There are several lawmakers pleased that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana will not move forward with a proposed sale to Elevance Health. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly says Elevance does not have have a good reputation in other states…
cut 11 (10) “….in Georgia’
Elevance says it can deliver better technology and better health outcomes to Louisiana patients.

A special session on crime begins next week and Hammond Representative Nicholas Muscarello has filed a bill that could result in Louisiana executing death row inmates again. Obtaining the drugs to carry out a lethal injection has been a problem, because the makers of those drugs do not want to be publicly identified. Muscraello says his House Bill Six addresses that…
cut 8 (13) “…as well”

Governor Landry did not include a permanent teacher pay hike in his proposed budget. And educators are not happy.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

According to Madison Trust Company, the Monroe area has the highest percentage of house holds living below the poverty level at nearly 42-percent. Lafayette is ranked ninth at 36-percent, Shreveport-Bossier City is ranked 14th at 35-percent and Hammond is 19th at 34-percent.

Because of the difficulty in finding drug companies willing to supply what’s needed to perform lethal injections, a bill has been filed to add options and protections to those companies. Brooke Thorington reports the legislation will be discussed in the crime special session which begins Monday.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Gas prices are rising. According to AAA, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.94 that’s up nearly 20 cents from a month ago as oil prices are also up.

Governor Jeff Landry’s budget proposal includes money for teachers to continue to receive the two-thousand dollar pay raise they got last year. But this two-thousand dollar increase is not permanent as there’s a concern about a drop in state revenues in future years. Legislative director of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers Cynthia Posey hopes lawmakers make the pay raise permanent as they make changes to the proposed budget…
cut 6 (12) “….first step”

The number of fatal CWD cases in deer found in Louisiana is up to 19 and all of the cases have been in Tensas Parish. State wildlife veterinarian Doctor Jim LaCour says Louisiana has put rules in place to keep C-W-D from spreading…
cut 14 (13) “….a cape”
CWD was first detected in the state in 2022.

The proposed sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to Indiana-based Elevance Health is off, at least for now. Blue Cross withdrew its filing and cancelled a policyholder vote saying their stakeholders need more time and information to understand the proposal. Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly says he and other senators had many concerns…
Cut 10 (09) “…last week.”
Pressly says one of his major concerns is Elevance’s track record in other states.

Governor Landry’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year includes $198 million for a second round of stipends for teachers, but no permanent salary increase. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says educators thought the stipend pay hike would last more than one year.
Cut 4 (13) “…be kept.”
The Landry administration is concerned about the loss of 550-million dollars in annual revenue when a temporary .45 cent sales tax expires in July of 2025.

A special session on crime begins next week and Hammond Representative NIcholas Muscarello has filed a bill that would give the state more options to carry out death sentences. Muscarello would also like to protect the identity of drug makers who provide the drugs to perform a lethal injection. He knows discussion of the death penalty is an emotional issue…
cut 9 (10) “….families”

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the number of chronic wasting disease cases confirmed in deer in Louisiana is up to 19. So far the fatal disease has only been found in deer in Tensas Parish. CWD has not been found to be contagious to humans, but state wildlife veterinarian Doctor Jim LaCour recommends not to consume a deer known to be positive.
Cut 15 (12) “…consuming it.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana’s proposed sale to Elevance Health is off. UNO Department of Economic and Finances Chair Walter Lane says there was a lot of resistance to the proposed sale because Blue Cross failed to explain why as a non-profit it’s necessary to merge with a for profit company
Cut 11 (11) “…of Louisiana”
This is the second time Blue Cross has decided not to move forward with a merger with Elevance.

Willis Knighton Health is celebrating its 100th birthday. President and CEO Jaf Fielder says the facility was originally known as the Tri-State Sanitarium in 1924. It was a small suburban hospital on the outskirts of Shreveport.
Cut 6 (12) “…the state.”

Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans and Episcopalians are the major religious groups that abstain from eating meat today and Fridays during the Lenten season. Many turn to crawfish during this time of year, but owner Harlon Pearce of Harlon’s L-A Fish in Kenner says mudbugs are expensive because of a low supply…
cut 19 (11) “….have crawfish”

For the second year in a row, Ira and Margery Milan of New Orleans are recognized as the state’s longest known married couple. They’ve been married for 82 yards. Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says music has been a major component of their happiness…
cut 4 (13) “….they do”
Mills says during their search for the longest known married couple, they found three other couples who have been married for 77 years.

The proposed sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to Elevance Health is off. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says his office received word last night from Blue Cross that it decided to withdraw its plan to merge with Elevance…
cut 9 (04) “…of this matter”
Temple scheduled a two-day public hearing on the proposed sale and it was scheduled to start this morning, but it has been canceled.

Several lawmakers expressed reservations about the sale. Blue Cross and Elevance Health made the case the acquisition will lead to more affordable care, a better overall experience, and improved health outcomes. Elevance says its resources can also bring better technology. But Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly was skeptical…
cut 11 (09) “…technology issues”
Blue Cross’s CEO told legislators that Blue Cross could run into problems because health care costs are rising faster than the premiums it charges.

Willis Knighton Health is celebrating its 100th birthday and marking the occasion with a renewed commitment to northwest Louisiana. President and CEO Jaf Fielder says the facility was originally known as the Tri-State Sanitarium in 1924. It was a small suburban hospital on the outskirts of Shreveport.
Cut 6 (12) “…the state.”
Last year, Willis Knighton Health was ranked the number one hospital in the state by Newsweek magazine.

A New Orleans couple is being recognized for the second year in a row, as Louisiana’s Longest Married Couple by the Louisiana Family Forum. Ira and Margery Milan of New Orleans have been married for 82 years. President Gene Mills says the Milan’s story is one of love, faith, and joy.
Cut 3 (13) “…more children.”
Ira and Margery are both over 100 years old.

Major news this morning…as Blue Cross Blue Shield has back out of its plan to sell to Elevance Health. Several lawmakers like Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Patrick McMath believed it was a bad deal for Blue Cross’s one-point-nine million policyholders…
cut 12 (14) “…in Louisiana”
The Louisiana Department of Insurance has cancelled a two-day public hearing on the proposed sale that was set to begin today.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of 40 days of Lent. LSU Professor of Religious Studies, Michael Pasquier says this is the Christian holy season leading up to Easter…
cut 13 (10) “…of Jesus”

The National Retail Federation says they expect consumers to spend on average 185-dollars on Valentine’s Day gifts this year. That’s up nearly more than 8-dollars than the average Valentine’s Day spending over the last five years. Katherine Cullen, vice president of consumer insights with the National Retail Federation, says about a third of consumers plan to gift an experience to their Valentine…
cut 6 (12) “….painting class”

The Lenten season means many Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans and Episcopalians abstain from meat today and Fridays and consume seafood. Harlon Pearce, owner of Harlon’s LA Fish in Kenner, says if you’re planning an Easter Crawfish boil….
cut 9 (11) “….usage week”
And be ready to pay a pretty penny for crawfish, because of the low supply.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana has announced its not moving forward with a merger with Elevance Health. The Indiana-based company was attempting to buy the non profit health insurance company for two-point-five billion dollars. Several lawmakers were concerned about this deal. Blue Cross says its stakeholders need more time and information to understand the benefits of the changes proposed.

Love is in the air on this Valentine’s Day and it’s making a dent in the economy with a record 25 billion dollars expected to be spent on gifts this year. That’s according to the National Retail Federation and Vice President of Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen says that’s the third highest dollar figure in their survey’s history.
Cut 4 (05) “…partner.”
Consumers plan to spend on average $186 for Valentine’s Day this year, that’s up almost $8 more than the average spending over the last five years.

Today marks the first day of Lent and during the Lenten season many Christians give up something like sweets or alcohol. LSU Professor of religious studies Michael Pasquier…
cut 14 (12) “….positive ways”
Many Christians abstain from meat during Lent, especially today and on Fridays. Crawfish is in short supply, but Harlon Pearce, owner of Harlon’s L-A Fish in Kenner, says there are plenty of other seafood choices like crabs, oysters and shrimp. He says fish is also a great choice during Lent…
cut 8 (13) “….be beat”
When it comes to crawfish, Pearce says give it give another month or so and there should be more mudbugs available.