The deadline to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is rapidly approaching. Jeff Palermo reports…

cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Montegut man has stepped up and claimed a $1 million Powerball prize just days before the winning ticket was set to expire. 53-year-old Laine Aucoin’s winning ticket matched all five white ball numbers in the August 5, 2015 drawing. After federal and state taxes were withheld, Aucoin took home $700,000. That winning ticket was set to expire tomorrow.

The Mardi Gras parade season has arrived and law enforcement is putting more officers on the roads as part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director, Lt. Col John Leblanc, says law enforcement increases its presence on the roads during the times of the year when fatal crashes are most prevalent…

cut 8 (07) “really needed”

Last year, there were were nearly 600 fatal and injury crashes and 10 fatalities during the Mardi Gras holiday, and more than half of those deaths involved alcohol.

High school principals have voted for select and non-select playoffs in basketball, baseball and softball, just like what’s already in place for football. That split will go into effect for the 2016-17 school year. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says he’s heard from many who are against a further expansion of the split…

cut 14 (09) “differently”

The vote was 182-120 for the expanded split.

Tomorrow is the deadline to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Healthcare-dot-gov CEO Kevin Counihan says over 200,000 Louisianians have already signed up for coverage through the federal insurance marketplace. He says the penalty for choosing not to have health insurance has gone up this year…

cut 5 (07) “household income”

Counihan says there is still plenty of time to get coverage before Sunday night’s midnight deadline.

On the final day of the LHSAA convention, high school principals voted for select and non-select playoffs in basketball, baseball and softball, just like what’s already in place for football. The vote was 182-120 for the expanded split. Beekman Charter principal Roy McCoy says nothing good comes out of further dividing the LHSAA…

cut 13 (09) “skirt the rules”

The split playoffs for basketball, baseball and softball will go into effect for the 2016-17 school year.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled over campaign is in effect this Mardi Gras parade season. Executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Lt. Col John Leblanc, says law enforcement is publicizing this increase in officers and patrols in hopes that it will deter people from driving drunk…

cut 6 (10) “impaired driving”

The campaign runs through Fat Tuesday.

The LSU board of supervisors is taking steps that would pave the way for a statue of Pete Maravich to be erected on campus. An athletics policy currently blocks a statue of Pistol Pete, because he didn’t graduate. Former star LSU basketball player Collis Temple, who integrated the team, says the legacy of Maravich must be preserved…:

cut 9 (08) “cub scouts”

The policy would say instead of a degree, 100 credit hours would be required and Maravich would meet that.

Split playoffs that separate public and private schools are coming to the LHSAA in the sports of basketball, baseball and softball. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The deadline to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is this Sunday. Healthcare-dot-gov CEO Kevin Counihan says the penalty for choosing not to have health insurance has gone up this year…:
CUT 5 (07) “household income”

The Mardi Gras parade season has arrived and law enforcement is putting more officers on the roads as part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Executive Director Lt. Col John Leblanc, says law enforcement increases its presence on the roads during the times of the year when fatal crashes are most prevalent…:
CUT 8 (07) “really needed”
Last year, there were were nearly 600 fatal and injury crashes and 10 fatalities during the Mardi Gras holiday.

The LSU Board of Supervisors athletic committee approves changes to its statue policy, which could clear the way for a Pete Maravich statue in front of the building that’s named after him. For a life size statue to be erected on LSU’s campus of a former athlete that person must have graduated from the school. The board is looking to eliminate graduation provision and require the former student athlete to achieve at least 100 credit hours or attend school for three years.

High school principals have voted for select and non-select playoffs in basketball, baseball and softball, just like what’s already in place for football. The vote took place today, the final day of the LHSAA convention. Many Principal Norman Booker says the split needed to be expanded, because private schools have an advantage in how they can enroll their students:
CUT 12 (08) “20 years”
The vote was 182-120 for the expanded split.

The statewide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign begins today and runs through Mardi Gras. Executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Lt. Col John Leblanc, says Fat Tuesday celebrations often involves alcohol, and they want to stress the alternatives to drunk driving:
CUT 7 (08) “enjoy yourself”
Increased patrols will be out during the campaign.

The LSU Board of Supervisors athletic committee approves changes to its statue rules that would allow a likeness of Pete Maravich to be errected on campus. Currently statues aren’t allowed of people who didn’t graduate from LSU. But Board member and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says it’s terrible that they actually have to debate this issue about the best basketball player ever play at LSU…:
CUT 10 (10) “fix it”
The policy would say instead of a degree, 100 credit hours would be required and Maravich would meet that. The matter still needs a full board approval.

A 12-year-old boy is under his arrest for his role in the death of an elderly nun. It’s reported that an incident occured in October where 87-year-old Sister Rosario O’Connell was helping the child with his homework, when he became enraged and slammd her into a wall which caused brain damage that could have killed her. O’Connell died this week.

The LSU Board of Supervisors discussed a proposal today that would alter rules and allow a statue of Pete Maravich to be erected on campus. An athletics policy currently blocks a statue of Pistol Pete, because he didn’t graduate. Former star LSU basketball player Collis Temple, who integrated the team, says the legacy of Maravich must be preserved…:
CUT 9 (06) “college basketball”
The policy would say instead of a degree, 100 credit hours would be required and Maravich would meet that. It must still be approved by the full board.

Louisiana High School Athletic Association principals voted 182-120 to not only continue the select/non-select playoff split but also expand it to basketball, baseball and softball. The vote means there will continue to be nine championship football games. Before the split, there were five classes with five championship games. The change will go into effect July 1, 2016.

The deadline to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is this Sunday. Healthcare-dot-gov CEO Kevin Counihan says over 200,000 Louisianians have already signed up for coverage through the federal insurance marketplace. He says financial assistance through healthcare-dot-gov can really help in making insurance more affordable…:
CUT 4 (07) “financial assistance”
He says there is still plenty of time to get coverage before Sunday night’s midnight deadline, but encourages people to not wait until the last minute.

Troy ‘Choot em’ Landry, of Swamp People is now offering a $1000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for damaging his gate on a canal. The canal is located just south of Bayou Tranquil and is better known as the Mitchell Canal in Lake Verret.

The Mardi Gras parade season has arrived and law enforcement is putting more officers on the roads. It’s part of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled over Campaign, which will last through Fat Tuesday. Executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Lt. Col John Leblanc, says law enforcement is publicizing this increase in officers in the hopes that it will deter people from drunk driving…:
CUT 6 (10) “impaired driving”

An elderly nun is dead in Houma after she was reportedly pushed into a wall by a 12-year-old boy, who is now facing charges. Apparently the victim suffered brain damage that authorities believed killed her. The report indicates the incident happened as the nun was helping the student with his homework at the Louis Infant Crisis Center in October, when the child became angry and tackled her into a wall. Sister Rosario O’Connell died this week at the age of 87. The juvenile faces second-degree battery charges.

The deadline to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is rapidly approaching. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has voted to aplit the playoffs in the sports of basketball, baseball and softball, just like they’ve done for football the last three years. The vote was 182-120. The split will go into effect next school year and the LHSAA will have a lot of work to do to figure out how this will work logistically.

The deadline to enroll for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is this Sunday. Healthcare-dot-gov CEO Kevin Counihan says over 200,000 Louisianians have already signed up for coverage through the federal insurance marketplace. He says it’s easy to sign up and you only need four pieces of information to get started…:
CUT 3 (11) “financial help”
He says 62-percent of Louisiana residents are able to find plans for $75 or less with financial assistance.

Today the LHSAA is set to vote on the future of playoffs for high school athletics in Louisiana. They are going to decide whether or not to continue the select/nons-elect split. The convention could also choose to expand the system to other sports. The issue was discussed through several meetings on Thursday.

Another candidate has entered the race for US Senate, but this one will run as an Independent….:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Tulane University and Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System researchers say they have created a painkiller that’s just as strong as morphine but non-addictive. Lead Investigator Dr. James Zadina says in recent years, we’ve seen an increase in overdose deaths from opioid uses…:
Cut 15 (06) “some extent”

Researchers from Tulane University have developed a non-addictive pain killer as an alternative to morphine. Emelie Gunn has more on the new drug…

cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The number of Louisianians purchasing health insurance under the Affordable Care Act continues to grow. Over 198,000 residents have enrolled for health care coverage through the federal insurance marketplace. That’s approximately 12,000 more than last year. Open enrollment for the Afordable Care Act ends Sunday.

The Department of Ag & Forestry continues to locate skimming devices on gas pumps across Louisiana. Commissioner Mike Strain says 25 skimming devices have been discovered throughout the state since last June. He says if you are using a card at the pump, you should run it as a credit, not a debit…

cut 12 (10) “you can see them”

These devices steal a consumer’s credit card or debit card information.

The Department of Transportation is warning drivers of a single lane closure on eastbound I-10 in West Baton Rouge Parish just before the Mississippi River Bridge beginning today. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the construction will patch and pave the road starting at I-10 at LA 1. He says you can visit 511-LA-dot-org for current traffic updates…

cut 9 (09) “alternative route”

The lane will close tonight at 8:30 and reopen Monday morning at six.

Skimming devices, which document credit card numbers, keep popping up on gas pumps throughout the state…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ Medicaid expansion plan will get its first legislative test today. The Edwards administration is seeking to hire health department workers to sign residents up for the expanded coverage. The joint House and Senate budget committee is expected to consider the hiring plan today. The proposal would cost $10.3 million this budget year, that would be paid by the federal government and health providers.

Former state legislator and Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Troy Hebert announces he’s running for the US Senate. A television station reported this week that Hebert is being investigated by the FBI for allegedly receiving sexual favors from a New Orleans woman who was having trouble with their liquor license. Hebert says those accusations are completely false…

cut 6 (12) “U.S. senator”

Hebert will run for Senate as an Independent.

The Department of Transportation is alerting drivers of a single lane closure beginning today on eastbound I-10 in West Baton Rouge Parish just before the Mississippi River Bridge. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says construction is necessary to maintain the integrity of the roadway. But he says they tried to schedule the road work during times with the least amount of traffic.

cut 7 (07) “at six”

Mallett says visit 511-LA-dot-org for current traffic updates.

Researchers at Tulane University and Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System say they have created a painkiller that’s just as strong as morphine but non-addictive. Lead Investigator Dr. James Zadina says human clinical trials are set to begin within the next couple of years…

cut 14 (11) “focus”

He says they used compounds from the brain rather than from opium plants to create the endomorphin drug.

The Department of Ag & Forestry continues to find skimming devices on gasoline pumps throughout the state. Commissioner Mike Strain says that crooks are getting smarter and smarter with the skimming devices to make it easier to access consumer’s personal information…

cut 11 (07) “to look for them”

He says since last June, 25 skimming devices have been discovered in 12 Louisiana parishes.

Former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Troy Hebert announces he’s thrown his hat in the ring for the US Senate. Hebert served in the state legislature from 1996 to 2010 before becoming ATC Commissioner. Hebert says he plans to run for Senate as an Independent….
cut 5 (09) “politics that we have”

When Hebert was elected as a state representative, he was a democrat, but towards the end of his legislative career he changed to Independent.

The Department of Transportation says single lane closure begin today on eastbound I-10 in West Baton Rouge Parish just before the Mississippi River Bridge. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the left lane closure begins at the foot of the new bridge. He advises motorists to seek alternate routes to avoid backups on I-10…

cut 8 (10) “the bridge”

Mallet says construction is necessary to maintain the integrity of the roadway.