There is strong opposition to Governor John Bel Edwards executive order to expand Medicaid access in Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…
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The Lafayette Police Department has released a copy of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser’s hand written journal. Jeff Palermo reports…
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Governor John Bel Edwards wants to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana but he’s facing opposition from a key member of the Senate. Columbia Senator Neil Riser, new Senate Labor Committee Chairman, says he will oppose any bill that raises Louisiana’s minimum wage. Riser says a minimum wage increase would do further harm to the state’s fragile economy…
The governor reportedly wants to increase the state’s minimum wage to $8.25 an hour, one dollar above the federal minimum that Louisiana currently recognizes. Riser says a minimum wage hike would also harm job creation. He says, at this time, the state’s business community cannot support the pay hike…
Any bill that would raise Louisiana’s minimum wage would likely come through Riser’s committee. Riser feels $7.25 an hour gives employees a fair starting point…
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There is strong opposition to Governor John Bel Edwards executive order to expand Medicaid access in Louisiana. Dawn Starns, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says they are disappointed in the governor’s decision. She feels there are bigger problems facing the state that should be handled first…
The federal government covers the initial costs of Medicaid expansion, but the state’s cost will grow to 10 percent in coming years. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany feels it’s irresponsible to move forward with Medicaid expansion without making changes to the current program. He says we should look to provide health care that is affordable with a focus on quality…
However, the Louisiana AARP applauds Governor Edwards executive order. State Director Denise Bottcher believes Medicaid expansion will go a long way to make Louisiana a healthier state. She says this can make a real difference in the lives of thousands of Louisianians…
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Medicaid expansion will help nearly 49,000 Louisianians under the age of 65 who have lost their jobs or are struggling without health benefits. Bottcher believes this will give residents peace of mind that if they get sick they’ll get the health care they deserve without going bankrupt…
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A Denham Springs gas station owner is under arrest for allegedly selling a dangerous synthetic drug at the store, which caused two high school students to overdose. 36-year-old Essam Farhat faces 228 counts of possession with intent to distribute. Denham Springs Police Det. Glenn Lemoine says undercovers went in and bought the drug then later executed a search warrant:
Lemoine says the drug is an illegal liquid synthetic cannabinoid known as “Juicy” and it’s ingested through a vaporizer. He says the students, who had to be hospitalized following the overdoses at Denham Springs High School, told detectives that they had purchased the drug at that Farhat’s gas station…:
Cut 11 (10) “30-40 bucks a bottle”
Farhat posted $85,000 bond. Lemoine says ATC suspended all alcohol and tobacco licenses at the business pending the outcome of a revocation hearing. He says while the students recovered, the chemicals in synthetic marijuana can be dangerously toxic…:
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Not everyone in Louisiana has Powerball fever despite a record 1.5 billion dollar jackpot. There are some people who are not interested in forking over the two dollars buy a ticket. We spoke to some of them. One woman says it’s just not worth the potential risk…
Some people say they aren’t interested in buying a ticket because the odds are so low. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are less than 1 in 292 million. A man told us he won’t buy a ticket because lots of winners lose control of their money…