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.