LRN AM Newscall March 2, 2016

Louisiana ranks 11th in paid wind insurance claims in the US. Emelie Gunn has more…

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 Louisiana is the worst state for women, according to a new study from WalletHub. Halen Doughty reports…

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 After watching gas prices fall for several weeks, they are starting to move back up as refineries perform maintenance to get ready for the busy summer season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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 A study from State Farm finds Louisiana comes in at number 11 for states in paid wind claims. Company spokesperson Roszell Gadson says in 2015, State Farm paid 33-hundred wind and tornado claims on structures around the state. Gadson says last week’s tornado outbreak illustrates we we are in a very active part of the country when it comes to severe weather…

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 Texas ranked number one with more than 11-thousand paid State Farm wind and tornado claims. Gadson says State Farm encourages Louisiana residents to take advantage of Severe Weather Awareness Week by checking to make sure their insurance policy covers wind claims….

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 2016 has already been active year for severe weather. He says they’re currently working with policyholders who were impacted by last week’s severe weather and tornadoes.

Cut 6 (10)  “to normal” 

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According to a new study from WalletHub, Louisiana is the worst state for women. Jill Gonzales from Wallet Hub says they looked at over 15 metrics including median earnings for female workers, women’s preventative healthcare, the female uninsured rate and the female homicide rate.

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Gonzales says Louisiana has one of the highest high school dropout rates for women at just over 4%. She says the ranking for women’s equality in the workplace is also very low. She says there are things our state can do to improve its ranking.

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Louisiana ranks near the bottom in terms of women living in poverty. Gonzales says only New Mexico and Mississippi have higher poverty rates for women.

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Gonzales says the median income and unemployment rates for women contribute to that number. Louisiana ranked 33rd for women’s unemployment rate and 31st for median earnings tor females.

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Gas prices are starting to rise as refineries conduct maintenance in preparation for the busy driving season this summer. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says the statewide average has increased over three cents since last week and this price increase is typical for this time of year.

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Redman says refineries are also slowing production in response to abundant supplies, but he says gas prices shouldn’t get too high.

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 Currently the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Louisiana is $1.58. Redman says he anticipates the price to keep rising through March….

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The State House of Representatives continues to put off voting on numerous tax bills, including one that would increase the tax on alcohol for the first time in decades. Governor John Bel Edwards has suggested tax hikes as a way to help solve the state’s fiscal crisis. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox says he’s still trying to come up with 70 votes on the House floor for his bill to get approval…

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The state is facing a $940 million deficit this fiscal year and a $2 billion deficit next fiscal year. Cox says the state needs the revenue raised by the tax to close this gap.

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He says that despite rumors about the bill, the tax increase won’t be much if the bill passes.

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The special legislative session to address the state’s budget deficit ends March 9th.

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The Sun Belt Conference is removing New Mexico State and Idaho from its league. The two football-only members will leave the conference following the 2017 season. With the addition of Coastal Carolina, the Sun Belt will be a 10-member league in 2018. Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson likes the idea of a 10-team league and will discuss with coaches and ADs about adding a conference championship game…

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Benson says there are no plans to expand past 10 teams. He says one of the big questions facing the league is whether they’ll play an eight game conference schedule or nine…

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