The lone declared candidate for Insurance Commissioner is about to start his campaign media blitz. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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After pleading not guilty to a felony charge of battery, Saints running back Alvin Kamara pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace for his involvement in a 2022 fight in Las Vegas. Kace Kieschnick has more…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
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Small business optimism has improved since last month but it’s still well below average with inflation disparities and quality workers as a big problem. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 3 (32) “….I’m Teiko Foxx.”
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DeRidder insurance professional Tim Temple has begun his campaign for Louisiana Insurance Commissioner in earnest. Temple’s campaign announced it will start buying statewide media ads to promote his run. In a Tuesday call to LRN, Temple says he has been traveling the state since he announced last fall, but the time has come to invest in a broader message…:
Cut 4 (10) “…in this campaign.”
Louisiana has the highest auto insurance rates in the nation, and property insurance costs are threatening some residents with the loss of their homes. Temple says we have too few insurance companies doing business here, and hence there is no competition to drive costs down. He says, if elected, he’d work to change that…:
Cut 5 (11) “…business in Louisiana.”
Current Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon will not seek re-election, and –as of now – Temple is the only declared candidate in the race. With a month to go before qualifying, Temple says he will campaign as hard as if he did have a challenger…:
Cut 6 (11) “…every single day.”
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A more than four hours standoff with Shreveport Police Monday morning ends with what authorities believe is the suspect’s charred remains found inside a Crook Creek home. Names of those involved have not been released and Police Chief Wayne Smith says it ended when the suspect set the home on fire.
Cut 7 (09) “…this time.”
Smith says the suspect was heavily armed when he went to the home intent on causing harm to any and everyone he encountered. The gunman shot two neighbors before entering the home, and he also fired shots toward a room where a 13-year-old girl hid as others escaped. Smith says the teen was hit and three officers entered the home amid gunfire to save her.
Cut 8 (09) “…to safety.’”
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the standoff and the gunman exchanged gunfire multiple times with officers and he also destroyed two police drones used in the standoff. Smith says police spent hours trying to negotiate with the suspect.
Cut 9 (03) “…of surrendering.”
Smith says all of the shooting victims are expected to make a full recovery.
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Saints running back Alvin Kamara has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from a fight that took place in a Las Vegas hotel in 2022. As part of the plea deal, Kamara must perform community service and pay over $100,000 to the victim, Darnell Greene, for medical bills. Host of the Locked-On Saints Podcast Ross Jackson says Kamara avoids jail time…
Cut 10 (10) “…Alvin Kamara.”
Kamara also faced a civil suit in Louisiana that sought $10 million in damages, but Greene’s attorney says the suit has been settled. The NFL, who was waiting for the judicial process to play out, has yet to announce their own consequences as part of its personal-conduct policy. First-time offenders facing felony charges involving assault or battery usually receive at least a 6-game suspension, but Jackson says it’s hard to predict what the league will do…
Cut 11 (10) “…their players.”
While Kamara said he was glad to have this put behind him and Saints training camp just around the corner, Jackson says this could still be drawn out longer. The NFL has been monitoring proceedings closely but has given no timetable on when a ruling will be passed down. Jackson says even that may not be the end…
Cut 12 (09) “…even longer.”
Kamara will be eligible for Saints training camp which begins July 26. The Saints are scheduled to begin preseason August 13 while the regular season kicks off September 10.
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A new survey of members by the National Federation of Independent Business indicates a slight uptick in optimism among small businesses last month but inflation and labor quality are still a major concern. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says owners are more optimistic about future conditions compared to last year’s reading of 21 percent worse…
Cut 13 (11) “…61 percent.”
Eight percent of ‘Mom and Pops’ mentioned labor costs as their top business problem, which is down by two points from May and 24 percent said that labor quality was their top business problem. McVea says nearly half of the owners reported job openings that were hard to fill…
Cut 14 (12) “…a problem.”
However, 36 percent of owners say they have raised compensation, and 22 percent plan to raise wages in the next three months. McVea is hopeful the economy will improve for owners by the end of the last quarter…
Cut 15 (13) “…the year.”