The Powerball jackpot is now the biggest in the world at a whopping 1.5 billion dollars. Emelie Gunn has more…
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The ball is rolling towards expanding the number of people who can receive government-funded health insurance. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Fish farming will now be allowed in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, after new regulations were issued this week by NOAA. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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The Poweball jackpot has shot up to 1.5 billion dollars, making it the biggest jackpot in the world. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says ticket sales keep going up as the jackpot grows. She says when the sales continue to climb we’re able to transfer more money to the state of Louisiana.
Chopin says we’re seeing a lot of first time players because the jackpot is so big now. She advises players to not be quick to throw away their ticket tonight, even if they didn’t win the Powerball jackpot.
Chopin says the chances of multiple jackpot winners increases when more people are purchasing tickets. She says it’s been reported that in some hot spots, players are having to wait in lines just to buy a Powerball ticket.
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The state’s health department is working to provide government-funded health insurance for 300-thousand poor working individuals now that Governor John Bel Edwards has signed an executive order to expand Medicaid. There are ramp up costs, but Edwards says DHH Secretary Rebekah Gee is working with health care providers, so the state doesn’t have to pay anything this fiscal year
Former Governor Bobby Jindal refused to expand Medicaid, because he said the state’s match for the expansion would eventually become too costly for taxpayers. But Edwards doesn’t see it that way…
Cut 8 (11) “any other program”
The goal is to have 300-thousand low-income, working citizens covered by Medicaid by July 1st. The state will have to hire 248 individuals to help with the enrollment process and it will cost 2-point-8 million dollars, but health care providers are expected to pick up that bill. Edwards says they will follow other states lead for a smooth enrollment sign-up
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Oil prices have hit 30 dollars a barrel, which is the lowest price since December 2003. Eric Smith with the Tulane Energy Institute says we could see the price drop even lower as 2016 goes on. Smith says it will be tough for oil companies to make money with oil trading at that price…
Oil prices are down 19-percent for this year and they’ve fallen 72-percent since June 2014, when oil was trading over 100-dollars a barrel. Smith says to stop the crash in oil prices, the supply has to meet a week demand for oil and in the short term the only way to do that is to cut back on production.
A glut in supply of oil has led to this huge decline in oil prices. Smith says unfortunately countries in the Middle East are showing no signs of cutting back….
Cut 12 (09) “bumper production”
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Fish farming will now be allowed in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, after new regulations were issued this week by NOAA. This means commercial seafood can now be harvested in enclosures on the seafloor. NOAA’s Deputy Director of Aquaculture, David O’Brien, says they’ve been pushing for this because the U.S. imports about 90% of our seafood…:
Critics say farmed fish are bread to be big and could escape enclosures and out compete wild fish for food. There are others who feel this would cause fisherman to lose grounds and possibly be put out of work. But O’Brien says aquaculture can compliment wild fisheries and help support fishing communities…:
Cut 14 (09) “support each other”
O’Brien says these new rules have been in the works for about 10 years, and during that time there have been a series of reviews to help make sure that fish farming will not harm the environment. He says ultimately this is a great thing for the Gulf and for the seafood industry…: