Central City News

NOTE: The current Louisiana Constitution was written by a state constitutional convention, which was called by the Louisiana Legislature in the spring of 1972. The process began years earlier as political leaders, citizens, and the media debated the need for a new constitution. In 1971, both gubernatorial candidates, Edwin Edwards and his opponent J. Bennett […]

Faced with opposition from State Treasurer John Fleming, M.D., members of the Louisiana Senate, the State Medical Society and other physician groups, and its own voting members, Blue Cross has announced it is withdrawing a reorganization plan underway since last year. Just a few days ago, many in politics thought the plan was unstoppable. Then suddenly it crashed […]

Gail Koziara Boudreaux serves as CEO of Elevance Health (formerly Anthem), the company that proposes to buy the book of business currently owned by Blue Cross of Louisiana. Ms. Boudreaux, a native of Chicopee, MA, is one of the highest paid CEO’s in the health insurance business.  Her compensation for 2022 was $20.9 million according […]

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News – Baton Rouge In August 2023, Baton Rouge attorney Henry “Tut” Kinney filed suit to stop the proposed sale of Blue Cross of Louisiana to Elevance, the nation’s largest health insurer. On Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, Kinney deposed Blue Cross CEO Dr. Steve Udvarhelyi and Tim Barfield, the […]

STATEMENT  BY LOUISIANA TREASURER JOHN FLEMING, M.D. Ronald Reagan Luncheon Thursday, February 8, 2024 The Sale of Blue Cross I come before you today as your new State Treasurer but perhaps more importantly as a practicing physician who has spent a lifetime as a family doctor in the City of Minden, Louisiana. Like thousands of […]

In a strongly worded letter to Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, Attorney General Liz Murrill outlined grave concerns about the proposed Blue Cross reorganization plan. Her letter was issued on Mardi Gras day, Feb. 13, 2024.  Later that day, Blue Cross notified Temple they were withdrawing their proposal. Here are excerpts from the Attorney General’s […]

Catholic High School senior Jackson Whitlow has been named the Baton Rouge Diocesan 12th Grade Student of the Year! This is a special honor for an extraordinary young man. Jackson will be considered for the Louisiana Diocesan Student of the Year honor later this spring.   Jackson is a National Merit Semifinalist, an AP Scholar […]

The Bank of Zachary has promoted six of its employes, President/CEO Mark Marionneaux announced following January’s Board meeting.  Latasha London has been promoted to Vice President, Deposit Operations and Compliance, Amanda Moran to Vice President and Loan Officer, Kathryn Richard to Vice President and Head Trainer, Ashley Davis to Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager, […]

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News – Baton Rouge Before 4,000 of his friends and a handful of foes on the steps of the State Capitol, Jeff Landry took the oath of office as the 57th governor of Louisiana.  The Inauguration occurred on a beautiful but chilly Sunday evening a day earlier than the […]

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News – Baton Rouge Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) made international news this week by revealing that hundreds of FBI agents and other federal assets dressed as Trump supporters were deployed inside the U.S. Capitol building and mixed in the crowds outside the Capitol during Jan. 6.  Higgins said he, […]