With federal pandemic protections ending, states can once again reevaluate Medicaid participants annually for eligibility. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Louisiana Speaker of the House is looking at running for governor. Jeff Palermo spoke with Clay Schexnayder about his political future…

Cut 2 (30)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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COVID protections from the federal government end in April, which means Medicaid recipients will be reevaluated for eligibility. Tara LeBlanc Executive Director of Louisiana’s Medicaid program says since March 2020 no one was removed from the program because of the pandemic but annual reviews can resume.

Cut 3 (10) “…disenroll them.” 

Those who are removed from the program will receive information for alternative coverage.

The state estimates as many as 350,000 could lose Medicaid coverage. LeBlanc says they will begin mailing pink letters and recipients must respond if they wish to remain enrolled and they’re still eligible.

Cut  4 (10)  “…contact information.” 

LeBlanc says the bulk of those who will be removed is because they make too much money or they fail to respond to letters. She says it’s vital for participants to reply to letters and update their contact information.

Cut 5 (06) “…healthcare coverage.”

The review process begins in April and remains ongoing for the next 12 months.

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Congressman Garret Graves says he met with Attorney General Jeff Landry as he moves closer to making a decision on whether to run for governor. Graves says he’s receiving strong encouragement to run as many are not happy Landry already has the Louisiana Republican Party’s endorsement

Cut 6 (10)  “…path forward” 

Graves says his meeting on Sunday with Landry lasted about 90 minutes. The Congressman has been looking a run for governor for weeks, but he’s closing in on a final decision…

Cut 7 (07)  “…ten days or so” 

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Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says he’s considering a run for governor. The Republican from Ascension Parish says he will only get into the race if U-S Representative Garret Graves decides not to run…

Cut 8 (07)  “…t-shirt on” 

Graves says he’s receiving encouragement to run and told Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge that expects to make a decision within the next ten days or so. Schexnayder says he’s also hearing from supporters who would like him to run…

Cut 9 (09) “…most of em.”

The Republican field for governor also includes Attorney General Jeff Landry, State Treasurer John Schroder, and state lawmakers Sharon Hewitt and Richard Nelson. Landry is considered the front-runner.

Schexnayder is term-limited in the House and has served as Speaker of the House since 2020. The 54-year-old from Gonzales was also rumored to be a candidate for Lt. Governor, before incumbent Billy Nungesser, decided to run for re-election

Cut 10 (12) “…from there.” 

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New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell responds to being filmed ‘flipping the bird’ during the Krewe of Tucks parade. Cantrell says the city was disrespected- she was provoked and she reacted.

Cut 11 (08)  “…love you”

Krewe of Tucks parade floats have often been politically satirical over the years. Cantrell says she saw this one as an attack, and reacted defensively…

Cut 12 (08) “…the city.”

Cantrell has faced a wave of criticism over the past few months, for lavish travel spending, an alleged affair with a cop assigned to protect her and more. she is under a threatened recall, and petition signatures are being verified right now. Cantrell says it was a mistake that she regrets…

Cut 13 (11) “…happen again.” 

The outcome of the petition to recall Cantrell is still unknown.

The Lafayette-based biotech company – Tides Medical headquarter expansion will increase production and create additional jobs. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (30)  “…Teiko Foxx.”

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A Princeton University study indicates that climate change is behind the phenomenon of back-to-back major hurricanes. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A bill to grant Louisianans the right to carry a concealed weapon without a permit has been filed for the regular legislative session. Kevin Gallagher spoke with the bill’s author…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

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The Lafayette-based biotech company – Tides Medical is expanding its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility. With a growing demand for amniotic skin substitutes, the $1.5M upgrade will increase nationwide productivity. Tides Medical CEO, Joe Spell, says the expansion will 77 retain jobs and create 40 new ones.

Cut 4 (11)  “…our products.”

Tides Medical manufactures and distributes natural skin solutions used to treat patients with difficult-to-heal wounds and medical skin trauma. Spell says innovative medical research improves health outcomes.

Cut 5 (07) “…their limbs.”

Spell says the state offered a competitive incentives package that included a $200,000 performance–based grant.

Cut 6 (06)  “…the state.” 

The company estimates the project will be complete by the end of this year.

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Are back-to-back hurricanes a phenomenon or are they becoming the norm? A Princeton University study says they are becoming more routine, and the culprit is climate change. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s an interesting study and does make you think, especially in Louisiana…

Cut 7 (11) “…on there.”

Keim says while the back-to-back hurricane patterns used to occur once every few decades, a trend of them happening more often has emerged.

Cut 8 (07)  “…you’re down.”

The primary reason this is possible, Keim says is because climate change is expected to turn more hurricanes into severe hurricanes, increasing both the size and reach of the hurricanes.

Cut 9 (10)  “…into the future.”

With the likelihood of more major storms, that cover a greater area of the coastline, Keim says that increases the chances of following hurricanes impacting generally the same area.

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A so-called “Constitutional Carry” bill has been filed for the legislative session that starts in April. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says Louisianans may already “open carry” and forearm in plain view, provided they have no criminal record. His bill would extend that right to a concealed weapon…:

Cut 10 (08)  “…murderers and rapists.”

McCormick’s bill would simply exempt anyone over 18, with a clean criminal record, from the crime of illegally carrying weapons. Simply put concealed carry without a permit, which McCormick says is a right guaranteed by the Second Amendment. Critics say it will make Louisiana like the “wild, wild west”, but McCormick says that’s not so…:

Cut 11 (07)  “…criminals have firearms.”

McCormick filed the same bill last year. It passed the House but was killed in the Senate when a member sought to amend it into a bill to arm school teachers. Will they seek to kill the bill again this year…?

Cut 12 (09) “…stack up this year.”

The legislature convenes on April 10^th.

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A Democrat announces he’ll run for State Treasurer of Louisiana this fall. He is 42-year-old Dustin Granger; a professional financial planner from Lake Charles. He says he wants to make the state better for future generations…:

Cut 13 (07) “…running for Treasurer.” 

Granger says the state has wasted billions investing in an oil & gas economy that is in decline. He says the state should look to invest its revenues more wisely…:

Cut 14 (13)  “…a lot of investments.”

Granger says, as a financial advisor his job is to assure clients (quote) “have income for the rest of their lives.” He says, as Treasurer he would do the same for Louisiana…:

Cut 15 (11)  “…for the state.”

Baton Rouge state Representative Scott McKnight, a Republican, is the only other announced candidate for State Treasurer so far. Granger’s website is “grangerforla.com”

In Lake Charles, a ribbon cutting was held today for a 10-point-eight million dollar culinary, gaming and hospitality teaching center. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Despite a rough beginning for the strawberry growing season weather-wise, the current warming trend has sped things up. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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State and local officials were on hand today for the grand opening of SOWELA’s $10.8M State-of-the-art Culinary, Gaming, and Hospitality Training Center in Lake Charles. SOWELA Chancellor Dr. Neil Aspinwall says with three big casinos in Lake Charles a facility to train the workers is needed…

Cut 3 (10) “…hospitality center.” 

According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the hospitality jobs sector is expected to increase by nearly 15-percent by 2026. Aspinwall says they want to meet that demand…

Cut  4 (09)  “…a need.” 

The 28-thousand foot square building features a top of the line culinary kitchen, gaming tables and model hotel rooms. Aspinwall says the facility design is cutting-edge.

Cut 5 (09) “…break area.”

Funding for the facility was approved by Governor John Bel Edwards and the state legislature in 2018.

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As we approach the peak of the strawberry season, Springfield strawberry farmer, Trey Harris says production is down from this time last year. But he says the current unseasonably warm temps are speeding things up.

Cut 6 (11)  “…berries right now.” 

Harris says highs in the 80s and warm nights are causing a growth spurt among strawberries.

And while you might assume strawberry farmers welcome rain, Harris says they are able to control water consumption, and too much water and fog at this point can affect the taste of strawberries.

Cut 7 (05)  “…like water.” 

Harris says inflation has impacted farmers with increased labor, plant, and fertilizer costs. He says its vital residents support locally grown berries now more than ever.

Cut 8 (09)  “…farmers left.” 

The peak of Louisiana strawberry season is March, April, and May. Harris says in addition to buying locally grown berries residents should support the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival April 14-16.

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East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore announces he’s not running governor. Moore, who is a registered Democrat, has served as Baton Rouge’s top prosecutor since 2008. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Moore didn’t have much of a chance with DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson expected to get in…

Cut 9 (07) “…whatsoever.”

Wilson, a Black Democrat from Lafayette, is expected to officially enter the race early in March. Pinsonat says it appears he’ll be the lone major Democrat in the race to replace outgoing Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards…

Cut 10 (06) “…John Bel Edwards did.” 

A teacher from LaSalle Parish, Danny Cole, says he will run for governor as a Democrat. Pinsonat expects the October ballot will have a few names with a “D” next to it, but he says Wilson is the Democrats best chance for a candidate to reach the run-off…

Cut 11 (12)  “…to run”

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Internet outages continue to hinder the campus of Southeastern University after an incident over the weekend. UL -System President Dr. Jim Henderson says the university and state police have identified the suspected cyber incident responsible for the outage.

Cut 12 (10) “…right now.”

State Police in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security is assisting with the response.

Staff and students are unable to use the school’s email, along with the system students and professors use to communicate and administer tests and assignments.

Henderson says the ability to isolate and restore the school’s internet system is a testament to the Information Technology team responsible for their ability to rectify the outage.

Cut 13 (12) “…uncovered.” 

And while the inability to communicate digitally is a major inconvenience, Henderson says it could be much worse if there wasn’t an IT team prepared to handle such problems.

Cut 14 (10)   “…we follow.”

A timeline of when the school’s computer system is expected to be restored has not been released.