Daily Dime

Louisiana took in about $500 million more than it spent during the 2018-19 fiscal year, a larger-than-expected budget surplus that state officials attribute to a surge in income tax receipts from individuals and corporations. This excess cash can be used to replenish the state’s rainy-day fund and make some long-overdue investments in road and bridge projects.… Read more...

Louisiana’s food insecurity rate –  the percentage of households in the state that lack consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy lifestyle – has dropped in recent years, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).… Read more...

Higher ed master plan wins support
The Louisiana Board of Regents has ambitious goals to increase the number of adults with college degrees or “high-value” post-secondary credentials. As of 2017, fewer than 25% of Louisiana residents over 25 had a bachelor’s degree or higher, but the Board of Regents aims to more than double that number, increasing adult degree attainment to 60% by 2030.… Read more...

Louisiana – often stuck at the top of the “bad” lists – is doing something right when it comes to health insurance. New U.S. Census data shows that the number of Louisianans without health insurance is decreasing, even as it’s climbing across the rest of the country. … Read more...