Tomorrow, December 31st, is the final day for Louisiana’s 2015 tax amnesty program. State Department of Revenue spokesperson Kizzy Payton says this is the time to call the Department to set up a payment arrangement or agreement to settle your delinquent tax debts. She says it will be a while before this opportunity comes again…

cut 13 (10) “until 2025”

Payton says eligible tax payers can make their payments online at www-dot-ldrtaxamnesty-dot-com or by calling the Department of Revenue.

Louisianians can still use their valid state driver’s licence to fly commercially Friday, even though the state has yet to to comply with the federal Real ID law. Many are confused that the identification requirement would kick in for Louisiana January 1st, but the state received a yearlong extension to comply with Real ID Act in October. Without that extension, Louisiana resident would have needed a passport to fly domestically in the new year.

The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Labadieville teenager in connection with a shooting death earlier this month. Authorities say 18-year-old Jamal Starks and several friends were playing with a handgun when it discharged, shooting 17-year-old Dronald Washington in the head. Washington was transported to an area hospital where he later died. Starks is charged with negligent homicide.

Tonight’s PowerBall jackpot has climbed to a whopping 300 million dollars. According to Kimberly Chopin with the Louisiana Lottery, the cash value of 184 million dollars could surely cheer up someone’s New Year’s party. She says ticket sales have sky rocketed this week and expects them to keep increasing before the day is over…

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Chopin reminds players to get their tickets before 9 pm tonight.

According to a report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, five Louisiana law enforcement officers were shot and killed in the line of duty this year, more than any other state in the nation. Chairman Craig Floyd says it’s unfortunate that their uniform and badge have made police a target and now must be prepared for an attack at any moment…

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A total of 9 officers died in the line of duty in Louisiana this year.

More trash is produced in December than any other month of the year and the Department of Environmental Quality urges you to recycle. DEQ spokesman Greg Langley says plenty of people got new gifts that require batteries this holiday season. Langley encourages folks to be smart and keep batteries out of landfills…

cut 8 (10) “throw it away”

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Monroe man after a hate crime sent one to the hospital. Authorities say 23-year-old Tarus Williams went into a Richwood store and began harassing a store employee with racial slurs. When the employee attempted to get the suspect to leave the store, Williams smashed a glass bottle on his head. The victim was treated at a local hospital. Williams is charged with a hate crime and second degree battery.

Tonight’s PowerBall jackpot has climbed to a massive 300 million dollars, one of the biggest we’ve seen in the last 10 years. Emelie Gunn has more…

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Louisiana had more police officer shot and killed in the line of duty in 2015 than any other state in the country…

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State Police has arrested an Independence Police officer accused of stealing money from people he pulled over. They say 25-year-old Laquinton Banks, who’s been with the department for five months, stole $1,600 from non-English speaking Hispanic males during the course of traffic stops on several occasions. Banks is charged with felony theft, malfeasance in office, and hate crimes.

The final day of Louisiana’s 2015 tax amnesty is tomorrow. State Department of Revenue spokesperson Kizzy Payton says this is the very last chance for eligible tax payers to settle their debt with the state. She says the Department of Revenue has other tools to use if someone doesn’t pay their delinquent taxes…

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She says offices will be open on New Year’s Eve to accept payments.

The holidays produce more trash than any other time of the year and the Department of Environmental Quality urges you to recycle. DEQ spokesman Greg Langley says although you may have accumulated a lot of trash through the holiday season, a lot of that can be reused…

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Langley also encourages people to recycle Christmas trees.

A report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund reveals 9 officers were killed in the line of duty this year in Louisiana, triple the number from 2014. Chairman Craig Floyd hopes this increase in on-duty officer deaths isn’t a trend for the future…

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Louisiana led the nation in the number of law enforcement officers shot and killed in the line of duty this year.

Tomorrow is the final day of Louisiana’s 2015 tax amnesty program. State Department of Revenue spokesperson Kizzy Payton says Louisianans won’t get an opportunity like this again for at least 10 years. She says they will be open on New Year’s Eve to accept payments…

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You can get more information online at www-dot-ldrtaxamnesty-dot-com.

More trash is produced during the month of December and the Department of Environmental Quality urges you to recycle. DEQ spokesman Greg Langley encourages people to recycle Christmas trees because it not only reduces the amount of material that goes into landfills, but the trees are put to a beneficial use…

cut 7 (08) “for compost”

He says local governments throughout the state have different tree recycling programs and you can get more information at deq-dot-louisiana-dot-gov.

Tonight’s $300 million PowerBall jackpot could probably cheer up someone’s New Year’s party. Kimberly Chopin with the Louisiana Lottery says PowerBall seems to get a hit more often during the holiday season…

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Chopin reminds players to get their tickets before 9PM tonight.

Louisiana’s 2015 tax amnesty program ends tomorrow, December 31st. Kizzy Payton with the State Department of Revenue says this is the time to call the Department to set up a payment arrangement or agreement to settle your delinquent tax debts. She says Louisianians won’t get this opportunity again for a while…

cut 13 (10) “until 2025”

Payton says eligible tax payers can make their payments online at www-dot-ldrtaxamnesty-dot-com.

PowerBall jackpot has reached a whopping 300 million dollars with a cash value of 184 million dollars. Kimberly Chopin with the Louisiana Lottery says we’ve already had smaller PowerBall winners throughout Louisiana because of the recent changes to their matrix…

cut 4 (06) “in PowerBall”

Chopin says this PowerBall jackpot is one of the largest we’ve seen in the last 10 years.

Louisiana had more law enforcement officers shot and killed in the line of duty this year than any other state in the nation. A report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund revealed 9 total officers were killed in the line of duty this year, triple the number from 2014. Chairman Craig Floyd says five officers were shot and murdered while on the job in 2015….

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Floyd says there are now laws in all 50 states that say drivers must slow down and move over when you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road to give officers an added margin of safety.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is closely monitoring levels along the Red and Mississippi Rivers due to rising water levels. Eric Gill reports..:
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Two employees at the Office of Motor Vehicles allegedly stole more than $200,000 in cash over three years while working in the customer payments department, according to a legislative audit. Heather Prather and Angelle Temple were arrested and fired earlier this year. The auditor recommends the OMV change its cash handling procedures.

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office says a child custody situation in Stonewall has left the grandfather murdered. Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle believes the incident stemmed from a dispute involving 36-year-old Donovan Carman’s taking the two-year-old child. The victim tried to intervene when he was killed. Arbuckle says formal first degree murder charges will be filed against Carman as soon as they take custody of the suspect…:
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The victim, 67-year-old Bobby Nichols, was transported to an area hospital where he later died.

LSU star running back Leonard Fournette needs 259 yards tonight in the Texas Bowl to reach 2,000 on the season. The Tigers and Red Raiders are battling it out in NRG Stadium. Fournette told reporters in Houston that he didn’t set any goals for this season…:
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The game officially sold out.

There’s a potential we could see some major flooding to start the New Year on Louisiana’s rivers due to increasing water levels from all the rain we’ve been having. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Kevin Davis says they’re working with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service to keep an eye on river levels…:
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The Red is expected to crest at 31 feet, one foot above flood stage, in Shreveport and remain below flood stage in Alexandria. Mississippi River levels are expected to crest 9 to 12 feet above flood stage in Vicksburg, Natchez, and Baton Rouge.

A species of bird that has never been recorded in Louisiana was found by a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist in Jeff Davis Parish. A pyrrhuloxia (pear-a-lucksia), a desert cardinal which is normally only found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, will bring the official list of birds of Louisiana to 480 species.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette could become the first SEC back to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a season if gets 259 yards on the ground tonight in the Texas Bowl. LSU is facing Texas Tech in NRG Stadium. When asked by reporters in Houston if there was any truth to rumor that he’d sit out next season ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft, Fournette said no…:
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The Red Raiders defense is allowing more than 270 yards per game on the ground.

Suspected drunk drivers in Acadiana could be ordered by a judge to provide a blood or urine sample to determine if they are impaired and refuse a breathalyzer test. State Police Troop I Spokesman Brooks David says the “No Refusal” campaign takes place today and tomorrow. He urges adults to make smart choices after drinking and to never get behind the wheel…:
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