A sweeping voting rights bill is set to have its first US Senate hearing today. Matt Doyle has the story.
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If you received unemployment last year, there’s a major change in filing your taxes now thanks to the American Rescue Plan. Brooke Thorington explains
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Starting next month Obamacare health insurance marketplace subsidies will substantially increase. Matt Doyle has more…
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Houma Police and other law enforcement agencies are investigating the shooting death of an 8-year-old girl. Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman says they received a call Monday night of a light-colored sedan following and dark sedan and firing shots at the vehicle that Treyce Bryant was riding in.
The shooting happened in the 9100 block of Main Street. Coleman says Bryant was in the car with her mother and a friend of her mother’s when another vehicle began following them and then fired several shots. As of this time, there is no motive behind the shooting, police said.
Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Joe Waitz, Jr says they have partnered with city police, sheriff’s office, and state police.
Officials each expressed condolences to the family and Waitz vowed to bring justice to them for the death of Bryant.
Bryant’s grandmother issued a plea for the perpetrator to come forward and turn themselves in.
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A House Democrat-backed voting rights bill has its first Senate committee hearings today.
Power Coalition Director of Strategic Partnerships Morgan Shannon says if signed into law H.R. 1 would institute automatic voter registration when people come of age, allow same-day online voter registration, and mandate precinct distribution based on population…
H.R. 1 would also ban voter purges. Shannon says in Louisiana voters who do not vote in multiple federal elections in a row can be purged from the rolls. It would also mandate a minimum of two weeks of early voting and vote by mail for all elections.
Senator Bill Cassidy opposes the legislation. He says it would facilitate more voter fraud, in particular, because it blocks states from requiring residents to have an ID to vote.
Cassidy also argues the legislation would allow unethical ballot harvesting.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called H.R. 1 a Democrat power-grab. Cassidy agrees…
H.R. 1 seems unlikely to pass the Senate without a repeal of the filibuster.
Shannon says there’s no evidence that making it easier to vote will damage the integrity of elections. She says that’s often just a race-baiting narrative…
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The IRS issues guidance for tax filers who received unemployment compensation last year from changes issued in the American Rescue Plan. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says if you received unemployment last year, you can now exclude $10,200 from your 2020 state and federal taxes.
If by chance you’ve already filed your taxes for 2020, Robinson says there’s no need to amend them.
The IRS gives detailed information on how to claim the $10,200 on your return. Robinson explains what to do if you haven’t filed your taxes yet.
Robinson says this is an exception for 2020 income taxes because with record unemployment many didn’t know that they would be taxed on unemployment income.
There are instructions on how to deduct your unemployment on the IRS and Louisiana Department of Revenue’s websites.
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Starting April 1st subsidies for the Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance plans will increase substantially as a result of the American Rescue Act.
Louisiana Blue Cross/Blue Shield Chief Economist Mike Bertaut says historically a single person making 55,000 dollars a year would not qualify for subsidies…
US Department of Health estimates show the average premium for someone with marketplace insurance will go down 50 dollars a month starting April 1st.
Bertaut says if you already have a marketplace plan, or chose not to get one because of the cost, you should check healthcare.gov again starting next month.
The Biden Administration has extended the ACA enrollment period through August 15th to allow people to take advantage of the increased subsidies.
Another impact of the 1.9 trillion dollar ARA was that starting April 1st the feds will cover 100 percent of the cost of COBRA if you were laid off after March 1st of 2020…
Bertaut made the comments on Talk Louisiana.
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The 2020 LSU football season did not go as planned for the Tigers as they struggled and finished with a 5-5 record. Coach Ed Orgeron made several changes with his coaching staff after the .500 season and admits he did a poor job of hiring coaches after winning the national championship…
Cut 17 (25) “…tremendous job.”
Daronte Jones is LSU’s new defensive coordinator. The Tigers last defensive coordinator Bo Pelini led LSU to a historically bad season on defense and Orgeron says he’s more hands-on this year…
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Saints Quarterback Jameis Winston got emotional talking about Drew Brees and the possibility he may replace Brees next season. Winston recently signed a one-year deal with New Orleans for the opportunity to replace the future hall of famer. He spent this past as Brees’ backup and says it was a dream for him to have an opportunity to learn from a great Q-B….
Cut 19 (19) “..he understands.”
Winston will compete with Taysom Hill for the Saints’ starting job after signing a new contract. Even though it’s only a one-year deal Winston says he’s grateful for the opportunity.