State Treasurer John Schroder is calling on state agencies to accept electronic payment options like PayPal and Venmo. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________________________

State senators express regret over approving a state budget that contained a 100-million dollar cut in funding to the Department of Health. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

_______________________________________________

As credit card debt continues to become more costly and harder to pay off, a new CreditCards.com report shows Louisiana has the third highest credit card debt in the U.S. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 3 (33)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

_______________________________________________

State Treasurer John Schroder is calling on the Louisiana Cash Management Review Board to develop a plan for all state agencies to accept electronic payment options like PayPal and Venmo. Schroder says the state needs to get on board with the new technology.

Cut 4 (11)  “…for government.’”

In addition to making payments more convenient, Schroeder says electronic payments save time.

Cut 5 (11)   “…the bank.”

Schroder is working with CMRB to craft a plan for state agencies to implement electronic payments.

Cut 6 (10)  “…the taxpayer.”

By law, the state treasurer can make the electronic payment process available to state agencies but cannot require them to use it.

________________________________________________

The parents of 29-year-old Donovan Bailey who was killed in Reserve in 2013  have joined with Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans to increase the reward amount for new tips in the cold case. President Darlene Causanza hopes increasing the amount will garner new leads in the case.

Cut 7 (13) “…final arrest.”

Bailey was driving his van with his friends when someone opened fire and shot him in the torso in the 300 block of East 13th Street. Causanza says an arrest was made in 2014 …

Cut 8 (13) “…was released.’”

Causanza encourages anyone who knows something to send in any leads.

Cut 9 (12)  “…the arrest”

Anyone with leads should contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111, download the  CSGNO app, or visit crimestoppersgno.org to post a tip.

____________________________________________

Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White regrets signing off on a budget that slashed state funding to the Louisiana Department of Health by 100-million dollars. On the final day of the session, budget negotiations went right up until a six o’clock deadline and White admits he paid too much to the clock and not what was missing from the 45-billion dollar budget plan

Cut 10 (11) “…should not have.”

L-D-H leaders told state senators the 100 million dollar cut could result in a 740-million dollar reduction in funding when you factor in federal matching dollars. White says if he had to do it again, he would not have brought the budget bill up for a vote in the waning minutes of the session…

Cut 11 (04)  “…special session.”

LDH officials told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee that the cut will result in a loss of services for Medicaid recipients who need outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment. There will also be a loss of funding for some nursing homes, a graduate medical education program, and mobile cancer screenings.

Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says a mental hospital in his district would also see a cut in funding…

Cut 12 (14)    “…no sense” 

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is alarmed to see a cut in funding to Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa…

Cut 13 (11) “…happen”  

_______________________________________________

A new report finds Louisiana has the third highest credit card debt burden in the country according to CreditCards.com. The report compares credit card debts and household incomes across all fifty states and Washington D.C. Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman says people in Louisiana live on a below-average household income.

Cut 14 (10)  “…it off.”

Louisiana ranked 47^th in average household income with an average of $76,000 annually. The average credit card charges a record-high 21 percent. That’s nearly five percentage points higher than the beginning of last year. Rossman says people are making practical purchases with credit cards because of inflation and increasing their debt burden.

Cut 15 (13)  “…than that.”

According to the report, six out of every 10 people with credit card debt have been in debt for at least a year, up from 50 percent a year ago. However, using a personal loan as a form of debt consolidation and working with a reputable nonprofit credit counseling agency can help make payments manageable. Rossman also suggests getting a zero percent balance transfer credit card.

Cut 16 (11) “…tremendous savings.”

Credit card rates rose more in 2022 than any other on record.

___________________________________________________________

LSU left-handers Nate Ackenhausen and Riley Cooper combined to limit Tennessee to just six hits in a five-to-nothing shutout of the Volunteers to advance to the semifinal round of the College World Series. Ackenhausen started his first game of the year and Coach Jay Johnson had a feeling he could handle the moment…

Cut 17 (23) “…more than that”

Ackenhausen threw a season-high six innings and struck out a season-high seven hitters. The Oklahoma native says his changeup was working well

Cut 18 (20) “…behind me.” 

It’s only the second time LSU has thrown a shutout in the College World Series. 1993 was the other time when Brett Laxton struck out a championship game record 16 hitters in a win over Wichita State.

LSU is still one loss away from elimination and they’ll need to beat Wake Forest twice in order to get to the championship series. Johnson understands it will be a challenge after the Demon Deacons held them to five hits on Monday…

Cut 19 (19) “…right now.” 

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is down under sharing Louisiana’s flavor in an effort to get to Aussies to visit the Sportsman’s Paradise. Teiko Foxx has the story.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx” 

______________________________________

The Governor signs into law a bill requiring all high school kids to take and pass a financial literacy course. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”  

______________________________________

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has been in the land down under for a little over a week to promote international travel to the Bayou State. Nungesser says the mission is to build relationships to get Aussies to see what we have to offer.

Cut 3 (13) “…we have.”

In 2019 prior to the pandemic, more than 38,000 people from Australia generated over $62 million in visitor spending. Australia is a top 15 market of origin for people coming to visit Louisiana. Nungesser says this opens a door to promote the state internationally.

Cut 4 (13)  “…of money.” 

He met with The All-Black Team – New Zealand’s most successful rugby team – about Louisiana being a host state for the Rugby World Cup which will be held in the U.S. in 2031 and 2033. Nungesser says the visit isn’t just about tourism.

Cut 5 (13)  “…this far.”

Louisiana is one of three states to receive a grant for $300,000 for the next three years from the International Commerce Department to market international travel to the U-S. Nungesser along with representatives from New Orleans and Lafayette will return on Saturday.

__________________________________________________

Governor Edwards has signed into law a bill that will require that all Louisiana high school juniors and seniors take and pass a financial literacy course. The bill was authored by Tangipahoa Parish Rep. Nicholas Muscarello, who says it’s a good step forward for kids, who are Louisiana’s future…:

Cut 6 (09)  “…in financial litaracy.” 

Louisiana will now become the 22nd state to institute such a financial literacy program for students. Muscarello says our state ranks dead last for financial literacy, so the idea is to get young people schooled up on skills they will definitely need as they move into adult life…:

Cut 7 (10)  “…what that entails.” 

Muscarello’s HB 103, now Act 267 of state statutes, requires students to take and pass the one-unit course; either in their 11th-grade or 12th-grade year. Under the new law, students who do not pass the course will not be able to graduate and will be ineligible for TOPS college tuition grants. Muscarello explains why…:

Cut 8 (08)  “…financial literacy.” 

The new law goes into effect at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

_______________________________________________

Governor Edwards has signed legislation to create an office to advocate on behalf of children under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Office of Juvenile Justice. Bill author Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the Office of State Child Ombudsman will be an independent office serving under the Legislative Auditor’s Office.

Cut 9 (07) “…intended it to be.”

Both agencies have been under fire after three children died despite warnings to DCFS and multiple escapes from the OJJ. Barrow says the bill received unanimous support and Louisiana joins 38 other states that have such an office.

Cut 10 (03)  “…much better.”

Barrow says the office will also assist parents or individuals who are facing accusations of child abuse or endangerment. The Child Ombudsman Office will help those parents navigate the system.

Cut 11 (11)  “…falsely accused.”

Barrow says several child advocacy groups assisted with the legislation and the office is expected to be in effect in a few months.

______________________________________

Louisiana Department of Health officials provided lawmakers with information on what a 100-million dollar cut in state funding will mean to the state agency. L-D-H Secretary Stephen Russo told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee says he left the capitol on the final day of the session believing his state agency was in good financial shape

Cut 12 (08) “…honest with you” 

As part of a budget compromise between the House and Senate, legislative leaders decided to cut 100-million dollars from the budget. Russo says the cut could be deeper than 100-million dollars when you figure in matching dollars from the federal government…

Cut 13 (10) “…come from” 

L-D-H provided legislators a list of programs that would be impacted by the cuts. It includes a 31-million dollar cut to community behavioral health services. Assistant Secretary of Behavioral Health Karen Stubbs says thousands of Medicaid recipients would lose outpatient treatment for mental health and substance abuse, which could be detrimental…

Cut  14 (12)  “…yes sir”

It’s expected Governor Edwards will restore the funding through the use of his line item veto authority.