News for Monday 111813
By Dave Graichen
Republican Political newcomer Vance McCallister is Louisiana's new Congressman. McCallister soundly defeated state senator Neil Riser in the 5th district congressional run-off. McCallister received 60-percent of the vote. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Campaign ads ran in the final days of the race that featured Duck Dynasty television star Willie Robertson, who was a big supporter of McCallister, helped push him over the top. Plus, voters also didn't like how it appeared the race was manipulated so that Riser would replace Rodney Alexander, who retired from Congress in August. McCallister is a businessman, who owns oil, gas and pipeline businesses, as well as Subway franchises in the Monroe area.
Former LSU athletic director and basketball player Joe Dean died early sunday morning at his home in Baton Rouge. Dean’s cause of death, according to Dean’s son Joe Dean Jr. was heart-related. Dean had an unrelated surgery last week in Baton Rouge. He returned to his home Saturday. A homecare aid found him unresponsive Sunday morning. Joe Dean Sr. led LSU athletics from 1987-2000, overseeing the baseball team’s five national championships and hiring former football coach Nick Saban. A two-time All-Southeastern Conference guard at LSU in 1950-51, Dean was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame last year. Joe Dean Sr. was 83.
Saturday afternoon a 27 year old Sabine parish man was shot after he aimed a loaded shotgun at sheriff’s deputies and state police. Authorities were called to a home in Noble after a call to 911 reported a man threatening residents. When deputies arrived at the home off of highway 482, they observed Michael Malmay brandishing a shotgun and threatening to shoot himself. He then pointed the gun at the deputies and was shot. Malmay was transported to the LSU Medical Center in Shreveport where he remains in critical condition
State police report a single vehicle accident claimed the life a 20 year old Goldonna woman early Saturday morning. Troopers sat McKenna Sanders lost control of her vehicle, left the roadway and struck a tree and utility poll. Sanders was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Routine toxicology tests are pending. The crash remains under investigation.
It's been another record breaking year for Louisiana's movie making industry. It is expected that this year will surpass last year's economic impact. Executive Director of Louisiana Entertainment Chris
Stelly says 2013 is the biggest year on record for the entertainment industry. Stelly says many big time celebrities are filming in Louisiana. Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Ice Cube are here for 22 Jump Street. Eva Longoria , Jessica Lange, and Will Smith are filming here. At least 15 movies
and TV shows are being filmed in the state.
State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says President Obama's "fix" for the Affordable Care Act will quite likely not work as intended. The President announced administrative action to allow those who've had policies cancelled to keep them another year. But, Donelon says this last minute maneuver threatens the overall pool of insurance risk. Already, some insurance companies have said that policies cancelled cannot so easily be reinstated, especially for the brief one-year period Obama is calling for. Donelon says insurance works best when there is a larger pool of shared risk, and insurers will not be able to sell policies of the types cancelled to any new customers.
This is the last week for Louisiana taxpayers to take advantage of the statewide amnesty program known as "A Fresh Start." The state legislature instituted the two month long amnesty program which
eliminates penalties on back owed taxes and cuts interest charges in half. LDR Executive Council Jason Decuir says it's been going well. Decuir says there is still a lot of paperwork to be done which he expects will go down to the final days of the amnesty program, but they feel they will get close to or reach the legislature's goal of collecting $200 million dollars. Lawmakers were counting on the money collected during amnesty to balance the state's operating budget. Both individuals and businesses who owe state taxes are eligible for amnesty.