Prize founder Gregory Kallenberg talks about Food Prize.
Prize founder Gregory Kallenberg talks about Food Prize.
The Louisiana State Treasurer’s Office currently holds over $900 million worth of unclaimed funds for current and former Louisiana residents.
Louisiana’s Department of Treasury set a record this year by returning $70.6 million worth in unclaimed property to over 160,000 Louisiana residents.
Advertisement
One in six Louisiana residents are said to have unclaimed property.
How to find out if you have unclaimed property in Louisiana:
Unclaimed property is comprised of abandoned financial assets, such as account balances, outstanding checks and other financial instruments, that are held at corporations, financial institutions, life insurance companies and other various institutions.
Unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, stock dividends and utility deposit refunds are common types of unclaimed property. Real Estate and vehicles are not considered unclaimed property.
In Louisiana, the average amount of a check issued from unclaimed property is $900, however, some parishes have more unclaimed property than others. To receive a check for unclaimed property, a claim must be filed on the official Louisiana Unclaimed Property website.
Advertisement
The first step to claiming property is to search for the property on Louisiana’s Unclaimed Property website, by entering a name, or name of a business, then one will be able to see search results and find properties. Once the property is found, continue to file a claim and begin the claiming process.
In the claiming process, select the relationship to each property and then enter required personal information. After submitting the claim, the claims office will send an email with further instruction. After completing the necessary steps, one can track the claim’s progress online.
How does Louisiana treasury unclaimed money work?
When checks remain un-cashed, or accounts go dormant, and companies are unable to contact the owner, the funds are transferred to the Treasurer’s Office for safekeeping.
The Treasurer’s Office acts as the vault for the state, holding lost funds until they are claimed by either the original owners, heirs or legal representatives. The Treasurer’s Office holds these funds until they are claimed, no matter the amount of time that has passed.
Advertisement
Each year, businesses render millions of dollars in unclaimed cash, stocks, bonds, securities and insurance proceeds to the Department of Treasury. These unclaimed property funds may be lost through the course of business, typically caused by a bad address. The state’s Department of Treasury is legally required to preserve funds in safekeeping, despite how long it may take for the rightful owner to come forward.
The institution holding potential unclaimed property will initiate contact with the owner and establish activity through online login, written correspondence, withdrawal, deposit or update to personal information. If activity is not produced, the assets are reported to the state of the owner’s last know address.
Laws regarding unclaimed property began in the U.S. as a consumer protection program. Now, these laws have evolved to protect not only the property owners, but their heirs and estates as well.
Once the state is given custody of property, and it enters the unclaimed property program, efforts to reach the property’s rightful recipient begin via mailings, social media, advertisements and local media coverage. Individuals can claim their property for themselves, their businesses or as an heir.
In 2018, the Department of Treasury partnered with the Louisiana Department of Revenue in order to pass legislation that allows the departments’ agencies to share databases. This allowed the Department of Treasury to increase the number of checks issued by nearly 500% and decreased the administrative cost of issuing each check by 80%.
Mechanic starting a new career at age 60 has some advice
Mike Witt turned 60 the same month he graduated from a Ford program that seeks to produce new mechanics with the help of local partners.
CareerMinds, a global outplacement and career management partner, carried out a survey of 3,002 workers based on career development opportunities.
CareerMinds found that upskilling has become less of an optional, extra step and more of a career essential.
Advertisement
Taking this into account, CareerMinds developed a map that highlights the company in each state where workers have the most opportunities for upskilling and career progression.
Ochsner Health said to be the best company in Louisiana for career development. What to know
In CareerMinds’ survey, Louisiana residents voted Ochsner Health as the company they would most like to work for.
The study found that healthcare companies are sought-after, as states with major medical systems saw increased interest in healthcare employers and upskilling within medicine.
This year, Ochsner Health was named on Fortune Magazine’s “Best Workplaces in Health Care” list, with 82% of employees saying the company is a great place to work, according to Great Place to Work.
Advertisement
Additionally, U.S. News & World Report has recognized Ochsner as the number one hospital in Louisiana for 14 censecutive years and Ochsner Children’s as the number one hospital for children for four consecutive years, according to Great Place to Work.
Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South, delivering care at its 46 hospitals and over 370 health and urgent care centers, says Great Place to Work.
The best companies for career development for 2025 in each state according to CareerMinds
Alabama: Mercedez-Benz U.S. International
Alaska: Northern Alaska Tour Company
Arizona: Intel Corporation
Arkansas: Walmart
California: Kaiser Permanente
Colorado: Lockheed Martin
Connecticut: Hartford HealthCare
Delaware: DuPont
Florida: Royal Caribbean Group
Georgia: Coca-Cola
Hawaii: Hawaiin Airlines
Idaho: Micron Technology
Illinois: United Airlines
Indiana: Cummins
Iowa: Principal Financial Group
Kansas: Garmin
Kentucky: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky
Louisiana: Ochsner Health
Maine: L.L. Bean
Maryland: Johns Hopkins Medicine
Massachusetts: Boston Scientific
Michigan: General Motors
Minnesota: Target Corporation
Mississippi: Peavey Electronics
Missouri: Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Montana: Glacier Bancorp
Nebraska: Union Pacific Railroad
Nevada: MGM Resorts International
New Hampshire: Fidelity Investments
New Jersey: Merck & Co.
New Mexico: Intel Corporation
New York: Pfizer
North Carolina: Bank of America
North Dakota: Bobcat Company
Ohio: Procter & Gamble
Oklahoma: Devon Energy
Oregon: Nike
Pennsylvania: Hershey Company
Rhode Island: Brown University
South Carolina: Prisma Health
South Dakota: First PREMIER Bank/ PREMIER Bankcard
Tennessee: Venderbilt University Medical Center
Texas: AT&T
Utah: Intermountain Health
Vermont: GlobalFoundries
Virginia: Capital One
Washington: Amazon
West Virginia: CAMC Health System
Wisconsin: Harley-Davidson
Wyoming: Wyoming Medical Center
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
What began as an employee’s challenge to “do better” has grown into a powerful culture of giving at Danos.
In 2017, the Gray-based oilfield service company formalized its charitable work through the Danos Foundation, guided by a simple principle—care for others.
Danos is being honored with the Community Impact Award at the Louisiana Energy Awards, presented by Business Report’s 10/12 Industry Report on Nov. 5.
Advertisement
The foundation empowers employees to contribute both time and money, with every donation matched by the company and supported by grants tied to measurable community outcomes. Since its creation, the foundation has distributed more than $1.4 million to nonprofits focused on family support, sustainability, and hunger relief.
Local organizations like Bless Your Heart and Second Harvest credit the Danos family’s generosity—and hands-on volunteerism—with fueling critical food programs across Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes and Grand Isle.
For CEO Mark Danos, whose missionary work once took him to rural Kenya, the Foundation reflects both his personal faith and the company’s enduring commitment to lifting up the communities it serves.
Read the full story, and check out the stories of all of the Louisiana Energy Awards honorees and finalists in an array of categories.
In less than two weeks, the playoff brackets will be released for Louisiana high school football, so let’s get busy and take a look at a few hotspot games in Week 9.
Karr (8-0) and John Curtis (7-0), the top two in the Louisiana High School on SI football rankings, are also the only undefeated Catholic League clubs. The question has been asked: “is Karr beatable?” While acknowledging the Cougars’ greatness, no team is infallible, and the Patriots have just the coaching staff to throw some kinks at Karr, which fell behind 14-0 last year in the quarterfinals to St. Thomas More.
A two-touchdown deficit against Curtis would be even tougher to overcome. The key matchup seems to be the Patriots’ offensive line vs. Richard Anderson and the Karr DL. The Curtis OL took some criticism after the win over Holy Cross. We’re not predicting games until the playoffs, but with the way the Patriots’ runners have been chewing up massive yardage, the criticism regarding blocking could be off base. The big men up front will have to be on point for Curtis, which has gotten timely passing from sophomore QB London Padgett. Don’t forget: the Patriots have been without 2028 WR Jarvis Stevenson.
Sky Ryan, Lafayette Christian DB / Mike Coppag
You have to tip your hat to Lafayette Christian. The Class 2A Knights strap it up against a schedule that includes Carencro, Central-Baton Rouge, Westgate, Archbishop Rummel and Archbishop Shaw, its only defeat.
Advertisement
And that’s not counting District 6-2A games vs. Notre Dame and Lafayette Renaissance.
2027 LSU quarterback commit Peyton Houston, the state’s top passer, and the Evangel Christian Eagles challenge LCA in Lafayette this week. Last year, the Eagles won in Shreveport. The Knights (7-1) are No. 1 in Division III select. Earlier in the year, LCA OL Kaleb Campbell and DB Sky Ryan were out with injuries. Defender Josh Wilson was banged up at the beginning of the season. He is a long, lean athletic player who turned heads at a combine at rival school Lafayette Renaissance during the summer.
LCA quarterback Braylon Walker has been on fire outside of the road loss to Shaw on the West Bank. Sophomore Caiden Bellard and Walker have been among the area’s leading rushers all season. The duo has combined for 1,800 yards and 20 touchdowns. Belard is over 1,000 yards.
With defending Division III select champion Catholic New Iberia losing to Loreauville, the power ratings got a shakeup. Lafayette Renaissance (7-1), which only lost to LCA , is No. 5. Catholic NI is No. 10. Notre Dame (No 2, 6-2) hosts Lafayette Renaissance this week.
Random thought, but Lafayette Christian’s decision to promote Matt Standiford from within – first to interim and then head coach – has been a great decision. The Knights parted ways with Zach Lochard after last year’s loss to Archbishop Shaw. Standiford, who takes a calm, positive approach, kept the ship upright in 2024 and has surpassed realistic expectations for 2025. The road win at defending Division I nonselect champion Central-BR was huge.
Advertisement
Teurlings Cahtolic RB Eli DeBoisblanc / Mike Coppage
Can Teurlings Catholic solve the riddle that is St Thomas More? The Rebels lost the District 4-4A matchup each of the past three years and come into this week’s tilt with a new coach in Michael Courville. Rebels’ quarterback Alex Munoz leads the team in rushing, sporting sub-4.6 speed with a fullback’s toughness, and the senior has thrown only one interception. The game will be on the northside at Teurlings Catholic.
Two weeks ago, Eli DeBoisblanc was Teurlings Catholic’s top running back. Last week, it was Spencer Meche and Ian Schwander. Cason Evans, who only carried sparingly in last week’s 64-29 win over East Ascension, could be ready to erupt.
St. Thomas More, as usual, has a tough defense. The Cougars don’t have flashy names, just a blue-collar mentality. Their secondary will be tested by Nicholas Celestine, Andrew Viator and tight end A.J. Price. Quinn Simon has also been coming on strong, catching touchdown passes in recent weeks for the Rebels (8-0).
Meanwhile, STM quarterback Cole Bergeron (1,950 yards, 22 TDs, seven INT) has found his stride and the Cougars have won six straight (6-2) as they prepare to defend their league title. You can trust that Bergeron will know where Teurlings Catholic 2027 CB Kaden Chavis is. The junior had a pick-six last week and will hopefully (from a Teurlings Catholic standpoint) field more punts and kicks in the future. I’d wager that Chavis will get familiar with STM WR Christian Breaux (42-732, 12 TDs). Jacob Dean is another ballhawk in the Rebels’ secondary.
Southside DB Cameron Allen / Mike Coppage
Southside got a lot of talk in the preseason as the District 3-5A favorite. The Sharks are still in the mix for a share of the title, but coach Jess Curtis’ team dropped a 17-14 decision last week to an Acadiana team that has won five straight. On Thursday, the Sharks will try to hand Carencro (6-2) its first district loss. The question is, how do you slow down 2028 QB Carson Guzzi and the Carencro offense?
Advertisement
The obvious answer, of course, is to control time of possession with a flexbone offense that features QB Parker Dies and running backs Justin Williams and Kollen Francois. The trio has combined for 2,000 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns. Will Carencro senior Chantz Babineaux tip the scales in favor of the Bears? They get Acadiana next week. Southside (6-2) doesn’t want to drop lower than its current No. 11 spot in the Division I nonselect power ratings.
To get live updates on your phone – as well as follow your favorite teams and top games – you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App
