We’re in the final 10 days of the legislative session and lawmakers do not appear to be close to agreeing on a revenue-neutral budget as required by Governor Bobby Jindal. La-Politics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says it seems the key to a revenue-neutral budget is the Senate-passed SAVE tax credit that would provide colleges with a tax credit for raising student fees. He says lawmakers are having a hard time understanding the legislation, especially in the House where the bill is pending…

cut 5 (08) “revenue-neutral”

The SAVE tax credit was to be heard in a House committee Monday, but that hearing has been delayed.

The Grambling State Presidential search has been narrowed to 5 candidates who begin public interviews today. University spokeswoman Tracy Wright says interviewing today are Dr. Wayne Brumfield, Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon, and Dr. Thomas Calhoun. She says tomorrow will be Dr. Willie Larkin and Dr. Glenda Carter. Wright says they are happy with the semi-finalists…

cut 7 (04) “will be”

The interviews will be held at the Betty Smith Nursing Building Auditorium and members of the public and the media are invited to attend.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announces the start of their 2015 Summer Crackdown on underage sales. ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert says they will be going into businesses with people who are underage trying to buy alcohol or tobacco…:

cut 11 (11) “underage”

Hebert says during last summer’s crackdown, agents issued nearly 900 citations from underage sales.

Baton Rouge Senator Sharon Weston Broome’s bill that would give certain protections to victims of domestic violence when it comes to their housing passes a House committee Monday. Chalmette Representative Raymond Garofalo did not vote in favor of the bill saying he wanted to see it tightened up for the sake of apartment owners…

cut 14 (09) “situations”

Under the measure, a victim could break a lease to escape a violent situation and the landlord could evict an abuser.

There are 10 days left in the 2015 legislative session and lawmakers do not appear to be close to balancing the state’s budget. Legislators are tackling a $1.6 billion budget deficit for next fiscal year. La-Politics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says lawmakers have serious doubts about being able to produce a revenue-neutral budget as required by Governor Bobby Jindal…

cut 4 (07) “accomplish that”

Alford says it seems the key to a revenue-neutral budget is the Senate-passed SAVE tax credit.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announces the start of the agency’s annual summer crackdown on underage sales. ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert says with kids out of school, the chances of them drinking or smoking goes up…

cut 10 (10) “people underage”

He says this is the third year they will increase compliance checks statewide during summer months.

A bill that would give certain protections to victims of domestic violence when it comes to their housing passes a House committee Monday. SB174 is by Baton Rouge Senator Sharon Weston Broome. Under the measure, a victim could break a lease to escape a violent situation and the landlord could evict an abuser. Chalmette Representative Raymond Garofalo says his concern with the bill deals with landlords…

cut 13 (09) “abuse victims”

The Senate approved measure now heads to the full House for further consideration.

A bill that would give certain protections to victims of domestic violence when it comes to their housing passes a House committee Monday. SB174 is by Baton Rouge Senator Sharon Weston Broome. Under the measure, a victim could break a lease to escape a violent situation and the landlord could evict an abuser. Chalmette Representative Raymond Garofalo says his concern with the bill deals with landlords…:
CUT 13 (09) “abuse victims”
The Senate approved measure now heads to the full House for further consideration.

State lawmakers are looking at increasing title fees when a person purchases a new or used vehicle by another 50-dollars. Senate Transportation Chairman Robert Adley says the additional revenue will go towards State Police operations, so they can stop taking money away from a fund designed to pay for road and bridge work…:
cut 9 (04) “right thing to do”
The proposed title fee increase has been amended to a bill already passed by the House that’s awaiting a vote in the Senate.

There’s a bill moving through the legislature that would put a hold on Louisiana’s sales tax Holidays as a way to plug the budget hole — at least temporarily, but Senators did not want to temporarily suspend the one in September for firearms. The committee voted 7-2 to remove the gun sales tax holiday from the suspension legislation.

The House Ways and Means Committee delayed Monday’s meeting due to issues with a bill that would establish the SAVE program giving colleges a tax credit for raising fees on students. Chairman Joel Robideaux says he wants to give the administration time to address concerns. The bill faced harsh criticism in the Senate by Karen Carter Peterson who implies that all this proposal does is help the governor’s personal ambitions…:
CUT 1 (11) “unnecessary”

The National Weather Service says floodwaters draining from Texas and Oklahoma continue to cause rising waters in the Red River in Louisiana. Mario Valverde with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says there is already flooding in the area…
CUT 3 (10) “water’s too high”
The Red River is expected to crest in Shreveport Saturday at 34 feet.

The City of Baton Rouge has been named the most obese city in America, according to a recent Gallup Poll. Louisiana’s report card is not much better, being ranked as the third most obese state in the nation. Pennington Biomedical Research Center Assistant Professor, Dr. Amanda Staiano (sty-ANN-oh), says if healthier options are offered to students and workers, it would help a lot…
CUT 10 (07) Q: “really help people”
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The LSU Baseball team and U-L Lafayette took care of business this afternoon in the NCAA tournament; both advancing to the Super Regionals. The Tigers defeated UNC Wilmington 2 to nothing, while the Ragin’ Cajuns beat Rice 5-2 at the Houston Regionals. This sets the stage for a huge game between the two South Louisiana powerhouses this weekend at Alex Box Stadium.

Starting today, anyone who buys a saltwater fishing license could win a number of different prizes, including the grand prize of a 22 foot bay boat and trailer. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Randy Pausina says License to Win is a way they are working to gather a very accurate database with angler contact information…
CUT 14 (11) Q: “the best data”
He says they will be holding monthly drawings for an ice chest and a host of gift cards.

Here on this first day of the 2015 Hurricane Season, the Colorado State University forecast team continues to predict tropical activity will be well-below average. Here’s Michelle Southern with more…:
CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

The LSU baseball team has advanced to the NCAA Super-Regionals, as they defeated UNC-Willimgton 2-0 this afternoon. The Tigers will host the game at Alex Box Stadium this weekend against the winner of the UL Lafayette-Rice game at the Houston Regional.
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The Red River is on the rise, and already some farmland and parks along the river are seeing some flooding, stemming from draining floodwaters in Texas and Oklahoma. The Red River will crest Saturday in Shreveport, then it will crest at close to 38 feet next Monday in Alexandria. That’s in the moderate flood category…
CUT 4 (08) Q: “considerable flooding”
That’s Montra Lockwood with National Weather Service in Lake Charles.

A recent Gallup Poll shows Louisiana has the third highest obesity rate in the country. At 33-percent, that tops the national average of nearly 28-percent. Pennington Biomedical Research Center Assistant Professor, Dr. Amanda Staiano (sty-AH-no), says the combination of rich food and sedentary lifestyles contribute to the problem…
CUT 9 (06) “the pounds off”
The City of Baton Rouge is listed as the most obese city in the nation with a rate of nearly 36 percent.

Floodwaters from Texas and Oklahoma are causing the Red River to rise. Mario Valverde with National Weather Service says the Red River is above 30 feet for the first time since 1990 in Shreveport, with most flooding this time around northeast of the river and some homes downriver in the Pineville area. He says the high water could stick around…
CUT 5 (05) “of August”
The crest will happen Saturday in Shreveport.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is updating databases, and offering incentives for anglers to buy a saltwater fishing license with a variety of monthly prize drawings. LDWF Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Randy Pausina says they will be holding monthly drawings, and all fisherman have to do is buy the saltwater fishing license, and provide contact information…
cut 13 (07) “drawing”
Prizes include giftcards and even a 22 foot boat and trailer.
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Today is the first official day of Hurricane Season, the Colorado State University forecast team continues to predict a well-below average season. Report lead author Dr. Phil Klotzbach says there’s about a 15% chance of a strike…
CUT 8 (09) Q: “for you”
He adds the El Nino effect is affecting the low probability forecast.

Louisiana spends almost 3 billion dollars on medical costs that are directly related to our high obesity rate. A recent Gallup Poll shows Louisiana with third highest obesity rate in the nation, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center Assistant Professor, Dr. Amanda Staiano (sty-AN-oh) says that there is a link between obesity and financial hardship. Staiano says healthier options are needed…
cut 11 (08) “poorer neighborhoods”