There are talks of adding a Category 6 to the hurricane Saffir-Simpson scale. But is it necessary? Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee Patrick McMath says there are way too many questions about the proposed sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana to a for profit company based out of Indiana. Jeff Palermo has more

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Due to the growing intensity of storms there’s talk of adding a Category 6 for hurricanes. A Cat 6 would be defined as wind speeds of more than 192 miles per hour. But LSU Climatologist Barry Keim says considering the last one that even came close in the Atlantic was Hurricane Allen in 1980 at 190 miles per hour, there’s no need.

Cut 3 (07) “…this category.”  

The strongest storm to ever make landfall in the US was Labor Day 1935 with winds of 185 miles per hour.

Keim says the National Hurricane Center considered adding a Category 6 but opted against it. He worries adding a higher classification could have repercussions.

Cut 4 (12) “…is necessary.”

The study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests global warming has prompted the need for an additional Saffir-Simpson scale storm category. Keim says the jury is still out…

Cut 5 (11) “…it’s necessary.”  

Keim notes Pacific storms are routinely stronger because there’s less land to weaken their intensity.

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Las Vegas is hosting its first Super Bowl this week and next year New Orleans will host its record tying 11th Super Bowl.  The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation is the host committee for next year’s Super Bowl and CEO Jay Cicero is in Vegas all week….

Cut 6  (10) “..next year” 

New Orleans is hosting its first Super Bowl since 2013 and Cicero says the huge sporting event has grown…

Cut 7 (12) “…just plentiful”  

New Orleans hosted its first Super Bowl in 1970 at old Tulane Stadium. Cicero says next year they’ll be remembering the ten previous Super Bowls held in the city and they expect it will be a great event…

Cut 8 (10) “…Super Bowl here.” 

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Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Patrick McMath says a daylong meeting with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana officials about its  proposed sale to Indiana-based Elevance Health produced a ton of unanswered questions. McMath says the sale will create a foundation that will address poverty and health inequities, but there are a lot of unknowns

Cut 9 (11) “…incredibly vague”

McMath says they are also concerned the proposed sale to Elevance will lead to higher costs for policyholders despite the president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana telling legislators in his opening statement that premiums will not rise…

Cut 10 (08) “…increase”

McMath says Blue Cross is a local nonprofit while Elevance is a for-profit company that has to answer to stockholders. He says in states that Elevance has acquired a Blue Cross Blue Shield, premiums have gone up…

Cut 11 (12) “…desperately need.”

Blue Cross covers one-point-nine million people in Louisiana.

For the sale to go through 92-thousand policyholders will be asked to vote and two-thirds of them will need to approve it. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple will also have to sign off on it.

The Department of Insurance will hold a two-day hearing on the proposed sale on February 14th and 15th.

When the sale was announced in January 2023, Elevance and Blue Cross said the acquisition would improve access, quality, affordability and the customer service experience.

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McNeese men’s basketball coach Will Wade has agreed to a new five-year contract that will pay him 700-thousand dollars annually. That’s a lucrative contract for a school in the Southland Conference. Wade has led the Cowboys to a 20-3 season which has garnered them national attention. The former LSU coach says the best is yet to come for the Pokes…

Cut 12 (12)  “…area up.”  

Wade says his team’s upset victory over Michigan earlier this season resulted in six thousand unique visitor’s to the school’s website the next day and hundreds of those looked into applying at the school.

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The Louisiana Wildlife Federation is looking to honor Youth Hunter of the Year and the deadline to apply is Wednesday. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Governor Jeff Landry would like to send Louisiana National Guard troops to the southern border. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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The Louisiana Wildlife Federation is looking to honor Youth Hunter of the Year. The award will recognize a boy and girl hunter 15 years of age or younger and the deadline to apply is Wednesday. Jimmy Fredrick with LWF says they want to hear the story of a hunting trip that took place last year from the perspective of the hunter.

Cut 3 (10) “…might be.”  

The winner will be presented with a plaque at LWF’s Annual Conservation Achievement Awards banquet on April 12^th.

This will be the first time the award has been presented since 2019.

Fredrick says LWF is giving the award in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. He says the essay doesn’t necessarily have to be about a successful hunting trip, it’s all about the experience.

Cut 4 (12) “…or 15 years old.”

Among the prizes is a $100 gift certificate from Bowie (pronounced Boo-ee) Outfitters and a third gift certificate will be raffled off among other entries.

Fredrick says it’s very easy to enter on their website and participants are asked to write about their memorable hunting trip.

Cut 5 (07) “…the Year.”  

To apply visit LAwildlifeFED-dot-org

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A man and woman were fatally shot in the front yard of their home following the Krewe of Hercules parade in Houma on Friday.  Lieutenant Blake Tabor with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says the shooting happened in the 300 block of Willowdale before midnight …

Cut 6  (11) “…gunshot wounds.” 

The victims were returning home from the parade when gunfire erupted. Tabor says this was a senseless act of violence.

Cut 7 (08) “…violence personally.” 

Tabor says authorities are asking for the public’s assistance as the suspects remain at large. He says they will bring justice to those affected by this act of violence.

Cut 8 (11) “…this case .” 

If you have any information about the suspects or can identify them, contact the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Office at 985-876-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-743-7433.

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Governor Jeff Landry wants to send Louisiana National Guard troops to Texas to help with southern border security. Landry made the statement following a visit to Eagle Pass, Texas and receiving a briefing from Texas public safety officials…

Cut 9 (11) “…protect our citizens”

Landry claims the Biden Administration is not enforcing the immigration laws on the books and it’s putting Texas, Louisiana and every other state at risk…

Cut 10 (10) “…this country”

Landry says when in trouble, Texas has always opened their arms to Louisiana, it’s time the Bayou State returns the favor. He says the rule of law must be enforced…

Cut 11 (03) “…illegal immigration.”

The U-S Senate has proposed a 118-billion dollar immigration bill that supporters say will overhaul immigration system by imposing tougher asylum and border laws. But House Speaker Mike Johnson from Bossier Parish says the legislation would incentivize more illegal immigration.