Adams County officials are encouraging property owners to visit the tax assessor’s office this month to review the newly assessed values of their homes, businesses, and land. These annual assessments determine property taxes due next year. The push follows taxpayer concerns earlier this year after many saw significant increases in their property value-based tax bills.
During a meeting Monday with the Adams County Board of Supervisors, Tax Assessor Larry Hughes urged residents to check their assessments, ask questions, and present any necessary corrections or clarifications. The deadline for public inspection of tax rolls is July 31.
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple reported that this year’s legislative session resulted in several new laws affecting his department. One measure allows the department to take action against individuals performing insurance-related work without a license, expanding its authority beyond investigating licensed professionals. Another law increases maximum fines for insurance professionals, insurance companies, and pharmacy benefit managers. Additionally, a new provision ensures that claims made on one policy do not affect another policy for customers who bundle coverage.
A new safety initiative will target speeding on the Natchez Trace Parkway. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Speeding Catches Up With You” campaign will run through the end of the month. Parkway rangers and Mississippi Highway Patrol troopers will focus on enforcement of aggressive speeding violations. According to the NHTSA, speeding contributes to thousands of fatal crashes and many more injuries each year.
Louisiana is facing a major blood shortage. Vitalant spokesperson Marlie Juarez says donations typically decline during the summer when schools are out and families travel, but the current shortage is the most severe in two years. O-negative blood remains in highest demand as a universal type, but O-positive is also urgently needed because it can be given to any positive blood type, and about 85 percent of Americans have a positive blood type. Donors can receive a $20 gift card through Saturday.
The Mississippi River at Natchez-Vidalia stands at 41.60 feet and is rising.