According to federal health officials, more than 56-thousand Louisiana residents have selected health insurance plans during the first month of enrollment under what is commonly called “Obamacare.” Doctor Karen DeSalvo, with the US Department of Health and Human Services, says it’s worth noting that most of those who are choosing a health insurance plan through the Marketplace are not having to pay the full cost of the premiums..

cut 7 (09) “health insurance”

The open enrollment period ends February 15th.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is hoping to avoid a repeat of last year where eight people were killed on Louisiana roadways during the New Year’s holiday. Executive Director, Lt. Col. John LeBlanc, says if you do plan on ringing in the new year with alcohol, do it responsibly…

cut 4 (10) “an impaired driver”

He says law enforcement will be out in force tonight, putting in extra effort to remove impaired drivers from the road.

This is a big tourism week for New Orleans with tomorrow’s Sugar Bowl matchup between Ohio State and Alabama. But New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau Communications Director Lauren Cason says there’s more going on in the Big Easy than the game. She says New Orleans has been named one of the best places to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the nation…

cut 9 (08) “New Year’s Eve”

Cason says the Sugar Bowl’s added importance as one of the College Football National Championship semi-final games is bringing an extra dose of excitement to the city.

New figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics show an increase in nonfarm jobs for seven of Louisiana’s eight metro areas for the year ending November 30. Baton Rouge lead the state with 7,500 new jobs, followed by New Orleans with 5,200 additional jobs. In all, Louisiana added 18,700 new jobs, which is an overall 0.9 percent increase.