policy that required in-person dispensing, and that has allowed women to obtain mifepristone through the mail from out of state doctors.

Cut 8 (04) “…not health care.”

Murrill says pro-abortion advocacy groups estimate there are now 900 illegal abortions per month in Louisiana. Louisiana’s attorney general had this exchange with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Cut 9 (15)  “…why it happens.”

Louisiana has filed a federal lawsuit to block the FDA’s rule allowing abortion pills to be sent through the mail. Physicians for Reproductive Health say hundreds of studies have determined that mifepristone is effective and safe.

______________________________________________________________

Among the three appropriations bills the Senate is expected to take up this week is one that includes more than 350-million dollars in earmarks for 51 projects in Louisiana. One of those projects would dedicate more than 137-million dollars towards construction and maintenance for flood control work in the Atchafalaya River basin. Senator Bill Cassidy says preventing high water in the Atchafalaya River basin is critical.

Cut 10 (13) “…thar backwater flow.”

Cassidy says the money for these projects would actually be less than the money spent last year.

Cut 11 (12) “…help communities recover.”

Cassidy says the project is part of the greater infrastructure project to protect the coastal parishes of St. Mary, Terrebone and Lafourche.

Cut 12 (07) “…control that water”

_____________________________________________________________

A memorial service takes place today for former Louisiana State Senator Robert Kostelka, who passed away Saturday at age of 92. Kostelka also served as a district attorney and judge for Ouachita and Morehouse parishes. Kostelka was in the state senate from 2003 to 2016 and served alongside longtime Francis Thompson, who is now a House member. Thompson calls Kostelka a good man.

Cut 13 (07)  “…it to be.”

Kostelka was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in 2022.  The Louisiana Political Hall of Fame says he wrote legislation addressing child support, consumer protection, healthcare and education. Thompson says Kostelka was an effective legislator.

Cut 14 (11) “…develop this state.”

Thompson says he also knew Kostelka when he was a prosecutor and judge.

Cut 15 (06) “…the right thing.”

A memorial visitation for Kostelka will be held from five until seven this evening at the Mulhearn Funeral Home in Monroe. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date.

______________________________________________________________

The 2026 LSU baseball season is just about a month away. The defending national champions are ranked as the preseason number-two team by D1Baseball-dot-com. As the team prepares for its home opener against Milwaukee, head coach Jay Johnson says Grand Canyon transfer Zach Yorke looks like the clear-cut starter at first base.

Cut 16 (14) “…that we have.”

After winning the 2025 College World Series, LSU had to replace all of its starting infielders, except for shortstop Steven Milam. At third base, the Tigers are looking to replace Michael Braswell, who only had three errors in 65 games last season. Johnson says one player is standing out.

Cut 17 (12)  “…trending right now.”

There will be another position battle at second base. Johnson says the position has lots of depth and says he could see multiple Tigers playing there.

Cut 18 (17)  “…third base mix.”

Johnson also says freshmen Jack Ruckert and Ethan Clauss are fighting for playing time in the infield.

_________________________________________________________

USC freshman transfer quarterback Husan (HOO-sahn) Longstreet of USC became the third portal quarterback addition for LSU on Wednesday. Longstreet joins Sam Leavitt of Arizona State and Landen Clark of Elon in what will be an uber-talented 2026 room. Mike Detillier of WWL radio says Lane Kiffin was able to pick up all three due to his successful track record of developing quarterbacks.

Cut 19 (15) “…of Trinidad Chambliss.”

247Sports has Longstreet as its number-six quarterback in the transfer portal. Detillier says the former five-star quarterback could be the Tigers’ quarterback for the future, but he also believes there’s a way that he could see quality snaps this season.

Cut 20 (20) “…on the field.”