Today the governor is expected to announce his tax reform proposals that legislators will consider during the regular session in April. Jeff Palermo has more…

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Tuesday’s tornado that struck New Orleans east was unfortunately one for the record books. Jeff Palermo explains…

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A state judge in Baton Rouge has been banned from a popular local restaurant chain after he allegedly used racial slurs towards a black woman. Halen Doughty has more…

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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent Tyler Wheeler, who was shot five times during a traffic stop last month, will return home to Monroe this weekend. Wheeler has been in rehab in Mississippi where he is now walking half a mile each day on a treadmill. LDWF Col. Joey Broussard says it’s a miracle Wheeler is doing so well.

Cut 4  (08) “thankful of”

Amethyst Baird and Jeremy Gullette have both been arrested in connection to Wheeler’s shooting. Broussard says Wheeler is already able to walk up a short flight of steps.

Cut 5  (09)  “to us”

Broussard says upon his return, Wheeler will continue outpatient rehab at Shreveport’s University Health Center. He says there has been an outpouring of support from all across the country.

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Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to unveil his tax reform plan today when he meets with the Committee of 100 in Washington, D.C. President of the Council for a Better Louisiana, Barry Erwin, says comprehensive tax reform is needed because many of the taxes raised in la year’s special sessions will expire next year.

Cut 7 (07)  “a decade now”‘

Erwin says currently the state relies too heavily on the sales tax to bring in revenue, which has caused sales tax rates to climb over the years. He says Louisiana has the highest combined state and local sales tax in the country. But sales tax revenues fluctuate with the economy.

Cut 8 (08) “does not work”

While taxes cannot be raised in the special session that begins next week, tax changes could be made during the regular session, which is set to begin in April. Erwin expects the governor will propose lowering the sales tax and raising the income tax, which would provide a more consistent flow of tax revenue.

Cut 9 (10)  “income tax side”

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Mardi Gras season is kicking off in Washington D.C. The Mystick Krewe of Louisiana celebrates the carnival season today through Saturday in the nation’s capital. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Saturday’s ball is considered the hottest ticket in town.

Cut 10 (10) “quite unique”

The festivities take place at the Washington Hilton. Pinsonat says while the celebrations are a lot of fun, a lot of meetings take place during the day. He says corporate leaders from around the country are invited to attend economic development functions selling Louisiana.

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Pinsonat says this is a great time for Louisiana lawmakers to have fun, because when they get back to the Bayou State, they head straight into a special legislative session on Monday with a hangover.

Cut 12 (10) “deficit”

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A Baton Rouge judge has been banned from a local restaurant after he allegedly used racial slurs against an African American woman. Kaneitra Johnson posted on Facebook about the incident, saying Judge Mike Erwin called her the n-word while arguing over a bar seat at Sammy’s on Highland Road. Louisiana NAACP President Ernest Johnson says we should expect more from our leaders, and words do matter.

Cut 13 (08) “or white”

Legal analyst Tim Meche says the Louisiana Judiciary Commission will investigate the incident, and if the allegations are proved true, Erwin will be disciplined. Meche says a similar instance occurred when a Houma judge went to a Halloween party in a blackface costume in 2004. He says that judge was suspended for a year.

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Meche says this incident just propels that stereotype that old, white southern judges have racial biases. He says with these allegations brought to light, it is possible future defendants will file motions to have Judge Erwin recused.

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Meche says he has never known Erwin to be racist in the courtroom or in the way he spoke to defendants. He says it will take an investigation by the Judiciary Committee to get to the bottom of what happened.

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No charges have been filed against Erwin, but the owners of Sammy’s say he is no longer welcome in any of their restaurants. Erwin has not issued a response to the incident.

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LSU’s All-SEC designated hitter Bryce Jordan will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL. Coach Paul Mainieri says the injury occurred at practice as Jordan was chasing a foul ball down the left field line and felt his knee buckle. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the injury is a blow to the Tigers

Cut 17 (11)   “line-up”

The former Barbe standout was expected to bat clean-up after hitting .293 last season. Moran says Bryce Jordan would have been the perfect hitter behind LSU’s best power hitter Greg Deichman, who is slated to bat third…

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Mainieri has also announced that junior right-hander Alex Lange will start on opening night against Air Force on February 17th. Moran says it’s not a big surprise, since he’s the ace of the staff…

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State and local officials attempt to get an estimate on how much damage was created by a series of tornadoes on Tuesday. Jeff Palermo has more…

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The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man who was jailed on a probation violation was beaten to death by at least a dozen inmates. Michelle Southern reports.

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The cleanup continues today after the Governor’s Office estimates at least 7 tornadoes touched down in southeast Louisiana on Tuesday. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says the state is very lucky that no one was killed.

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A total of 39 injuries were reported. Steele says damage assessment is underway in the impacted areas. He says teams are gathering data, so Louisiana can make a case for federal assistance to help those that lost everything and rebuild public infrastructure.

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New Orleans East was the hardest hit area, but twisters also touched down in Jefferson, Livingston, Ascension, St. James, Tangipahoa, and St. Tammany Parishes. Steele says shelters have been set up in New Orleans and Donaldsonville for those whose homes were destroyed.

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Just one day after a tornado ravaged the town of Donaldsonville, Mayor Leroy Sullivan says residents have a lot to be thankful for. He says 15 to 20 homes inside the city limits sustained at least moderate damage, while several more were impacted outside the city, but fortunately no one was seriously injured.

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Sullivan says cleanup and damage assessment is underway throughout the city. He says they’re hopeful the feds will be able to provide some assistance for those who lost their homes. He says many are still without power as they pick up the pieces. Entergy reports more than 18-hundred Donaldsonville residents do not have electricity yet. Sullivan asks that people stay clear of the area, as crews are working to clear debris out of the roadways.

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East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore addressed the thought on many people’s mind: when will the results of the federal investigation into the officer-involved shooting of Alton Sterling be made public? Moore says since his office recused itself early on in the case, he can’t be exactly sure but…

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Moore says Baton Rouge has proved itself to be a city of non-violent protests and encourages everyone, regardless of the ruling in the case, to protest peacefully when the U.S. Department of Justice announces the results its probe.

Cut 9 (11)  “that purpose”

Moore says protests are also allowed on sidewalks as long as it does not obstruct other pedestrians. He also encourages everyone to work with city officials and law enforcement to ensure all protests in the future are done peacefully and factually.

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An explosion near DeRidder has killed at least three and injured several others, according to the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Joe Toler says authorities received a call just after 11 a.m. of an explosion at Packaging Corporation of America on U.S. 190. He says the scene has been contained and the fire is out.

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Toler says the facility was previously the Boise paper mill and PCA took over the operations in 2013. He says he is not sure the exact number of people injured in the explosion…

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Toler says authorities are working to determine what caused the explosion. He says this is an all hands on deck situation.

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State Police are seeking a father and son from Thibodaux in connection with a kidnapping of a Lafayette man. Trooper Jesse Lagrange says four men have already been arrested.

cut 14 (11) “the night”

Lagrange says the four men arrested range in ages 19 to 32 years old and they’ve been charged with aggravated kidnapping. The 19-year-old is from Monroe and the others are from south Louisiana. He says police are still actively seeking 45-year-old Jeffery Slack Sr. and 20-year-old Jeffery Slack Jr.

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