The second special session of 2016 is underway and lawmakers are looking at their options to raise enough revenue to reduce cuts to state programs, like TOPS and hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured. Personal and corporate income taxes are an option for raising revenue, but Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says he is not okay with raising anymore taxes…:
cut 4 (09) “do that”
Senate President John Alario believes the legislature needs to raise about $450 million to ensure that TOPS, higher ed and safety net hospitals are adequately funded…:
Cut 6 (09) “the budget”
Governor John Bel Edwards is set to address a joint session of the legislature at this hour.

Natchitoches has unveiled plans for a Riverfront Improvement Project. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The University of New Orleans will soon have a new digital animation lab on campus. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart led the effort to secure a $94-thousand grant for the school’s new Innovation Lab. He says increased demand in this field is due to the growing need for animation in television, movies and other multimedia projects…:
Cut 13 (03) “like that”

This morning at 10am, Governor John Bel Edwards will be addressing a join session of the state legislature. This will kickoff the special session that was called to address a $600 million dollar revenue shortfall. Legislators have to pass a $4 billion construction budget that would pay for road work and improvements to public buildings and state parks. He isn’t happy the House failed to negotiate the construction spending plan during the regular session…:
Cut 9 (09) “the bill”
He says the budget passed in the regular session is in bad shape and revenues must be raised.

Plans have been unveiled for a Riverfront Improvement Project in Natchitoches. Mayor Lee Posey says says they hope to have everything ready in time for the Festival of Lights in November of 2017. He says there are lots of events on the riverbank, so this is a worthwhile project…:
Cut 16 (06) “really excited”

The University of New Orleans will soon have a new digital animation lab on campus. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart led the effort to secure a $94-thousand grant for the school’s new Innovation Lab. He says the lab will be equipped with computers, a 3D printer, motion capture equipment, and the software students need to complete all kinds of digital media projects..:
cut 12 (10) “digital cameras”

Its win or go home for the LSU Baseball team today after losing to Rice 10-6 last night to force a winner take all matchup in the Baton Rouge Regional. Coach Paul Mainieri says they just didn’t have it yesterday…:
CUT 1 (09) “different story”
First pitch is 4pm.

The second special session is underway, and Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on legislators to fix the state’s budget problems. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Senate President John Alario says he is not opposed to altering state income tax rates or removing exemptions, if it means all of the state’s priorities will be funded…:
CUT 7 (06) “it accomplished”
Lawmakers have also proposed reducing or eliminating some corporate tax exemptions.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says they are investigating the drowning death of a three year old in Terrytown. It’s reported it happened in a hot tub at an apartment complex.

The University of New Orleans will soon have a new digital animation lab on campus. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart led the effort to secure a $94-thousand grant for the school’s new Innovation Lab, which will be open to all students working on digital media projects. Rinehart says the department is working toward creating a new media and animation degree…:
cut 11 (05) “digital animation”
Rinehart says the lab should be open to students by the 2017 spring semester.

The lineup has been unveiled for this year’s Voodoo Fest and features The Weekend, Arcade Fire and Tool. The VOODOO Music and Arts Experience will run Halloween weekend, October 28th thru October 30th.

Lawmakers are looking at their options to raise revenue to fill the budget holes, as the second special session of 2016 is currently underway. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Governor Edwards is set to address a joint session of the state legislature at 10 this morning. Edwards says revenues need to be raised the budget that was passed in the regular session is in bad shape…:
Cut 8 (11) “172 million”

Plans have been unveiled for a Riverfront Improvement Project in Natchitoches. Mayor Lee Posey says the project will update some infrastructure along the river and improve handicap accessibility…:
cut 14 (11) “about this”
Posey says they hope to have everything ready by the beginning of next year so it can hopefully be done in time for the Festival of Lights in November of 2017.

A Baton Rouge man is behind bars for allegedly strangling his wife to death following an argument. The Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Donald Germany contacted family members and confessed to the crime.

The 2016 regular session has ended with lawmakers failing to approve a construction budget for next fiscal year. House leaders didn’t like the changes made to the spending measure by the Senate. The stalemate over the construction budget bill will have to be resolved in the special session.

Governor Edwards has signed the Louisiana Family Caregiver Act into law, which requires hospitals to offer caregivers instruction and demonstration of medical tasks. Andrew Muhl, with AARP Louisiana, says this legislation will save the state money by reducing costly hospital readmissions, as family caregivers will be able to perform the tasks patients need…
cut 8 (10) “….be required”
Twenty-two states have similar legislation.

The special session to also address a $600 million dollar budget shortfall is underway. LSU economist Jim Richardson also serves as the chairman of the task force for long term budget reform. He says one option to raise revenue is to change the income tax brackets, which would impact everyone…
CUT 5 (08) “notice it”
The special session must end by midnight on Thursday, June 23rd.

The court has appointed a fiscal administrator for St. Joseph, which is needed to stabilize the Tensas Parish town’s finances. The governor’s director of communications, Richard Carbo, says this is an important step towards bringing clear, clean drinking water for its citizens…
cut 11 (10) “….projects underway”
Once the town’s finances are in order, St. Joseph will be eligible to access eight million dollars in state funding to repair the drinking water system.

One session comes to an end and another one begins at the State Capitol. Halen Doughty spoke with political analyst Clancy Dubos on what passed and what didn’t in the regular session…
voicer 5 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

State lawmakers also approved a 26-billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. But with the state facing a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall, several areas of the budget are underfunded, like TOPS, public education, universities and hospitals.

A special session designed to raise revenues to close a 600-million dollar budget deficit begins at 6:30. A key bill to watch is House Bill 11, which would limit federal itemized deductions on income taxes. LSU economist Doctor Jim Richardson says this would mostly impact higher income taxpayers…
cut 4 (11) “…income brackets”

The Governor has signed the Louisiana Family Caregiver Act into law, which supporters say will provide critical help for families. Advocacy Director for AARP Louisiana, Andrew Muhl says this will assist the more than 660-thousand family members who help out an aging relative…:
CUT 6 (08) “more independently”
Muhl says this measure requires hospitals to offer caregivers instruction and demonstrations of medical tasks.

Lawmakers will begin a special session tonight at 6:30 pm to attempt to raise $600 million to close the budget deficit for next fiscal year. LSU economist Jim Richardson, also serves as the chairman of the task force for long term budget reform and says to raise that much money, lawmakers will likely have to alter personal income taxes….
cut 3 (11) “…do constituutionally”
Governor John Bel Edwards will address a joint session of the legislature at 10 AM tomorrow.

The Louisiana Family Caregiver Act has been signed into law. Advocacy director of the AARP Louisiana, Andrew Muhl, says the measure requires hospitals to offer caregivers instruction and demontrations of medical tasks…
cut 7 (07) “…post hospital stay”
Muhl says this measure should reduce costly hosptial readmissions as family caregivers will be to perform the tasks the patients need.

A fiscal administrator has been appointed for St. Joseph, which the governor’s office says is a significant step towards bringing clear drinking water to the Tensas Parish town. The governor’s communications director Richard Carbo it’s been a priority for John Bel Edwards since he took office…
cut 10 (07) “….finish line”
A fiscal administator is needed to get the town’s finances in order, so they can receive state funding to fix their drinking water system, which is currently producing brown looking water.

Authorities say a man who was urinating along Interstate 10 in St. Charles Parish started a chain of events that led a Houma man being killed and two others injured including a State Trooper. Trooper Melissa Matey says charges are pending against Louis Hernandez of Meridian, Mississippi…
cut 14 (05) “….emergency purpose”
A 42-year-old from Little Rock was critically injured and the unidentified trooper suffered minor injuries.