Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Laphonza Butler (D-CA) have come together to introduce legislation aimed at providing tax relief for individuals affected by Hurricane Ida and other major natural disasters. The bill, known as the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2024, seeks to assist those who have experienced qualified disaster-related personal casualty losses by allowing them to deduct these losses from their income, even if they are taking the standard deduction.In addition to this, the legislation also seeks to waive the 10 percent floor for deductions...

Cheapest diesel in cities across Natchitoches Parish in week ending Jan. 20

The only price of diesel in cities throughout Natchitoches Parish was found at a single gas station in the week ending Jan. 20, according to GasBuddy.com.

Senate Committee to Hear Testimony from Louisiana on Effects of FEMA Flood Insurance

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing today to discuss the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and examine Senator Bill Cassidy's comprehensive legislation to reform and reauthorize the program. The hearing was pushed for by Senator Cassidy, who has been working tirelessly to address the rising flood insurance costs and their impact on Louisiana.One of the key witnesses at the hearing will be Mr. Michael Hecht, President & CEO of GNO, Inc., who will testify about the effects of flood insurance on Louisiana. Other individuals have also been proposed as...

Cassidy, Hagerty, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to End Counting of Illegal Immigrants in Determining Electoral College Votes and Congressional District Apportionment

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and their Republican colleagues have introduced the Equal Representation Act, a new legislation aimed at ensuring that only legal citizens are taken into account when determining Congressional districts and the Electoral College map for presidential elections. The current practice of including illegal immigrants in these calculations serves as an incentive for open borders and ultimately distorts the political power of certain states and voters.The inspiration for this legislation came after a...

Cassidy Announces $4.5 Million for Louisiana Department of Health, Hospitals in Hurricane Ida Relief

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) has announced that the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals will receive $4,512,067.57 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to aid in emergency protective measures following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ida. The funding aims to support the department's efforts in preparing for future storms and ensuring the well-being of the community during natural disasters.During Hurricane Ida, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals played a crucial role in providing essential services and...

Cassidy Introduces GNO, Inc. President at Senate Hearing on Flood Insurance

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced Greater New Orleans (GNO), Inc. President Michael Hecht at a U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearing on reauthorizing and reforming the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Cassidy expressed concern over the affordability of flood insurance due to the implementation of Risk Rating 2.0, stating, "Risk Rating 2.0 has made flood insurance simply impossible to afford." He further warned that the program is facing an actuarial death spiral, where people will drop insurance because they can no longer afford it.Last year,...

Where could drivers find the cheapest gas in cities within Rapides Parish in week ending Jan. 20?

The only price of midgrade gas in cities throughout Rapides Parish was found at a single gas station in the week ending Jan. 20, according to GasBuddy.com.

Cassidy, Braun Introduce Bill to Target Medicare Fraud

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy and Mike Braun have introduced the Medicare Transaction Fraud Prevention Act, a bill aimed at combating Medicare fraud. The legislation proposes the implementation of an algorithm-based pilot period of oversight at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to target irregular billing activity of certain products for the 5% of beneficiaries who already receive electronic notices."Medicare fraud should always be fought, but with insolvency only eight years away we must be particularly careful about how we spend every dollar," said Dr....

Where could drivers find the cheapest gas in cities within Natchitoches Parish in week ending Jan. 20?

The only price of premium gas in cities throughout Natchitoches Parish was found at a single gas station in the week ending Jan. 20, according to GasBuddy.com.

Rep. Julia Letlow and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici Introduce Resolution to Recognize and Encourage National Board Certified Teachers

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici have jointly introduced a resolution to recognize and celebrate National Board Certified Teachers. The resolution also designates a "National Board Certified Teacher Week" and encourages administrators, school districts, and states to support and incentivize the growth of National Board Certified Teachers.National Board Certification is a voluntary and rigorous process that allows teachers to enhance their teaching skills and demonstrate their effectiveness in the classroom. The certification...

Cassidy on Biden’s Pause of LNG Export Permitting: ‘Putin Must Have Designed This Strategy’

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has strongly criticized the Biden administration for allegedly deliberately postponing LNG export permitting. In a statement, Cassidy accused the administration of waging war on U.S. allies who depend on American energy for their security and economic stability. He even went as far as suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have had a hand in designing this strategy."This is war on our allies. They depend upon us for their energy and economic...

Sen. Bill Cassidy Pushes for Flood Insurance Reform to Provide Relief for Homeowners

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) is making a strong push to reauthorize and reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in order to provide relief for homeowners facing skyrocketing insurance costs. Cassidy has secured a hearing in the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Thursday to address this pressing issue.Cassidy emphasized the importance of this hearing, stating, "This hearing is an opportunity to tell Americans what Louisianians have been telling me for years. Biden's Risk Rating 2.0 is crushing them and it will crush people in any state which needs flood...

Cassidy, Smith, Cardin, Thune Reintroduce Bill to Remove Barriers to Telemental Health Care

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, Tina Smith, John Thune, and Ben Cardin have reintroduced the bipartisan Telemental Health Care Access Act in an effort to eliminate obstacles to telemental health services for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill seeks to address the increased demand for mental health care during the pandemic and ensure that individuals have access to the services they need.Dr. Cassidy highlights the importance of telehealth in expanding healthcare access, stating, "Since the pandemic, we have seen how telehealth expanded health care access for those with substance...

Cassidy, Crapo, Cruz, Walberg Lead Bicameral Call for Biden Administration to Withdraw EV Mandate

A group of 112 colleagues, including U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and U.S. Representative Tim Walberg (R-MI-05), have called for the withdrawal of the Biden Administration's proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. The proposed standards, which aim to double average fleet-wide fuel economy in less than 10 years, have been criticized for not complying with federal law and effectively mandating the mass production of electric vehicles (EVs) at the expense of gas-powered...

1 gas station in cities throughout Natchitoches Parish had the cheapest regular gas in week ending Jan. 20

The only price of regular gas in cities throughout Natchitoches Parish was found at a single gas station in the week ending Jan. 20, according to GasBuddy.com.

1 gas station in cities throughout Rapides Parish had the cheapest diesel in week ending Jan. 20

The only price of diesel in cities throughout Rapides Parish was found at a single gas station in the week ending Jan. 20, according to GasBuddy.com.

Cheapest regular gas in cities across Concordia Parish in week ending Jan. 20

The only price of regular gas in cities throughout Concordia Parish was found at a single gas station in the week ending Jan. 20, according to GasBuddy.com.

Cassidy, Kennedy Introduce Bill to Designate Post Office in Honor of Dr. Rudy Lombard

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy have introduced a bill to designate the Post Office located at 3901 MacArthur Blvd. in New Orleans, Louisiana as the "Dr. Rudy Lombard Post Office." The bill aims to honor the legacy of Dr. Rudy Lombard, a prominent civil rights advocate in Louisiana.According to Dr. Cassidy, "Dr. Lombard will forever be remembered for his courage and advocacy for civil rights in Louisiana. He fought to guarantee freedom for all Americans, and it is an honor to pay tribute to him through this designation." Senator Kennedy also expressed his...

There’s a Third Option on Social Security and Medicare, Says Senator Bill Cassidy

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) has proposed a "Big Idea" to address the impending insolvency of Social Security and Medicare. In a letter to the editor of the National Review, Cassidy highlighted the urgent need to find a solution as both programs are projected to become insolvent within the next decade. He emphasized that when Social Security reaches insolvency, there will be a 23 percent cut in benefits.Cassidy expressed his frustration with leading presidential candidates who are ignoring the issue and instead criticizing Republicans who are honest about the...

On Monday, January 22, The Patrick School standout Anthony Thomas competed in NCAA D1 game