A federal trial begins today to determine how much oil giant B-P will be required to pay in penalties for its role in the massive 2010 Gulf oil spill. Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute, Eric Smith, says a ruling made last week by U-S District Judge Carl Barbier gave us an indication on how steep the fine could be….

cut 7 (10) “gonna apply”

That’s based on the ruling that three-point-one million barrels of oil spewed into the Gulf, when the rig on B-P’s Macondo well exploded.

Steve Gleason, a former Saint and ALS advocate, will be the special guest of Senator David Vitter for tonight’s State of the Union Address. Vitter says he’s honored to have Gleason attend, calling Gleason an inspiring leader in the fight against ALS…

cut 4 (11) “folks with ALS”

Gleason was diagnosed with ALS and works with his Team Gleason organization to empower others living with the disease.

Beginning today, taxpayers can file their federal and state 2014 returns. Mark Eldredge, with the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants, says if you bought health insurance through the federal marketplace, also referred to as Obamacare, there are special forms you’ll have to fill out….

cut 10 (08) “premium credit back”

If you purchased health insurance through the federal marketplace, Eldredge encourages you to get your returns to a licensed preparer soon, because even tax pros are trying to get up to speed on the new rules.

The gubernatorial election is about nine months away and Democratic state representative John Bel Edwards says if elected, he’ll put Louisiana first, something that the current governor is not doing…

cut 14 (11) “of Louisiana”

Republicans Senator David Vitter, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle are also in the race for governor.