GOP lawmakers express their concerns to state health officials over audits that show misspent dollars within the Medicaid program. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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An Opelousas man is arrested following the stabbing death of his mother.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

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House Republican lawmakers grilled state health officials about the growing Medicaid budget and whether the state is doing enough to prevent waste or misspending. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds is concerned the health department’s budget is set to grow by another billion dollars

Cut 3 (12) “…L-D-H.”

Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says mistakes will be made with a large government program, but they are trying to control spending and pointed to the recent removal of 30-thousand people from Medicaid, because they made too much money…

Cut 4 (09) “…this program”

The House Appropriations Committee is hearing from every state agency as they  put together a spending plan for next fiscal year. Edmonds says the health department’s budget is set to grow to nearly 15-billion dollars and they need confidence that the money is spent wisely

Cut 5 (11) “…we have.”

It was revealed during the hearing that 16-hundred people making at least 100-thousand dollars a year were covered by Medicaid, which is way above the income threshold. But Gee says an upgraded computer system should make sure ineligible residents are not receiving taxpayer funded health care

Cut 6 (11) “…very well”

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After failing for five months on recognizing additional revenues, the Revenue Estimating Conference adopted an income forecast that will give lawmakers an additional 110-million dollars in this year’s budget to spend and another 119-million dollars in next year’s budget. House Speaker Taylor Barras “Yes” vote broke the gridlock

Cut 7 (11) “…budget work.”

Four members sit on the Revenue Estimating Conference. Since February, Barras blocked an increase to the income forecast, because he was concerned the state may not collect as much money as projected. The House Speaker relented on Wednesday after hearing revenue projections from two different economists…

Cut 8 (09) “…we can get.” 

The extra revenue recognized can help the state pay for raises for teachers and the governor also wants to put more money towards colleges and public safety programs. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is glad the stalemate over revenue projections is over with

Cut 9 (11) “…is gonna be”

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An Opelousas man is behind bars for allegedly stabbing his mother to death.  St. Landry Parish Sheriff deputies arrested 28-year-old Cody James Arceneaux after receiving 911 calls from a witness inside the home and from the suspect.  Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says an argument quickly escalated into violence.

Cut 10 (07) “…out of control.”

The victim has been identified as Vicky Granger.

Thibodeaux says Arceneaux claims his mother tried grab the knife to stab him, slicing the suspect in the process.  He then regained the kitchen knife and began to attack her.

Cut 11 (10)   “…could stab her.”

Arceaneaux was transported to a local hospital for treatment, then was taken to jail.

Thibodeaux says by the time deputies arrived, they found the suspect curled up on the floor holding his hands in a bloody towel, but were too late to help the victim.

Cut 12 (05) “…we got there.”

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Democrat Charlie Greer of Natchitoches Parish is running for Agriculture Commissioner against incumbent Mike Strain, touting his 20 year career in the Ag Department, and time in law enforcement.

Greer says if elected, he would push hard for the regulated production of industrial hemp, and hemp adjacent products to revitalize the state’s lagging Ag.

Cut 13 (10) “…in it.”

Greer ran for the office in 2015, finishing with 30 percent of the vote.

Greer is blasting Strain for a series of medical marijuana delays, but Strain says he’s just following the law to ensure the product is safe for consumption. Greer isn’t buying it, and says Strain had years to get the program together.

Cut 14 (11) “…in place.”

Strain denies impeding medical cannabis progress, and recently granted approval for the growth of the first crop. Greer says the delays have been unacceptable, and proof that the commissioner is not surrounding himself with competent regulators.

Cut 15 (09) “…put that”

Gas prices continue their usual climb during the spring months. Jeff Palermo has an update on where we stand…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor Edwards raised 2.5 million dollars in the last quarter, bringing his cash on hand to 10.2 million dollars for his re-election effort. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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The statewide average price for gasoline is up 26-cents from a month ago. According to Gas-Buddy-dot-com the statewide average stands at $2.48 per gallon, which is six cents more than a year. GasBuddy analyst Patrick DeHaan says the price at the pump is rising, because production is down

Cut 3 (10) “…summer driving season.”

DeHaan says oil prices are also rising, up 21-dollars a barrel from Christmas. He says expect gas prices to keep rising for another six weeks…

Cut 4 (12) “…wraps up”

DeHaan says if you want to save a few pennies on gasoline, try filling up on Tuesday. He says they’ve found that’s the best day to buy gas

Cut 5 (12) “…more volatile.”

The worst day to buy gasoline is Friday according to GasBuddy’s research.

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The latest release from the 2019 Louisiana Survey shows 81% of respondents support raising the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour, from the current rate of $7.25.  Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Center Dr. Mike Henderson says the numbers indicate there is broad support for the increase.

Cut 6 (08) “…that minimum wage.”

The $8.25 an hour proposal saw support among Democrats at 94%, Independents at 78%, and Republicans at 72%.  Governor Edwards has been pushing for an increase in the minimum wage with the goal of the state minimum wage hitting $9 an hour by July 2020.

While support for the pay hike for minimum wage workers is there from the public, the state has yet to see that same support from lawmakers.  Henderson says he would not bet on an increase passing this year.

Cut 7 (09) “…down in committee.”

Support for a hike dropped to 59% when proposing a $15 an hour minimum wage, with only Democrats maintaining majority support at 85%.

Cut 8 (10) “…opinion on that.” 

Governor Edwards is pushing a constitutional amendment to increase the minimum wage to nine-dollars an hour in 2020.

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Governor Edwards campaign reports it raised 2.5 million dollars in the 1st quarter of 2019, giving the reelection effort a total of 10.2 million dollars cash on hand.

His two Republican challengers have yet to release their latest numbers, but political analyst Clancy DuBos says Edwards fundraising sends a strong message to the GOP.

Cut 9 (10) “…good”

4,246 people donated to the campaign for an average donation of 600 dollars during the quarter that ended on April 5th.

But, Edwards fundraising is about to screech to a halt over the next three months as Louisiana law prohibits election fundraising during legislative sessions. DuBos says this gives the GOP a chance to dramatically close the gap.

Cut 10 (09) “…candidacies”

Edwards is being challenged by businessman Eddie Rispone and Congressman Ralph Abraham.

There’s reports that other Republicans have been approached about joining the race, candidates who could potentially bring more robust fundraising, but DuBos says this late in the game the party is better off doubling down on the two they have…

Cut 11 (10)   “.anyway”

The Edwards campaign has raised 12.1 million dollars total so far for the election cycle.

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It’s the first full day of the 2019 legislative session and for the first time since Governor John Bel Edwards took office, state lawmakers are not dealing with a significant budget deficit. Edwards says a two-billion dollar budget deficit has turned into a surplus

Cut 12 (10) “…chopping block”

But the state republican party says Governor Edwards eliminated the budget deficit by signing the largest tax increase in the state history, just so the state can spend all of it.

Edwards says the state is much stronger and in a better place than just a few years ago. He points to recent data that showed personal income in Louisiana is the highest it’s ever been…

Cut 13 (10) “…for business.”

But Republican gubernatorial opponent Ralph Abraham points to a U-S News and World report that says Louisiana was ranked as the worst state for economic opportunity last year.

But Edwards says a recent survey out of LSU found that more people say the state is heading in the right direction compared to last year and he looks to keep the momentum going during this legislative session

Cut 14 (08) “…more opportunity.