Governor Edwards will reportedly meet with business leaders today to discuss ideas on how to address a one-point-three billion dollar budget deficit that the state faces, because a bunch of temporary taxes expire next July. Publisher of la-politics-dot-com, Jeremy Alford, says raising income or business taxes maybe difficult, so they may look towards the sales tax…
cut 5 (10) “…showing up”
One penny of the state’s five-cent sales tax is set to sunset next year, but it could be kept on the books.

LSU System President F King Alexander announces faculty and staff will recieve a pay hike that will average three-percent. It’s the first raise in several years for LSU employees. Senate Faculy President Kevin Cope says other states provide pay hikes regularly to avoid attrition…
cut 15 (09) “…do this”
The raises take effect September 1st.

Thousands of homes were destroyed last August as a result of massive flooding in south Louisiana. U-S Representative Garret Graves says he’s pushing for better flood control projects, like the proposed Comite River Diversion Canal in the Baton Rouge area. Graves says elevating homes is only somewhat beneficial….
cut 11 (10) “….process”
Graves is also hopeful Congress will approve an improved flood insurance program next month.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has started a series of roundtable discussions with rural convention and visitor bureaus’ to improve tourism in those areas. Nungesser says they need to find a way to get those visitors out of the big cities and into other parts of the state. He says they also hope more Louisianans will choose to vacation in their home state.
Cut 9 (09) “haven’t seen”

Today, Governor John Bel Edwards holds a meeting with business and industry leaders to devise a plan for addressing a looming $1.3 billion fiscal cliff when temporary taxes expire in 2018.
cut 4 (10) “…not so clear”
That’s Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com who says the governor is looking to hear from the business community on what types of policy changes may be palatable, specifically tax increases.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the slow pace of funding getting into the hands of flood victims makes it difficult to push for more federal aid, because it’s hard to quantify unmet needs…
cut 10 (08) “…we’re made”
Graves says only one-percent of the two billion additional dollars allocated by the federal government has been dispersed to flooded homeowners.

Since higher education did not receive a budget cut for the current fiscal year, LSU System President F. King Alexander says faculty and staff will receive a pay raise averaging three-percent. Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope says this modest pay hike could save the university and state money in the long run, if it keeps the staff on campus….
cut 14 (12) “….of Louisiana”
The raises take effect September 1st.

Lafayette Police charge a 15-year-old with second murder in the shooting death of a 14-year-old. Authorities say the suspect and the victim were acquaintances, but did not provide details on a motive.

Governor John Bel Edwards is meeting with business leaders today in Baton Rouge to discuss ways to fill a looming budget gap. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has scheduled meetings in rural areas of the state to find a way to boost tourism in small towns. Halen Doughty has more…

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Congressman Garret Graves is concerned about flood recovery dollars getting into the hands of victims as the one year anniversary of the historic flood approaches. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Today Governor John Bel Edwards is holding a meeting with business and industry leaders to devise a plan for addressing a looming $1.3 billion fiscal cliff when temporary taxes expire in 2018. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says the governor is looking to hear from the business community what types of policy changes may be palatable, specifically tax increases. He suspects the governor is looking for a starting point.

Cut 4  (10) “not so clear”

Alford says we can expect to see the governor travelling the state to get ideas, after he was criticized for not publicizing his tax plan during the fiscal session. After two special sessions this year and two more last year, Alford says there’s not many options that haven’t already been on the table. He says if history is any indication of what’s to come, it may all come down to the sales tax.

Cut 5  (10)  “showing up”

Another special session is inevitable to address the cliff, as tax increases cannot be filed during the regular non fiscal session next year. Alford says it’s unclear when that session will be. He says if lawmakers can’t address the cliff during that session, the governor will have to call another.

Cut 6 (09) “capitol up”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is hoping to get more tourists to visit the rural areas of the Bayou State. That’s why he’s scheduled meetings in small Louisiana towns to find the best way to promote local attractions. He says these rural areas don’t always have the money or expertise to market their town.

Cut 7 (09)  “people around Louisiana”

Meetings will be held in Tallulah, Opelousas, Houma, and Hammond. Nungesser has already started promoting the rural areas of the state with the Louisiana Trails and Byways, which seeks to motivate travelers to take the backroads and see what the state has to offer. He says this is another step towards achieving that goal.

Cut 8 (10) “town around Louisiana”

Nungesser says with more direct international flights into New Orleans, they need to find a way to get those visitors out of the big cities and into other parts of the state. He says they’re also hoping more Louisianans will choose to vacation in their home state.

Cut 9 (09)  “haven’t seen”

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As Louisiana is approaching the one year anniversary of the historic flooding, Congressman Garret Graves is concerned with the slow pace of funding getting into the hands of flood victims. Graves says only one-percent of the two billion additional dollars allocated by the federal government has been dispersed to flooded homeowners. He says it’s very difficult to quantify the remaining unmet needs when so much money is in the bank.

Cut 10 (08) “were made”

Graves says we need to provide better recovery investments, like putting money into watershed projects, like the Comite Diversion Canal. He says elevating buildings after a flood is only somewhat beneficial.

Cut 11 (10) “our community”

Congress will soon renew the National Flood Insurance Program and Graves hopes to make significant improvements. Graves says the Army Corp of Engineers is not moving fast enough when it comes to flood mitigation projects. He says it’s time to reform that agency.

Cut 12 (11) “process”

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Some faculty and staff at LSU will get a pay raise. According to LSU President F. King Alexander, each department will receive a 3 percent merit raise pool, and department heads will determine how to dole out the funds. Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope says this is great news for faculty who haven’t seen a pay raise in years.

Cut 13 (09) “do their job”

Cope says this raise is welcomed as LSU is losing faculty members when they get offers from better funded universities. He says this modest pay increase could actually save the university and the state money in the long run if it keeps the staff on campus.

Cut 14 (12) “of Louisiana”

Cope says the faculty are grateful these first steps are being taken. But he says it’s odd this raise warrants a major discussion. He notes this is the kind of routine maintenance that other states do regularly to ensure the best and brightest stay in the state.

Cut 15 (09) “about this”

US Senator John Kennedy is disappointed Congress did not accomplish much before the August recess. He says tax reform will be a key issue when lawmakers reconvene in the fall. He says his plan would be to cut everyone’s tax bracket by two percent. He says that would benefit everyone, especially the middle class.

Cut 4 (09) “fiscal side”

New Orleans officials say the roughly 10 inches of rain that fell on Saturday was too much for the city’s pump stations to handle. Executive Director of the Sewerage and Water Board Cedric Grant says the pumps were running at full capacity, despite the rising flood waters.

Cut 9 (07) “designed limits”

The system is designed to pump out one inch of water in the first hour and half an inch for each subsequent hour.

Small business owners impacted by the 2016 floods are not completing the flood recovery survey as quickly as state officials had hoped. Lasonta Davenport with the Office of Community Development says 423 businesses have completed the survey that will help shape the small business loan program.

Cut 13 (11) “changes to that”

The survey is online at restore.la.gov.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the inaugural Flambeau Fest coming to Ascension Parish is another example of how tourism is alive and well in the Bayou State. He says the October 7 and 8 shows could begin another tradition that one day attracts visitors the way Jazzfest and Bayou Country Superfest do.

Cut 6 (10) “spend the weekend”

US Senator John Kennedy is disappointed Congress recessed for the summer without getting much accomplished. Kennedy believes some good was done with the approval of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. But he says his biggest disappointment was the failing to repeal and replace Obamacare by one vote.

Cut 3 (08) “tax cuts”

Kennedy says federal lawmakers will have a lot to do when they reconvene in the fall.

West Baton Rouge officials have reportedly recovered a body from the Intracoastal Canal. The body was discovered by kids on a wave board who contacted authorities. Cause of dead has not yet been determined. The male body has not been identified, but the sheriff says it’s possible it could be one of the suspects wanted for an aggravated kidnapping in Lafayette. The kidnapped woman was reportedly found safe in Baton Rouge earlier today.

Flood impacted small business owners are not completing the flood recovery survey as quickly as officials had hoped. Lasonta Davenport with the Office of Community Development says they’re asking small business owners to complete the survey so they can assess the needs in the state.

Cut 12 (09) “loan program”

Only 423 businesses have completed the survey so far.

City officials say the pumps were operating at 100 percent capacity when flood waters rose in New Orleans. Executive Director of the Sewerage and Water Board Cedric Grant says they did everything they could to prepare, but no one expected upwards of 10 inches of rain in only a few hours.

Cut 11 (10) “water came”

Grant says the rain event was too much for the city’s pump stations to handle.

Congress has recessed for the summer and many lawmakers are disappointed not much was accomplished. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A Sabine parish mother facing a murder charge after her two-year-old drowned and then tested positive for methamphetamine. Authorities say 23-year-old Christina Rivers’ son Mason was found in a neighbors Jacuzzi in June. She reportedly told authorities she left her son alone for a brief time, but autopsy confirmed he was in the hot tub for at least an hour.

State officials are hoping more flood impacted small business owners will complete the survey at restore.la.gov, as enrollment is lagging. Lasonta Davenport with the office of community development says the survey is quick and easy.

Cut 14 (12) “them personally”

Only 423 business owners have completed the survey so far.

The lineup has been announced for the inaugural Flambeau Fest in Ascension Parish, as tickets go on sale today for the October 7 and 8 event. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says this event will highlight a part of the state that normally isn’t a big tourist destination.

Cut 8 (08) “as well”

The fest will take place at Ascension Fields in Gonzales.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the coming of the inaugural Flambeau Fest in Ascension Parish, whose lineup was announced today, is another example of how tourism in Louisiana is alive and well…:
Cut 7 (10) “year after year”
Tickets went on sale today and you can get the link online at flambeaufest.com.

Congress has recessed for the summer and many lawmakers are disappointed not much was accomplished. U.S Senator John Kennedy says it’s time to get the economy growing at three-percent again because right now it’s at an embarrassing 1.8-percent. He says in the fall, Congress has a lot of work to accomplish…:
Cut 5 (11) “infrastructure bill”

Small business owners impacted by the 2016 floods are not completing the flood recovery survey as quickly as state officials had hoped. Lasonta Davenport with the Office of Community Development says 423 businesses out of 22,000 have completed the survey so far. She says the survey will help shape the program…:
Cut 13 (11) “changes to that”
The survey is online at restore.la.gov.

City officials say the roughly 10 inches of rain that fell on New Orleans Saturday was too much for the city’s 24 pump stations to handle. Executive Director of the Sewerage and Water Board Cedric Grant says they’ve estimated they should be spending $30 million a year on catch basin and subsurface drainage, but there’s not enough funding to make the necessary improvements…:
Cut 10 (06) “and repair”