Louisiana
Louisiana bill seeks ‘fairness’ in pregnancy costs
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As the primary payments trickled in Thursday for Louisiana’s upcoming legislative session, amongst them is proposed laws that might permit moms to “get well” 50% of out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical bills from the daddy of their little one.
Home Invoice 5, which Republican state Rep. Larry Frieman pre-filed Thursday, is of specific curiosity in Louisiana the place there’s a near-total abortion ban. The one exceptions to the ban are if there’s substantial threat of demise or impairment to the affected person in the event that they proceed with the being pregnant and within the case of “medically futile” pregnancies — when the fetus has a deadly abnormality. There are not any exceptions for rape or incest.
Below the invoice, the mom must sue the daddy earlier than the kid turns 2 and provided that the paternity of the kid has been proved by “clear and convincing proof.”
“The invoice is basically about elementary equity,” Frieman, a protection legal professional, instructed the Related Press. “It’s not truthful to have girls should bear all of the out-of-pocket medical bills for being pregnant. And in Louisiana, there isn’t a mechanism within the legislation that enables her to get well.”
Well being prices related to being pregnant, childbirth, and post-partum care common a complete of $18,865, in line with a 2022 research by the Kaiser Household Basis. Nonetheless, the common out-of-pocket funds complete $2,854 for ladies enrolled in giant group plans. These prices don’t embody the quantity spent on heath insurance coverage premiums or further payments from out-of-network suppliers.
One other Louisiana GOP politician proposed the same invoice on a nationwide scale final 12 months.
U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson launched the Unborn Youngster Help Act, which might make it attainable for pregnant moms to gather little one assist beginning in the intervening time of conception. The invoice by no means made it to the U.S. Home ground for debate, however Johnson plans on reintroducing it this session.
In 2021, Utah grew to become the primary state to mandate prenatal little one assist. On the time just a few different states, together with Wisconsin and New York, had provisions that would lead to fathers being financially liable for pre-birth bills.
Proponents of the Utah legislation, which requires the daddy to pay half of a girl’s out-of-pocket being pregnant prices, offered the laws as an effort to lower the burden of being pregnant on girls and improve duty for males who’ve kids. When the legislation was proposed, critics argued that it wouldn’t assist girls who’re most weak and will make abusive conditions much more harmful for pregnant girls.
Louisiana
A Louisiana Macy’s will close in 2025; Here’s where the retailer is shutting its doors
Calvary’s Carlie Guile talks about her organ donor friend Elana Franks
Calvary’s Carlie Guile talks about her organ donor friend Elana Franks
Macy’s confirmed that it will be closing its store location in the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette.
This store is one of 66 Macy’s that will be closing nationwide, and is the only one that will be closing in the state of Louisiana.
An official date for the Lafayette Macy’s closure has not yet been released.
Macy’s location in Lafayette one of 66 store locations closing nationwide
Other Macy’s store locations in Louisiana can be found in Baton Rouge and Metairie.
Macy’s first announced its plan in February 2024 to close a number of store locations across 22 states. The major retailer said it plans to close a total of 150 “underproductive” stores over the course of three years.
Macy’s has also said that these store closings are being done in order to prioritize resources and investments in current, productive stores. Working towards sustainable and profitable sales growth, Macy’s will close 150 stores and invest in updates within 350 stores that will remain open going forward.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
Louisiana
Louisiana remembers Billy DiMaio
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — On Friday, Jan. 10, Louisiana is remembering Billy DiMaio, a victim of the Jan. 1 Bourbon Street attack.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry declared a period of mourning, ordering that all flags over state buildings be flown at half-staff.
On Friday, the state is remembering DiMaio, who was from New Jersey and a New York-based account executive for a radio station company.
At a Sunday news conference, Landry said he is remembered as a star student and a lacrosse player who had “an unwavering work ethic and positive attitude and kindness.”
Louisiana State Superintendent Cade Brumley also asked school systems to consider a moment of silence at 9 a.m. during the period of mourning.
The New Orleans Police Department and the Archdiocese of New Orleans will ring the bells of St. Louis Cathedral every day through Jan. 23, between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to honor and remember the lives lost and those affected by the terror attack.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.
Latest Posts
Louisiana
Lower fees coming to homeowner insurance in Louisiana but premiums still high • Louisiana Illuminator
Homeowners in Louisiana will see a small discount on the fees they pay on top of their property insurance premiums this year.
The Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Directors voted Thursday to bring an early end to a 1.36% assessment added to all residential and commercial property insurance policies in the state. Louisiana Citizens is the state-run insurer of last resort for homeowners in environmentally risky areas who cannot find coverage on the private market.
The assessment, which goes toward paying off bonds for debt that Louisiana Citizens incurred from paying claims from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, was originally set to expire in June 2026 but will now end this April.
Gov. Landry signs Temple-backed insurance package
Additionally, those insured through Louisiana Citizens will no longer have to pay a 10% surcharge when they begin a new policy or renew their existing policy this year. The waiver, part of newly enacted legislation, took effect on Jan. 1 and will last for the next three years.
Both changes are part of Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple’s efforts to tame skyrocketing insurance rates in Louisiana.
“When Commissioner Temple took office and became chair of the Citizens Board of Directors, he encouraged our staff to find innovative ways for Louisiana Citizens to operate more efficiently and find savings for policyholders,” Louisiana Citizens CEO Richard Newberry said in a press release. “Our team identified this opportunity and brought it to the board for approval at today’s meeting.”
Although most policyholders will see relatively small savings from the changes, Temple said every little bit helps.
YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
-
Business1 week ago
These are the top 7 issues facing the struggling restaurant industry in 2025
-
Culture1 week ago
The 25 worst losses in college football history, including Baylor’s 2024 entry at Colorado
-
Sports1 week ago
The top out-of-contract players available as free transfers: Kimmich, De Bruyne, Van Dijk…
-
Politics1 week ago
New Orleans attacker had 'remote detonator' for explosives in French Quarter, Biden says
-
Politics1 week ago
Carter's judicial picks reshaped the federal bench across the country
-
Politics6 days ago
Who Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
-
Health5 days ago
Ozempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
World1 week ago
Ivory Coast says French troops to leave country after decades