The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry hopes the third special session is the charm for legislators to solve the fiscal cliff. Don Molino has the story…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

Three children at an outdoor party were struck by a fallen tree Sunday afternoon in Opelousas. That’s according to Mayor Reggie Tatum. All three kids were taken to the hospital. As of Sunday night, we’re told one child was transported to a hospital in Baton Rouge and is in critical condition.

They are often used to treat pain, but now, Dr. Bob Zura from LSU Health New Orleans says it looks like opioids may very well be contributing to an elevated risk of bone fractures.
Cut 3 (09) “…for developing fracture.”
Zura says it appears opioids make it harder for bones to heal and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a chronic user or someone who is using them for the first time.

A Denham Springs couple is looking at 35 years in prison following two different traffic stops. State Police Sargeant James Anderson says during the stops on Interstate 10 in Calcascieu Parish, a total of 25 illegal aliens were discovered in the two vehicles.
Cut 12 (09) “…for 25 people.”
Troopers arrested 32 year old Stephanie Harris and 38 year old Nicholas Harris, in what Anderson says appears to be a case of human trafficking.

The third special session of 2018 begins at 4 PM today as Governor John Bel Edwards is bringing legislators back to Baton Rouge in the hopes they can pass a sales tax bill that would replace some of the revenue lost when a one-cent sales tax expires on June 30th.

They are often used to treat pain, but now, Dr. Bob Zura from LSU Health New Orleans says it looks like opioids may increase the risk of broken bones. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (26) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A Denham Springs couple in their 30s face up to 35 years in prison after they were caught allegedly transporting 25 undocumented immigrants in S-U-Vs. State Police Sergeant James Anderson says Stephanie and Nicholas Harris were pulled over on I-10 between Sulphur and Westlake for a traffic stop and the responding troopers found a much a bigger problem, human trafficking…
cut 13 (09) “….appears to be”
US Border patrol took custody of the illegal ailens and the juveniles were placed into protective custody.

State Treasurer John Schroder says there’s been a huge increase in interest in the Unclaimed Property program after they publicized the return of two-point-three million dollars from the fund to a resident in north Louisiana…
cut 10 (06) “…was claimed”
Schroder says they still have another 858-million dollars in unclaimed money, so every resident should visit L-A-treasury-dot-com.

A third special session begins later this afternoon as lawmakers come back to Baton Rouge to see if they can pass a sales tax bill that could generate enough cash to avoid cuts to TOPS, higher education, department of corrections and the food stamp program. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack wishes lawmakers had the opportunity to use this third special session to address Medicaid and pension reform or statutory dedications which limits what legislators can do during tough budget times. He says instead the call issued by the governor only gives the legislature two options…
cut 8 (08) “other priorities”
The fifth penny of the state sales tax is set to expire June 30th. But Governor John Bel Edwards wants lawmakers to renew a portion of that expiring penny to close the budget hole.

New research finds that opiods can increase the risk of bone facture and also make it harder for bones to heal. Doctor Bob Zura is the head of orthopedics at LSU Health New Orleans,….
cut 4 (12) “..healing their obones”
Zura says Tyenol might be a better option to handle pain associated with bone fractures.

There’s renewed interest in the state’s Unclaimed Property program after the State Treasure publizied the return of two-point-three million dollars to a north Louisiana resident. John Schroder says the unclaimed property comes in the form of insurance, pensions or in the case of two-point-three-milliond dollars, oil royalities…
cut 11 (11) “…return it”

Legislators return to Baton Rouge today for a third special session that’s been called to address the fiscal cliff which arrives July 1st. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says LABI supports a partial renewal of an expiring one-cent sales tax, even though they know businesses will pay 48-percent of what could be a 400 to 500-million dollar tax increase…
cut 7 (08) “…compromise there”

Last week’s announcement of the 2.3 million dollar return through the Unclaimed Property Program has gotten more people interested in the program’s potential returns. State Treasurer John Schroder says the recent claim has generated a lot of excitement and the calls keep coming in.
cut 9 (12) “was only 821”
Visit La-Treasury-dot-com to see if you are owed money.

State Police arrested a Denham Springs couple after they were found in Calcasieu Parish transporting 25 undocuments immigrants. State Police Sergeant James Anderson Stephanie and Nicholas Harris booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center….
cut 14 (11) “…one fo the vehicles”
Anderson says this appears to be a case of human trafficking.

Five protesters were arrested in New Orleans today as US Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke at the National Sheriff’s Association Convention in New Orleans. During his speech, Sessions said the United States will NOT encourage people to bring their children to the country illegally by giving them immunity in the process.

The third special session of the year kicks off today, with some legislators expected to go to battle for the last time this year over the state’s persistent budget issues under the specter of deep cuts to TOPS and other state services. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says passing the half penny sales tax renewal will be the focus, because it fully funds the government.
Cut 4 (11) “right now.”
The powerful lobbying group, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, says the third special session must end with a solution that solves the state’s budget problems. LABI President Stephen Waguespack… …
Cut 6 (12) “move on”
Governor Edwards is set to address both chambers of the legislature at 5 PM.
A Denham Springs couple is looking at 35 years in prison following two different traffic stops. State Police Sargeant James Anderson says during the stops on Interstate 10 in Calcascieu Parish, a total of 25 illegal aliens were discovered in the two vehicles.
Cut 12 (09) “…for 25 people.”
Troopers arrested 32 year old Stephanie Harris and 38 year old Nicholas Harris, in what Anderson says appears to be a case of human trafficking.

Three children at an outdoor party were struck by a fallen tree Sunday afternoon in Opelousas. That’s according to Mayor Reggie Tatum. The incident occurred around 5 P.M. in the 700 block of East South Street. All three kids were taken to the hospital. As of Sunday night, we’re told one child was transported to a hospital in Baton Rouge and is in critical condition.

Grambling State and head football coach Broderick Fobbs have agreed to a new four-year deal, worth one-point-two million dollars. Fobbs had just one year left on his contract and this new deal keeps him at Grambling through 2022.

The third special session of the year starts today, and lawmakers only have ten days to work out a deal to generate revenue to avoid steeps cuts to TOPS and other services. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30)  I’m Matt Doyle“

So now the attention has been turned toward legislators whose votes can tip the scales to approving a definitive tax plan.  Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there are many factors that play into the lawmakers’ decisions.

Cut 12 (07) “…rest of the year.”

Two high schoolers from Lake Charles want to bring delivery services to stadiums so that hot dog comes right to you in the stands. The idea from Malik Ellis and Alex Brown of LaGrange High School won the SEED Center Business Pitch Competition this year. SEED Center Business Incubator Executive Director Adrian Wallace saw the pitch.

Cut 13 (10)  “energetic” 

A Denham Springs couple is looking at 35 years in prison following two different traffic stops.  During the stops, a total of 25 illegal aliens were discovered in the two vehciles.  Troopers arrested 32 year old Stephanie Harris and 38 year old Nicholas Harris.  Each were charged with improper lane use, human trafficking, and human trafficking of a juvenile.  Bond for each was set at $376,000.

The half-cent sales tax came just 7 votes short of passage on the last night of the previous session, but 20 Republican legislators in the House are at odds with plan, and would prefer a third penny and 126 million dollars in across the board cuts. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Robert Johnson says after a hard fought battle to get the bipartisan budget, suggestions by Appropriation Chairman Cameron Henry that money be shuffled out of healthcare and state worker raises will not be entertained.
Cut 6 (11) “revenue measures.”

Freshman Republican Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello, one of the 20 House Republicans who voted against the half penny, but for the third penny, says the state can get by without the higher tax.
Cut 7 (11) “to be”

Two high schoolers from Lake Charles want to bring delivery services to stadiums so that hot dog comes right to you in the stands. The idea from Malik Ellis and Alex Brown of LaGrange High School won the SEED Center Business Pitch Competition this year. SEED Center Business Incubator Executive Director Adrian Wallace saw the pitch.
The potential app is called “Runner Eats” and would function similarly to Waitr.
Wallace says the key to their success was a highly developed business plan that would put many of the contestants on the businesses competition show Shark Tank to shame.
Ellis and Brown said they were proud to represent Lake Charles, and hope their idea could bring jobs to the area. Wallace says it might not be too long before that happens.
Cut 15 (08) “for it”

The number of people employed in Louisiana has reached its second highest level ever. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Eyes across the state are on the kick off of the third special session. Governor John Bel Edwards was 7 votes away from closing in on his wishes to renew a half-cent sales tax in the most recent special session, so now the attention has been turned toward legislators whose votes can tip the scales to approving a definitive tax plan. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says that even though the discussion has been focused on renewing a sales tax that is either a third of a penny or a half of a penny, there may be discussion of an amount somewhere in between the two amounts.
Cut 11 (10) “…cutting the budget”

The third special session of the year kicks off today, with some legislators expected to go to battle for the last time this year over the state’s persistent budget issues under the specter of deep cuts to TOPS and other state services. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says passing the half penny sales tax renewal will be the focus, because it fully funds the government.
If the legislature manages to pass a revenue bill, it will likely be a short term deal lasting at most 6 years. That means half a decade from now, the whole process will likely start again. Dardenne says he’s disappointed that it came down to another sales tax, instead of permanent structural tax reform.
Cut 9 (09) “years ahead.”

The half-cent sales tax came just 7 votes short of passage on the last night of the previous session, but 20 Republican legislators in the House are at odds with plan, and would prefer a third penny and 126 million dollars in across the board cuts. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Robert Johnson says Democrats won’t let that happen.
Cut 5 (08) “the board.”

Eyes across the state are on the kick off of the third special session as we may soon know a definitive sales tax plan. Kevin Barnhart has the story:
Cut 2 (30) ” I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The third special session of the year kicks off today, with some legislators expected to go to battle for the last time this year over the state’s persistent budget issues under the specter of deep cuts to TOPS and other state services. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says passing the half penny sales tax renewal will be the focus, because it fully funds the government.
Cut 4 (11) “right now.”

Two high schoolers from Lake Charles want to bring delivery services to stadiums so that hot dog comes right to you in the stands. The idea from Malik Ellis and Alex Brown of LaGrange High School won the SEED Center Business Pitch Competition this year. SEED Center Business Incubator Executive Director Adrian Wallace saw the pitch.
The potential app is called “Runner Eats” and would function similarly to Waitr.
Wallace says the key to their success was a highly developed business plan that would put many of the contestants on the businesses competition show Shark Tank to shame.
Cut 14 (09) “launched yet”

Three children at an outdoor party were struck by a fallen tree Sunday afternoon in Opelousas. That’s according to Mayor Reggie Tatum. The incident occurred around 5 P.M. in the 700 block of East South Street. All three kids were taken to the hospital. As of Sunday night, we’re told one child was transported to a hospital in Baton Rouge and is in critical condition.