News for Friday 022213

By Dave Graichen

Governor Bobby Jindal unveils the basics of his executive budget plan  for the fiscal year that starts in July. The Governor says his office's  $24.7-billion plan comes in at over $900-million less than the current year.  Jindal says the budget had to shrink this year, due to Congress slashing  Louisiana's federal Medicaid match rate. The budget cuts 10,000 state jobs--mostly by attrition, but many by moving state hospital workers into public/private partnership  employment.

Several  Louisiana military operations could be severely impacted if a deal is not struck in Washington DC by March 1st that would avoid automatic budget cuts. Minden Congressman John Fleming serves on the House Armed  Forces Committee and he's concerned about operations at Fort Polk. He says along  with Fort Polk...Camp Minden, Camp Beauregard and the Louisiana National  Guard  and  reserve units could see a 58-million dollar reduction in funding.

Insurance  Commissioner Jim Donelon urges property owners to be sure to claim their rebate for assessments made to help pay off Hurricane Katrina  debt  incurred  by  the  state-run  last  resort  insurance company. Donelon  says  you can get the rebate as a state income tax deduction or in the form of a check or debit card. More information is online at ldi.la.gov.

State Superintendent of Education John White  announces a five-point plan that will help improve public schools. He  says  improving  the graduation  rate  among  students  with  disabilities will be one of those priorities along with focusing on reducing  the  number of "F" graded  schools,  helping students earn technical college  associate degrees  and  assisting   teachers   achieve  nationwide  assessment

standards.

An Ohio-based glass company's plans are expected to result in the loss of about 200 jobs in Shreveport. Toledo-based Libbey Inc. said Thursday that it plans to end sales of some items and reduce production at Shreveport. Some of that production will be relocated to Toledo and to Monterrey, Mexico. A timetable was not announced

Oscar Sunday is just about here and Louisiana has plenty of nominations  to be proud of. Louisiana Office of Entertainment Executive Director  Chris Stelly says he's especially excited about two movies that were  filmed here and nominated for the coveted Best Picture Academy  Award. The 85th Academy Awards ceremony airs Sunday at 6 on ABC.

Former LSU Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon was discharged from Our Lady of the Lake Hospital on Thursday after suffering a stroke on Tuesday. Family members say Cannon is doing extremely well and is up and walking.

A lawsuit filed in federal court claims that former priest Mark Broussard admitted to sexually abusing young boys in 1998.The lawsuit, filed by one of Mark Broussard’s alleged victims, seeks $18 million in damages from the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Lake Charles and the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The plaintiff claims that Broussard molested him during his pre-adolescent years “on a daily basis” from 1985 to 1988 in Broussard’s living quarters at OLQH, as well as other locations.

Stunning new data not yet publicly released shows Louisiana losing its battle with rising seas much more quickly than even the most pessimistic studies have predicted to date. When new data on the rate of coastal subsidence is married with updated projections of sea-level rise, the southeast corner of Louisiana looks likely to be under at least 4.3 feet of Gulf water by the end of the century.

The first of the Louisiana Soundtrack Experience Concert Series is  happening tomorrow in Shreveport. Lt Governor Jay Dardenne says the  concerts are a part of the 2013 celebration of Louisiana's Music. Saturday's event is called "From Elvis to Hank to Johnny:  Celebrating 65 years of the Louisiana Hayride." The concert kick off at 7pm at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium.

The Louisiana Lottery says we've got a new millionaire in the state. Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin  says  a  woman  from Morgan City is $2 million richer after the February 16th drawing. She says Amy Sturges matched all five white numbers in the drawing,  but  added the Power Play option to her Quick Pick. Chopin  says  the  Sturges family plans to buy a nice travel  camper with some of their winnings.

"Select" schools say split playoffs in football violate the LHSAA  Constitution. The association has voted that public schools will compete  against each other in the playoffs, while private and parochial schools will have their own postseason. LHSAA Commissioner Kenny Henderson says their lawyers will look to see if "proposal 18" as its called violates the association's  constitution.