Despite lower premiums, Obamacare individual market signups are down 10 percent in Louisiana on the eve of the December 15th deadline for enrollment. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says proponents of Obamacare are pointing towards a lower investment in advertising for the service, but he thinks locally there’s a more obvious answer.

Cut 3 (09) “.policies”

Advocates are concerned the market will de-stabilize if the pool of enrollees shrinks.

The state Board of Commerce and Industry agrees to give a developer planning to build a massive liquefied natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish a tax break that could eventually reach two-billion dollars. The advocacy group, Together Louisiana, objected. Broderick Bagert says local government taxing bodies did not give residents enough information about the project

Cut 6 (08) “…asking for.

Houma Senator Norby Chabert, sits on the Board, and calls the project a heck of a deal

Tax season is right around the corner and that means tax refunds.  According to research by financial technology company SmartAsset, just over 1.5 million taxpayers in the state will be owed a refund, with the average being right around $3,300.  VP of Financial Education at SmartAsset AJ Smith says refunds are based on allowances and how much someone is claiming throughout the year.

Cut 9 (11) “…tax time″

Governor John Bel Edwards gave the commencement address at the UL Lafayette graduation ceremony earlier today, celebrating the hard work of the Ragin Cajun class of 2019 that featured students from 29 different states and 26 different countries. The Governor, who is up for re-election in 2019, highlighted higher education funding as the primary reason he ran for office in 2015.

Cut 14 (11) “…that future”

According to research by financial technology company SmartAsset, just over 1.5 million taxpayers in the state will be owed a refund, with the average being right around $3,300. SmartAsset’s AJ Smith says the research results presents taxpayers with a better idea on how their tax money is to be handled.

Cut 10 (12) “…make some changes.”

Governor John Bel Edwards gave the commencement address at the UL Lafayette graduation ceremony earlier today, celebrating the hard work of the Ragin Cajun class of 2019 that featured students from 29 different states and 26 different countries. Edwards celebrated the storied institution.

Cut 12 (11)   “…from them”

Despite lower premiums, Obamacare individual market signups are down 10 percent in Louisiana on the eve of the December 15th deadline for enrollment. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it’s likely not just one cause either. The unemployment rate is down several percent in the past few years thanks to an improving economy, and the Commissioner says as more people find work, there’s less of a need for them to buy personal insurance plans.
Cut 4 (10) “…uninsured″

The state Board of Commerce and Industry agrees to give a developer planning to build a massive liquefied natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish a tax break that could eventually reach two-billion dollars. Houma Senator Norby Chabert, sits on the Board, and calls the project a heck of a deal and Calcasieu Parish taxpayers are aware of its impact…

Cut 7 (11) “…this project”

A state board approves a one-billion dollar-plus property tax break for a Houston company planning to build a nearly 16-billion dollar liquefied natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. There’s been a push to postpone today’s vote, so more information can be provided to local taxpayers, but Jason French of Tellurain, which is developing the project says that would be a bad idea…
cut 8 (11) “…in louisiana”
The Edwards administration is expected to support the tax break as well.

According to SmartAsset, just over 1.5 million Louisiana taxpayers will be owed a federal refund next year, with the average refund around $3,300. SmartAsset’s AJ Smith says the refunds are based on allowances and how much someone claims throughout the year.
Cut 9 (11) “…at tax time.″

Obamacare individual health insurance market signups are down 10 percent in Louisiana, and 20 percent nationally. Matt Doyle looks at why that might be.
cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

An 83-year-old Vietnam vet receives his doctorate from LSU today. Johnnie Jones says he now plans to get a law degree so he can have more knowledge.

The state Board of Commerce and Industry agrees to give a developer planning to build a massive liquefield natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish a tax break that could eventually reach two-billion dollars. The advocacy group, Together Louisiana, objected. Broderick Bagert says local government taxing bodies did not give residents enough information about the project…
cut 6 (08) “…asking for”
But the board voted 17-2 in favor of the tax break. Governor John Bel Edwards must give final approval.

Despite lower premiums, Obamacare individual market signups are down 10 percent in Louisiana on the eve of the December 15th deadline for enrollment. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says proponents of Obamacare are pointing towards a lower investment in advertising for the service, but he thinks locally there’s a more obvious answer.
Cut 3 (09) “.policies”
He also credits an improving economy for bringing down the numbers, as more indviduals are on employer based health plans.

Former Congressman Charles Boustany says the trade war with China is failing, and Louisiana taxpayers have paid so far an additional 85-million dollars in additional tariffs, 19-million dollars in October alone. Boustany says the trade war is a hurricane, and we’re starting to feel the first bands of bad economic weather…
Cut 10 (10) “…get hurt”
Boustany is a spokesman for Tariffs Hurt the Heartland.

The Loyola University New Orleans Jesuit Social Research Institute finds Louisiana has the second highest rate of food insecurity. An estimated 784-thousand residents struggle with hunger and contributing to the problem is food deserts, the lack of grocery stores in low income, minority neighborhoods. Father Fred Kammer..
cut 9 (08) “…national trend”
The report concludes Louisiana needs to make food policy a higher priority.

A former Louisiana Republican Congressman says the trade war is failing, and its draging down the Louisiana economy….
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Louisiana ranks 50th in America’s health rankings. Thirty-five different areas of health determine the overall ranking. Dr. Rhonda Randall with the United Health Foundation says among the areas of concern, child poverty, where Louisiana ranks last.
Cut 4 (08) “…the nation, it improved.″
A report out of Loyola University in New Orleans says Louisiana has the second highest rate of food insecurity in the country, a result of the state’s substantial poverty rate, and proliferation of food deserts where residents don’t have access to, or can’t afford healthy food. Jesuit Social Research Institute Director Father Fred Kammer says food deserts can be found in urban and rural areas.
Cut 7 (12) “…our cities.”
The report concludes that food insecurity in Louisiana must be understood as a social injustice issue of the highest priority, requiring attention from all levels of government.

According to the Associated Press, the Secretary of State’s office could not spend 90-thousand dollars to upgrade software for businesses registrations and other computer systems, because that money went towards settling the sexual misconduct settlement involving former Secretary Tom Schedler.

Louisiana ranks last in the United Health Foundation’s annual ranking of healthiest states in America. Doctor Rhonda Randall says Lousiana has a high percentage of children in poverty and a high prevalence of frequent mental distress…
cut 5 (08) “…for that measure”
Lousiaina also ranks 49th for the percentage of low birthweight babies.

Former Congressman Charles Boustany says since the new tariffs were imposed, Louisiana businesses have paid an additional 85-million dollars. Boustany, who is a spokesman for Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, says the effects of steel and soybean tariffs have begun to work their way down the economic supply chain from agriculture to the shipping industry…
cut 11 (05) “…retaliation”
Supporters of the tariffs say the economic conflict with China is the best way to force the global superpower to renegotiate a new trade deal.

Despite a reputation as a food Mecca, a report out of Loyola University of New Orleans shows 783-thousand Louisiana residents have trouble accessing, or affording good, healthy food. Matt Doyle reports there are food desert areas in Louisiana
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

An 83-year-old Vietnam vet will get a doctorate from LSU today. Johnnie Jones received a Master’s of Social work from LSU in 1975 and then worked for the Department of Corrections for 25 years. He’s now planning to go to law school so he can gain more knowledge.

A non-partisan campaign called Tariffs Hurt the Heartland claims Louisiana businesses have paid an extra 85-million dollars in import tariffs since President Donald Trump started a trade war with China. Supporters say the tariffs will force China to renegotiate a new trade deal. But former Congressman Charles Boustany, a spokesman for Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, says the tariffs are backfiring…
cut 12 (11) “…escalated”
Boustany proposes a new approach to the Chinese trade deficit, built around assembling a trade coalition to generate better leverage on China.

The Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry votes today on whether Driftwood LNG should receive a tax exemption that could top two-billion dollars. Louisiana Economic Development says the nearly 16-billion dollar liquefied natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish would see a tax break of 283-million dollars in the first year alone.

Louisiana ranks last in the United Health Foundation’s annual rankings for healthiest states in America. A High percentage of children in poverty and a high prevalence of frequent mental distress are among the challenges the state faces. Doctor Rhonda Randall says the percentage of adults smoking has also increased 5-percent over the past two years…
cut 6 (10) “…48TH”
Randall says the percentage of cardiovascular deaths also increased four-percent over the last three years.

A Loyola University New Orleans Jesuit Social Research Institute report finds Louisiana has the second highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. J-S-R-I Executive Director, Father Fred Kammer, says Louisiana is known as a foodie destination, but many areas of the state do not have a full-service grocery store that have healthy and affordable food options…
cut 8 (09) “….their family”
Kammer says Louisiana needs to make food policy a higher priority.

A report out of Loyola University in New Orleans says Louisiana has the second highest rate of food insecurity in the country, a result of the state’s substantial poverty rate, and proliferation of food deserts where residents don’t have access to, or can’t afford healthy food. Jesuit Social Research Institute Director Father Fred Kammer says food deserts can be found in urban and rural areas.
Cut 7 (12) “…our cities.”
The report concludes that food insecurity in Louisiana must be understood as a social injustice issue of the highest priority, requiring attention from all levels of government.

According to the Associated Press, the Secretary of State’s office could not spend 90-thousand dollars to upgrade software for businesses registrations and other computer systems, because that money went towards settling the sexual misconduct settlement involving former Secretary Tom Schedler.

Louisiana drops one spot to dead last in America’s health rankings. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Former Congressman Charles Boustany says the trade war with China is failing, and Louisiana taxpayers have paid so far an additional 85-million dollars in additional tariffs, 19-million dollars in October alone. Boustany says the trade war is a hurricane, and we’re starting to feel the first bands of bad economic weather…
Cut 10 (10) “…get hurt”
Boustany is a spokesman for Tariffs Hurt the Heartland. The World Trade Center of New Orleans says the biggest impact they’ve noticed is in the energy sector, which relies on imported steel and aluminum.