Ashley Westerman

A bill that would allow gun buyers and sellers to circumvent any federal firearm ban if a gun is manufactured in-state has advanced in the Senate.

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center says the reasons why the hospital agreed to take over Earl K. Long charity hospital’s patient load begin with Hurricane Katrina.

OLOL Vice President of Mission Coletta Barrett said immediately post-Katrina there were 325 residents, fellows, medical students that showed up at Our Lady of the Lake looking for a place to practice. She and Vice President of Operations Stephanie Mason tell WRKF’s Ashley Westerman that from that point forward, OLOL decided to assume an active role in solidifying the pipeline of physicians for Louisiana.

Taking over EKL, they said, is a step in that direction. 

A law seeking to criminalize the release of any information about concealed handgun permit holders was advanced in the Senate on Tuesday.

A bill seeking to expand the state's ban on texting-while-driving to include posting statuses on social networks has advanced in the legislature.

Despite the threat of rain, proponents of state-funded supports that allow developmentally disabled individuals to live at home – rather than in institutions or group homes – rallied at the state capitol Wednesday.

Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge closed its doors for good last month. The cooperative endeavor agreement between the hospital, the state and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center for the take-over and eventual shutdown of EKL was reached more than two years ago.

Erica Barham, Kimberly Burkett and Lauren Richard are all former Registered Nurse Supervisors in the EKL Emergency Room. Mental Health Emergency Room Extension Supervisor Amy Germain also used to work there.

They tell WRKF’s Ashley Westerman the transition was bungled and even on closing day, critical questions about how patients would get care and follow-up remained unanswered.

A bill filed in response to a decision by high school principals to change football post-season play has been voluntarily deferred.

The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates Louisiana could save up to $554.9 million over five years and between $185.2 million to almost $511 million over 10 years by expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

All four bills seeking to increase taxes on tobacco products in the state have been voluntarily tabled amid legislative opposition to raising taxes.

All four bills seeking to increase taxes on tobacco products in the state have been voluntarily tabled amid legislative opposition to raising taxes.