Governor John Bel Edwards holds a press conference today to review the challenges and successes the state has seen in 2016. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says based on his latest Southern Media and Opinion Research survey, Edwards approval rating is at 64-percent. But Pinsonat says the governor faces a number of challenges in 2017, which will impact his popularity going forward….
cut 9 (08) “….houses fixed”
Edwards had a meeting with Senator-elect John Kennedy and US Representatives-elect Mike Johnson and Clay Higgins to discuss flood recovery efforts and asked them to push the Housing and Urban Development Department to approve rules on how the state can spend the second installment of federal recovery dollars.

A student at Northshore High School in Slidell has died after a car he was riding in ended up submerged in water in the Salt Bayou area. He’s been identified as Tyler Levy.

The latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics finds women earn on average 76-percent of the salary men make in Louisiana. Tulane business professor Dr. Mark Rosa says typically, women spend more time caring for families, and being out of the office could affect earnings, especially in commissioned jobs.
Cut 3 (07) “better pay”
In Louisiana, there’s been a push for several years to pass an Equal Pay Bill requiring companies to pay women the same salary as men for equal work.

The Southern Rail Commission has provided cash to Baton Rouge and a couple of other cities to help develop a passenger rail service that connects Baton Rouge with New Orleans. John Spain is with the commission and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, he says there’s also talk of passenger trail service between New Orleans and Orlando….
cut 11 (09) “…seven days a week”

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will deliver remarks at an end of the year news conference on a review of 2016 in Louisiana. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the governor had some victories in his first year, like getting federal funding for flood victims and raising over 1.5 billion dollars during two special sessions…:
Cut 8 (09) “his popularity”
A survey last month found that 64-percent approve of the governor’s job performance.

What does Amazon’s new sales tax collecting policy mean for customers? Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says consumers are supposed to be paying these taxes for online purchases anyway and now brick and mortar stores will have a fair advantage and this should benefit the economy too…:
CUT 15 (11) “of this”
She says Amazon will begin adding the taxes on January 1st.

It’s the first day of winter, but we might not see many cold days over the next three months. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A man has been arrested in connection with a suspected arson at the University of Louisiana at Monroe ski house. ULM Police were dispatched to the fire Tuesday afternoon and contained it using water from Bayou Desiard before the fire department arrived. The suspect is identified as 36 year-old Michael Daquilla of Centreville, Mississippi. No word on why this man allegedly tried to set the ski house on fire.

Governor John Bel Edwards meets with reporters today to look back on his first year in office. Don Molino has more on the governor’s challenges and successes in 2016…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

It’s the first day of winter, but we might not see many cold days over the next three months. State climatologist says a drier and warmer than normal season is predicted, but that does’t mean we won’t see some cold air…:
CUT 6 (08) “next three months”

Could a rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans become a reality in the future. The Capitol City has received a quarter of a million dollars to start planning for the commuter train. John Spain with the Southern Rail Commission says he’s optimistic the legislature will allocate funds for the project in the next session…:
cut 12 (07) “in place”
Spain says this commuter rail would hopefully be part of a larger route that stretches from Baton Rouge to Orlando, Florida.

Many people don’t know that when they buy an item online from a retailer that doesn’t tack on state and local sales taxes, consumers are responsible for reporting the purchase. Amazon is going to begin automatically adding the taxes in January according to Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson…:
CUT 13 (09) “on me”
She says the state should see an improvement in collections as a result of this.

Governor John Bel Edwards is set to meet with reporters today to look back at the challenges and successes Louisiana has seen during 2016. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards inherited an historic budget deficit when he took office on January 11th, which took up most of his time during the first half of the year…:
CUT 7 (09) “on that”
The Governor’s monthly call in radio show airs today at 2pm.

Today is the official first day of winter, so what can we expect over the next 3 months? State Climatologist Barry Keim says you may not be bundling up too much or needing the umbrella often thanks to the weak La Nina currently in place…:
Cut 5 (10) “includes Louisiana”
Winter Solstice officially began at 4:44 this morning.

Online shoppers in Louisiana are asking how Amazon’s announcement that it will collect Louisiana sales taxes next year will affect them. Halen Doughty has the answer…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

An assistant warden at Angola was reportedly arrested Tuesday on rape charges in an incident he allegedly committed at his home which is on prison property. 34-year-old Barrett Boeker was being held Tuesday at the West Feliciana Parish jail after turning himself in, and his bond set at $200,000.

Winter Solstice officially began at 4:44 this morning, according to State climatologist Barry Keim. He says we’ve been experiencing some cold temperatures this week, but the Climate Prediction Center is calling for warmer and drier than normal conditions for the next three months…:
cut 4 (09) “with precipitation”
Keim says don’t expect a white Christmas in Louisiana, as temperatures are slated to be in the 70s this weekend.

It’s a busy day for Governor John Bel Edwards. He is making an economic development announcement this morning in West Pointe-a-la-Hache. He will then hold an end of the year news conference to remark on the challenges and successes Louisiana has seen during 2016. That’s at 11:30 this morning and right after the governor will make an announcement with State Police. The “Ask the Governor” radio show is this afternoon at 2pm on affiliates of the Louisiana Radio Network and online at LouisianaRadioNetwork.com.

Baton Rouge has received funding to start plans for a commuter train between the Capitol City and New Orleans. John Spain with the Southern Rail Commission says the city received quarter of a million dollars to start planning for a new train station in downtown Baton Rouge, and the city has agreed to match the federal investment…:
Cut 10 (10) “be successful”
He is optimistic the legislature will allocate funds for the project in the next session.

There’s been a lot of talk about Amazon charging state and local sales taxes at the start of the year. State Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says the online retailer has gone forward with voluntary compliance…:
cut 14 (08) “about it”

Governor John Bel Edwards meets with reporters today to look back on his first year in office. Don Molino has more on the governor’s challenges and successes in 2016…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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Online shoppers in Louisiana are asking how Amazon’s announcement that it will collect Louisiana sales taxes next year will affect them. Halen Doughty has the answer…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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It’s the first day of winter, but we might not see many cold days over the next three months. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Winter Solstice officially began at 4:44 this morning, according to State climatologist Barry Keim. He says we’ve been experiencing some cold temperatures this week, but the Climate Prediction Center is calling for warmer and drier than normal conditions for the next three months…:

cut 4  (09) “with precipitation”

Keim says this forecast is based partly because of the weak La Nina conditions currently in place…:

Cut 5  (10)  “includes Louisiana”

Keim says the chance of having a white Christmas in Louisiana this year is basically nill. He says this prediction doesn’t mean we won’t see some cold air intrusions this winter…:

Cut 6 (08) “next three months”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is set to meet with reporters today to look back at the challenges and successes Louisiana has seen during 2016. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards inherited an historic budget deficit when he took office on January 11th, which took up most of his time during the first half of the year.

CUT 7 (09)  “on that”

Pinsonat says Edwards had some victories in his first year, like getting federal funding for flood victims and raising over 1.5 billion dollars in revenues during two special sessions.

Cut 8 (09) “his popularity”

Pinsonat conducted several independent polls during 2016 measuring the governor’s approval rating. A survey last month found that 64-percent approve of the governor’s job performance. The pollster says Edwards faces a number of challenges in 2017, which will impact his popularity going forward.

Cut 9 (08)  “houses fixed”

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Baton Rouge has received funding to start plans for a commuter train between the Capitol City and New Orleans. John Spain with the Southern Rail Commission says the city received quarter of a million dollars to start planning for a new train station in downtown Baton Rouge, and the city has agreed to match the federal investment.

Cut 10 (10) “be successful”

Spain says this commuter rail would hopefully be part of a larger route that stretches from Baton Rouge to Orlando, Florida. He says a passenger train used to run that route, but parts of it were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. He adds there were problems because the line started in California, which meant it was often late and did not run daily.

cut 11 (09) “7 days a week”

Spain says this Gulf South route would have tourism and economic development benefits for Louisiana, as people could ride the train to and from the New Orleans International Airport. He is optimistic the legislature will allocate funds for the project in the next session.

cut 12 (07) “in place”

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What does Amazon’s new sales tax collecting policy mean for customers? State Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says not much will change. She says even though customers haven’t seen the taxes on their purchase totals, Louisiana law has always required consumers to pay taxes on items they purchase online.

Cut 13 (09) “on me”

Robinson says people are supposed to self-report sales taxes on their online purchases. She says lawmakers put in place methods to collect online sales taxes beginning in July of 2017. But she says Amazon has gone forward with voluntary compliance.

cut 14 (08) “about it”

The mega online retailer announced earlier this week it will collect sales taxes on purchases made in Louisiana beginning January 1st. Robinson says this means a level playing field for in-store retailers, who have been collecting state sales taxes for decades. She says it’s also good news for the state budget.

Cut 15 (11) “of this”

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LSU wide receiver Malachi Dupre says he has not made a decision on whether to enter the NFL draft and forgo his senior season. Dupre says his focus is on the December 31st bowl game matchup against Louisville…

Cut 16 (15) “have left”

It was reported last week Dupre would make himself eligible for the draft following the bowl game, but the New Orleans native says he’s not sure who the source was for that report…

Cut 17 (09)    “decision yet”

Dupre was expected to have a big junior season, but he started off slow and had a couple of key drops. The former John Curtis star finished the regular season 34 catches and three touchdown receptions. He says he’s not leaning one way or the other on what he might do…

Cut 18 (15) “going to work”

Beginning January 1, Amazon will collect sales taxes on purchases made by Louisiana residents. State department of revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says both state and local sales taxes will be added to purchase totals.

Cut 6 (07) “address”

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit on behalf of three panhandlers in Slidell, over an ordinance that requires them to get a permit in order to beg for money on city streets. Louisiana ACLU executive director Marjorie Esman says the city of Slidell’s requirement violates the panhandlers First Amendment Rights.

Cut 12 (11) “this country”
Slidell city attorney Brian Haggerty says they have no comment on the lawsuit.

A Walker man has been charged with attempted second-degree murder following a road rage incident. Walker Police Capt. John Sharp says 31-year-old Bradley Deville fired a 9mm pistol into the side of 35-year-old Johnny Franz’ vehicle.

Cut 5 (08) “Mr. Franz”

Sharp says the incident began when Franz tailgated Deville and the two began arguing at an intersection.

State department are making cuts to their respective agencies today, as $277 million has been carved from the state budget. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says these cuts are being made by not hiring new people to fill vacant positions.

Cut 8 (10) “fiscal year”

Dardenne says we’ll get the full budget picture when the Revenue Estimating Conference meets again in January.

The ACLU of Louisiana is suing the City of Slidell to block an ordinance that requires panhandlers to have a permit. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says Slidell residents have a constitutional right to ask for money, without being forced to get a free permit…:
cut 11 (12) “to speak”
Slidell has yet to enforce the ordinance, which was passed in October. A spokesperson says they are waiting for the newly elected police chief and mayor to decide how to proceed.

Governor John Bel Edwards met with Senator-elect John Kennedy, along with Congressmen-elect Mike Johnson and Clay Higgins to discuss flood recovery efforts. Edwards says he’s asked the entire Louisiana Congressional delegation to press the Housing and Urban Development department to publish guidelines on how the second round of federal dollars can be used by the state.

Nearly $277 million in cuts go into effect today across state agencies. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they were glad that this round higher ed was spared a dramatic cut…:
CUT 9 (10) “very painful”
The full budget picture will be known when the Revenue Estimating Conference meets again next month.

A man from Walker is facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly shot several times at a man in a road rage incident. Walker Police Captain John Sharp says 35-year-old Johnny Franz shot at 31-year-old Bradley Deville’s vehicle. He says cops noticed bullet holes in Franz’ vehicle after both men were pulled over..:
CUT 4 (10) “open container”
Deville faces several charges including attempted 2nd degree murder, illegal use of a firearm, and possession of an open container.

State agencies are implementing budget cuts for the current fiscal year today. It’s to the tune of about $277 million dollars, according to Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne. But he says another round of cuts might be necessary and we’ll find out more when the Revenue Estimating Conference meets on January 17th…:
CUT 10 (10) “information”
The Department of Health is taking the biggest hit this round, but these are across the board reductions that also hit State Police and Higher Ed.

The state’s revenues will likely get a boost with the news that Amazon will begin collecting state and local sales taxes on purchases made by Louisiana consumers, starting January 1st. State Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson hopes other online retailiers follow Amazon’s new policy. It’s a state law that taxes must be paid on internet purchases, but it’s up to the consumer to self report.

The ACLU of Louisiana is suing the City of Slidell because of an ordinance that requires a permit to panhandle. Halen Doughty has more..:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A Livingston Parish man is charged with attempted murder following a road rage incident. Walker Police Captain John Sharp says 35-year-old Johnny Franz and 31-year-old Bradley Deville got into a heated exchange over tailgating. He says the two stopped and Franz invited Deville to get out of his car…:
CUT 3 (09) “man’s car”
Sharp says in addition to attempted murder, Deville is charged with illegal use of a firearm, and possession of an open container.