Senator Bill Cassidy’s Surprise Medical Bill legislation which helps patients avoid paying for out-of-network services has gone into effect. Erik Piccioli has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli.”

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There’s quite a chill in the air in the Bayou State to keep off the first work week of the new year. Jeff Palermo has the low down on the low temps.

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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State police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Jackson Parish. Trooper Michael Reichardt says the sheriff’s office received a call Saturday that 63-year-old Michael Dobbins broke into a Chatham residence assaulted one person and then fled the scene. But hours later he was found behind some abandoned cars.

Cut 3 (12) “…at the scene.”

Reichardt says it was a long day for sheriff’s deputies, he says before they received a call that Dobbins was in a residence assaulting one person and threatening to kill another, they believe Dobbins broke into a vehicle and stole a gun.

Cut 4 (08) “…for a little while.”

Reichardt says considering all the incidents Dobbins was allegedly involved in Saturday they are thankful no one else was severely injured in the shootout.

Cut 5 (07) “…was hurt.”

The incident remains under investigation.

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Senator Bill Cassidy’s Surprise Medical Bill legislation preventing patients from paying unexpected fees after going to the hospital is now in effect. Cassidy says this is one of the first steps towards getting price transparency but there’s still a lot to be done…

 Cut 6 (08) “…that’s never been the case” 

The legislation prevents patients from paying out-of-network costs for emergency services and if some of the equipment or personnel is not in your network then the patient must be informed, given an estimate, and allowed to find someone in-network.

Cassidy says he’s heard of insurance companies playing games by not going in-network with doctors knowing it would put the patient at risk for the cost but now patients are no longer at risk…

Cut 7 (07) “…is out of the middle” 

If you leave the hospital with a higher bill than anticipated, Cassidy suggests first checking with your insurance company to see what the issue is along with contacting the Louisiana Department of Insurance at 1-800-259-5300. Cassidy says patients have recourse with this new law…

Cut 8 (11) “…to pay more” 

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The Saints still have a shot at making the playoffs even though they’ve scored just one touchdown in the last three games. New Orleans defense produced seven sacks in an 18-10 win over Carolina yesterday. Defensive end Cam Jordan had 3.5 sacks and says holding the Panthers to only 88 yards rushing was also a key…

Cut 9 (10) “…just sacks”

Sunday’s victory gives New Orleans an 8-and-8 record and some of the recent wins have been ugly as a result of an offense missing starters on the o-line. Linebacker Demario Davis says the defense doesn’t have a problem with stepping up its game…

Cut 10 (10)  “…that opportunity”

If the Saints beat Atlanta on Sunday and the 49ers lose to the Rams, New Orleans is in the playoffs. Davis is glad the 17th game of the season has meaning…

Cut  11 (11)  “…with it” 

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Louisianans needed much more than a light jacket as they ventured out into the frozen tundra this morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it was quite a contrast to the unseasonably warm temps the Bayou State was experiencing.

Cut 12 (12) “…down to 35”  

Keim says we’ll only see highs in the upper 40s today so don’t expect the sun to warm us up too much.

As for Tuesday AM, Keim says it will be much of a repeat of this morning with basically everything north of I-10 waking up to freezing temps.

Cut 13 (10) “….and Thursday. “

With another chilly night on tap, many will be using space heaters to keep warm. State Fire Marshal’s Office Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says keep anything that can catch on fire at least three to five feet away from the heating unit.

Cut 14 (10)  “…a chain.” 

Rodrigue also reminds you to never use your stove or oven to heat a home because it increases your chances of fire and or carbon monoxide poisoning.

2022 is already shaping up to be a very active & potentially dramatic year for Louisiana politics. Kevin Gallagher elaborates…:

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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The New Year brings new changes to how much state taxes you’ll pay. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

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Louisiana medical marijuana patients now have the choice to get smokeable medical marijuana at one of the state’s nine licensed pharmacies. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Michelle Southern.” 

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2022 is already shaping up to be an active year for politics in Louisiana. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says first up a redistricting session in February. Alford says partisan politics PLUS population losses will come into play as they redraw district lines for Congress, the legislature, Public Service Commission and state courts…:

Cut 4 (12) “….see some changes.”

Governor Edwards has said he wants a second majority-minority Congressional district, but Alford thinks GOP-led legislature will resist.

Next, it’s on to the 2022 regular legislative session, and Alford thinks we’ll see attempts to again pass legislation that did not make it into law last year. He says some of these are real hot-button topics we’ve heard about before…:

Cut 5 (09) “…criminal justice reform.”

Also in the coming year, the mid-term Congressional elections and the beginning of the run-up to the 2023 gubernatorial and statewide office elections. Alford says there are lot of people who’d like to move into the Governor’s Mansion…:

Cut 6 (10) “…run for governor.”

Alford expects to see and hear a lot of highly charged partisan debate and straight-up bickering in the year ahead.

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The New Year brings changes to the state’s tax code. Jason DeCuir (dih-KWEER) is a partner at Advantous, a tax consulting firm in Baton Rouge. He says a big change is with state income tax rates, after voters last fall approved lowering individuals’ tax rates in exchange for losing their deduction for federal taxes paid…:

Cut 7 (11) “…taxes that they pay.”

DeCuir says corporate state income taxes were also reduced.

Another change that he says should help smaller businesses in Louisiana is the phasing out the so-called Corporate Franchise Tax. He says this something business owners have wanted for years…:

Cut 8 (12) “…phased that tax out.”

There are some concerns that the tax changes will NOT be “revenue neutral” for many; particularly higher wage earners and those who itemize deductions. DeCuir says the tax code changes should be better for most of us, and will make for fewer state budget shortfalls, as state revenues are less tied to the federal tax code…:

Cut 9 (10)  “…for the state.”

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Embattled Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet has stepped down from the bench as a result of a viral video where she allegedly used a racial slur as her family watched a home security video of an attempted burglary. Odinet’s Attorney Dane Ciolino says the judge takes full responsibility…

Cut 10 (11)  “…the community”

Ciolino says in her resignation letter, Odinet says she’s sorry for the pain she’s caused to the community…

Cut  11 (12)  “..to come”  

Odinet also asked for forgiveness in her resignation letter to the Louisiana Supreme Court. Ciolino says the judge knows forgiveness will not come quickly…

Cut 12 (08) “…work to do”

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The new year brings a change to the state’s medical-marijuana program as eligible patients can now buy it in smokeable form. Houma Representative Tanner Magee authored the legislation that made it legal for the state’s nine licensed pharmacies to dispense the flower form of marijuana…

Cut 13 (12) “…uses wants.”

Up until 2022, medical marijuana was available to patients with certain conditions in liquids, topical applications, inhalers, and edible gummies. Magee says since the smokeable form involves less processing, it should cost less for the consumer…

Cut 14 (12)  “..look at”

Louisiana launched its medical marijuana program in 2019 after lawmakers approved the dispensing framework in 2015. There are now 28-thousand patients who have a valid medical marijuana prescription. Magee says many of those individuals are over the age of 65

Cut 15 (10)  “…find beneficial”

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Louisiana Tech men’s basketball is off to a 2-0 start in Conference USA play after a come from behind win over Western Kentucky on Saturday. The Bulldogs trailed by 17 points to the Hilltoppers but still won their 17th straight game in the Thomas Assembly Center by beating W-K-U 74-73. Tech head coach Eric Konkol…

Cut  16 (24) “…just a way”

Kenneth Lofton junior had 22 points and Tech is at UTEP on Thursday.

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The LSU football team has one more full day of preparation for Tuesday night’s Texas Bowl against Kansas State. They’ve been getting ready for the game in Houston and it’s still unknown to the public who will start at quarterback and the Tigers are without key players Damone Clark, Neil Farrell and Tyrion-Davis Price, who have opted out. Despite the key absences, interim head coach Brad Davis says the preparation has been good…

Cut 17 (17) “ …victorious”

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The Saints kept their playoff hopes alive with an 18-10 win over the struggling Panthers. The defense led the way as they sacked Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold seven times. Defensive end Cam Jordan had 3.5 sacks and cornerback C-J Gardner-Johnson had the game sealing interception. Gardner Johnson credits the defensive line

Cut 18 (18) “ ..one on one” 

The Saints offense struggled to run the football as the offensive line played without its start center and tackles. Quarterback Taysom Hill threw for 222 yards and one touchdown. Hill understands its the defense leading the way…

Cut 19 (19) “ being scored” 

The win gives the Saints an 8-and-8 record heading into Sunday’s season finale at Atlanta. New Orleans offense has scored just one touchdown in the last three games and Coach Sean Payton credits the defense for keeping their playoff hopes alive…

Cut 20 (15) “ takeaways”