AM LRN Newscall 09-24-2020

It’s been about half a year since the first wave of pandemic business closures forced hundreds of thousands of Louisianans onto unemployment. Matt Doyle has the story.

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The 2020 Census count deadline is less than a week away and Lt Governor Billy Nungesser stresses the importance of being counted. Brooke Thorington explains.

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Democrats are crying foul after the state voter registration portal was shut down for part of National Voter Registration Day. Matt Doyle spoke with the new Chair of the state party…

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Tens of thousands of Louisianans will stop receiving state unemployment payments this week, and start drawing down federally extended benefits.

Half a year ago the first wave of coronavirus was sweeping the state. Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says they expect twenty to thirty thousand additional people a week will no longer be eligible for their six months of state payments.

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But that doesn’t mean all of those people falling off the rolls will stop receiving checks. Dejoie says a federal program may tide you over till near the end of the year.

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PEUC recipients will continue to receive whatever they would be owed by the state if they were not past their 26-week limit.

Dejoie says if your eligibility is running out and you are able to work a job they’ve got quite a few available.

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The 2020 Census count is just under a week from its deadline of September 30th and about ten percent of Louisianans have still failed to respond. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is concerned because federal funding is based on the Census count. Nungesser says the last Census failed to get an accurate count so responding now is imperative.

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Nungesser says federal funding for schools, hospitals and roads is based on the Census count and with a state hit hard by COVID and hurricanes every person needs to be counted.

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The Census also determines representation in Congress and is used to draw up state legislative boundaries.

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To respond to the Census go to my2020census.gov and if a Census worker comes to your door please assist them. Census workers may also come to your door if you’ve already responded for a count on neighboring households.

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The state Unclaimed Property Program has once again run out of money, the second time that’s happened in the last three years.

State Treasurer John Schroder says the Legislature generally draws about 10-15 million dollars a year out of the program to supplement the budget, but that’s growing less feasible…

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Unclaimed property can be everything from payroll checks to old bank accounts, royalties, deposits, interest payments, and more that’s owed to residents and businesses.

Schroder says while this is frustrating it should only delay your claim by a few weeks.

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The program is about a million and a half dollars shy right now.

There’s a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would block the Legislature from using unclaimed property dollars by turning the program into a trust fund. Schroder would like you to vote for it in November.

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Since 1973 the trust fund has dispersed over 600 million dollars.

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Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has come under fire after the state voter registration portal was shut down for “scheduled maintenance” for hours on National Voter Registration Day Tuesday.

New State Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt says that was a huge red flag for voter suppression…

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The site was down from 8 PM to 11:30 PM.

Ardoin called the shutdown an “unfortunate error” and that Tuesday’s maintenance was scheduled long ago. Bernhardt says if that’s the case that kind of oversight was grossly negligent, however…

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National Voter Registration Day began in 2012 and this year was heavily pushed by both Democrats, Republicans, and independent organizations. In 2018 800,000 new voters were registered on that day.

Bernhardt called the failure and embarrassment, and when asked what should be done in response she says…

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Voter registration is still ongoing and anyone who would like to register, or change their registration has until October 5th to do so by mail or October 13th to do so online for the upcoming November 3rd Presidential Election.

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After two games, Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has completed 65-percent of his passes, which is below his career average of 68-percent. Brees completed at least 70-percent of his passes over his last four seasons. But Coach Sean Payton says the higher percentage of incomplete passes can not be entirely pinned on number nine

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This Sunday, the Saints host Green Bay and the Packers are 2-0 and Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is off to a great start. Rodgers has thrown six touchdowns passes and zero interceptions. Plus he’s been sacked just one time. Payton says Rodgers is protected by an experienced offensive line

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Sophomore running back Chris Curry and junior linebacker Damone Clark will wear the coveted number 18 jersey for LSU this season. Number 18 is synonymous with success…both on and off the field, as well as a selfless attitude. Curry, who is expected to get the start on Saturday, says he was shocked when he learned he would wear number 18

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Clark was a star linebacker at nearby Southern Lab and he has the opportunity to become the next star linebacker at LSU. He says to do it while wearing number is 18 a dream come true…

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