Today, the Elmer Chocolate factory in Ponchatoula cuts the ribbon on a 40-million dollar expansion. Halen Doughty has more…
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The special session ends at midnight tonight, and there’s still uncertainty surrounding the budget for next fiscal year. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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Law enforcement is mourning over the loss of a sheriff’s deputy from suburban New Orleans. Halen Doughty has details on the investigation…
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President Obama signed a bill into law that puts regulations in place to make chemical plants safer. U.S. Senator David Vitter is a co-sponsor of the legislation and says this benefits Louisiana residents, because it creates a federal system to make sure chemicals are made safely based on the latest science…
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Vitter says the law gives a reasonable set of regulations with a single handbook that our companies can follow to remain a world leader in innovation. He says before this, states were developing their own inconsistent regulatory systems which wasn’t working.
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Vitter says this law gives the EPA the tools they need to properly test chemical plants in a timely manner so the burdens placed on the manufacturers aren’t extreme. He says the chemical industry is in support of these new regulations.
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The Ponchatoula-based company Elmer Chocolate cuts the ribbon on their new $40 million expansion today. Elmer president and CEO, Robert Nelson, says they are excited to open their expanded facility right here in the Bayou State.
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Elmer is best known for its Easter candy, but Nelson says that only accounts for 10-percent of their total sales. Nelson says the new facility will include technology to make the company more efficient. He says this is good news for Elmer’s employees.
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The expansion is 70-thousand feet, bringing the total plant to 400-thousand square feet. Nelson says they will not make any new chocolates, but…
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There’s uncertainty involving next fiscal year’s budget as the second special session ends today. Lawmakers have approved legislation that raises tax revenues by $258 million. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there could be one more attempt to raise even more revenue, as the Edwards administration is pushing legislators to approve a bill that would reduce a tax break many upper income earners enjoy.
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Pinsonat says it’s unlikely the House will go along with the attempt to reduce the excess itemize deduction that can be claimed on state income taxes. He says the governor’s level of success in this second special session will come down to this bill.
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Legislators also have to determine how to allocate the revenues that have been generated in this special session. Pinsonat says there are still questions over how much money lawmakers really have to work with.
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The special session ends tonight at midnight.
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Law enforcement around the state are mourning the death of 50-year-old Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Deputy David Michel, who was fatally shot yesterday while attempting to conduct a pedestrian stop. Police say a suspect is in custody. JPSO Chief Deputy Craig Taffaro says it’s a sad day for those who knew Michel.
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Authorities say Michel was shot three times in the back after an altercation with a black male pedestrian. After the shooting he was rushed to a local hospital, where he died less than an hour later. Taffaro says he spoke with Michel’s father when he was driving in from Mississippi.
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Michel worked in street crimes and had been with the sheriff’s office since 2007. Taffaro says he knew Michel well because the two worked in the 4th District at one time.
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The Pelicans have the sixth overall pick in tonight’s NBA draft. Fox Sports college basketball writer Aaron Torres says several mock drafts have the Bees taking Providence point guard Kris Dunn…
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The Pelicans might want to use their first round pick on a good shooter. Two of the best shooters in this draft are Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield and Kentucky’s Jamal Murray. Torres says there’s a good chance one of those players will be available at six…
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Former LSU star Ben Simmons is expected to be the number one overall pick and join the Philadelphia 76ers rebuilding effort. Duke’s Brandon Ingram would be the other potential number one pick. Many question if Simmons deserves to be the top overall pick after failing to lead LSU to the NCAA Tournament. But Torres predicts Simmons will have a great NBA career…
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New Louisiana Tech Head Baseball Coach Lane Burroughs says plans to take the Bulldogs to Omaha. Burroughs says he’s not shy about high expectations…
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The Bulldogs are coming off a season where they reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 29 seasons. Burroughs says he has no problem with fans who expect postseason play every year…
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