Several state senators are urging Governor John Bel Edwards to call a special session this month to fix a one-billion dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Edwards is waiting on House Republicans to get behind tax bills to make up the shortfall. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says for legislators to agree on a plan, they need to be at the State Capitol…
Cut 3 (11) “of happening.”
Edwards says he’s made progress with House leadership on proposals to solve the fiscal cliff, but not enough to call a special session just yet.

Workers are seeing a difference in their paychecks. The federal tax overhaul legislation has kicked in, giving the average worker, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, an additional one-point-six-percent more in take home pay. Co-owner of Metairie based Crescent Payroll Solutions Sanders Offner says…
Cut 7 (10) “their paychecks.”
Peninsula Pacific says they are looking at moving the DiamondJacks Casino in Bossier City to Tangipahoa Parish near the Robert exit on I-12. Before considering a move, Manager Brent Stevens says he’d like to get some input from the Tangipahoa community.
Cut 13 (11) “this case.”
Stevens says the public can weigh in at community-conversations-la-dot-com. He says the other option is to spend over 100-million dollars to upgrade DiamondJacks in Bossier City.

Many Entergy customers are looking at higher than normal electricity bills, because of higher usage during the January cold snap. Spokesperson Shelia Pounders says they will work with customers on a payment plan. Pounders also recommends levelized billing, which allows customers to pay about the same amount for electricty every month…
Cut 29 (08) “customers like.”