Louisiana

Louisiana’s insurance crisis worsens a year after Hurricane Ida

Published

2 years ago

September 13, 2022

Louisiana’s insurance crisis worsens a year after Hurricane Ida

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – With many insurance coverage corporations failing or pulling out of the state, Louisiana’s insurer of final resort has taken on greater than 100,000 further policyholders within the 12 months since Hurricane Ida.

Now, Louisiana Residents is searching for approval for a 63 p.c price hike for residential properties in 2023.

“I’d sort of heard it by means of the grapevine that this was going to occur,” mentioned David Clements, co-owner of Clements Insurance coverage Providers. “Sadly, that is justified.

“Nobody likes it. However Residents — by statute — is required to be 10 p.c greater than the actuarial price for the main insurance coverage carriers within the state for owners’ insurance coverage.”

Some insurance coverage corporations now not are writing new wind and hail insurance policies in components of the state.

“Firms have merely stopped writing,” Clements mentioned. “They haven’t all gone belly-up. Many have gone out of enterprise and bancrupt. However as a result of (others) are persevering with to remain in enterprise, they’re simply not writing new insurance policies.”

Louisiana Insurance coverage Commissioner Jim Donelon informed Fox 8 on Monday evening about an incentive bundle that’s within the works.

Donelon mentioned after Hurricane Katrina, then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco lured insurance coverage corporations again to Louisiana with cash from the state.

“After Katrina and Rita, she put $100 million on the desk from her anticipated surplus, experiencing surpluses from the rebuild after Katrina and Rita,” Donelon mentioned. “It labored higher than any of us had any expectation.”

Insurance coverage prices can also have an effect on owners’ month-to-month mortgage funds.

“That’s one thing that I’m actually nervous about,” Clements mentioned. “I’m nervous that if you happen to mix the elevated value of individuals’s mortgages, due to insurance coverage, that we’re going to run right into a housing disaster.

“Individuals have to have the ability to pay their notes and hold paying their mortgage month-to-month, with a view to hold their properties. And that’s obtained to be a very powerful factor, to maintain individuals of their properties.”

If Louisiana had been to be spared this hurricane season, it might make a giant distinction.

“If we might get by means of one other storm season, and end out this storm season with out getting beat up too unhealthy, then we’d see these charges creep again down,” Clements mentioned.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click on Right here to report it. Please embody the headline.

Source link

Click to comment

Louisiana

Heart of Louisiana: Savoy Music

Published

6 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – You can feel the strong Cajun tradition the moment you step inside the Savoy Music Center near the southwest Louisiana city of Eunice.

The blend of strong black coffee, the savory aroma of boudin sausage, lively conversations, and the music create an atmosphere that is unmistakably Cajun.

For more, visit the Heart of Louisiana archive here.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.

Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.

Source link

Louisiana

Army Black Knights, Louisiana Tech Offensive Stars To Watch in Independence Bowl

Published

17 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Army Black Knights, Louisiana Tech Offensive Stars To Watch in Independence Bowl

The Independence Bowl will be a game of offensive contrasts as the Army West Point Black Knights face the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Saturday at Independence Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 9:15 p.m. eastern on ESPN.

Army (11-2) enters the game using its run-based attack based on option, deception and power football. If the Black Knights don’t have 34 or 35 minutes of time of possession by game’s end, then they haven’t done their job. Army can create big plays, but the Black Knights would rather grind its opponents down to submission.

Louisiana Tech (5-7) runs a pass-based, Air Raid offense that coach Sonny Cumbie learned from one of his coaches and mentors, the legendary Mike Leach. The former Texas Tech quarterback doesn’t have the talent he needs to make it as effective as the Red Raiders’ glory days offensively. But, he’s found a quarterback that could help get him there in the coming years — if the Bulldogs can hang onto him.

This is the transfer portal era after all.

Here are three offensive players to watch for each team going into Saturday’s contest.

QB Bryson Daily

Daily was the American Athletic Conference offensive player of the year and was sixth in Heisman Trophy voting. He is the focal point of this offense. He’s rushed for 1,532 yards and 29 touchdowns (tied for most in FBS) and has thrown for another 942 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. If LA Tech wants to win, it has to slow him down. Look at the Navy tape for a template.

RB Noah Short

With Kanye Udoh’s transfer to Arizona State, the bulk of the complementary backfield work may fall to short, who was the Black Knights’ third-leading rusher this season. He rushed for 542 yards and two touchdowns but gained more yards per carry (7.7) than Udoh (6.2).

This is Daily’s swan song so he’ll get plenty of work. But Short needs to be a solid complement. He’s also one of Army’s top passing targets with 17 catches for 318 yards and three touchdowns.

WR Casey Reynolds

Reynolds leads the Black Knights with 19 receptions for 444 yards and three touchdowns. When Daily looks for a big play down the field, count on Reynolds to be the receiver he’s looking for. It’s been that way all season.

QB Evan Bullock

He finally emerged with the starting job in late September and the freshman ended up with 1,938 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions as he completed 67% of his passes. That’s a solid start in an offense that requires quick passing and high accuracy. Bullock has both, but he’s also been sacked 31 times.

RB Omiri Wiggins

The running game can be afterthought in an Air Raid offense. But Wiggins is coming off a huge game in LA Tech’s finale, as he rushed for 129 yards and three touchdowns and three interceptions against Kennesaw State. That was more than a quarter of his output this season (487 yards, four touchdowns).

WR Tru Edwards

The senior is from Shreveport, La., so this is like coming home. And he’s had a huge year for the Bulldogs. Edwards is their leading receiver by a significant margin, with 77 receptions for 897 yards and six touchdowns. He’s caught 25 passes in his last three games but hasn’t found the end zone.

Source link

Louisiana

Letters: State should invest in training mental health providers

Published

1 day ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Letters: State should invest in training mental health providers

Most of Louisiana is classified as a mental health professional shortage area, leaving countless families — especially children —without access to critical mental health services. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, over half of children in Louisiana who experience mental health challenges do not receive the care they need. This is a staggering number given that this study estimates that 30.3% of children ages 3-17 have at least one emotional, developmental or behavioral health disorder. This unmet need has far-reaching consequences, affecting school performance, family stability and community safety.

Addressing this gap starts with investing in higher education programs that train the mental health professionals our state desperately needs. Universities such as the University of Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, McNeese State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of New Orleans, University of Holy Cross, Tulane University, Nicholls State University, LSU and others play a vital role in preparing skilled counselors, psychologists and social workers.

However, the current capacity of mental health training programs is not sufficient to meet the growing demand. We are facing another potential budget shortfall in Louisiana that could impact higher education. Without adequate funding and resources, these programs may struggle to equip students with the expertise and experience required to enter the workforce.

Investing in these programs is not just about addressing today’s challenges — it is about safeguarding the future of Louisiana. By increasing the number of trained mental health professionals, we can improve outcomes for children and families, reduce the strain on emergency services and foster healthier, more resilient communities.

It is time to prioritize the mental health of our state by supporting higher education programs that make a difference. Together, we can build a brighter, healthier future.

MATTHEW THORNTON

chief executive officer, Center for Children and Families, Inc.

Source link