Governor John Bel Edwards called today for a bipartisan effort to pass tax laws that will alleviate the state’s fiscal challenges it faces every year. Edwards is also urging lawmakers to raise the minimum wage and pass equal pay legislation so women receive the same wages as men for equal work…
cut 15 (08) “….applause”
The legislative session began today and it will last two months.

Gas prices are on the rise as the summer driving season approaches. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says the statewide average of $2.19 is about 7 cents higher than the prior week which is typical for this time of year.
Cut 12 (11) “in June”
Gas prices are at their highest level since January.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is the reason flood victims have not yet received any federal assistance. Graves made the comments on the Jim Engster Show, also issuing a call for Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same…
Cut 6 (09) “…with the governor”
The governor’s communciations director, Richard Carbo, denies the state is holding up the process and instead blames red tape with the federal government. Carbo says Graves comments are not helping homeowners…
cut 9 (08) “…not accurate”

Starting today, Louisiana homeowners who flooded in 2016 are asked to fill out a survey at restore-dot-la-dot-gov. The survey will give the state a better idea on where flood victims are in the recovery process and more importantly help determine if they are eligible federal homeowner assistance.

The 2017 legislative session started today with a 38-minute speech from Governor John Bel Edwards in the House chambers. The governor is pushing an ambitious tax plan that will mean higher taxes for businesses, but possibly lower taxes for many Louisiana residents. Edwards also says he wants to put money towards better roads, even if that means increasing the state’s gasoline tax…
cut 14 (07) “…traffic congestion”
The legislative session will conclude on June 8th.

As is typical when the weather warms up, the price at the pump also starts going up. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman says refineries are switching from a winter grade of gasoline to a summer…:
CUT 11 (10) “a gallon”
The current statewide average is $2.19.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is holding up flood recovery financial assistance…
Voicer 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Christopher Few was arrested over the weekend in Avoyelles Parish on a domestic abuse charge. Few is the father of Jeremy Mardis, the six-year-old autistic boy killed during a police chase. Chief Deputy Steven Martel says Few is in their parish jail and he also has outstanding warrants for theft in St. Landry…
cut 15 (05) “….on him”

The 2017 session is underway and Governor John Bel Edwards told lawmakers now is the time to pass long-term tax reform that provides budget stability, so Louisiana can better fund its priorities. Edwards is pushing a plan that would increase taxes on many businesses, but promises to lower taxes on most Louisiana residents…:
Cut 13 (12) “days ahead”
Edwards said he can’t respect legislators who vote no on every proposal, without offering their own ideas. The session must end June 8th.

Gas prices are on the rise. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the cost of regular gasoline rose 7 cents a gallon over the last week to $2.19….:
Cut 10 (11) “their equipment”

The feud between Governor John Bel Edwards and Congressman Garret Graves over the pace in which flood victims are getting federal aid heats up. Graves said he’s so confident that the state is at fault, he’d resign if it was actually the federal government slowing things down…:
Cut 8 (08) “or not”
But the Governor’s spokesman, Richard Carbo, says these kinds of comments aren’t doing anything to help homeowners…:
Cut 9 (08) “not accurate”
Carbo says he has a letter from HUD saying the state has not received the funds yet.

Meanwhile today was the first day flood victims could fill out a survey that would help state leaders determine how to distribute the money. The mandatory questionnaire is online at restore.la.gov, or you can call 1-866-735-2001.

The 2017 Legislative session is officially underway in Baton Rouge. Governor John Bel Edwards spoke to lawmakers in a joint session and outlined what he hopes to see accomplished over the next two months. He said among his proposals, he wants to model Louisiana’s sales tax structure utilizing best practices from other states. He urged lawmakers to take a serious look at what we can do to better invest in our state’s roads — Increase minimum wage and support equal pay. And work to reduce the state’s highest-in-the-world incarceration rate. He says the most important thing they all must do, is work together…:
CUT 25 (10) “people of Louisiana”
He said he hopes politics and partisanship don’t blur the path to the goal. The session must end by noon on June 8th.

Gas prices are on the rise as the summer driving season approaches. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says the statewide average of $2.19 is about 7 cents higher than the prior week which is typical for this time of year.
Cut 12 (11) “in June”
Gas prices are at their highest level since January.

The father of the 6-year-old autistic boy killed by a Marksville deputy marshal has been arrested for allegedly trying to strangle his girlfriend. Chief Deputy Steven Martel with the Avoyelles Sheriff’s Office says they received a call Saturday about a domestic dispute between 26-year-old Christopher Few and his girlfriend.
Cut 3 (09) “strangle her”
Few is charged with domestic abuse battery.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is holding up flood recovery financial assistance. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The father of the 6 year old child who was gunned down by former officers in Marksville in 2015 was booked over the weekend for allegedly strangling his girlfriend. Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Steven Martel says there was enough evidence to arrest Christopher Few:
Cut 4 (07) “had occurred”
Few is charged with Domestic Abuse Battery.

As is typical when the weather warms up, the price at the pump also starts going up. Redman says refineries are switching from a winter grade of gasoline to a summer, which will lead to a decrease in supply. He says you can expect to pay more this year than in 2016…:
CUT 11 (10) “a gallon”
The current statewide average is $2.19, up 7 cents from the prior week.

A teacher has been arrested by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office accused of inappropriately touching one of his male students. Detectives says they received a complaint about the alleged incident last month, in which the victim stated happened on numerous occasions in 2015 when he was 15 years old. 31-year-old Raymond P Johnson is booked with indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Republican Congressman Garret Graves says he’s so sure that it’s the state delaying the process of distributing federal flood recovery dollars to homeowners he’ll resign if it turns out the problem is with the federal government….
cut 8 (08) “…or not”
But the governor’s communications director Richard Carbo says he has a letter from HUD indicating that the money has yet to become available for the state to use..

The father of the 6-year-old autistic boy killed by a Marksville deputy marshal has been arrested for allegedly trying to strangle his girlfriend. Chief Deputy Steven Martel with the Avoyelles Sheriff’s Office says they received a call Saturday about a domestic dispute between 26-year-old Christopher Few and his girlfriend.
Cut 3 (09) “strangle him”

Have you noticed gas prices are on the rise? AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the cost of regular gasoline rose 7 cents a gallon over the last week for a statewide average of $2.19. Redman says it’s that time of the year when the price at the pump rises.
Cut 10 (11) “their equipment”
Gas prices are at their highest level since January.

The legislative session begins today and taxes will be the big debate. Over 850 bills have been filed including the measure that requires exotic dancers in strip clubs to be at least 21-years-old. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says the new measure is less broad than last year’s when it comes to the definition of nudity. But the goal is the same, prevent human trafficking…
cut 14 (07) “…my intent”
The legislative session will last until June 8th.

The 2017 legislative session begins today. Governor John Bel Edwards will address lawmakers from the House chamber at 1 PM and he’ll ask legislators to pass a significant change to our tax code that would increase taxes on businesses, but promises to lower taxes on most Louisiana residents. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds heads the state Democratic caucus and believes the governor’s tax plan will be hard to pass in this two month session. He says Edwards might have more success if a constitutional convention was called….

cut 9 (09) “…a while”

Big news on the economic development front. A chemical company from China has chosen Louisiana to build a one-point-one billion dollar manfufacturing complex. The state’s economic development office says the project will create 170 new direct jobs and another 945 new indirect jobs. A specific site selection will be made later this year.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is the reason flood victims have not yet received any federal assistance. Graves made the comments on the Jim Engster Show, also issuing a call for Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same…

Cut 6 (09) “…with the governor”

Richard Carbo with the Governor’s Office says there is no truth to Graves’ claims that the state is holding up the process. He says Louisiana submitted its plan on how to spend recovery dollars to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development with record speed, and the funds are tied up in red tape on the federal level.

Cut 7 (09) “…the funds”

Carbo says they anticipate the federal government will release the money very soon. In the meantime they are asking 2016 flood victims to fill out a survey at restore-dot-la-dot-gov.

We’re just hours away from the opening of the 2017 legislative session. Among big topics this year at the Capitol is a push to raise the state’s gasoline tax. But Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says many lawmakers are concerned that the additional revenues will not go towards their intended purpose…:
Cut 5 (10) “structure”
Tax reform, TOPS and criminal justice reform are other discussions up for debate over the next 2 months.

A little over 8 days after a former Marksville City Marshal was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder of a six year old, the child’s father, Christopher Few is finding himself in trouble with the law. Jeremy Mardis was in a vehicle with Few when police opened fire, killing the child in 2015. Few, who was injured in the incident, was arrested over the weekend on domestic abuse charges. Derrick Stafford was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Mardis and injuring of Few.

Flood impacted homeowners can now fill out a survey to see if they qualify for federal assistance. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer says this is a very important first step in the process, then the federal aid will be doled out in phases, and families most in need of assistance will get help first….:
Cut 12 (11) “severe damage”
The survey is online at restore.la.gov.

A bill to raise the minimum age of strippers to 21 is back again for this legislative session. Lake Charles Representative Ronnie Johns says the law was passed last year and recently temporarily blocked by a judge for being too vague, which is why the new bill makes clear what he means by nudity and strip club…:
Cut 15 (09) “at 21 years old”
He says the bill’s intent is to curb human trafficking.