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Natural disasters are having an impact on food banks.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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Winter weather is here to stay. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this cold front is an introduction to the winter as arctic air has settled along the coast and…

Cut 4 (06) “…northern parishes″

Today the northern part of the state will see temperatures in the twenties, central Louisiana will be in the thirties, and the southern portion will experience the warmest weather with temperatures in the fifties.

Keim says this weekend the Bayou state will see some higher temperatures…

Cut 5 (08)  “…the state” 

Keim says Louisianans should get used to the cold as any temperate weather this winter season will be temporary …

Cut 6 (08) “…coming through”

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Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says the state Medicaid program potentially paid 85 million dollars in medical costs for people who may not have been eligible for benefits. Medicaid previously only checked wage eligibility every 12 months, and Purpera says that led to overpayments relative to other states who check eligibility more frequently.

Cut 7 (07) “…quarterly”

Medicaid eligibility is determined by monthly income. The report noted that if one month, a person made too much money to qualify, they may not have been kicked off the program also long as their monthly income met the requirements by the end of the year. State Medicaid Director Jen Steele says that’s not fraud.

Cut 8 (08) “…the time”

Purpera says the state policy of using federal records instead of state records also led to some recipients receiving benefits they weren’t eligible for.

But that policy is now changing, as the state will be checking eligibility more frequently starting January 2019 by inspecting state Workforce Commission records.

Cut 9 (08) “…eligibility decisions”

The system has been in development for three years.

Louisiana’s Medicaid program has faced increased scrutiny this year, as an earlier Auditor’s report questioned payments to managed care companies, and the purchase of incompatible software for department computers. Purpera says he’s confident the program is turning a corner, but…

Cut 10 (10)   “…to go“

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Food banks are seeing empty shelves as the holidays are approaching. President and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank Mike Manning says the nation responding to areas hardest hit by natural disasters are having a negative impact of the food bank’s ability to fill the shelves with food.

Cut 11 (09) “…one after another.”

Manning says a contributing factor is the lack of excess production as a result of ongoing natural disasters.

Cut 12 (07)   “…disaster donor fatigue.”

Manning says in order to fix the issue, it’ll just take more donations.

Cut 13 (09) “…the grocery store.”

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Some folks are not happy about LSU running back Nick Brossette’s decision to slide before scoring a touchdown against Arkansas during the 24-17 win on Saturday. Time was running down, and the Tigers had a lead when Brossette appeared destined to score on a late 4^th quarter near-red zone run, before the back went to the ground. Brossette says he made the right call.

Cut 14 (10) “…the win.”

By not scoring, LSU did not cover the spread.

But just a moment later, much to fan’s surprise, the Tiger’s lined up at the 1 yard line with order’s from head coach O to punch in a score as the seconds ran out on the game, even though running out the clock would have led to a guaranteed win.

Cut 15 (05) “…yea…”

But that attempt failed, and the game ended.

Some fans are blaming the LSU leading rusher’s decision for the team’s one rank drop in the playoff ratings. It’s become a controversy, one that Brossette hopes doesn’t follow him after the season.

 

Cut 16 (09) “…like that.”

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