Many are finding this holiday season more difficult with the pandemic this year as gatherings are limited. Brooke Thorington talks with a psychologist
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Luke Letlow will be the next Congressman for the 5th Congressional District, beating fellow Republican Alexandria lawmaker Lance Harris with 62 percent of the vote. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The 2019 Louisiana Health Insurance study shows only 11-percent of adults are uninsured in the state. Brooke Thorington has more.
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As the pandemic enters its 9th month and the holidays approach mental health providers worry about their existing patients and those who have yet to establish care. LSU Health New Orleans Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology Dr. Richard Costa says isolation for many is difficult.
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Seasonal depression can worsen the effects of isolation. Costa says having troubling thoughts during the ongoing pandemic is normal and you shouldn’t feel ashamed to ask for help.
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The holidays can be difficult for some, especially after the death of a loved one. Costa says the loss of normalcy also affects one’s outlook.
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The department of health offers free counseling through The Keep Calm Through COVID hotline at 1-866-310-7977
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The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is beginning a three-month process of moving the date when many food stamp recipients will receive their benefits each month. Deputy Assistant Secretary Jean Guinta says instead of all SNAP recipients receiving their benefits in the first two weeks of every month, it will be spread out over the first 23 days.
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So far example, if a food stamp recipient’s social security number ends in a seven, they currently receive their benefits on the 12th of every month. Guinta says starting in February they will get it on the 19th. She says the issuance date will begin to shift this month…
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Guinta says the 446,000 households receiving food stamps have been notified that a change in benefit distribution is coming.
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Luke Letlow wins the race for the open 5th District Congressional seat beating fellow Republican and Alexandria Lawmaker Lance Harris 62 percent to 38 percent.
The Ouachita Parish native served in the Jindal Administration and as retiring Congressman Ralph Abraham’s Chief of Staff. He joins the Republican minority in the Democrat-controlled House…
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Letlow was the favorite heading into Saturday’s election as he took first place by a near 2:1 margin over Harris in the primary and raised twice as much as his Alexandria opponent. The seat came open after Abraham announced his retirement after three terms in Congress. It is highly likely that if Abraham had sought another term he would’ve cruised to reelection.
Letlow says it won’t be easy to work with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrats, and he sees a major conflict brewing over values.
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Despite their differences, Letlow feels there is common ground to be found with Democrats on infrastructure spending and a post-COVID economic resuscitation.
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According to the 2019 Louisiana Health Insurance Survey, the percentage of uninsured adults was 11-percent, a significant drop from before Medicaid expansion in 2016 when the rate was 23-percent. Interim Medicaid Executive Director Tara LeBlanc credits the Federal Marketplace and Medicaid Expansion for the drop.
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The Health insurance survey is conducted every two years and LeBlanc is pleased with the overall numbers however, the uninsured rates for children increased slightly to 4-percent for 2019, compared to the previous 2017 rate of 2-percent. LeBlanc says the national uninsured rate increased among children in 2019.
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The survey indicates Medicaid was the largest source of coverage for children in 2019 covering 51-percent.
Historically uninsured rates are higher among white adults vs black adults, however, the 2019 survey shows the rate of uninsured blacks adults is 10-percent and the rate among whites is 11-percent. LeBlanc says she’s proud of the department’s work.
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If you need coverage you can use Medicaid’s web portal and apply online or call the Medicaid Hotline at 1-888-342-6207
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The Saints won their ninth straight yesterday and clinched a playoff berth with a 21-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans is now 8-0 in games without Drew Brees as Taysom Hill played well as Brees continues to heal up. Coach Sean Payton says it’s been a team effort to win these games without Brees…
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Hill was 27 of 37 for 232 yards and he threw his first two touchdown passes of his NFL career. The 30-year-old says he’s more excited they got the victory…
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It looked like this would be an easy victory for the Saints. But Hill fumbled the ball in the red zone as they were set to go up by 19 and the Falcons recovered and later scored to make it a five point game. That’s Hill’s eighth fumble on the season
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Saturday’s LSU-Alabama game was the blowout most people expected as the Crimson Tide rolled past the Tigers 55-17. Bama scored 45 in the first half and for the game Mac Jones tossed four touchdown passes, three of them went to Amite native Devonta Smith. LSU center Liam Shanahan says it’s still disappointing to lose even though many people didn’t give them a chance…
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The 55 points are most Alabama has ever scored against LSU and the defeat drops the Tigers record to 3-5. Coach Ed Orgeron was asked how a loss like this can impact recruiting…
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24-7 sports ranks LSU’s 2021 recruiting class as the third best in the country and the early signing period is a week from Wednesday.