The House voted 66-32 in favor of allowing the Legislative Auditor to access income tax records of Medicaid recipients, sparking a testy back and forth between bill author, Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala and New Orleans Representative Gary Carter, who voted against it. Bacala says a recent audit discovered 1,672 people were enrolled in the program making six figures. Carter accused Bacala of subjecting poor people to scrutiny he wouldn’t subject businesses too…
The state’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is the lowest on record dating back to 1976. The rate dropped to 3.5% in April in the numbers that come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workforce Commission Director Ava Dejoie says it is welcomed news for the state.
The House Labor Committee advances a Senate-approved bill to address PTSD and mental health among firefighters and police, adding the mental illness to the list of injuries eligible for public employee benefits. One Madison Parish firefighter says that his PTSD was not caught early and now is disabling.
Select movie theaters nationwide will show Steel Magnolias this weekend, as a way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the movie’s release. The legendary film was shot in Natchitoches and Director of Marketing for the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau Kelli West says the film’s popularity continues to attract tourists…
The film will be shown by Fathom Events at select theaters Sunday through Wednesday.