Ashley Westerman

Firearms Manufacturing Bill Advances in Senate

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:29:48 +0000

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.

Lake Officials Say Cooperative Endeavor Agreement About Education

Ashley Westerman — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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.

Gun Legislation To Protect Concealed Permit Holders' Information Advances

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:42:30 +0000

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

Bill to Ban Social Network Updating While Driving Advances

Ashley Westerman — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:38:19 +0000

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.

Proponents of Community-Based Waiver Supports Call For More Funding

Ashley Westerman — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:15:07 +0000

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.

Unanswered Questions Remain Weeks After Charity Hospital Closes

Ashley Westerman — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:38:09 +0000

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.

HS Football Playoff Controversy To Be Resolved Outside of Legislature

Ashley Westerman — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:40:49 +0000

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

Bill To Create Mental Health Courts Heads To House

Ashley Westerman — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:14:13 +0000

Legislation seeking to allow for more mental health courts to be set up in Louisiana has been approved by the Senate. These new problem-solving courts would work much like drug courts do now.

Fiscal Office: La. Could Save With Medicaid Expansion

Ashley Westerman — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:01:35 +0000

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.

Budget Restructuring Flies Through Committee; Tobacco Bills Up in Smoke

Kelly Connelly and Ashley Westerman — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:02:24 +0000

House committees took up two big ticket items Monday: budget reform and tobacco taxes. Bills that would makeover the process of building the state’s budget passed favorably in the House Appropriations committee. A packed Ways and Means committee did not vote on tobacco taxes; representatives deferred their bills.