RSS Feed

Louisiana House votes to create business relief fund

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 10:40am

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

The Louisiana House of Representatives on Thursday voted to set aside $300 million in federal pandemic relief aid for small businesses.
The federal CARES Act sent $1.8 billion to Louisiana state government. Up to 45 percent of that money could be shared with local governments.
While state officials don’t know how much of the $811 million local governments will be able to spend, they don’t expect local officials have incurred nearly that much in pandemic-related expenses, which mostly were borne by the state. However, there is a fair amount of flexibility in how the CARES funding can be used, and Congress may change the rules to allow local governments to use the money to plug budget holes and maintain services.
Under the plan the House approved Thursday, $300 million of the local portion would be put into a state treasury fund to distribute grants to businesses with 50 or fewer employees; $40 million would be reserved for businesses owned by women, minorities and veterans. For the first 21 days the money is available, only businesses that haven’t already received federal relief from another program would be eligible.
As requests come in for the $511 million for local governments and the $300 million in business grants, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget would be able to move money from one pot to the other as needed.
Some representatives said they wanted to make sure local governments were made whole before setting aside money for other purposes. Rep. John Illg, a River Ridge Republican, said local leaders in his area weren’t happy with an earlier proposal that would have used $200 million for a business fund.
“At $300 million, my phone won’t stop,” he said.
But the majority felt that it was important to get help to struggling small businesses as quickly as possible, noting that such businesses are an important part of every local tax base.
Rep. Jerome Zeringue, the Appropriations chairman who presented the plan, said the fund as currently conceived would not be off limits to businesses that are doing well.
“I would hope they wouldn’t take advantage of the system,” he said.
Gov. John Bel Edwards is opposed to the plan. He said a small business fund might be a good idea but suggested it would be better to make that decision in the fall when lawmakers know how well the economy is recovering and whether Congress has approved additional funds for businesses or local governments.
The plan was attached to Senate Bill 189, which now heads back to the Senate for consideration.

Woman accused of exploiting elderly victim

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 10:35am

Staff Report
A Gray woman has been accused of posing as a contractor and stealing an elderly Assumption resident’s checkbook, helping herself to the victim’s bank account, Sheriff Leland Falcon said Thursday.
—Valley M. Quiroz, 42, Champion Drive, Gray, was arrested Tuesday on charges of exploitation of the infirm, bank fraud, felony identity theft and misdemeanor theft.
On March 21, deputies responded to a complaint from an elderly parish resident who indicated that an unknown female suspect had represented herself to be from a contracting company and as such, would provide a home remodeling estimate.
Once inside the home, the suspect stole the victim’s checkbook, then wrote and cashed those checks at businesses in surrounding parishes, using the identity of a deceased person.
Shortly after the incident, sheriff’s detectives circulated photographs of the suspect via social media and shortly thereafter, the public responded by swiftly identifying the suspect.
Based on that response and the ensuing investigation, warrants were obtained for the arrest of Quiroz was arrested, and was set at $30,000.
Falcon also reported these arrests:
—Kyle Anthony Melancon was arrested Tuesday on charges of stalking-crime of violence and violation of a protective order.
On March 22, deputies responded to a complaint in which the victim reported that the suspect, Melancon, had been following her repeatedly and provided video evidence of such.
It was also noted that at the time of the incidents in question, Melancon was under the rule of a protective order filed earlier by the victim.
Based on the evidence provided, deputies filed arrest warrants against Melancon. He was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center with a bond set at $10,000.
— Carla Johnson, 33, La. 1, Labadieville, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of domestic abuse-aggravated assault.
Deputies were dispatched to Assumption Community Hospital after a staff member reported that a male subject was being treated for a battery.
Responding deputies interviewed the victim who stated a former domestic partner and the mother of his child had assaulted him during an argument at the La. 1 address. The victim indicated that Johnson had smashed a beer bottle in his face, causing a laceration and a broken nose.
Deputies went to the location where the incident occurred and spoke to several witnesses and located evidence indicating a crime of violence had occurred.
The suspect had already left the area. Deputies applied for and were granted warrants for Johnson’s arrest.
Johnson was arrested on Tuesday and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center. Johnson posted a $5,000 bond.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported this arrest:
—Destiny Stefenon Pharr, 20, North Bayou Black Drive, Gibson, was arrested at 7:33 p.m. Wednesday on charges of first-offense possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers were called to the area of Sixth Street and Freret Street for a disturbance. They came into contact with Pharr. She was found to be in possession of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
She was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these arrests:
—Carl Wayne Allen Jr., 28, Deforest Brown Lane, Franklin, was arrested at 6:38 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear. Allen was released on a judicial release.
—Juvenile mMale, 15, Patterson, was arrested at 9:58 p.m. Wednesdayas an ungovernable juvenile and a charge of unlawful sale/purchase/possession of tobacco-person under 18. The boy was released to a guardian.

Morgan City police radio logs for May 27-28

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 10:32am

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Wednesday, May 27
11:44 a.m. 300 block of Grizzaffi Street; Complaint.
12:05 p.m. 600 block of Fourth Street; Medical.
1:20 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.
1:34 p.m. 1200 block of Railroad Avenue; Disturbance.
2:46 p.m. Railroad and Ditch avenues; Reckless driver.
3:10 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Theft.
4:12 p.m. 1100 block of Ditch Street; Theft.
4:52 p.m. 300 block of Grizzaffi Street; Animal.
6:43 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Animal complaint.
6:49 p.m. Sixth and Freret streets; Disturbance.
6:50 p.m. 600 block of Sixth Street; Disturbance.
7:57 p.m. 1600 block of Elm Street; Loud music.
9:17 p.m. 700 block of Duke Street; Loud music.
9:20 p.m. La. 70; Assist.
9:21 p.m. 200 block of Patton Street; Loud music.
9:22 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Narcotic investigation.
Thursday, May 28
2:55 a.m. 100 block of St. Clair Street; Medical emergency.

Jim Bradshaw: Big fire led to big fight and new parish

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 10:23am

JIM BRADSHAW

The embers were not cold from the fire that destroyed the St. Landry Parish courthouse when a group of citizens began agitating to have it rebuilt in Washington instead of Opelousas.
When firefighters got to the fire early in the morning of March 22, 1886, it was “leaping in fearful flames from the ... windows.”
They could only turn their hoses on nearby buildings to keep them from catching on fire.
The Police Jury met three days after the fire and Sen. M. D. Kavanagh, J. M. Lalanne, Elbert Gant, Achille Dupre and several other Washington civic leaders were there to “urge ... the propriety of delaying the rebuilding ... until an election could be held to take the sense of the people on the question of making [Washington] the parish seat of St. Landry,” according to news reports.
The Police Jury voted against the proposition, but that would not be the end of a sometimes uncivil debate.
Making the issue even stickier, some people in Rayne took the opportunity to push for creating a new parish from western St. Landry, and some leaders in Opelousas were willing to support that cause if Rayne backed keeping the St. Landry courthouse in Opelousas.
Nineteen “businessmen, lawyers and citizens of Opelousas” and a “large and representative contingent from Washington” went to a big meeting in Rayne in April to discuss “division of the parish, and ... removing the [courthouse] to Washington,” according to the Opelousas Courier.
It said Opelousas “carried the day,” but that was disputed by the editor of the Washington Argus, who said the plan was just a business proposition, and that if Washington pledged $30,000 to build a courthouse it could bring “a very large return in dollars and cents.”
When the state Legislature convened in May, a bill was introduced to submit the courthouse question to the voters, even though the Police Jury had already contracted with Hannon & Voss of Baton Rouge “for the building of a new Court House on the ruins of the old one, recently burned.”
Another bill called for a referendum on creation of the new parish.
Battling delegations visited Baton Rouge to lobby for or against the two pieces of legislation.
In the end, Sen. Kavanagh, a Washington resident, was the only St. Landry legislator to support the courthouse move, and that bill failed.
The Legislature did set up a vote on the creation of Acadia Parish, which was approved in October by a difference of 2,505 to 1,519.
Opelousas, true to its leaders’ pledge at the April meeting, voted 507 to 110 in favor of the new parish. Washington went along, 227 for to 29 against.
Port Barre, Church Point, Ville Platte, Grand Prairie, Prudhomme City, Coulee Croche and German Settlement each voted against it by substantial margins, but not by enough to outpoll the bigger towns..
In Rayne, which everybody expected to be the seat of the new parish, the vote was 678 to one.
It quickly became evident, however, that Rayne would not be an automatic choice, and another fight began over where the Acadia courthouse would be built, ultimately won by the newly created town of Crowley.
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.

Preparations important for raising chickens

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 9:58am

By RANDY LABAUVE, LSU AgCenter

BATON ROUGE — With extra time at home, many people have begun raising chickens for the first time, while others are considering this rapidly burgeoning hobby. For those contemplating backyard chickens, it’s important to consider the materials you will need and how to keep both poultry and people healthy and safe.
During spring, you can purchase chicks — typically two to three days old — at many feed and seed stores. They’re also available through mail order from hatcheries.
“If you’re looking for a good egg-producing bird, go for the heavy breeds — like an Australorp, a Buff Orpington or a Barred Rock,” said Anna Timmerman, LSU AgCenter extension agent in Greater New Orleans. “Chickens also come in bantam size, too, which is a miniature. But if you’re looking for a good egg-producing bird, go for the heavier breeds.”
Before bringing baby chicks home, you need to set up a brooder area.
“You want good bedding material like pine wood chips in the bottom of the brooder so they don’t slip and go lame,” Timmerman said. “You also want to get chick-sized feeders and waterers.”
Additionally, young birds will need a sack of special chick starter feed, which has more protein than other feeds, grit for grinding their food and a fire-safe ceramic heat lamp that should be set to about 95 degrees.
“If your chicks are bunched up underneath the heat source, it’s too cold. And if they’re all out towards the edges, it’s too hot,” said Timmerman, who grew up raising poultry as part of a 4-H project. “If they’re all over the place in the brooder, then it’s just right.
“In about six weeks, they’ll look like full-grown birds.”
Susceptibility to extreme temperatures is not the only vulnerability for a chick or a full-grown chicken. Predators like foxes and coyotes are a constant threat, and the best way to prevent harm to your birds is by building a sturdy house that prevents multiple entry points.
“Most people think chicken wire is what you’re supposed to use for your building, but the gaps are big enough for predators to stick their paws through or rip it open and get your chickens. So you should use something sturdier with less openings,” said Matt Faust, a Baton Rouge resident who has been raising chickens for 10 years.
“It’s also important to sink concrete blocks under the structure to prevent predators from digging underneath the cages to get in,” he said.
“There are pre-fab chicken house kits you can easily put together that have two levels and a good roof,” Timmerman said. “You need protection from the rain and the elements, and the cage needs to be sturdy to keep them safe from predators.”
“As far as the health of the birds, keeping the cage dry and clean is about the best thing you can do,” Faust said. “If you don’t have a good roof on your cage and water is getting in all the time, it will become a slop hole of bacteria.”
Two of the most common chicken diseases that can spread from bird to bird and even destroy a flock are avian influenza and virulent Newcastle disease. Even though proper sanitation goes a long way in preventing disease, you can do something else first.
“The National Poultry Improvement Program certifies qualified poultry breeders to have chicks, hatching eggs or mature stock that are free of disease,” Timmerman said. “If you buy these NPIP birds, you’ll know they’ve already been vaccinated against diseases.”
People are also at risk of getting diseases like salmonella from handling poultry if they don’t use proper sanitation.
“You always want to wash your hands after handling your birds. And don’t kiss them or touch your face to them,” Timmerman said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends these safe cleaning tips for poultry:
—Regularly remove used litter, manure and other debris.
—Remove chickens from houses when “wet” cleaning all surfaces. Work from top to bottom and
back to front. Rinse carefully with water.
—Apply disinfectant according to label directions. Use disinfectants that the U. S. Envir-onmental Protection Agency indicates are effective against avian influenza and other poultry diseases.
—Leave the enclosure empty until it is completely dry. Wet surfaces can be harmful to poultry.
—Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you leave the poultry area.
“People might think chickens are noisy and stinky, but as long as you do it properly, they’re not,” Faust said. “Chickens offer a lot of practical benefits. And because they’re really affectionate little animals, they make surprisingly good pets.”

Teen in quarantine worries about staying close to boyfriend

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 9:56am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship with my boyfriend for a little over five months. We have enjoyed spending time with each other, but we never have deep, meaningful conversations, and I feel that it’s negatively impacting our relationship.
Because of the coronavirus quarantine, we can’t see each other because we are still in our teens and don’t live together. If we don’t start having conversations that mean something to either of us over the phone, I’m afraid we’ll break up before we are allowed to see each other again. Please give me some advice.
STUCK IN QUARANTINE

DEAR STUCK: You may be worrying needlessly. Stop for a moment and ask yourself what kind of conversations you had with your boyfriend BEFORE the pandemic. How deep were they?
Express how you have been feeling lately, but, if you can, try to keep your conversations upbeat. Share stories and videos with him that make you laugh.
If he wants to discuss his concerns, be prepared to listen, but don’t push him in that direction. Space your calls so there will be something fresh to talk about. And always end your chats by telling how much you care about him, which will probably make him smile.

DEAR ABBY: I have several adult nieces and nephews whose dysfunctional upbringing makes them react in a very hostile and aggressive manner to anyone they perceive as disagreeing with them.
They verbally abuse anyone they view as opposing them. They have so alienated their parent’s new spouse that they are no longer welcome in that parent’s home at any time, for any reason.
I would like to remain on semi-friendly terms with them, but I am unwilling to accept their verbal abuse.
Is there any way this can be fixed?
DISTANCING IN OKLAHOMA

DEAR DISTANCING: Unless your nieces and nephews are willing to accept that they have anger management issues that need addressing, this isn’t a problem that anyone other than a licensed professional can fix.
If one of them unleashes a tirade on you, CALMLY point out that you prefer not to be abused and end the conversation by absenting yourself. Do it once, and I guarantee the word will spread.

DEAR ABBY: I’m at my wits’ end. I love my husband, but when we have company, he dominates the conversation, usually repeating the same stories over and over. If friends and family tell him they’ve heard the story before, he just ignores the remark and continues.
He is retired, and I realize he doesn’t socialize enough. His health has not been the best. By the end of the evening, I am worn out.
What can I do?
PAIN IN HOSTING

DEAR PAIN: That your husband is retired and isolated may contribute to his problem.
As soon as it’s feasible, encourage him to get out of the house and involve himself in some new activities where he can put his talents and experience to good use.
However, if his repetitiveness is new behavior, this should be discussed with his doctor so he can be evaluated, because it could indicate the onset of a medical or neurological problem.
***
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Ex-MCHS principal hired at Abbeville High

Thu, 05/28/2020 - 4:31pm

The Abbeville Meridional is reporting that the Vermilion Parish school system has hired Mickey Fabre, whose contract as Morgan City High principal was terminated earlier this month, to be the principal at Abbeville High.

Fabre was a recipient of High School Principal of the Year honors for the third time this year, but he wasn't on hand for the St. Mary School Board presentation this spring. After 14 years as principal and 26 years as a St. Mary School Board employee, Fabre had already been removed from the post for reasons administrators didn't disclose, citing personnel confidentiality.

But in a public comment period at the board's May 7 meeting, Fabre told the board he refused to follow orders to impose sanctions against two teachers he felt were being unjustly accused. One had been accused of keeping her child's picture on her cellphone despite a policy against faculty members possessing student pictures.

He also said he'd been falsely accused of stealing a cellphone and of throwing a book at a teacher during a faculty meeting. Fabre said administrators failed to include his side of the story in an investigation report.

At Abbeville High, Fabre will succeed Janet Guerrini, who left after one year as principal.

Water rises in lower St. Martin, but it's easier this year

Thu, 05/28/2020 - 3:51pm

GEOFF STOUTE

gstoute@daily-review.com

While backwater flooding is present in parts of Lower St. Martin Parish, in general, Stephensville residents said Wednesday that it isn’t as bad as flooding was during 2019.
The bulk of the flood-ing surveyed during a trip to the area Wednesday was in the Landry Lane area, which has been closed to vehicles outside of residents due to flooding. Orange cones marked off the flooded road, and a pump was present on one of the initial sections of the roadway.
In late April, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s office announced that Adell and Edna streets as well as Landry Lane were closed to the public outside of residents due to rising water.
Earlier this month, Four Mile Bayou Road was added to the closed areas.
Maj. Ginny Higgins, public information officer for the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, said she has not received any reports of water in homes this year.
Those road closures followed a previously issued No Wake Zone in the Stephensville and Belle River areas on April 3 in which boaters need to slow down when traveling through these areas so that more water is not pushed into yards and homes.
Mary Miciotto, who lives on Tower Tank Road along the water, said this year was the third time in about 40 years and the second straight year water has overtopped their bulk-head.
“This year it came over, but not near as bad,” he said.
Miciotto hasn’t had any water in his house this year.
“Last year, it got about a foot underneath our trailer, which it caused damage,” he said.
Closer to La. 70, sand-bags and pumps were present to protect property, but no streets surveyed were flooded.
Don Hover, who lives with his wife Sue on Stephensville Road, said they live on higher ground than other parts of the area.
The Hovers said this year has been much smoother than last year, and Don Hover said they haven’t had any problems.
Sue Hover showed a watermark near their dock on the lower por-tion of a tree where water reached a year ago. This year, the water isn’t even ap-proaching that mark.
“It got right in the edge of our yard, but that’s as far as it ever goes for us,” Sue Hover said, in showing off where the water reached last year.
Nearby on Deborah Court, resident Nelson Anslem said that the water is near where it was last year on his property.
“Every year it comes up like this,” he said.
However, he com-mended those who have put pumps in place to help with the water.
“They’re doing a good job of keeping the water out,” Anslem said.
At one point, he said his neighbor had water up to his sandbags, and Anslem said that he built up his property for the high water.
Even with the high water the last two years, Anslem said he has experienced worse.
“I’ve seen worse back here,” said Anslem, who has been living in the subdivision for about 20 years.
To an extent, dealing with high water is what is expected in living in Lower St. Martin Par-ish, Miciotto and Anslem said.
“Now once they do get the flood gates put in place in Bayou Chene, we shouldn’t have this problem anymore,” Miciotto said.
The floodgate protec-tion work is under con-tract to prevent having to sink a barge in Bayou Chene to ease backwater flooding. That has been done three times since the 2011 high water season.
Last week, the St. Mary Levee District accepted a bid by Sealevel Construction Inc. of Thibodaux for Phase Three of the project, which consists of building a barge that will swing into place to prevent backwater flooding to Lower St. Martin Parish.

Read about Berwick High's top graduates

Thu, 05/28/2020 - 2:51pm

Graduation day is here for Berwick High graduates.
The commencement will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the high school stadium.
All St. Mary graduation ceremonies will be held outside at the school’s football stadium this year and will include appropriate social distancing measures with limitations on the number and placement of attendees, the district said.
Here are the graduates who achieved 4.0 grade point averages, with biographies provided by the school.
Madeline Bourgeois
... is the daughter of Gerard and Ruth Bourgeois. At BHS she was a member of Student Council, Key Club, BETA, Foreign Language Club, Acts of Random Kindness Club, and Health Occupations Students of America. She is vice president of HOSA and Key Club as well as secretary of Student Council and BETA. She played tennis, ran track, and swam for two years. She is a sixth-degree Wise Cat and Power Cat. She plans to attend Louisiana State University to study engineering.
Brant Brown
... is the son of Jessica Burgess. After high school he plans to attend LSU majoring in chemical engineering.
Abbie Cantrell
...is the daughter of Bert and Jean Cantrell. During her time at BHS, she participated on the Top Cats dance team, the drama club, Acts of Random Kindness Club, BETA, and is a seventh degree Wise-Cat and Power-Cat. She was a Top Cat Line Officer her junior year, and she shared the position of Co-Captain her senior year. She qualified for State Rally in Food and Nutrition after competing in the District Rally, and this past fall she was among 11 other girls on Homecoming Court. She will attend LSU majoring in history and hoping one day to become a lawyer.
Laney Crouch
... is the daughter of Jennifer and Darryl Perry. She has actively been involved with the softball and volleyball teams, BETA and HOSA. She has volunteered help with many concessions for athletic events at school. She has also volunteered her time for BETA events such as Pancakes in The Park. She maintained a 4.0 GPA while earning All-Academic State for girls’ volleyball. She plans to attend the University of Louisiana at Monroe to major in pharmaceuticals.
Kate Hicks
... is the daughter of Harry “Tripp” Hicks III and Christel Roy Hicks. She participated in Top Cats dance team, BETA, and HOSA where she served as president her senior year. She also actively volunteers at local nursing homes, AARP meetings, vacation bible school, and baseball tournaments that donated profits to help those battling cancer. She scored a 31 on the ACT. She plans to attend the University of Louisiana at Monroe and major in pharmacy. She has been accepted into the honors program and received provisional entry into pharmacy school upon completion of her undergraduate degree.
Zoe Johnson
... is the daughter of Sonya and Michael Johnson. She has been actively involved with the Top Cats, BETA, Drama Club, Key Club, HOSA, and Interact. She has volunteered with her church every summer for vacation bible school, has tutored students, and has helped at AARP meetings. She was accepted into the Northwestern State University President’s Leadership Program for the upcoming year. She was a co-captain for Top Cats, and has been in Talented Theatre since she was in fifth grade. She was also selected to dance front row at Disney World for one of the Christmas parades. She plans to attend Northwestern State University and study pre-physical therapy.
Natalie Kinchen
.... is the daughter of Rebecca and Ronald Kinchen. She participated in cheer, volleyball, swim, powerlifting, drama, and track. She also studied abroad in Switzerland for a year. She plans to attend LSU and major in international studies.
Kennedi Look
... is the daughter of Michael and Deidre Look. She has participated in FBLA, Interact, BETA as vice president, and the Sound of Pride as Drum Major. She volunteered at AARP meetings and nursing homes. She has received a Resolution from the Senate, 11th Grade Citizenship Award, and attended the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference. She also received Best Attitude along with Most Outstanding Drum Major awards at drum major camp and as a part of the Sound of Pride’s student leadership team for three years. She plans to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to major in psychology with a minor in secondary education.
Jami Lynn Lombardo
... is the daughter of Troy and Sandy Lombardo. She was a member of BETA and ARK Club for two years, a member of the Sound of Pride for four years, holding various positions on the Leadership team. She was a librarian her sophomore year, head librarian her junior year, and vice president her senior year. She plans to attend the ULL to pursue a degree in pediatric nursing.
Luke Orlando
... is the son of Nick and Stacy Orlando. He has been an active member of Student Council, BETA club, Key club, Interact, Future Business Leaders of America, Drama Club, New Generations, and the Sound of Pride. He has been vice president of his class for three years, BETA president, Sound of Pride president, and Key Club president.
He was a four-year member of the swim team where he set the 100-meter breaststroke record and placed as a state finalist twice. He was a one-year member of the tennis team, a two-year member of the track team, and a three-year member of the cross-country team. He was a four-year member of the BHS Sound of Pride where he found success at the parish, district, and state levels.
Outside of school, Orlando regularly reads at St. Stephen Catholic Church and has attended many leadership conferences including Rotary Youth Leadership Award Camp, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar, and Boy’s State. Some of his major accomplishments include representing the state of Louisiana at the World Leadership Congress, being named BHS Student of the Year as well as St. Mary Parish High School Student of the Year, and chairing Action Legislature, an event which brings 150 high school students to the Louisiana State Capitol. He will attend Tulane University to study biomedical engineering.
Rustin Scarbrough
... is the son of Russell and Regina Scarbrough. He participated in Drama club, BETA, track team and swim team. He did volunteer work for organizations like Project Graduation and Rotary Club. Some of his accomplishments include receiving various highest GPA awards, maintaining a 4.0, and attending LSU’s School of Medicine’s “Day with the Docs” program. He plans on attending LSU’s Ogden Honors College to receive a Bachelor in Biochemistry, then continue to medical school to pursue a career in surgery.
Kyle Valdez
... is the son of Joseph and Hoan Valdez. He participated on cross country, track and bowling teams. He was also in the Drama, BETA and FBLA clubs. He is a two-time All-District cross country runner and a two-time state bowling tournament qualifier. On the track, he was a member of the 2018 Indoor state runner-up team and shares two school records in the 4x800m relays. During his senior year, he was awarded academic all-state in bowling and track.
He has found a passion for photography and writing, ultimately leading to an interest in sports media. He plans to attend LSU and major in mass communications.

DOCTORS, NOT INSURERS, SHOULD PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENT

Thu, 05/28/2020 - 2:02pm

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

As a kidney transplant surgeon and board member of the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana, I work to treat chronic kidney patients every day to help them have a better quality of life. Their care and lives are in my hands and I take this responsibility very seriously. This is why the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana and kidney transplant professionals and patients support HB 263 by Representative Huval to update the state's step therapy law and ensure that Louisiana patients have access to the right medicine at the right time.

Step therapy, also known as "fail first," is an insurance company practice that requires patients to try and fail one or several medications dictated by their insurer before allowing the patients to take the medicine recommended and prescribed by their provider. Step therapy protocols vary widely among insurers. Navigating an exception request to the step therapy protocol can be confusing and time consuming for patients and their healthcare providers, sometimes taking weeks or even months. Transplantation is a relatively new field and is on the cutting edge of technology. Transplantation represents the best option for the multitudes of people with kidney failure; however, these patients require life-long monitoring for complications of the transplant, including infections and rejection. The transplant physician community in the U.S. is constantly working to improve the lives of their patients and study new breakthroughs in treatment every year. Shackling a patient to an older therapy when newer therapies are being utilized not only hampers progress for these patients but can increase the risks of kidney graft losses, increasing mortality and overall costs for everyone.

Louisiana was the first state to address step therapy/fail first practices employed by health insurance companies. Since then many states, including Texas, have followed Louisiana's lead. HB 263 by State Representative Mike Huval provides reasonable updates and modernizes our current legislation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become evident that people with chronic conditions and compromised immune systems are at higher risk of complications or death from infection. Unnecessary barriers to appropriate treatments for their underlying conditions make it more likely that these patients could need additional medical interventions or even hospitalization, placing additional burdens on an already burdened healthcare system.

Now is the logical time to support and pass HB 263 so patients can appropriately seek exceptions to 'fail first' policies and avoid the unnecessary burdens that prevent appropriate and timely care.

Anil S. Paramesh, MD, MBA, FACS
Professor of Surgery, Urology and Pediatrics,
Surgical Director, Kidney/Pancreas/Living Donor Transplantation,
Tulane University School of Medicine
New Orleans, LA