The Powerball jackpot has jumped up to 403 million dollars. Emelie Gunn has more….
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A new movie is being filmed in Monroe that highlights the importance of mentorship and fatherhood. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Lawmakers have until midnight tonight to come to an agreement on how many rainy day dollars to use to address a $304 million midyear deficit. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Tonight’s Powerball jackpot has reached a whopping 403 million dollars, with a cash value of 244 million dollars. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says this is the 10th largest Powerball jackpot ever. She says this drawing is the 19th in the current run…
Chopin says every time the jackpot reaches these high numbers, more and more people start to play. She says although Louisianans haven’t won the jackpot in a while, a lot of people still win smaller Powerball prizes.
Chopin says the last time the Powerball jackpot was won in Louisiana was in May 2013, where the jackpot was split between two other states.
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The state Office of Group Benefits is considering a 50 dollar a month surcharge on health insurance premiums for state employees who use tobacco products. OGB chief executive officer Tommy Teague says individuals who receive health insurance through the state would be required to self-report if they are a smoker.
The proposal would need to receive approval from a legislative oversight committee. Teague says this type of surcharge is already being used in the private sector.
Teague says they are considering a surcharge against smokers and other possible surcharges because the Office of Group Benefits is facing a shortfall and they do want to raise premiums on all employees. Teague hopes these benefits will be in place by January 1st 2018. He says the proposal could produce about 7.5 million dollars.
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A movie is being filmed in Monroe that highlights the importance of mentorship and fatherhood. Executive Producer Rodney Ray says “Cowboy & Indiana” follows a troubled bull rider named Tulsa as he chases a million dollar bounty on a killer bull no one has been able to ride. He says Tulsa’s life spins out of control as he struggles with an addiction to pain pills and finds himself charged with a DUI.
Ray says the filming process takes about 30 days, and they plan to begin in late May. He says from there it will take 6 to 9 months to edit the film. He says filming the bulls will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge they face during production.
Cut 11 (11) “a unique challenge”
Ray says over 1,000 actors from all over the country have applied for roles in the film. He says the support from the local community has also been tremendous. He says everything that goes into the film, from pre-production to post-production and editing, happens in Monroe.
Cut 12 (10) “to our community”
To learn more about “Cowboy & Indiana” and find out how to get involved, visit r2films.net.
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It’s the final day of the special session and the major sticking point is how much of the rainy day fund to tap to resolve a $304 million midyear deficit. Governor Edwards and the Senate proposes using $99 million from the state’s savings account, but LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says House Republicans want the Senate to pass a bill that frees up statutory dedications in future budgets.
It will take a two-thirds vote in the House to approve using money from the Rainy Day Fund, which means 70 yes votes. Some House GOP members say $99 million is too much to take from the state’s savings account and suggest $90 million. Alford says the deadline to reach an agreement is midnight.
Alford says it’s a possibility lawmakers will fail to pass a budget cutting plan by midnight. He says if that happens, the governor could call them back for yet another special session, or the budget shortfall could be resolved in other ways.