LRN PM Newscall November 1

It’s the first day of Open Enrollment, and Louisiana residents looking for affordable coverage have new options. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

______________________________________

Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District could have a major impact on who has control of the U-S House. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

______________________________________

The Louisiana Book Festival returns to downtown Baton Rouge for its 20th year tomorrow. Robert Wilson, the assistant director of the Louisiana Center for the Book, says there will be something for everyone.

Cut 3 (12) “…as academic titles.”

Events will be held in the State Capitol, the State Library, the Capitol Park Museum and in tents on neighboring streets. Wilson says there will be scores of authors and presenters on hand.

Cut 4 (08) “…following their programs.” (More than 200 authors and presenters will be on hand.)

In addition, there will be cooking demonstrations. Wilson says the book festival is a family-friendly event.

Cut 5 (07) “…look for lunch.”

The event tomorrow is from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and admission is free.

______________________________________

Annual enrollment for healthcare.gov begins today. Louisiana Blue Chief Healthcare Economist Mike Bertaut  says if you do not have affordable health insurance through an employer, or you’re losing Medicaid or you need to get covered, look at options on HealthCare.gov. He says enrollment is through January 15…

Cut 6 (07) “…by December 15.”

Bertaut says Louisiana Blue, the state’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield provider, offers HMO plans with the state’s lowest rates available in every parish, showing an average premium reduction of 9% compared to last year. He says you can work with an experienced, licensed agent at no cost…

Cut 7 (11) “…networks work.”

Bertaut says to connect with an agent call 1-844-GET-BLUE.

Residents should consider coverage needs, monthly premiums, and provider networks before enrolling, as each plan varies in cost and benefits. Bertaut says figuring out what health insurance plan works for you can be confusing, but the worst thing you can do is go uncovered…

Cut 8 (10) “…devastating if you do.”

________________________________________________________

Louisiana’s newly drawn Sixth Congressional District could result in Democrats regaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Dillard University political science professor Doctor Robert Collins says the sixth district is expected to flip from Republican to Democrat because it’s now a Majority-minority district…

Cut 9 (06)  “…federal courts.”

Louisiana lawmakers approved new Congressional districts earlier this year after a federal judge ordered the state to create a second Majority-Minority District.

Republicans currently occupy 220 seats in the U.S. House, Democrats have 212 and there are three vacancies. Collins says Democrats are banking on winning the Sixth Congressional District in Louisiana…

Cut 10 (05) “…real opportunity.”

Republican Garret Graves represents the Sixth District, but the political boundaries of his district have been radically changed to favor a Black candidate. Four Democrats and one Republican are running for this open seat that might need a run-off election in December to decide.

_______________________________________________________________

This is the weekend in which we “fall back.” Before you go to bed Saturday night, be sure to turn your clocks back an hour. Even though it will give us an extra hour of sleep, the time change can have some negative effects. Dr. Pamela Alonso with LSU in New Orleans says they go beyond sleep disruptions, and some can be very serious. 

Cut 11 (10) “…during those changes.”

Dr. Alonso says the most common negative effect is a disruption in the body’s natural circadian rhythm.

Cut 12 (10) “…on 24 hours.”

And as a result of the time change, people are going to have to completely alter their daily routines based on daylight or darkness.

Cut 13 (10)  “…want to sleep.”

It’s for these reasons that Congress in recent years has debated doing away with biennial time changes altogether as Mexico did in March of 2023.

12:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana’s film industry is bracing for potential changes to the tax credits it currently enjoys as lawmakers debate changes to the state’s tax code in the upcoming special session. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack says reducing or eliminating the tax breaks could put a major damper on the film industry in the state.

Cut 11 (14) “…of that business.”

Governor Jeff Landry is pushing for lawmakers to eliminate many different tax breaks to the lower the state’s income tax rate on individuals and businesses.

The Saints will attempt to end a six-game losing streak on Sunday when they visit the Carolina Panthers. Wide receiver Chris Olave says they have to start playing better…

Cut 17 (07) “….beating ourselves up”

Derek Carr is expected to start at quarterback after missing the last three games with an oblique injury. Kick-off on Sunday is at noon.

Annual enrollment for healthcare.gov begins today. Louisiana Blue Chief Healthcare Economist Mike Bertaut  says if you do not have affordable health insurance through an employer, or you’re losing Medicaid or you need to get covered, look at options on HealthCare.gov. He says enrollment is through January 15…

Cut 6 (07) “…by December 15.”

Bertaut says Louisiana Blue, the state’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield provider, offers HMO plans with the state’s lowest rates available in every parish, showing an average premium reduction of 9% compared to last year.

The Louisiana Book Festival returns to downtown Baton Rouge for its 20th year tomorrow. Robert Wilson, the assistant director of the Louisiana Center for the Book, says there will be something for everyone.

Cut 3 (12) “…as academic titles.”

Events will be held in the State Capitol, the State Library, the Capitol Park Museum and in tents on neighboring streets.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Saints will try to break their six-game losing streak this Sunday when they visit the Carolina Panthers. It’s the franchise’s first six-game losing streak since 2005 and defensive lineman Cam Jordan expects the team will turn around its season on Sunday in Charlotte…

Cut 17 (12) “…11-and-6”

Jordan and the Saints seven other captains had dinner this week with Coach Dennis Allen to discuss how the team can get back to winning football games again.

Tulane keeps winning. The Green Wave improved to 7-and-2, 5-and-0 in the American Athletic Conference with a 34 to 3 win over Charlotte last night.

The Pelicans will try to snap a three-game losing streak tonight as they host Indiana. No CJ McCollum tonight. Herb Jones is also out with a right shoulder injury.

ULM is on the road tomorrow as the Warhawks visit Marshall, a team that has yet to lose on its home field. The Thundering Herd have a strong running game as sophomore A-J Turner is averaging ten yards a carry. Kick-off is at 2:30.

Southern and Grambling are both on the road. The Jaguars visit Alabama A-and-M, while the Tigers travel to Bethune-Cookman, who has just one win on the season.

In the Southland…Southeastern Louisiana has a big road game at Lamar, Nicholls host Stephen F Austin and McNeese hosts Texas A-and-M Commerce. The Cowboys have lost three straights, while the Lions are 1-and-7 overall.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Election Day is Tuesday and then Louisiana lawmakers begin a tax reform special session on Wednesday. The state’s film tax credit program could be eliminated or scaled way back as part of an effort to lower individual and corporate income taxes. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack says the Motion Picture Production Tax Credit has been around for two decades and it’s responsible for thousands of jobs…

Cut 13 (10) “….the top five”

Looking ahead to next year, legislators will discuss ways to bring down the state’s auto insurance rates which are among the highest in the country, if not the highest. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the number of bodily injury claims filed by those involved in car accidents is a factor. But Ben Riggs, the director of Real Reform Louisiana…

Cut 30 (09) “…medical data.”

Daylight Saving Time comes to an end on Sunday morning as we’ll turn the clocks back one hour. It’s a good time to check if your smoke detectors are working and change the batteries if necessary. Doctor Kenneth St. Charles, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, says smoke detectors can save lives in the event of a fire…

Cut 15 (11) “…get going”

St. Charles says consider upgrading to newer models if your detectors are more than ten years old.

The 56th Annual Pecan Festival in Colfax, which is in Grant Parish, gets underway today. Pecan Festival President Danielle Yerby says they have carnival rides, arts and crafts, cooking contests, music, there’s a parade and a fireworks show on Saturday night…

Cut 9 (05) “….open to the public”

Visitors can enjoy homemade pecan treats, jams, and other local goods at The Country Store.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana’s film industry will be keeping a keen eye on the tax reform debate in Baton Rouge. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

But there have been studies conducted by the state Economic Development Department and Economist Loren Scott that the film tax credit program actually costs the state more than it produces.

A couple of big high school football games in the state tonight…Airline versus Byrd in Shreveport and St. Thomas More against Teurlings Catholic in Lafayette.

The 56th annual Louisiana Pecan Festival is this weekend in the Grant Parish town of Colfax. The three day festival draws between 60 and 75-thousand visitors and Louisiana Pecan Festival president Danielle Yerby says natives who have moved away, also come back each year…

Cut 10 (11) “….the Pecan Festival”

The weekend kicks off with a Children’s day and there’s a street dance and fireworks show Saturday night.

At 2 AM Sunday, Daylight Saving Time ends and we fall back one hour. Doctor Kennth St. Charles, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, says check your batteries in your smoke detector and if you’re smoke detector is more than ten years old, it’s a good idea to replace them….

Cut 16 (13) “…save lives”

8:30 LRN Newscast

Next week state lawmakers will tackle tax reform and next year figuring out ways to lower auto insurance rates will be at the top of the agenda for legislators. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says multiple legislative committees have been meeting regularly since the summer and the medical payments that are made because of a lawsuit or settlement is part of the conversation…

Cut 5 (08) “…better than.”

Temple says Louisiana motorists are more likely to claim an injury following a wreck.

Ben Riggs, director of Real Reform Louisiana, says Louisiana has more bodily injury claims, because its roads are not safe…

Cut 7 (12) “…influence accidents.”

Riggs says lawmakers can reduce auto insurance rates by removing credit score as a factor. He says a driver’s low credit score can sometimes double their premium.

Daylight Saving Time comes to an end on Sunday morning as we’ll turn the clocks back one hour. It’s a good time to check if your smoke detectors are working and change the batteries if necessary. Doctor Kenneth St. Charles, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, says smoke detectors can save lives in the event of a fire…

Cut 15 (11) “…get going”

St. Charles says consider upgrading to newer models if your dectors are more than ten years old.

The 56th Annual Pecan Festival in Colfax, which is in Grant Parish, gets underway today. Pecan Festival President Danielle Yerby says they have carnival rides, arts and crafts, cooking contests, music, there’s a parade and a fireworks show on Saturday night…

Cut 9 (05) “….open to the public”

Visitors can enjoy homemade pecan treats, jams, and other local goods at The Country Store.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is pointing at the high number of bodily insurance claims as a reason why insurance rates are so high in Louisiana. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

It’s November first, but the hurricane season is not over yet. The National Hurricane Center says there’s a high chance of tropical development in the Caribbean over the next seven days. The next named storm will be named Patty.

Next week will be a busy week in politics. Election Day is Tuesday and then Louisiana lawmakers begin a tax reform special session on Wednesday. The state’s film tax credit program could be eliminated or scaled way back as part of an effort to lower individual and corporate income taxes. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack says the Motion Picture Production Tax Credit has been around for two decades and it’s responsible for thousands of jobs…

Cut 13 (10) “….the top five”

This weekend is the 56th Annual Louisiana Pecan Festival in the Grant Parish town of Colfax.  Festival president Danielle Yerby says it all gets underway this morning with the Blessing of the Crop…

Cut 8 (10) “…cracking ever since”

The carnival opens at noon and this event attracts thousands of visitors every year.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints are short on cornerbacks heading into Sunday’s game against Carolina. Alontae Taylor is the only healthy cornerback on the active roster as Marshon Lattimore, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Rico Payton all missed practice yesterday. New Orleans has signed veteran Tre Herndon to the practice squad.

Tulane improved to 5-and-0 in the American Athletic Association with a convincing 34 to three win over Charlotte last night. Sophomore Makhi Hughes rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

ULM is looking to bounce back from a loss to South Alabama last week by knocking off Marshall in Huntington, West Virigina tomorrow afternoon. The Thundering Herd are 15th in the nation in rush offense. Kick-off is at 2:30.

It’s also another big night for High school football tonight…as Airline battles Byrd and Teurlings Catholic takes on ST. Thomas More.

LSU is trying to take advantage of the bye week by correcting the mistakes that cost them last Saturday’s Texas A-and-M. The Tigers missed on three field goal tries. One of the tires saw the holder not even know the ball was snapped. Coach Brian Kelly…

Cut 30 (27) “…on it”

LSU is 6-and-2 and ranked 16th in both major polls. Jerry Palm with CBS Sports says LSU getting into playoff position starts with them winning out.

Cut 17 (09) “…conference championship game.”

The Tigers will host Alabama next Saturday night in Baton Rouge. The loser will suffer their third loss and basically eliminated from C-F-P consideration.

6:30 LRN Newscast

A tax reform special session will get underway next week. Governor Jeff Landry wants to lower income taxes and to offset the revenue loss he’s proposing legislators do away with several tax credits. The state’s film tax credit program could be eliminated or scaled way back. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack will make the case the film tax credit program is good for the state…

Cut 12 (10) “….the Louisiana economy”

But a Louisiana Economic Development study shows the tax film tax credit program only yielded a return of 39 cents in tax revenue in fiscal year 2022.

Lawmakers will take another stab next year in addressing the state’s auto insurance rates that are among the highest in the country. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple believes one of the primary reasons  is that Louisiana motorists are more likely to claim an injury following a wreck…

Cut 4 (07) “…that’s driving cost.”

Temple says multiple legislative committees have been meeting regularly since the summer and the medical payments that are made as a result of a lawsuit or settlement is part of the conversation.

Today is the last day to request an absentee ballot for the November fifth election. To do so, contact your local registrar of voters office. And completed ballots must be received by your parish registrar of voters by 4:30 PM on Monday.

We still have some lingering rainfall in southeast Louisiana this morning, but we are looking at another dry weekend. It’ will be a perfect weekend for the 56th annual Pecan Festival in Colfax. Season Richardson has a preview…

Cut 2 (33) “….I’m Sean Richardson”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Saints Quarterback Derek Carr says he hopes to return to action this Sunday against the Panthers in Carolina. Carr has been out since injuring his oblique October 7th late in their loss to the Chiefs. Carr says he had a great day of practice Wednesday and should be ready to go Sunday.

Cut 17 (15) “…it felt great.”

Carr hopes his return will result in the end of a six game losing streak.

Tulane is in action tonight as the Green Wave visit the Charlotte 49ers. The Green Wave are undefeated in the American Athletic Conference trying to keep up with Army and Navy, who are also undefeated, while Charlotte is 2-and-2 in league play and have lost back to back games to Navy and Memphis. Kick-off is at 6:30.

The NFL game is tonight is the Texans versus the Jets.

ULM is coming off its first Sun Belt defeat as the Warhawks were defeated by South Alabama 46 to 17. But Coach Bryan Vincent says his team is not dismayed

Cut 19 (11) “….success.”  

The Warhawks are back on the road this Saturday against the Marshall Thundering Herd. Marshall is 4-and-3 on the season, winning all four of its games at home.

The Pelicans lost their third straight last night as they fell to the Golden State Warrirors for a second consecutive night. Coach Willie’s Green’s team has hit their first rough patch of the season…

Cut 26 (16) “…guys back”

The Pelicans played last night’s game without Trey Murphy, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray.