Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announces he’s not running for re-election this fall. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Female lawmakers believe the state would be better served with a larger presence in the Capitol. Teiko Foxx has the story.
Cut 2 (32) “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”
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Louisiana’s longest serving Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, announces he’s not running for re-election. Donelon has served as the state’s insurance commissioner since 2006, but over the last year the number of insurance companies willing to write private property insurance has declined and that’s where his focus needs to be
Cut 3 (05) “…re-election effort.”
Donelon has served Louisiana for nearly 50 years. He was first elected to public office in 1975 as Chairman of the Jefferson Parish Council. He also served in the Louisiana House of Representatives for 21 years from 1981 to 2001. He says it’s time to step away….
Cut 4 (10) “…new hobbies”
When the legislative session begins in April, lawmakers will discuss solutions to reversing rising property insurance premiums. Donelon says he does not want a re-election campaign hanging over the debate that will occur at the capitol…
Cut 5 (09) “…legislative session.”
The only announced candidate for Insurance Commissioner is Republican Tim Temple, who Donelon defeated in the 2019 election by 82-thousand votes. Donelon said at a press event he does not have a successor mind.
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March is Women’s History Month and despite women being the majority of the state’s population – they are the minority in the Louisiana legislature. There are currently 23 in the House and five in the Senate. Chair of the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus, Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says there’s a need for more women representation in the legislature.
Cut 6 (11) “…the legislature.”
Data from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University shows twenty-eight of the Louisiana Legislature’s 144 seats are held by women – the 45th lowest percentage in the country. Mizell hopes to see more women for legislative seats this fall.
Cut 7 (11) “…the Senate side.”
Mizell says one of the reasons why there’s a small number of females serving in the Legislature, women face larger challenges and more burdens than men…
Cut 8 (06) “… we got.”
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Because the cost of insulin has risen from $20 a vial to anywhere between $300 and $700 since the 90s, Attorney General Jeff Landry is taking on manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers.
Cut 9 (11) “…are charging folks.”
Sanofi-Aventis, (so-noff-ee) Novo Nordisk, and several Pharmacy Benefit Managers are named in the suit. Landry hopes the lawsuit will result in patients being charged a reasonable $30 per vial of insulin. More than half a million Louisianans depend on insulin to control their diabetes.
Landry says while diabetes is treatable the price of insulin has forced many diabetics to either forego or ration their medication, resulting in other complications.
Cut 10 (11) “…their supplies”
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputations. Landry says 20% of middle-class Americans are unable to take their prescribed dosage of insulin.
Cut 11 (05) “…afford it.”
Just this morning Novo Nordisk announced they are lowering the cost of their insulin pens and vials by up to 75% beginning January 1st and last month Lilly said they are capping the cost of a vial of insulin at $35.
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Baton Rouge Police say they have arrested a Person Of Interest in the mysterious death of Georgia businessman Nathan Millard last month. BRPD Sgt. L’Jean McNeely says 45-year-old Derrick Perkins was with Millard the night he died, and patrolling officers located him today, in the overnight hours…:
Cut 12 (07) “…in custody.
McKneely says officers took Perkins into custody without incident. They arrested him because they determined he had outstanding warrants…:
Cut 13 (13) “…a motor vehicle.”
Police will question him about the death of Nathan Millard on February 23rd. Millard’s body was found several days ago, wrapped in an old rug, but the preliminary autopsy says he did not meet a violent end. McKneely says Perkins is not necessarily a suspect in Millard’s death, but the manner in which they found the 2003 Toyota sedan Perkins was driving that night is a matter of concern…:
Cut 14 (06) “…had been burned.”
Perkins was charged with a probation violation, 3 counts of ATM device fraud, criminal damage to property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.