According to the personal finance magazine Kiplinger, Louisiana is the third most tax friendly state in the nation. Senior Associate Editor Sandy Block says their rankings were based on rates for income, sales and gas taxes. She says they have a tax map tool on their website to help people make the most financially sound decision when considering a move to another state…

cut 5 (06) “and local taxes”

You can view the map at kiplinger-dot-com.

A disorganized area of thunderstorms in the northern Gulf of Mexico has the attention of the National Hurricane Center. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the weak cluster of thunderstorm activity is associated with a weak frontal boundary..

cut 9 (11) “minimal”

But Jones says the cluster will produce showers and thunderstorms for areas in south Louisiana.

The Houma Police Department is the latest law enforcement agency in Louisiana that will use body cameras. Chief Todd Duplantis says the Terrebonne Parish Council has purchased 84 cameras that will be equipped to an officers’ uniform. Duplantis says with the body cameras, any interaction between a police officer and the public will be videoed, which should lead to a reduction in citizen and use of force complaints…

cut 7 (08) “what happened”

Duplantis says the video will also help prosecutors when a criminal case goes before a judge or jury.

According to the Department of Children and Family Services the state has collected over two-million dollars in delinquent child support payments through confiscated casino winnings. The child support casino intercept program began in September 2011 and has collected unpaid child support payments from over fifteen hundred non-custodial parents at 19 state licensed casinos.

According to the personal finance magazine Kiplinger, Louisiana is the third most tax friendly state in the nation. Senior Associate Editor Sandy Block says their rankings were based on rates for income, sales and gas taxes. She says our gas tax is well below average at 20 cents a gallon. Block says as a result, Louisiana is a very tax friendly place for retirees…

cut 4 (09) “those counts too”

Block says the most tax friendly state is Delaware followed by Wyoming, then Mississippi and Alabama are ranked just below Louisiana.

A robbery suspect in Slidell was really left holding the bag. Slidell Police say 18-year-old Terry Jones approached a woman holding her infant. Jones allegedly stuck a pistol in the woman’s chest and demanded her purse. The purse turned out to be a diaper bag. Jones then took off running, but was caught by a police officer. Jones was booked on one count of armed robbery.

The Houma Police Department is the latest law enforcement agency in Louisiana that will use body cameras. Chief Todd Duplantis says the Terrebonne Parish Council has purchased 84 cameras that will be equipped to an officers’ uniform. He says it should be a great benefit to their department…

cut 6 (11) “from officers”

Duplantis says the video will also help prosecutors when a criminal case goes before a judge or jury.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his wife Brittany welcomed their fourth child this morning. The Brees family announced the birth of a baby girl. The family’s first girl will be little sister to brothers Baylen, Bowen, and Callen. They did not announce the name of the child, but both mom and daughter are reportedly doing great.

According to the personal finance magazine Kiplinger, Louisiana is the third most tax friendly state in the nation. Senior Associate Editor Sandy Block says their rankings were based on rates for income, sales and gas taxes. She says a big boost for Louisiana is the fact that we have the lowest property taxes in the nation…

cut 3 (08) “in Louisiana”

Block says the most tax friendly state is Delaware followed by Wyoming.

Council for A Better Louisiana is teaming with Louisiana Public Broadcasting to present a US Senate debate on October 14th. Incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu and Republican challengers Bill Cassidy and Rob Maness will all participate. CABL President Barry Erwin says this race is hugely important for the state…

cut 13 (09) “candidates stand”

The debate will be broadcast statewide on LPB television stations.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 20-year-old LaPlace man on aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and armed robbery charges. Captain Pat Yoes says the victim was walking in New Orleans when a vehicle stopped beside her and two subjects got out…

cut 10 (10) “she was raped”

He says the victim was able to pick out Kevin Allen in a photographic lineup. Yoes says the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.

The state Department of Children and Family Services announces the state has collected over two-million dollars in unpaid child support payments through confiscated casino winnings. Since September 2011, the child support casino intercept program has collected delinquent child support payments from over fifteen hundred non-custodial parents at 19 state licensed casinos.

The ACLU of Louisiana says South Plaquemines High School administrators are violating the constitutional right of a student who they’ve suspended for having religiously mandated dreadlocks. Michelle Southern has that…

cut 1 (32) “reporting”

State Police say a seven-year-old girl from Clinton is hospitalized with moderate to serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle while getting off the school bus Monday afternoon. They say 67-year-old Hoyt Norwood of Baker was driving an SUV and failed to yield to the school bus in front of him and struck the child. Norwood was cited.

Bossier City Representative Jeff Thompson will leave the state legislature to become a judge in Bossier and Webster Parishes. During his time in the legislature, Thompson was a proponent for Second Amendment rights. He is confident the state legislature will continue to defend the right to bear arms…

cut 9 (11) “our own families”

Thompson qualified unopposed to fill the judgeship left vacant by the retiring Ford Stinson.

Council for a Better Louisiana is partnering with Louisiana Public Broadcasting to present a televised US Senate Debate on October 14th. CABL President Barry Erwin says they’re still working on the format for the debate, but there shouldn’t be a shortage of topics…

cut 14 (13) “affect us here”

Incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu and Republican challengers Bill Cassidy and Rob Maness will participate.

A 20-year-old man from LaPlace is under arrest and being held on a $1 million dollars bond for allegedly rapping a woman after kidnapping her. That’s according to Captain Pat Yoes with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office. He says the teen victim was forced into a car in New Orleans then later dropped off in Kenner…:
CUT 11 (09) “she was raped”
He says the victim was able to pick out Kevin Allen in a photographic lineup. More arrests are expected.

The ACLU of Louisiana has sent a letter to the Plaquemines Parish School Board and South Plaquemines High School administrators regarding a student who has been suspected because of his hairstyle. Executive Director Marjorie Esman…:
CUT 5 (09) “right now”
Calls to the Plaquemines Parish School Board were not returned.

Council for A Better Louisiana is partnering with Louisiana Public Broadcasting to present a US Senate debate on October 14th. Scott Carwile has more…:
CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says they are closly monitoring storms associated with a trough of low pressure in the northern Gulf of Mexico right now. They say even though the chance of tropical development is low, they urge everyone to keep their eyes and ears open to forecasts to see if there have been any changes associated with the system.

Council for A Better Louisiana is partnering with Louisiana Public Broadcasting to present a US Senate debate on October 14th. Senator Mary Landrieu and Republican Challengers Bill Cassidy and Rob Maness will all participate. CABL President Barry Irwin says there is a lot riding on Louisiana’s US Senate race…:
CUT 15 (10) “and TV ads”
Centenary College in Shreveport will host the October 14 debate.

The ACLU of Louisiana is challenging a decision by administrators at South Plaqumine High to suspend a student over his religiously mandated hair style. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says the student is Rastafari which believes men should wear dreadlocks. She says they are seeking an expedited hearing before the full school board very quickly with the expectation that they will do the right thing…:
CUT 6 (05) “with his religious faith”
Calls to the Plaqumines Parish School Board were not returned.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says a 20-year-old man is under arrest for allegedly kidnapping and raping a woman. Captain Pat Yoes says the victim reported she was held at gunpoint while being raped then robbed. He says they arrested Kevin Allen of LaPlace…:
CUT 12 (08) “additional arrests”
He says the woman was walking in New Orleans when a car stopped behind her and forced her inside.

Bossier City Representative Jeff Thompson is leaving the legislature to become a district judge. Thompson will preside in the 26th Judicial District Court of Bossier and Webster Parishes in northwestern Louisiana. He will be sworn in on January 1st…:
CUT 8 (12) “to serve here”
Thompson qualified unopposed to fill the judgeship left vacant by the retiring Ford Stinson.

A fight at Natchitoches Central High School sends an 18-year-old student to the hospital with serious injuries and leads to the arrest of another student. Jeff Palermo has the details…:
CUT 3 (29) “reporting”

The East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s office says two men were rescued after being lost in woods 5 miles east of Clinton for two days. They didn’t say why they were in the woods Friday and through the weekend unable to find their way. Apparently one of them, who is 33, became dehydrated and started hallucinating so the other friend, aged 26, went to get help. Deputies say the 26-year-old was first recovered then a search team found the dehydrated man hours later and he was taken to a hospital.

State Representative Jeff Thompson of Bossier City will leave the state legislature to become a district judge. Thompson qualified unopposed to fill the judgeship left vacant by the retiring Ford Stinson. He says his time in the State House was a great opportunity to help craft some meaningful legislation for the state…:
CUT 7 (08) “January the First”
The court presides over Bossier and Webster Parishes in northwest Louisiana.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 20-year-old LaPlace man on charges of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and armed robbery. Captain Pat Yoes says the victim was walking in New Orleans when a vehicle stopped beside her and two subjects exited the vehicle…:
CUT 10 (10) “she was raped”
Yoes says the investigation is continuing and additional arrests are expected.

Council for A Better Louisiana is partnering with Louisiana Public Broadcasting to present a US Senate debate on October 14th. Incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu and Republican challengers Bill Cassidy and Rob Maness will all participate. CABL President Barry Erwin says this race is hugely important for the state…:
CUT 13 (09) “candidates stand”
The debate will take place at Centenary College in Shreveport beginning at 7PM.

A seven-year-old girl from Clinton suffered moderate to serious injuries when she was hit by a vehicle after getting off the school bus. State Police say it happened in East Feliciana Parish on Monday afternoon. They say 67-year-old Hoyt Norwood of Baker was driving an SUV northbound on Highway 67 when he failed to yield to the school bus in front of him then hit the child. She was taken to the hospital. Norwood was cited.

The ACLU of Louisiana has sent a letter to the Plaquemines Parish School Board and South Plaquemines High School administrators regarding a student who has been suspended because of his hairstyle. The student is Rastafari and ACLU-LA Executive Director Marjorie Esman says his long dreadlocks are religiously mandated…:
CUT 4 (12) “with his religious faith”
Esman says they want a quick hearing to reverse this issue so the student can get back to school. Calls to the Plaqumines Parish School Board were not returned.