The 119th State Fair of Louisiana begins today in Shreveport and will run through November 16th. Andre Champagne has more.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”
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Data released by AARP this week shows that almost a million people in Louisiana care for aging loved ones at home with no assistance from the state. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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A new study by Leaders for a Better Louisiana says the Early Childhood Education Fund is in danger of running out of money by 2030. The fund was established in 2017 as a dollar-for-dollar match to local communities which raise money for early childhood education. It was seeded with a one-time appropriation of 40-million dollars, with dedicated revenue streams added on later. But Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin says the fund is not keeping up with local contributions.
Erwin says as a result, unless the state finds a way to put more money into the Early Childhood Education Fund, it will eventually run dry.
Cut 4 (10) “…keep it sustainable.”
Erwin says if that happens, fewer kids would be able to be served.
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The 119th State Fair of Louisiana begins today in Shreveport and will run through November 16th. Marketing Manager Russell Adams says one of this year’s new additions includes a brand new Ferris wheel.
Cut 6 (12) “…something to see.”
There would be no state fair without the endless food choices. Adams says food vendors from all over the country are in Shreveport for the next couple of weeks.
Adams says this year’s state fair will also feature over 30 live bands, featuring some notable Louisiana artists.
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Data released by AARP this week shows that almost one-million people in Louisiana provide unpaid and unsupported care to older loved ones at home. That accounts for almost 30-percent of the state’s adult population. Andrew Muhl, the director of advocacy for AARP Louisiana, says even though the vast majority of seniors who need assistance would prefer to live out their elder years at home, the state puts a disproportionate amount of money towards nursing homes instead of in-home care.
Muhl says as a result, scores of seniors and the loved ones who care for them end up going it alone without any state assistance.
Cut 10 (10) “…a nursing home.”
Muhl says that puts a huge burden on the family caregivers, both in terms of money and time.
AARP says 80-percent of family caregivers spend their own money to pay for their aging loved ones’ needs, averaging more than seven-thousand dollars a year, and more than half juggle full-time or part-time jobs and take on debt.
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As Louisiana weather starts to get colder, Ken Pastorick with the State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging residents to practice safe home heating habits in order to prevent their homes from catching on fire.
Cut 12 (15) “…leave those unattended.”
69 people have died in 51 home fires in the state so far this year. Those 51 fires are 15 more than what the state had at the same time last year. Pastorick says it’s important that residents have smoke alarms in their homes so that they have a fighting chance to survive a house fire.
Pastorick says residents who may not have smoke alarms can take advantage of Operation Save-A-Life, which is a free program offering smoke alarms and installations across the state.