Thanksgiving was only four days ago, but we’re already late in the Christmas shopping season. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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One of the worst states in the nation for lung cancer survival is Louisiana, with a survival rate of 23-percent, significantly below the national average of 28-percent. Sean Richardson has more.
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The nonprofit Tax Foundation applauds the changes Louisiana lawmakers have made to the state’s tax code. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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This year, the calendar is not on the side of retailers. Since Thanksgiving fell on the latest date possible, that leads to the shortest Christmas shopping season possible, when defined as starting the day after Thanksgiving and ending Christmas Eve. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says retailers started their Black Friday deals early this year, as they’ve done in years past.
And the short shopping season is forcing shoppers to adjust their behavior.
Rice says the short season is also driving shoppers to the online route to save time.
Cut 6 (11) “…their purchasing power.”
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Louisiana ranks among the worst in the nation for lung cancer survival, with a survival rate of 23-percent, significantly below the national average of 28-percent. Louisiana also has high rates of new lung cancer and late-stage diagnoses. American Lung Association Director of Advocacy Eric Weinzettle says contributing factors include low rates of lung cancer screening and surgical treatment as well as a high smoking prevalence.
Cut 7 (10) “…here in Louisiana.”
The national lung cancer survival rate has improved by 26-percent over the past five years due to advancements in early detection and treatment. Weinzettle says targeted actions in Louisiana include increasing access to smoking cessation programs, biomarker testing, and lung cancer screening.
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Additionally, Weinzettle underscores the importance of expanding insurance coverage for comprehensive biomarker testing to personalize treatment options. Advocacy efforts include urging Louisiana and federal policymakers to improve access to these life-saving measures, emphasizing opportunities to address the state’s lung cancer crisis and improve survival rates.
Cut 9 (10) “…outreach about screening.”
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The nonprofit Tax Foundation says changes made to improve Louisiana’s tax code by lawmakers during the special session will move the Bayou State out of the bottom in their rankings for tax codes. Senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, Manish Batt, says the tax reform package waiting for the governor’s signature should improve the state’s Business climate…
Batt says based on the changes made, Louisiana’s tax code will rank in the middle of the pack compared to other states. He says the bill to lower the personal income tax rate to a flat three-percent rate from the current three-tiered rate is good policy and other states are also doing…
In order to pay for the cut to income taxes, the legislators raised the state sales tax to five-percent, giving Louisiana the highest or one of the highest sales tax rates in the country. But Batt says legislators can do more reform to the soften the higher sales tax hit…
The Tax Foundation likes what legislators accomplished in the tax reform special session. State Representative Mandie Landry, a Democrat from New Orleans, remains pessimistic the changes will lead to business growth…
Cut 13 (12) “…hasn’t happened”
Governor Landry lauds the tax reform package as a tax cut for Louisiana residents, but Representative Landry says a reduction to personal income taxes, combined with a higher sales tax, is a wash for most taxpayers …
While the income tax rate will go down starting January 1st, the state sales tax will go up to 5-cents at the start of the new year.
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The Saints fell to 4-and-8 after a 21-14 loss to the Rams at home yesterday. New Orleans had a chance to win or tie the game on a fourth down inside the Rams’ 10-yard line with under two minutes to go but came up short. Coach Darren Rizzi says they know they need to be better in tight games…
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The Saints led 6-0 at halftime but Rizzi says big plays and a season-high 104 yards for Rams running back Kyren Williams were the difference in the second half…
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Do-it-all tight end Taysom hill was carted off the field with a knee injury with under five minutes left in the game following a fourth down conversion. He is believed to have suffered ligament damage and will have an MRI today to find the extent of the injury.
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The Ragin Cajuns will host Marshall on Saturday night in the Sun Belt Championship. U-L Lafayette capped off a ten-win regular season with a 37-23 win over instate rival ULM. Running back Zylan Perry from Franklin rushed for a career high 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Perry was questionable head into the game. Coach Michael Desormeaux…
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Doom and gloom surrounded the LSU football program a couple of weeks ago after suffering a third consecutive loss to Florida. But after a convincing 37-17 win over Oklahoma in the regular season finale, Tigers Coach Brian Kelly was talking about playing for a championship.
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LSU will not play for a meaningful championship this year with an 8-4 record, but Kelly is more confident than ever that the Tigers are close to playing for one after finishing the regular season on a two-game winning streak.
Garrett Nussmeier had one of his best games, despite fumbling the ball on a sack that led to an Oklahoma touchdown. Nussmeier threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns.
It looked like Nussmeier was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury in the first half when he took a blindside hit from Oklahoma’s Mason Thomas. Nussmeier missed the remainder of that series and the following one, but was determined to finish the game.