Kenner Representative Julie Stokes bows out of the State Treasurer’s race because of cancer. Stokes says she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and faces at least five months of chemotherapy. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says Stokes is a highly regarded and respected state lawmaker:
Cut 13 (12) “fiscal questions”
Stokes says she hopes to be fully recovered by the time the 2018 legislative session begins.

MedStar Washington Hospital Center says Congressman Steve Scalise underwent surgery Thursday for the management of infection. The hospital says Scalise tolerated the procedure well and he remains in serious condition. Scalise has been hospitalized since suffering a gunshot wound on June 14th.

The Tax Foundation has updated its national review of sales tax rates and Louisiana continues to rank number one with a combined state and local sales tax rate averaging just above 10-percent. Director of state projects for the Tax Foundation, Scott Drenkard, says Louisiana has one of the highest local sales tax rates in the nation:
Cut 7 (12) “10.02 percent”
The other states in the top five are Alabama, Washington, Arkansas and Tennessee is ranked number two behind Louisiana.

A 28-year-old man is now in custody after Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office officials say he killed a 9-month-old infant. Benjamin Joseph Carter Sr. is charged with second degree murder.