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Statewide audit showed nearly $261M in questioned expenses for agencies | Louisiana

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Statewide audit showed nearly $261M in questioned expenses for agencies | Louisiana

www.thecentersquare.com – By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-01 12:50:00

(The Center Square) — Louisiana’s 2024 single audit requires the attention of the state government as 35 findings were reported with 16 of those being repeat findings from previous audits. 

The total amount questioned relating to federal programs is $260.6 million. According to the LLA, some of the 35 findings need attention from the state government as some concern compliance reports, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements. Of that amount, the Louisiana Department of Health constitutes more than $260.1 million of the questioned costs.

The 35 findings were throughout several federal agencies, including the Department of Children and Family Services, Louisiana Workforce Commission, LSU at Shreveport, LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans, Southern University in Baton Rouge, University of Louisiana in Monroe, Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Tech University, and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

The Department of Children and Family Services had $4,685 in questioned costs for overbilling of different programs as well as underbilling SNAP programs. There were also instances reported of unauthorized employee fuel transactions by a former DCFS employee that totaled $97,500 in the fiscal year 2024.

The employee under investigation resigned as of March 31, 2024. Due to misappropriation, there is an additional $37,746 in question for the DCFS. The department has $42,431 in total questioned costs.

In a response to the LLA, DCFS said, “DCFS concurs with the finding and has zero tolerance for unauthorized use of state or federal funds.”

They stated the department has developed procedures to monitor transactions every month. “Any DCFS employee engaged in such an unauthorized use of state and federal funds would be terminated.”

The Louisiana Department of Health also has $87 million in question for medical assistance programs. The audit found inadequate documentation for billed services totaling $17,402 in federal funds. For Medicaid, there is $28,793 in questioned costs, and CHIP programs have $6,042.

Both of these instances concern beneficiaries invalidly enrolled. There is $172,802 in question for ineligible maternity kick payments. The LDH also exceeded the allocated amount for DSH payments by $4,225,716 and $168 million in questioned federal costs for Medicaid expenditures. 

In response to the DSH payments, the department stated, “LLA has identified $4,225,716 of total computable payments made in excess of the global DSH allotment for FFY 2016. The department will recoup funds from the facility that was overpaid and return the FFP portion of that overpayment to CMS.”

LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport has $2,686 in questioned costs. This is the sixth consecutive year the LSUHSC-S did not ensure proper documentation. 

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has $18,707 in questioned costs relating to Geosciences, Mental Health Research Grants, and Allergy and Infectious diseases research. The university also has $63,790 in separate questioned costs for the Office of STEM Management and Fossil Energy Research Development. The university has $82,497 in total questioned costs.

Louisiana State University at Shreveport has $101,159 in questioned costs for Federal Pell Grant Programs and Federal Direct Student Loans. The university did not return Title IV funds to the U.S. Department of Education in the required timeframe.

There were $101,159 in outstanding checks to students and parents as of January. These were issued between September 2014 to May 2024, and not returned to the USDOE.

Southern University at Baton Rouge has $39,555 in questioned costs relating to Federal Pell Grant Programs and Federal Direct Student Loans not returned to the USDOE per the guidelines of Title IV funds.

Louisiana Tech University has $206,451 in questioned costs for misappropriating research and development cluster funds. Nine electronic fund transfer payments were made to an out-of-state university that were fraudulently diverted to unknown individuals. 

Many of the agencies released responses to the findings and questioned costs in the auditor’s report.

Emilee Ruth Calametti serves as staff reporter for The Center Square covering the Northwestern Louisiana region. She holds her M.A. in English from Georgia State University and soon, an additional M.A. in Journalism from New York University. Emilee has bylines in DIG Magazine, Houstonia Magazine, Bookstr, inRegister, The Click News, and the Virginia Woolf Miscellany. She is a Louisiana native with over seven years of journalism experience.

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New homeless supportive housing project breaks ground on South Side

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New homeless supportive housing project breaks ground on South Side

www.youtube.com – KSAT 12 – 2025-04-23 20:51:59

SUMMARY: A new supportive housing project, the Commons at Aakia Trails, has begun construction on the South Side, aiming to provide permanent homes for over 200 individuals experiencing homelessness. This initiative is part of the city’s goal to establish 1,000 permanent supportive housing units to offer not just shelter but essential services like healthcare and addiction support. Managed by Sam Ministries, the Commons will help residents overcome personal challenges and reintegrate into the community. With the project expected to open all units by late next year, it will significantly contribute to addressing the urgent need for such housing solutions.

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A new housing project to help support more than 200 chronically homeless people officially broke ground Wednesday.

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Adjusting contractors face scrutiny from the House Insurance Committee | Louisiana

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Adjusting contractors face scrutiny from the House Insurance Committee | Louisiana

www.thecentersquare.com – By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-23 14:48:00

(The Center Square) — A Louisiana House committee advanced legislation this week that could reshape how contractors interact with homeowners after storm damage, reigniting debate over consumer protection and insurance industry influence.

At the center of the debate is House Bill 121, which seeks to crack down on unlicensed public adjusting by contractors, particularly in the roofing industry. The measure would keep the current penalty of up to $5,000 per violation but adds clearer restrictions on what contractors can say or do when it comes to insurance claims.

Though the bill was reported favorably without objection from lawmakers, witnesses testimony suggests that the bill could backfire tremendously. 

The bill would explicitly prohibit roofing contractors from assisting homeowners with insurance paperwork before a claim is filed.

A separate, related proposal would broaden that restriction to include all contractors. The bill also bars licensed public adjusters from doing repair work on the same claims they’re handling — a move supporters argue would eliminate conflicts of interest that could inflate costs and premiums.

Opponents say the measure is overly vague and could unfairly penalize contractors trying to help clients navigate the often-confusing claims process.

“This bill is ambiguous,” said Jonathan Davis, a board member of the Residential Roofing Association of Louisiana, during committee testimony. “It talks about claim handling, but that could mean a lot of things,” he said, such as doing a damage assessment or sending in a bid using the insurer’s own software.

Davis raised concerns that even basic communication — like explaining deductibles — could be interpreted as unauthorized public adjusting.

“Just like I can tell you there’s an engine in a car without being a mechanic, I should be able to explain what a deductible is without being a licensed adjuster,” Davis told lawmakers.

Josh Lovell, a sales and project manager with Gator Roofing, echoed those concerns.

“Eighty percent of the homeowners I meet don’t know what to do when we find damage,” he said. “They ask, ‘What do I do?’ and we walk them through it — wind damage, hail damage, hurricane damage — they don’t know the difference or what deductible applies. If we’re not even allowed to explain the process, we’re just handing everything over to the insurance companies.”

Lovell warned that limiting contractor communication with homeowners could leave people vulnerable to underpaid claims and strip them of the support they often rely on.

“People say, ‘I don’t want to talk to my insurance company, can you handle it?’ That doesn’t mean we’re trying to act as adjusters. We’re just helping people who are overwhelmed,” Lovell continues.

Despite the pushback, supporters of the bill say the intent is to protect consumers and preserve the integrity of the claims process.

The House Insurance Committee advanced the bill, though some lawmakers acknowledged the enforcement concerns.

Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-East Baton Rouge, questioned how the state would prove violations without direct evidence.

“If we don’t have something in writing or an audio recording, how do we enforce this?” he asked.

House Bill 121 now heads to the full House for consideration.

The post Adjusting contractors face scrutiny from the House Insurance Committee | Louisiana appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

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Bon Bon Vivant talk music and performance at Wednesday at the Square in New Orleans

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Bon Bon Vivant talk music and performance at Wednesday at the Square in New Orleans

www.youtube.com – WWLTV – 2025-04-23 08:43:57

SUMMARY: Bon Bon Vivant, a dynamic New Orleans band, has a busy schedule with 7 concerts in the next 3 weeks, including a performance at Jazz Fest on May 2nd. Band members Abigail Coscio and Jeremy Kelly, along with their bandmates, discussed their upcoming shows, including a single release titled “Sin Eater” in mid-May. The song explores a dark yet romantic concept, inspired by the historical practice of sin eating. The band, known for its eclectic mix of sounds, is excited to showcase new music, including “Odetta,” and will feature dancers at Jazz Fest for an enhanced performance experience.

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Bon Bon Vivant has been playing music together since 2013, formed in the French Quarter of New Orleans. They

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