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Watch out for jobless benefit scams

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:21am

Better Business Bureau

As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, thieves taking advantage of increased unemployment to collect benefits in the names of unsuspecting victims.
Be sure to guard personal information and report suspicious activity, as unemployment fraud is costing the United States government billions of dollars.
Scammers typically get the personal information they need for fake unemployment claims by purchasing it on the dark web.
One con artist told USA Today that he compiles lists of real people then pays $2 in cryptocurrency to match each name with a Social Security number and date of birth.
This is often all the information he needs to file a phony claim.
Other times, scammers get personal information for fake claims through phishing techniques. They send fake notifications from financial institutions or government agencies to trick people into sharing Social Security numbers and other information.
Other scammers make cold calls to potential victims and coax them into sharing personal information.
Most victims don’t know their identity has been used for unemployment fraud until they are contacted about an unemployment claim they never made. According to BBB Scam Tracker, here are some common ways victims became aware of the fraud:
A notification from an unemployment office “confirming” the date of their last day of work – even though they are still employed.
A letter from the state unemployment office or department of labor informing them that their unemployment benefits were denied – even though they made no such claim.
Their employer is notified that they filed for unemployment benefits even though they still work for the company.
BBB Serving Acadiana offers the following tips to protect against this and similar scams:
--Report suspicious notifications. If you receive a letter, email, or any other notification about an unemployment claim that you never made, be sure to report it to state and federal agencies as well as law enforcement. Usually it is the state department of Labor.
--Check your credit report. An unemployment claim in your name means that scammers have your personal information. Be sure to check your credit report for unauthorized inquiries and accounts. In the U.S., you have the right to check your credit report with each of the three major credit bureaus once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com.
This is the only free crediting reporting service authorized by the Federal Trade Commission.
-- If personal information such as Social Security numbers have been compromised, freeze your credit by contacting transUnion Fraud Alert Assistance. They will ask for your Social Security number, but it is safe to share it with them, as they are a major credit reporting agency that will report the incident to the other two.
Set up transaction alerts with your bank or credit union. This ensures notification of any withdrawal above a dollar amount which you determine.

Jim Bradshaw: Anthills, aborigines and mounds on the prairie

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:18am

JIM BRADSHAW

In the spring of 1851, editor Daniel Dennett sold the Planters’ Banner, the newspaper in Franklin, and set out for Texas, where he intended “to follow agricultural pursuits, as a more reliable means of support” than running a country newspaper.
He wrote a series of letters describing his trip across south Louisiana, and in two of them described thousands of mysterious mounds found on the south Louisiana prairies and in our pine forests. They range from about 30 to 50 feet in diameter and three to seven feet tall, and are known to scientists as Mima or pimple mounds.
Dennett speculated they were “the work of aborigines,” but that has never been proven. Theories abound, but geologists and soil scientists are still arguing about how the mounds might have been created.
“As we advanced westward … from Vermilionville to the Calcasieu [River],” Dennett wrote, “the prairie became more thickly dusted with them, and in most places west of the Mermentau they may be seen in thousands.”
He said the mounds sometimes appeared to be in rows, “but in most instances their position and appearance have a striking resemblance to … villages, a circle being formed by twelve or thirteen mounds.” He thought “their numbers in these prairies may be reckoned in the millions.”
Dennett thought the mounds were very old because large trees grew on them “as though their origin dates back far beyond the origin of the trees.” Traveling through the pine forest between the Calcasieu and Sabine rivers, he found “great numbers of mounds similar to those noticed in the prairies” and thought that “from their appearance they must have been here long before the present forest commenced growing.”
Dennett was apparently aware of theories that ascribed their origin to natural causes such as glaciers burrowing underground during the Ice Age, or wind-blown soil being caught by clumps of prairie grass and gradually enlarging, but he would have none of that.
“That they be the work of the aborigines of this country I have no doubt,” Dennett wrote. “That nature formed them to me appears perfectly absurd.”
E. G. Hilgard, one of the leading soil scientists of his day, dug into mounds on the Opelousas and Calcasieu prairies in the early 1900s and also thought they were quite old. But he thought they were made by ants, not aborigines.
He said the way the mounds were formed ruled out glacial or wind-blown origins, and, according to an article written in 1906, “I therefore … considered the ant-hill origin as the only reasonable explanation.”
In more recent times, geologists and archaeologists have come to think that mound-building ants are probably not the answer, but are just as divided over what the real answer is.
They have not ruled out the glacial and wind-blown soil theories, and have proposed novel new ones, including the idea that they were formed by vibrations from ancient earthquakes.
The science for that one is a little beyond what I have retained from the Earth Science 101 course I took way back when, but I’m pretty sure of what Daniel Dennett would say about it.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, 'Cajuns and Other Characters,' is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Which bills to pay first?

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 8:45am

By VALERIE VINCENT and JEANETTE A. TUCKER, LSU AgCenter

When you do not have enough money to cover your family’s basic living expenses and pay all your creditors, you face some difficult financial decisions.
During a crisis or anytime when family income is reduced, your spending habits must change. The sooner you change, the more likely your financial problems can be lessened. Your family should be part of the decision-making process because their cooperation is essential to carry out the plans.
When your bills exceed the money available to pay them, you will have to develop a revised payment plan in order to repay your debts. After you have a plan, you will have to contact the people to whom you owe money — your creditors — and explain your situation. Creditors will usually work with you to adjust your payments because they want their money.
Your past experiences with creditors are important. If you have consistently paid bills when due, your creditors will be more cooperative than if you were late or did not make regular payments. Creditors are in the business of lending money and providing services. They want to keep your business, but they also want to get paid.
Gather the Facts
Before you can talk to your creditors, you need to take a hard look at your situation and decide how much and when you can pay. First, answer the following questions:
—How much income can you count on each month?
—How much money is needed to cover your family’s essential monthly living expenses?
—How many creditors do you owe, and what is the total amount you owe?
—How long is your present financial situation likely to last?
—What assets (savings or items that could be sold) do you have that could be used to pay off your debt?
—What debts are the most important to repay first?
—What debts could be satisfied by voluntarily surrendering, or giving back, the item?
—Are any of your creditors offering deferments or waiving later fees during a crisis?
Who Gets Paid First?
You are legally obligated to pay all of your creditors. If you cannot pay all your bills, you must decide how much to pay to which creditor. One way is to divide available money and pay each creditor a share of what you owe. This is probably the fairest way, but it does not always work because every creditor must agree to reduce the amount they receive and extend the payment period.
A second method is to prioritize or list your creditors starting with the ones who will receive the most money. Think about the worst consequences for your family if certain debts were not paid or if they were paid less than the amount due. Answering the questions below will help you decide.
What will affect my family’s health and security the most? Usually the house, utilities, food, transportation and medical insurance take priority. Do not be tempted to let medical insurance slide when money is tight. If anyone in your family becomes ill, uninsured medical costs could be devastating.
What will you lose if the bills are not paid? You can lose your purchases if the creditor holds the title of the property as collateral or security for the loan, such as a home mortgage or car loan. Unsecured debts may have to take lower priority.
What interest rate are you paying? You may decide to pay off higher interest credit card balances first to reduce the amount of finance charges you are paying. Until your financial situation improves, destroying your credit cards may be a good idea. PowerPay is a free computer program that can help you decide which debt repayment plan will save you the most money in interest charges. It is available online at https://powerpay.org.
How much do you still owe on the loan? Determine how much you have paid on each loan and how much you owe. If you have only one or two payments to make on a loan, it is probably a good idea to finish paying it and getting that debt out of the way. You may be able to return newer items or sell them to pay off the debt. If you choose to voluntarily surrender the item, you will still be required to pay the difference between the market value of the item and the amount remaining on the loan.
Is a consolidation loan a good idea? Generally, consolidation loans charge a high interest rate. In addition, refinancing to smaller monthly payments will extend the number of payments you must make, adding to the total cost. While a single loan may make payment easier, that is a small benefit considering the additional costs involved.
What about your credit record? Nonpayment of debts is recorded on your credit record and can damage your ability to get credit in the future. That is why contacting all your creditors immediately if you cannot pay your bills is important. If you can pay something on each debt, it is less likely that your financial problems will be reported on your credit record.
Your Repayment Plan
Once you have calculated how much money your family has for monthly living expenses and for paying off debts, decide how much you can pay to each creditor based on the priorities you determined by answering the previous questions. Work out a repayment plan that shows how much you plan to pay each creditor.
Now you are ready to contact each of your creditors to explain your family situation. You will need to tell them how much you are able to pay and when you will be able to pay it. Some businesses, such as utility companies, have special counselors for customers who cannot pay their bills.
Contacting Your Creditors
Once you have gathered the information you need, contact each creditor, explain your family’s situation, and work out a solution. Be prepared to explain the following:
—The reason you cannot pay.
—Your current income and prospects for future income.
—Other obligations.
Your plans to bring this debt up-to-date and keep it current, including the amount you will be able to pay each month.
Do not forget creditors, like your dentist, physician, clinic and hospital. Contact creditors by phone, email or letter. If you phone, write down the name and title of the person to whom you talked. Follow the conversation with a letter or email summarizing the agreement between you and the creditor. Keep copies of your correspondence as well as any reply.
As you negotiate with each of your creditors, do not agree to any plan simply to get off the hook. Be sure you will be able to follow through on the agreement. Establish a payment rate that is acceptable to both you and the creditor.
—Valerie Vincent is the LSU AgCenter family and consumer sciences regional coordinator and Jeanette A. Tucker, LSU AgCenter family economist.

Grandmothers refuse to follow practical gift-giving request

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 8:35am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: Our 11-year-old has learned to lie, and we feel terrible about it. Because she has a sensory processing disorder, clothes are a useless gift because the seams and fabric are often uncomfortable for her. We have repeatedly asked family and friends not to gift her clothes, but her grandmas are in denial and often do it anyway.
Our sweet daughter has decided that sparing their feelings is more important than asserting her own, and I’m worried this behavior will teach her that her feelings are less important than other people’s.
How do we teach her to be polite and honor her own feelings and wishes without offending well-meaning relatives who cannot understand that she doesn’t appreciate or value these gifts?
MAMA BEAR IN TEXAS

DEAR MAMA BEAR: Of course your daughter should be taught that her feelings — and opinions — are important. But accepting gifts graciously is proper etiquette.
It is considered rude for a recipient to tell folks their gifts are unwelcome or unwanted.
It would not be rude, however, for YOU to run interference by reminding these clueless grannies about your daughter’s problem and telling them what has been happening to their impractical gifts — that they are given away, donated, etc. because she cannot wear them.
A far more welcome gift would be something she’s interested in or a gift card to a store that carries items she might like. Then suggest an area of interest of hers they may be unaware of. Also, for “insurance,” request a receipt be included with the gift.

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been dating my boyfriend for two years. We’re in our 40s. I moved to the city he lives in, but he’s currently working in a different state, and he has been extremely stressed these last few weeks. He’s paying rent and utilities in our state as well as the state he’s working in.
He says he is overwhelmed and wants to take a break — from me! He also said he’s too emotionally unstable right now to continue our relationship. I’m devastated.
I know he and his family have depression issues, but I love him so much. He’s unwilling to take any financial assistance from his family.
I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to end our relationship, but he’s refusing to talk to me or discuss it.
OUT OF OPTIONS IN OHIO

DEAR OUT OF OPTIONS: After two years of dating and a life-changing move to his city, I can only imagine the turmoil you are feeling at this turn of events. The problems that are stressing him out are real. Because he’s unwilling to talk to you, and you can’t force him, there is nothing you can do to fix them.
If you plan to remain there hoping things will change, set a realistic time limit and stick to it. If the deadline passes and he still feels the same, then realize how important it is for you to live someplace where you have the strongest emotional support as you rebuild your life. Write him a letter. Tell him you will always be there if he needs to talk, and encourage him to check back in with his doctor to address the depression.
***
What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Governor: Louisiana still struggling in the cold

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 5:33am

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

More electricity blackouts are possible before Sunday as record-low temperatures continue to threat-en north and central Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday.
Edwards asked state residents to conserve electricity, especially between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and be-tween 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., through Saturday morning. Conservation measures can include turning down the thermostat and putting off running dishwashers and washing machines.
President Joe Biden on Thursday approved Edwards’ request to issue an emergency declaration as Louisiana deals with the severe winter weather, which has been blamed for at least three deaths of state residents. Edwards requested commodities and supplies Wednesday night in response to the extended power outage and Emergency Protective measures under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program.
About 125,000 Louisianans were without electricity as of noon Thursday, Edwards said. More than 245,000 residents are affected by 98 water-system outages, and almost a million residents are ad-vised to boil their tap water before usage, he said. Driving conditions remain “treacherous” in much of central and north Louisiana, he said.
The Louisiana National Guard had more than 960 members activated for the response Thursday, including support for water distribution.
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announced Thursday state offices will be closed in 29 parishes Friday because of hazardous conditions. Those parishes are Avoyelles, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll and Winn.
Agency leadership is responsible for determining essential personnel who should remain on duty, report for duty or report to alternate work sites, as necessary.
In Lake Charles, which suffered severe damage during last year’s hurricane season, the water sys-tem has struggled to restore pressure after an unannounced blackout Tuesday night. Water pipes have burst in homes that were unoccupied because of storm damage.
Utilities overwhelmed by demand sometimes deliberately institute temporary blackouts, known as “rolling blackouts” or “load shedding,” to conserve power and prevent a catastrophic system failure. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, a regional coordinator in 15 states and one Ca-nadian province, directed Entergy Louisiana to cut the power in Lake Charles for that reason, Entergy said.
“The biggest issue with those [rolling blackouts] was the fact that there just wasn’t advance notifica-tion,” Edwards said, adding the decisions are not made locally and communication has improved.
Load shedding still may be needed Thursday and/or Friday night, as north Louisiana braces for rec-ord or near-record cold, Edwards said. The low temperature is expected to be above freezing for the entire state Sunday, however.
“We’re not accustomed to these extreme winter weather events,” Edwards said. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”

Firefighters called to Franklin Police Department

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 5:25am

No injuries were reported after a fire broke out Thursday night at the Franklin Fire Department.

Smoke was detected about 6:55 p.m. at the Franklin Police Department, according to a press release. A fire was located in a file area of the building.

Once the fire was located, officers with the Franklin Police Department attempted to extinguish the fire and the Franklin Fire Department was contacted for assistance. The Franklin Fire Department arrived on scene and subsequently successfully extinguished the fire. No one was injured and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

The Franklin Police Department would like to thank the Franklin Fire Department, Centerville Fire Department, Baldwin Fire Department, and Patterson Fire Department for their assistance.

Teachers, school staffs soon to be eligible for COVID shots

Thu, 02/18/2021 - 6:09pm

Staff Report

Teachers, school support staff members and day-care employees will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday at a press conference.

Pregnant women and people 55-64 with certain health conditions will also become eligible for coronavirus vaccine Monday.

Meanwhile, Louisiana is struggling with a new emergency, the second winter storm in three days, while its nearly year-old fight against COVID-19 continues.

The broader eligibility will add about 450,000 people to the list of those who may make appointments for COVID-19 shots.

You can learn more about the vaccination process at https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine/ .

Here is the list of priority groups:

Priority Group 1-A: Ongoing (around 249,000 eligible people)

Health care workers at Tier 1 and Tier 2 hospitals
Staff and residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
First responders to serve as vaccinators (Emergency Medical Services, fire personnel, law enforcement)

Priority Group 1-B, Tier One: As of Monday, February 22, 2021 (around 1,391,000 eligible people)

Dialysis providers and patients
Ambulatory and outpatient providers and staff
Behavioral health providers and staff
Urgent care clinic providers and staff
Community care providers and staff
Dental providers and staff
Nonemergency Medical Transportation staff
Professional home care providers (including hospice workers) and home care recipients (including older and younger people with disabilities over the age of 16 who receive community or home-based care, as well as clients of home health agencies)
American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and Support Service Providers (SSPs) working in community and clinic-based settings, and clients who are both deaf and blind
Health-related support personnel (lab staff, mortuary staff who have contact with corpses, pharmacy staff)
Schools of allied health students, residents and staff
Law enforcement and other first responders
Persons 65 years old and older
Louisiana Unified Command Group
State and local essential COVID emergency response personnel
Some elections staff ahead of March and April elections
Teachers and any other support staff working onsite in K-12 or daycare
Individuals aged 55-64 with at least one of the conditions listed by the CDC as placing them at an “increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.”
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Down Syndrome
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30kg/m2 or higher but < 40kg/m2)
Severe obesity (BMIC >40kg/m2)
Pregnancy
Sickle Cell Disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
All pregnant persons, regardless of age.

St. Mary schools will be closed Friday

Thu, 02/18/2021 - 5:15pm

Cold-related utility problems around the parish have led the St. Mary Parish school system to close schools Friday.

Students were sent home at midday Thursday because of water system problems.

Classes are scheduled to resume Monday.

Ash Wednesday begins a solemn season

Thu, 02/18/2021 - 1:02pm

The Daily Review/Geoff Stoute
A subdued Mardi Gras celebration gave way to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season Wednesday. This year, ashes were sprinkled on the heads of parishioners at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Morgan City instead of being applied to foreheads. Above, Laura Carter receives her ashes from the Rev. Brice Higginbotham.

John Flores: Hunters can have their say during ZOOM meeting

Thu, 02/18/2021 - 12:59pm

JOHN FLORES

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced in a Feb. 4 press release their intent to host a Zoom public meeting Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. to gather public comments concerning the proposed 2021-22 and 2022-23 resident game seasons, the 2021-22 Wildlife Management Area seasons, rules and regulation changes for the upcoming year, the 2022 general and WMA turkey hunting season rules and regulations, and the 2021-22 migratory bird hunting season rules and regulations.
Most hunters, once the sun of the last day of deer or waterfowl season sets and drops below the western horizon think little about the governmental process of regulations that must be approved before the next season begins. Oh sure, there are a few who pay attention to such things, but most never give the rules and hunt dates a thought until days before the season starts. And, when they find out about the changes, that’s when they start to bellyache.
It’s a shame really, because the process is arduous for a reason. But don’t get me wrong, year to year, no one is 100% satisfied with the changes, but that goes with living in a democracy. However, the public meeting opportunity is your moment to make a case for your thoughts concerning wildlife. Moreover, in doing interviews with LDWF officials over the years, you’d be surprised how much they really do listen and take into consideration your thoughts.
One of the things I found in the Notice of Intent for Hunting Seasons that impacts locals here in St. Mary Parish is the Wildlife Commissions intent to remove youth lottery deer hunting on the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area and make it an “open” youth hunt.
Another change eliminates the mandatory check requirement of all deer and feral hogs harvested on the Atchafalaya Delta WMA as the Delta already has a self-clearing permit requirement to check any harvested game.
Both of these rule changes you may or may not agree with depending on your interpretation and viewpoint. Nonetheless, you can rest assured that if you say nothing these two regulations will be written in stone come next season.
Where season dates are concerned, it seems like some things never change. For example, small game season. As far back as I can remember the statewide rabbit and squirrel season has traditionally been set to open on the first Saturday in October and ends on the last day of February.
In my purview here in St. Mary Parish, the first Saturday of October is usually hot. Moreover, when I have hunted squirrels on opening day, I have gotten bit by enough red bugs (chiggers) that, quite frankly, makes me wonder why the season is set so early.
On the flip side of that, I have friends in north Louisiana who hold a traditional family squirrel shoot and wouldn’t miss an opening day. Moreover, the town of Ville Platte, in Evangeline Parish, actually holds a “Squirrel Day” the Friday before the traditional opener. It’s a big deal to this town and part of their Cajun Culture.
When it comes to public comments, where squirrels and rabbits are concerned, I’m good with the dates, why mess up a good thing over a few insect bites. You get the idea.
Deer season is another thing all together. All across the state deer season dates and bag limits are extremely generous. The Lion’s share of St. Mary Parish’s deer hunters will hunt DEER AREA 7 while some of the other deer hunters will hunt part of AREA 9.
If you’re an AREA 7 Archery hunter you will actually have 120 days Sept. 18-Jan. 15, to harvest a deer, according to the Notice of Intent. If you’re a Primitive Firearms hunter you’ll get 14 days. And, if you’re a Firearms hunter you get 79 days. That’s a lot of days to hunt deer.
The possession limit for deer is six per season, not to exceed three antlered or four antlerless per season (Note: There are AREA exceptions where you should refer to the LDWF Season and Regulations pamphlet).
This year’s Notice of Intent is essentially what hunters have seen in recent years when it comes to season dates and possession limits. But again, if you have any constructive input on Feb. 24, have at it during the Zoom meeting.
If I were to predict what the most controversial dialogue will be related to, it would have to be this year’s waterfowl season.
The Notice of Intent of proposed hunting seasons appears to have three splits in the west zone for ducks, coots and mergansers besides a Nov. 6 and 7 youth and veterans only hunt. Those splits are Nov. 13-Dec. 5, Dec. 18-Jan. 2, and Jan. 10-30.
My guess is with recent migration patterns where ducks have shown up later and later in the season, a few waterfowl hunters made enough noise where this coming season they’ll get an opportunity to hunt until the end of January along coastal Louisiana.
But you’ll get a chance to toss in your two cents and make a difference. After all, that’s what democracy is all about
To attend the Zoom meeting, go to https://wlf-la.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WvQJ-SLcSMasXEWC_gGQKw and sign up.