Only $220 million of the $600 million Governor John Bel Edwards was hoping lawmakers would raise in the special session has thus far be approved. The governor is hoping a bill that would force huge industrial businesses to choose between one of two tax credits will pass. Business groups oppose, but Edwards says the legislature needs to do what’s best for the state, not lobbyists…:
Cut 15 (10) “we are”
The session must end Thursday.

Transportation in Louisiana got yet another bad mark according to a new survey by CarInsurance.com. Managing Editor Michelle Megna says they found the state’s roads are the third worst in the nation. She also says their report looked at how many hours drivers spend stuck in traffic during their daily commutes…:
cut 12 (10) “80 hours”
The Louisiana Right to Life says the state’s abortion rate dropped 10-percent from 2014 to 2015 based on data from the Louisiana Department of Health. Emelie Gunn has more…:

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A patient from Baton Rouge escaped from a mental hospital and lead cops on a high speed chase in a stolen ambulance. BRPD says 40-year-old Christopher Porter busted a window in his room at the Baton Rouge Behavioral Hospital Saturday and hopped into the ambulance and drove away. Police eventually caught up to Porter and he was booked on counts of simple criminal damage to property, theft of a motor vehicle and flight from an officer.

Lawmakers have raised $220 million in taxes during this second special session, and that may be all they can agree to do. Jeff Palermo has more:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

State Police are asking for the public’s help in locating the vehicle responsible for hitting and killing a pedestrian in Terrebonne Parish. They say 22-year-old William Boyne was walking alone LA 56 south of the Chauvin Bridge, when he was hit by a vehicle that crossed the fog line. Boyne was pronounced dead. The vehicle is described as a late 1990s green Ford F150.

Abortions in Louisiana are dropping. The Louisiana Department of Health says, in 2015, 10 percent fewer pregnancies were terminated from the prior year. Louisiana Right to Life spokesperson Ben Clapper says it could go down even more if the US Supreme court rules later this month that abortion doctors need to have admitting privileges at a hospital…:
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Clapper says Caddo Parish had the highest number of abortions in a single parish with 34-hundred.

The struggling oil and gas industry is finally getting a bit of good news. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Don Briggs says prices at the pump and natural gas are going up, which helps tremendously. He says since natural gas powers air conditioners, a hot summer will be good for them…:
Cut 6 (11) “of us”

Louisiana has the third worst roads in the country, according to a new report from CarInsurance.com. Managing editor Michelle Megna on the The Bayou State’s stats…:
Cut 10 (10) “49-percent”
She says Louisiana is also the second worst in the nation for how much drivers spend on their car insurance.

There are some encouraging upticks in the oil and gas industry, according to the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A Monroe man lost his life over the weekend in a crash that was caused by a vehicle traveling the wrong way on Highway 165, according to State Police. They say 39-year-old Antonio McClure of Monroe was traveling north in the southbound lanes of travel, when he crashed into a vehicle driven by 42-year-old Tonya Smith of Kelly, Louisiana. McClure was pronounced dead, and troopers suspect that he was impaired. Smith sustained minor injuries.

Lawmakers are not interested in raising anymore taxes. Last night, state representatives failed to pass a measure that would limit excess itemized deductions in personal income taxes. Governor John Bel Edwards asked legislators to increase revenue by 600-million dollars in this special session, but so far only 220-million has been generated. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says this money will be used to cover shortfalls in TOPS, education and health care services…:
cut 14 (09) “cuts there”
The special session ends Thursday.

It looks like the appetite just isn’t there for lawmakers to raise any more taxes. Governor John Bel Edwards asked legislators to increase revenue by 600-million dollars in this special session, but it appears the legislature will fall way short of that figure. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says many legislators believe they’ve raised enough revenue…:
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The special session concludes at midnight on Thursday.

The head of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association says there are some encouraging signs for the struggling industry. LOGA President Don Briggs says one positive sign is that oil prices are near 50-dollars a barrel, after falling to 26-dollars in February…:
cut 4 (07) “for sure”

In north Louisiana, Bossier Police are investigating the tragic deaths of a 3-year old boy and his twin sister who were both found unresponsive inside a pickup truck parked at their home. The chief issued a statement saying the mother called a neighbor to look for her children, then found them in the truck a short time later. They were both pronounced deceased.

The number of abortions that took place in 2015 fell 10-percent from the previous year. That’s based on numbers from the Louisiana Department of Health. Louisiana Right to Life spokesperson Ben Clapper says there were 93-hundred abortions last year, a decrease of about a thousand from the previous year. He credits pregnancy resource centers for the decline…:
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LSU economist Dr. Jim Richardson says Louisiana could finish this fiscal year with a 200 million dollar deficit. Senate President John Alario says Richardson informed him corporate income taxes are way below what was projected. But he says there are some circumstances that could improve this…
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So far, the legislature has agreed to tax changes that will generate 220 million dollars in additional revenue, but there’s a big resistance in the House to raise anymore. The special session ends Thursday.

The former Amite High School valedictorian and standout athlete Andrew Jones finally had his graduation ceremony after not being allowed to attend the one with his classmates, because of his facial hair. The celebration took place last night at the African-American Heritage Museum in Hammond.

More charges have been filed in the death of 40-year-old Lyntell Washington, the pregnant teacher whose body was discovered in a ditch in Iberville parish. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

Louisiana Tech is looking for a new baseball coach. Greg Goff has left the program after two seasons as he’s the new coach at Alabama. Goff led the Bulldogs to a 42-20 record this past season and a berth into the NCAA Tournament. Tech athletics director Tommy McClelland says they appreciate the job Goff did in building a winning culture.

The Louisiana House is expected to vote tomorrow night on a tax bill backed by Governor John Bel Edwards that would temporarily reduce a deduction for those who itemize on their state returns. It would generate an additional 60-million dollars that would be used towards filling a 600-million dollar budget deficit. Many House members oppose the legislation, but Edwards says republican legislators have yet to offer a better plan to address the budget shortfall…:
Cut 13 (09) “do their work”
Edwards also remains hopeful the House will approve a Senate-approved bill that would force huge industrial businesses to choose between one of two tax credits they currently receive.

A settlement has been reached in the dispute between Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson and his heirs. Terms of the agreement are confidential. The 88-year-old sued last year to make sure his wife gained control of the teams , instead of his children and two grandchildren.

State Police is seeking the public’s help in finding a vehicle that was involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a 22-year-old Patterson man. The crash occurred last night on LA 56 in Chauvin. Investigators say the victim, William Boyne, was on foot, when a late 1990s to early 2000s green Ford F-150 crossed the fog line and struck Boyne.

A former Livingston Parish teacher has been arrested following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a student at Walker Freshman High School. Walker Police Capt. John Sharp, says 33-year-old Lynsie Pendarvis was arrested following an interview with the 15-year-old student who confirmed they had sex:
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Sharp says the juvenile was a student in Pendarvis’ science class.

The western half of the state is under a heat advisory today as heat indices are expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees. There is a good chance we can see some cooling showers as most of the state is under a marginal threat for a severe thunderstorm. In fact we’ve already seen flood advisories posted for the New Orleans metro area.

According to LSU economist Dr. Jim Richardson, Louisiana could finish this fiscal year with a 200 million dollar deficit. Senate President John Alario says he hopes this bad news, which would likely put TOPS and healthcare on the chopping block even more, encourages legislators to approve additional revenue in this special session…:
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The full House and Senate will meet tomorrow night as the special session must conclude at midnight Thursday.

More charges have been added in the murder of the Baton Rouge pregnant teacher. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean McKneely says evidence leads investigators to conclude 40-year-old Lyntell Washington was fatally shot by 39-year-old Robert Marks. He says Marks was the assistant principal where Washington was a teacher, and she was threatening to reveal their affair.
Cut 11 (08) “for him”
Marks has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree feticide.

A fired Livingston Parish teacher is arrested amid allegations she had sex with one of the students in her science class. Walker Police Captain John Sharp says 33-year-old Lynsie Pendarvis was charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile…
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