Republican lawmakers expressed their concerns today in the House Ways and Means committee over Governor John Bel Edwards plan to impose a gross recepits tax that would result in over 400-million dollars in revenue from a tax paid by businesses. Monroe Representative Jay Morris says this tax would be passed along to the citizens…
cut 12 (09) “…double taxation”
Franklin Representative Sam Jones is sponsoring the bill and reminded legislators that the other part of the plan is to reduce individual income taxes….
cut 10 (08) “….get a tax cut”
There will be more testimony on this legislation tomorrow as interest groups and the public will have their chance to testify.

A measure to be heard before the House Transportation Committee would eliminate inspection stickers on personal vehicles in most parishes. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says he filed the bill because the inspection stickers do not lead to safer roads.
Cut 7 (06) “stickers on”
Inspection stickers will still be required in the five-parish Baton Rouge area, because federal law mandates it, due to air quality concerns.

Contractors removed one of the four controversial confederate monuments in New Orleans early this morning. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the work of taking the Liberty Place monument down was done in the middle night for the safety of the workers. The statue honors the killing of police officers by white supremacists. Landrieu says they’ll move to remove the three other monuments sooner rather than later.

LSU Footbal Coach Ed Orgeron said today that quarterback Danny Etling had a minor procedure on his back and he’ll be okay.

During the overnight hours, New Orleans city contractors began removing the first of four Confederate monuments. The Liberty Place monument was taken away at around 5:30 this morning in pieces on a flat bed truck. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says this statue was put up to honor the killing of police officers by white supremacists…
Cut 3 (10) “strong today”
Landrieu says they were taken down in the middle of the night for the safety of the workers. Tulane Professor Richard Marksbury said on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster that it was extreme for police to have snipers on hand for the removal…
cut 5 (10) “…with that”
Landrieu says three other Confederate statues will be taken down sooner rather than later.

Iberia Parish Sheriff Major Wendell Raborn says they are receiving a lot of tips regarding the murder of an 80-year-old woman early Saturday morning in New Iberia…
cut 16 (11) “…their neighborhoods”
Authorities says bullets flew through the front door of Bertha Hill’s home and she was fatally struck multiple times.

A northwest Louisiana lawmaker wants to put an end to the need of an inspection sticker for your vehicle. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley believes the stickers are more about money than safety…
cut 9 (10) “….my opinion”
Bagley’s bill will be heard soon in the House Transportation Committee. State Police uses some of the money from the purchase of the sticker to fund their operations.

The centerpiece of Governor John Bel Edwards plan to overhaul Louisiana’s tax structure did not receive a warm reception from Republicans in the House Ways and Means committee. Franklin Representative Sam Jones says the Commercial Activity Tax would raise over 400-million dollars in taxes on businesses, but the governor’s plan calls for a reduction in individual income taxes…
Cut 10 (08) “get a tax cut”
The governor is proposing this Commercial Activity Tax on businesses as a way to generate revenue to make up for the one-point-three billion dollars in temporary sales taxes that expire next year. But Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey fears this tax on business sales will hurt economic development efforts….
Cut 13 (08) “10 billion dollar projects”
Discussion on this bill could continue into tomorrow.

In the middle of the night, city contractors took down one of the four confederate monuments in New Orleans that has been targeted for removal…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Iberia Parish deputies are looking for clues into the murder of an 80-year-old woman, who was shot multiple times Saturday morning when bullets went through her front door. Major Wendell Raborn…
cut 15 (10) “…passed away”
The victim has been identified as Bertha Hill.

During the middle of the night, contractors hired by New Orleans removed one of the four controversial Confederate monuments. The 35-foot Liberty Place monument was dismantled and hauled away in a few hours. Tulane Professor Richard Marksbury said on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster that he found it extreme for police to have snipers on hand for the removal…
cut 5 (10) “….with that”

Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Deputies are looking for the gunman who fired shots into an elderly victim’s home over the weekend, killing an 80-year-old woman. Major Wendell Raborn says authorities responded to several calls reporting gunshots in the area off South Hopkins Street in New Iberia.
Cut 14 (09) “on them “
The woman has been identified as Bertha Hill.

Governor Edwards main tax plan is receiving a frosty reception from Republican legislators in the House Ways and Means committee, who object to raising taxes on businesses. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh expressed his concerns…
cut 11 (11) “…paying more”

A bill that will be heard before the House Transportation Committee could eliminate inspection stickers on personal vehicles in most parishes. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Liberty Place monument, one of four Confederate statues set to be removed in New Orleans, was taken down this morning by contractors. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the removal of these statues sends a message that New Orleans celebrates its diversity. But Tulane Professor Richard Marksbury said on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster these statues are a teaching moment…
cut 6 (10) “….anymore”

A measure to be heard before the House Transportation Committee would eliminate inspection stickers on personal vehicles in most parishes. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says he filed the bill because the inspection stickers do not lead to safer roads.
Cut 7 (06) “stickers on”
Inspection stickers will still be required in the five-parish Baton Rouge area, because federal law mandates it, due to air quality concerns.

Lafayette Police are searching for a 21-year-old woman who is wanted for attempted manslaughter. Authorities say Natasha Portis intentionally struck two women along the side of the street early this morning.

A major reconstruction project begins on Bourbon Street today. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The first of four confederate statues that are set to be taken down in New Orleans was removed early this morning. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says there are three other statues that will be taken down, two of them are of Confederate generals and the other was a Confederate President. He says they will come down sooner rather than later, but won’t say when…
cut 4 (11) “…deterred”
Landrieu says they’ve also raised enough money privately to remove the statues.

A major construction project began today on the first 8 blocks of Bourbon Street. Director of New Orleans Public Works Col. Mark Jernigan says they’ll remove and replace the existing pavement, along with all of the aging pipes underneath the famous street.
Cut 10 (09) “90 years”
Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

A northwest Louisiana lawmaker has a bill that would do away with the need to get an inspection sticker in most parishes. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley knows the public supports this idea…
cut 8 (10) “…runaway”
Bagley believes an inspection sticker is more about the money than public safety, since you can drive around and still see broken tail lights.

U.S. Representative Mike Johnson remains confident Congress can pass legislation that will overhaul the nation’s health care system. Johnson says they are discussing a plan that gives states more flexibility to pull out of Affordable Care Act provisions…
cut 15 (06) “…on everyone”
Johnson says another provision that’s gained support would put cancer patients and individuals with a chronic illness in a separate market place funded by the federal government.

The centerpiece of Governor Edwards tax overhaul plan receives a hearing today in a House committee. The Commercial Activity Tax imposes a tax on businesses for any transactions they make. Franklin Representative Sam Jones, says so far this is the only plan presented to deal with the one-point-three billion dollars in temporary taxes that expire in 2018…
cut 8 (10) “…to fund TOPS”
So far, there’s little support for this proposal.

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee will look at a proposal today that would exempt items like diapers and tampons from the state sales tax. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says his bill would acknowledge that these are not luxury items, they’re essential.
Cut 4 (09) “feminine hygiene products”
The proposed constitutional amendment would be put on the ballot for voters, if it’s approved by the legislature

U.S. Representative Mike Johnson is confident Congress will pass a new healthcare bill. Don Molino has more…
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

During the middle of the night, the Liberty Place monument in New Orleans was taken down. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says these monuments do not represent the values of New Orleans. Three other monuments have been targeted for removal, and Landrieu says they have enough money to take those statues down as well, but will not say when.