Dr. Mehmett Oz warned consumers on national television last month, “There’s a state of emergency with America’s water.”  See our story on Tap Water here

Click here to see all the violations of the Louisiana Sanitary Code or EPA Safe Drinking Water Primary Drinking Water Regulations in Southeast Louisiana.

I just finished wrapping up a story on schools that are not state approved in Louisiana.  My research started when our WDSU Problem Solvers told me they had several complaint calls from graduates of Metro Outreach Christian Academy  who believe their diplomas are not good.  See story here (coming soon)

At the Department of Education in Baton Rouge, I found there are more than 3,000 schools in the state that are registered but not state approved.  The students who graduate from such schools have more hurdles to jump through when trying to get into college or find work.   For information on criteria for state-approved schools click here. See below the numbers of Louisiana schools in your area that are not approved (and are not currently seeking approval):

REGISTERED NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS & STUDENT ENROLLMENTS

July 2009

You might wonder about a more efficient energy system when you see street lights out at night and others on during the day.    With the promise of not only cleaner energy but self-sufficient and more cost-efficient energy, New Orleans Public Works Director Robert Mendoza says he’s writing requests for solar-lighting proposals now.

New Orleans is one of the 13 cities originally chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy 2 years ago to be a solar role model for the country.  It’s called a “Solar America City.”  To learn more click here.

If you missed our story on ways to increase your gas mileage click here for tips from the FTC.
     In the meantime, the federal trade commission says you should be skeptical of any device claiming to boost your mileage. The EPA has tested more than a 100 of those products, and very few add any fuel economy benefit.  For more information and a full list of tested products, click here.

Well I’m not that health conscience, but when I did think I was making healthier choices with my groceries I was often wrong.  The bread says “whole wheat” but it almost completely white enriched flour. The cereal “Smart Start” is labeled one of the healthiest options but has more sugar (17 g) than “Fruit Loops” (12 g).   The nutrition bars I thought were nutritious  aren’t really at all.

The symbols and labels food companies use to sell their product can be completely misleading.  Watch story here.  If you don’t know what to look for you can easily be fooled.  In talking to shoppers I found many people read labels and notice symbols like hearts and such, thus leading them to buy a product. But many have no clue that they’re not at all putting what they think in their bodies.

Thanks to nutritionist Molly Kimball I changed three main things in my personal grocery shopping.  I am big on cereal, nutrition bars for grab-and-go breakfast at 3:30 am, and pasta….. yum.  Now I’m going with “Special K Protein Plus” cereal and South Beach Living High Protein or TLC peanut butter  cereal bars.  These changes have had no negative effect on my budget,  the healthiest choices aren’t always the most expensive.  I also learned that I can budget on pasta sauce because as they all have the same nutrition value no matter if they are .99 or 5.50 with the exception of sodium levels for those who need to be aware.

An extra tip not in my story is a rule of thumb … we noticed while shopping that if the product has a couple of specific nutrition numbers very clearly advertised on the front it is usually a good product. (i.e. “sugar 2g, fiber 9g)  You’ll notice the less healthy options (no matter what they are called or look like on the cover) hide the nutrition information on the back panel. These are often the labels you see that read generic phrases like “low fat” or “wheat.”

Here is the link to the Ochsner/Rouses Choose Healthy Grocery List  that makes it very easy for you to choose the healthiest options.   These items are lowest in saturated, trans fats and processed carbohydrates.  They will also add whole grain, protein-rich and vitamin/mineral-rich foods in your diet.

Here’s a recent article I found about the green check “Smart Choices” program raising debate. 

As many of you know we are renovating a house… ok no easy task.  But in working on this 120 year old gem- with a gutted first floor- it seems another challenge we’re facing is letting bugs in the house!  I am getting bitten constantly and it’s driving me nuts!  (We live upstairs in the main part of the house).   I read that lemongrass is said to be an effective  insect repellent.  What is lemongrass? I have no green thumb.  I bought the essential oil at Whole Foods today, along with 3 plug-in diffusers and a little machine-looking diffuser.  Then I went right down Vets to Perino’s… my first time there and such a cute place!  I bought 2 little pots of lemongrass to plant outside.  I don’t know if it’s enough to make a difference, but I’m just getting started.  The feedback I read online from people who plant lemongrass is so encouraging.  People love it and many use it in their tea.  I just want to repel these pesky bugs but it doesn’t hurt to do it with a nice lemon scent.  (To me it just smells like Pledge… )  But anyway, we’ll see.  I’ll let you know if it works.

Here’s a Labor Day treat ! At its 14-hundred stores in 38 states, anyone who goes to a Chick-Fil-A after 10:30 wearing a sports team logo can get a FREE chick-fil-a original chicken sandwich today.  It’s that easy!  Yum. The promotion is a continuation of the restaurant being the named sponsor of the Alabama – Virginia Tech football game Saturday in Atlanta, where Chick-Fil-A is based.

You can wear whatever sports logo you want!

Happy Labor Day! Be safe, don’t drink and drive.

Melanie

Maytag, which previously recalled 1.6 million refrigerators, is recalling 46,000 more.  The units could experience an electrical failure in the relay that turns on the compressor.  It could overheat and cause a fire hazard.  Owners can check with maytag at 1.866.533.9817 to see if they have the model in question and schedule a free in-home repair.

To read more about the recall click here

Image courtesy boston.com

Plenty of Clunkers but no more cash! 

You do have one more day to “cash in” on your clunker (today).  The program ends tonight at 7 p.m. CST.
     Auto dealers are reporting a last-second rush from car buyers, hoping to
take advantage of the federal government’s “cash for clunkers” program.      The government announced thursday it would hit the brakes on the popular, $3 billion program that allows people to trade in vehicles that  meet a certain level of poor fuel efficiency. 
To see the government’s official website for the program click here

To see a consumer information site about Cash For Clunkers click here

I HAD to go shopping in Oregon before I left on a work trip last year… to take advantage of tax-free shopping.   Only a handfull of states offer this, although Louisiana is having a Tax-Free Holiday today and tomorrow.  I included the information below, but first…

Do you think the state should get rid of state sales taxes? 

Below you can get an idea of state sales tax rates along with average COMBINED city and county/parish rates…

To see chart of states click here

The Louisiana Sales Tax Holiday provides an exemption from state sales tax on the first $2,500 of the purchase price of most individual items of tangible personal property for non-business use. 

The holiday will apply to the 4 percent state sales tax, but will not apply to your other taxes…. so you will save only 4%…. but hey, in this economy… every bit helps.

The 2009 holiday will last through 12 midnight tomorrow (Saturday).

 Click here for the details on exemptions