Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple will push for fewer regulations as part of his agenda for the regular legislative session. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
_______________________________________________
Legislation to place a lifetime limit of two terms as governor in Louisiana has been filed for the upcoming regular session. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
____________________________________________
More than one in four Louisiana rural hospitals are at risk of closing or having to cut services according to a report from Chartis, a national health care consulting firm. Colleen Crain has more…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”
______________________________________________
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is discussing his agenda for the upcoming regular legislative session. Temple says he’ll ask lawmakers to put more state dollars towards the popular fortified roof program, which gives homeowners in south Louisiana ten thousand dollars to strengthen their roofs.
Cut 4 (11) “…stay dry.”
Temple says he also wants to cut down on the number of regulations insurance companies face in Louisiana. He says that’s keeping property insurance providers from doing business in Louisiana. He says he’ll lobby for the end of the three-year rule, which prohibits insurers from dropping a customer they’ve insured for three years…
Cut 5 (05) “…in the state.”
Temple also wants to give insurance companies more freedom to adjust their rates and he also wants to see new guidelines for the appraisal process in an effort to reduce lawsuits. He says these measures will not immediately lower rates, but it will keep them from spiking…
Cut 6 (08) “…affordability.”
__________________________________________
Legislation to place a lifetime limit of two terms as governor in Louisiana has been filed for the upcoming regular session. Chalmette Republican, Representative Mike Bayham says serving as governor is one of the highest honors any civilian can have in the state.
Cut 7 (07) “…already served?”
In Louisiana, a governor can serve two consecutive terms and then must sit out the next election cycle but can run again in four years. Bayham wants to limit gubernatorial terms to two and no more.
Cut 8 (09) “…for Louisiana?”
In the 20th century, he says two governors, Edwin Edwards and Earl Long, served for a combined 25 years. When asked if the legislation is to keep former Governors Bobby Jindal and John Bel Edwards from running again, Bayham says the bill is about changing the political culture and future of Louisiana.
Cut 9 (12) “…political past.”
If passed by the legislature the change would be added as a constitutional amendment and go before voters in the November general election.
________________________________________________________
Rural hospitals across the country are in precarious financial situations and in Louisiana more than one in four are struggling financially, putting them at risk for closure. Tulane Professor of Health Policy and Management Mark Diana says closure isn’t the only risk…
Cut 10 (12) “…communities.”
Chemotherapy is another service disappearing from some rural hospitals.
Diana says rural communities are generally poorer and less healthy and the struggle to keep rural hospitals solvent is a problem all over the US. But he says, Louisiana has taken some steps that may put the state in a better position than other states.
Cut 11 (08) “…expanded Medicaid.”
Independent rural hospitals are at the highest risk of closing and cutting services, says Diana. He also says those owned by hospital systems may fare better because they benefit from the size of the system.
Cut 12 (11) “…rural hospitals.”
_____________________________________________________
State officials are urging residents to be extremely cautious about lighting anything on fire after dry and windy conditions contributed to a record number of wildfires over four days. State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says from Friday to Monday there were 124 fires in Louisiana.
Cut 13 (07) “…four-day weekend.”
As a result, Strain says there are burn bans in Beauregard, Morehouse, Union, Washington, and Calcasieu Parishes. Dry vegetation and high winds allowed brush piles that were being burned to quickly get out of control and others who were burning timber.
Cut 14 (09) “…get away from you.”
Strain says if you plan to burn any brush piles anywhere in Louisiana with the current conditions, do not leave them unattended.
Cut 15 (11) “…on fire.”
Because the grass is extremely dry right now, he says it will easily burn and quickly spread. Strain says there have even been cases where vegetation above the waterline in bottomlands caught on fire.
____________________________________________________________________
The 7-0 Louisiana Tech baseball team is in Lake Charles tonight to take on the McNeese Cowboys. It’s the first time since 2017 that the Bulldogs started a season 7-0. Bulldogs infielder Dalton Davis is off to a good start as he has 10 hits, three doubles, one home run and he’s driven in seven runs. Tech Coach Lane Burroughs on Double-D
Cut 16 (16) “…all the time.”
Tech ranks 11th in the nation in E-R-A. Burroughs gives a lot of credit to pitching coach Cooper Fouts…
Cut 17 (23) “…you quit.”
_______________________________________________________________________
Louisiana Tech men’s basketball goes after its fifth straight win tonight as the Bulldogs visit Western Kentucky. Isaiah Crawford is the Conference USA Player of the Week and is coming off a double-double. Bulldogs Talvin Hester says Crawford is one of the most underrated players in the nation…
Cut 18 (19) “…every game.”
____________________________________________________________________
The Ragin Cajuns will try to snap a three-game losing streak tonight when they host Troy. Coach Bob Marlin’s team is coming off a loss to Southern Miss and the Cajuns lost by six to Troy earlier this season.
Cut 19 (19) “…physical game.”
___________________________________________________________________________
The third-ranked LSU baseball team is in Houston where they’ll play Rice tonight and then they’ll play three games at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Coach Jay Johnson says the Houston area is very important to the LSU baseball program…
Cut 20 (20) “…show up.”