BATON ROUGE — A $185 million multi-year contract for Medicaid claims processing just got an $8.9 million boost.
The governor’s Division of Administration signed off on a contract amendment benefitting contractor CNSI, of Maryland.
State Department of Health and Hospitals Undersecretary Jerry Phillips said the new work was not a part of the original contract and is a result of a change in the federal deadline for implementation of new medical billing codes.
Phillips said the contract alteration came after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services delayed the disease code changes from October 2013 until October 2014. CNSI will take over Louisiana’s Medicaid claims processing at the end of 2014.
Hearing set on
salt cavern work
BATON ROUGE — The long-delayed permitting process for a proposed expansion of the natural gas storage facility in salt domes beneath Lake Peigneur in Iberia Parish is once again moving forward.
A public hearing on one of the three remaining state permits needed for the controversial project is set for Feb. 20 in New Iberia.
Atlanta-based AGL Resources is proposing to scour out two new salt caverns for natural gas storage at its Jefferson Island Storage & Hub Facility.
Nara Crowley, a Lake Peigneur area resident who has been fighting the expansion, said she hopes state regulators will give the project a closer look in light of the ongoing issues with the large sinkhole believed to be related to a failed salt cavern at Bayou Corne in Assumption Parish.
Houma noise law to be examined
HOUMA — Terrebonne Parish officials are still examining Houma’s noise ordinance to address complaints from residents who say the downtown night scene can get too loud.
Following a Jan. 23 public hearing in which a downtown Houma resident told the council it isn’t uncommon for her windows to rattle at night from blaring music, the council made a motion to address Terrebonne’s existing noise ordinance and decide whether it’s too broad or just needs to be strictly enforced.
Police Chief Todd Duplantis said he has already directed his staff to issue citations to those who are in noncompliance with the noise ordinance.
Foreclosure auction date set
BATON ROUGE — The foreclosure auction of the mixed-use Perkins Rowe development is scheduled for March 20 at the U.S. District Courthouse in Baton Rouge.
In court filings on Monday, U.S. Marshal Kevin Harrison said the minimum bid must be at least $63.5 million.
KeyBank National Association, an Ohio lender based in Cleveland, filed its foreclosure action in July 2009. Bank officials said at that time that the lender had not received any payments on $170 million in construction loans from either developer J.T. Spinosa or his three Perkins Rowe firms since October 2008.
Perkins Rowe has 87 condominiums, 226 apartments, more than 60 shops and restaurants, a bookstore, grocery store, fitness center, a movie complex and a pharmacy.
Plate benefits timber industry
BATON ROUGE — Louisiana motorists can buy a new license plate that pays tribute to and benefits the state’s timber industry.
The Louisiana Forestry Association designed the plate, which is now available at Office of Motor Vehicles branches.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the forestry division of the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the funds will pay for enhancing fire protection, theft enforcement and other industry-related initiatives.
The plate, which hails forestry as “renewable” and “sustainable,” costs $50 to be registered for two years. There’s also a $3.50 production cost and an $8 OMV handling fee on top of the normal registration cost.
Shaw CEO pushed for energy job
BATON ROUGE — A Louisiana congressman is urging President Barack Obama to choose Shaw Group CEO and founder Jim Bernhard as his new energy secretary.
Bernhard told Baton Rouge-based WBRZ-TV that he was being considered to fill the position being vacated by Stephen Chu. And U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, a Republican, says he believes Bernhard would be the right selection for the job in Obama’s cabinet.
Alexander released a statement Monday declaring his support for Bernhard.
The congressman says Bernhard’s experience and background from an energy-producing state would put him “in a unique position to offer fresh ideas to help lower energy costs and achieve energy sustainability.”
Man accused
of burning woman
COVINGTON — A 48-year-old man is accused of choking his girlfriend and severely burning her by holding her under scalding water during an argument over a set of keys, then fighting Covington police.
Terrance Silas Fritz, of Covington, is being held in the St. Tammany Parish Jail on charges of attempted second-degree murder, domestic violence and resisting an officer, Capt. Jack West, a police spokesman, said Monday.
He said that as soon as the 31-year-old woman was released after Sunday night’s attack, she ran naked to a neighbor’s for help.
West said the woman was moved to a burn unit outside the parish after treatment at St. Tammany Parish Hospital for second- and third-degree burns and a dislocated shoulder.
Man denied bail
in feticide case
LIVINGSTON — Bail for 31-year-old Jeffery Reynolds, the Walker man accused of attacking his pregnant wife and killing the child she was carrying, has been revoked by state District Judge Brenda Ricks.
Reynolds has been held in the Livingston Parish Jail since his Oct. 23 arrest on counts of first-degree feticide, attempted second-degree murder and battery on a police officer.
Police arrested Reynolds at his home, where he allegedly had attacked his wife, Paula Reynolds. She survived the attack.
Jeffery Reynolds had been held in lieu of $500,000 bail. Ricks ruled in favor of a request from Assistant District Attorney Charlotte Herbert to deny Reynolds bail because he could pose a threat to Paula Reynolds and others in the community.
2 killed in crash on I-10 near LaPlace
LAPLACE — State police say two people were killed in a fiery crash on Interstate 10 in St. Charles Parish near LaPlace.
Troopers say 26-year-old Nechole Thomas, of Houston, was driving allegedly driving at a high rate of speed on the right shoulder when she struck a car stopped on the shoulder.
Trooper Melissa Matey said both vehicles caught on fire as a result of the crash.
Matey says the two occupants in the car stopped on the shoulder were pronounced dead on the scene.
She says Thomas escaped from her car with minor injuries.
Thomas was booked with two counts of vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated and reckless operation of a vehicle.
Thomas was booked with two counts of vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated and reckless operation of a vehicle.
The names of the victims have not been released.
It was unclear whether Thomas has an attorney.
From The Associated Press.
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