Renee Fontentot Free, who is the director of the public protection division in the Attorney General’s office, has announced she’s running for Secretary of State. Democrats have not fared well in statewide elections over the last decade, but Free says her party registration should have no bearing on her qualifications for a non-politicial job…
cut 15 (08) “….be neutral”
Republican State Representative Julie Stokes has also announced her candidacy.

Negotiations are underway in advance of next week’s special session, with legislators hoping to reach a deal in principle on a tax plan that could stave off major cuts to state programs, like TOPS….
cut 3 (10) “….both sides”
That’s Senate President John Alario who says the discussion is centering around a plan to renew a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax.

The last special session revealed a rift in opinion within the Louisiana Republican Party between pro budget cut hardliners, and moderates who support a fully funded budget…
Voicer 2 (31) ” I’m Matt Doyle”

A Eunice man is dead after crashing his vehicle during a high speed chase with police in Jefferson Davis Parish. State Police Sgt James Anderson says it started when Kinder Police attempted to pull over 26-year-old Aaron Charlot for a traffic violation…
cut 9 (04) “…all this”