We’re 10 days away before open enrollment ends and so far nearly 150,000 Louisianians have signed up through the Affordable Care Act. That’s according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Billy Justice, with Vantage HealthPlan in Monroe, says almost all of the carriers increased their premiums this year and the biggest challenge facing returning consumers is going back to recalculate their subsidy…:
CUT 4 (08) “paying each month”
Justice encourages people who are in need of health insurance to check out the marketplace.

In an effort to reduce employee payroll in the face of budget cuts, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain is offering employees an early retirement incentive rather than lay off employees. This early retirement incentive is an effort to comply with budget cuts required to balance the state budget. Strain says his department has already seen two mid-year budget cuts…:
CUT 12 (06) “second cut”

Abita Brewing Co. in Abita Springs has fired back at Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercial which essentially says craft beer is for snobs. The Budweiser commercial says “let them sip their pumpkin peach ale” and Abita President David Blossman responded to that with a video on YouTube bragging about making just such a beer once on a small scale…:
CUT 7 (09) “to point that out”
Blossman says Abita is proud to fuss over their beer which is a huge part of the culture in Louisiana.

Saints Owner Tom Benson will not testify in a Texas courtroom at a hearing over his car dealerships, ranch and other assets in and around San Antonio. Benson’s attorneys say he has left Texas and returned to Louisiana. Analysts say it’s not good for the 87-year-old to not speak in the case where his daughter and grandchildren are fighting to try and force Benson to keep paying them trust fund money.