Cheers erupt in St. Peter’s Square as white smoke starts billowing from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the College of Cardinals has elected a new pope – and for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, the pope is an American. The cardinals elected Robert Prevost, who was born in Chicago, and he has taken the papal name Pope Leo the 14th. His election happened shortly before 11:30 local time this morning on the second day of voting and the third ballot overall. Loyola University New Orleans Chaplain and theology professor Thomas Ryan says the timing is pretty much par for the course.
Gas prices in Louisiana are about 50 cents cheaper today than they were at this time last year. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says one big reason is a drop in the price of crude.
Cut 10 (05) “…barrel right now.”
Louisiana’s state income tax was lowered to three percent at the beginning of the year, and House Republicans would like to lower it again. The lower chamber has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to lower the state income tax from 3-percent to 2.75 percent beginning January 1st, 2027. The author of the bill is Carencro Republican Julie Emerson…
The House approved the measure on an 86-13 vote. It will need two-thirds approval in the Senate and then it will go to the voters for approval.