A proposal to raise the state’s gasoline tax by an additional 17-cents a gallon cleared its first legislative hurdle as it was approved by the House Ways and Means committee. It has the support of state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson..
cut 14 (09) “….the country”
The measure heads to the House floor and it will need approval from two-thirds of the representatives.

The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus is offended over House approved legislation aimed at protecting the state’s confederate monuments. Chairman and New Orleans Representative Joseph Bouie says this bills supersedes the authority of local municipalities who have voted to remove such statues.
Cut 3 (08) “white supremacy”
Bouie says it’s their hope the Senate rejects the measure.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of a father accused of beating his 7 week old baby to death. 25-year-old Anthony Dearmas of Slidell is booked with first degree murder in the death of Karter Smith. Sheriff Randy Smith says Dearmas told detectives why he killed his child…:
Cut 12 (07) “sad excuse”
The parish coroner says Karter sustained 7 fractures to his skull and had bleeding inside his brain.

Allergist Dr. Sanjay Kamboj (San-jay Kam-bozh) with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans says this is the worst allergy season he’s seen. He recommends washing your face immediately when coming back inside to remove the pollen, which is particularly high this year..
Cut 9 (10) “the nose”
Kamboj says a warmer than normal winter is partly to blame for the bad allergy season.