The price at the pump continues to decline. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
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Louisiana’s Medicaid program now has an automated online process that should speed up applications, and check wage eligibility for recipients more frequently. Matt Doyle has more.
The price at the pump continues to decline. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.34 in Louisiana today, down nine cents since last week, putting prices just two cents higher than a year ago. Gas Buddy.com senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says some gas stations in the state are selling gas below $2 per gallon.
Cut 3 (05) “…Thanksgiving travel season”
DeHaan says there are two main contributing factors to the continued drop.
Cut 4 (11) “…bite pretty hard.″
So how long will the prices continue to drop? DeHaan seems optimistic the decline could possibly continue into 2019.
The state’s Medicaid program has launched a new enrollment and verification system online that provides instant feedback on eligibility for applicants. Louisiana Medicaid Director Jen Steele says it should cut down on wait times for applicants.
The new program will also check Medicaid recipients wage eligibility quarterly, instead of every 12 months. Because Medicaid uses your monthly income to determine eligibility that could result in more people being tossed off the program. Steele says if that happens, there is an appeals process in place.
Medicaid has come under fire in the wake of a Legislative Auditor’s report that showed the service may have paid up to 85 million in healthcare costs for people who were not wage eligible for the program at the time they received coverage. Steele says this should prevent that in the future.
Recipients will no longer receive phone calls during the renewal process. Official communications will now be sent by mail.
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The Southern Poverty Law Center has released a new report highlighting the lack of recorded data published on police activity in Louisiana in reference to traffic stops. S-P-L-C attorney Jamila Johnson says even though the records are mandatory, there is a nearly universal disregard for the data throughout Louisiana law enforcement.
Cut 9 (12) “…published its report.”
Johnson says due to a lack of clear punishments for failures to follow the law, it’s difficult to get the compliance that is needed.
Cut 10 (11) “…an enforcement mechanism.“
Johnson says the goal is put together a structure that can be enforced and to get a better data about policing practices into the community.
Cut 11 (10) “…it wasn’t followed.”
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Three people are dead after being among four men that were shot last night on Gus Young Avenue in Baton Rouge. The motive and suspects are unknown at this time, but authorities say they believe there were two gunmen. Baton Rouge Police Department spokesperson Sgt. L’Jean Mckneely describes the scene…
Cut 12 (12) “…deli meat market.”
Authorities have identified one of the deceased as 42 year old Johnell Davis. Another is a 39 year old whose next of kin have not yet been notified.
Mckneely says the initially while two victims died at the scene, the other two victims had survived.
Cut 13 (06) “…all male victims.”
One of the two passed away this afternoon.
Mckneely says seeing acts like this occur is painful within a community.
Cut 14 (08) “…in Baton Rouge.”
Mckneely says they are reviewing surveillance footage from the incident and are will be interviewing the survivors at a later time.