In the early stages of this special session, we are already seeing a resistance from Republican lawmakers to raise taxes to address a 648-million dollar revenue shortfall. Matt Doyle has the story…
voicer 3 (31) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

NOAA is calling for 10-16 named storms, five to nine hurricanes and one to four major hurricanes this year.

Procter and Gamble confirms an employee died at its manufacturing facility in Pineville. The company says the worker was on a forklift, but no other details have been released.

Many are heading out today for their Memorial Day weekend destination. AAA estimates a five-percent increase in the number of travelers nationwide, even though gas prices are about 50-cents higher this year. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says if gas prices keep going up, it could affect future summer travel plans….
cut 5 (12) “…less travel”

ULM has been approved for a new medical school in partnership with The Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, who was granted the license. A 100-thousand square foot facility will be built on the campus and classes are scheduled to begin in the fall of 2020. ULM President Nick Bruno says that means there will be more room for medical students to stay in Louisiana.
Cut 12 (08) “640 students”

House Ways and means will begin discussing potential fixes to the 648 million dollar budget shortfall that involve potentially renewing a portion of the one point four billion in expiring sales taxes, or tax reform that would generate new revenue. It’s the first public heavy lifting of the special session, and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says time is running out to find a fix.

Cut 11 (10) “address this”

Despite higher gas prices, AAA estimates nearly 42-million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. That’s a five-percent increase from last year. AAA Spokesman Don Redman says with the abundance of travelers this weekend, commuters normally taking the interstate can expect some delays today and tomorrow afternoon.

Cut 6 (13) “vacation”

LSU’s only Heisman winner, running back Billy Cannon was laid to rest yesterday. Michael Farrar has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Michael Farrar”

The Louisiana Air National Guard sent an aviation team to the US-Mexico border in Texas to provide air support to ongoing Border Patrol actions. One LUH-72 Lakota, along with two pilots and one crew chief will be equipped with an infrared camera and recording capabilities. The team has been approved for an initial 90 day deployment.

The House Ways and Means committee meets this morning and we’ll see if the panel approves legislation to keep a portion of a one-cent sales tax that’s set to expire on June 30th. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says she opposes any tax increases….
cut 13 (10) “….stay afloat”
The governor says about 650-million dollars in revenue is needed to prevent cuts to higher education, TOPS and other state services.

A state sales tax discount is in effect for hurricane supplies on Saturday and Sunday. Louisiana Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says it’s a great opportunity to pick up some essentials…
cut 14 (09) “….sales tax”
Heavy rains are possible this weekend, because of a tropical disturbance that has a high chance of forming into a tropical depression in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Despite higher gas prices, AAA estimates nearly 42-million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. That’s a five-percent increase from last year and the highest number of travelers in more than a dozen years. AAA Spokesman Don Redman says about 37-million travelers will hit the road…
Cut 4 (12) “last year”
He says families are seeing some added incentives this summer with almost a 7% percent decrease in airfare prices, 11% in car rentals, and depending on the hotel, travelers could save about 14% compared to last year.

LSU football legend Billy Cannon has reached his final resting place. During a funeral service on the LSU campus, former Angola Warden Burl Cain spoke about the amount of respect Cannon had, as he ran the prison’s dental clinic. Cain says when Doctor Cannon suffered a stroke a few years ago, they wanted to make sure an ambulance got him to a hospital…
cut 8 (12) “…the road”

Despite higher gas prices, AAA estimates nearly 42-million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. Connor Ferrill has the story.
Cut 1 (28) Connor Ferrill“

It’s the third day of the special session that’s been called to address the loss of over one-billion dollars in temporary sales taxes. Governor John Bel Edwards is urging the legislature to approve 650-million dollars to avoid going over the fiscal cliff. Bills dealing with a temporary one-cent sales tax are on the House Ways and Means agenda today.

LSU’s only Heisman winner, running back Billy Cannon, was laid to rest Wednesday, surrounded by friends, family, and fans. Cannon had a legendary football career and also spent a good portion of his life running the dental clinic at Angola. Warden Darrel Vannoy says after news got out that Cannon had died, the inmates took up a collection for his casket.
Cut 7 (11) “that man”
Cannon leaves behind his wife Dot Cannon and five children.

The National Hurricane Center says a tropical or subtropical depression is likely to form by Saturday night over the eastern or central Gulf of Mexico. The system will increase rain chances along the Gulf coast this weekend. And on Saturday and Sunday, consumers can receive a discount on state sales taxes when purchasing hurricane preparedness items. Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson…
cut 15 (06) “…instead of late”

The special session is back in action and lawmakers are struggling to find a compromise that will produce a passable budget. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana National Guard has sent an aviation team to provide air support along the Texas-Mexico border. The military helicopter that the National Guard is providing has an infrared camera for night time operations and recording capabilities. Two pilots and one crew chief will work the 90-day deployment.
NOAA releases its predictions for the upcoming hurricane season today. On Saturday and Sunday, consumers can receive a discount on state sales taxes when purchasing hurricane preparedness items. Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson….
cut 16 (12) “…picked clean”
The National Hurricane Center gives an area of low pressure over the Yucatan Peninsula an 80-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Southeast Louisiana could see heavy rainfall.

Humorous stories were told at Wednesday’s funeral of LSU legend Billy Cannon. Former teammate and friend Jimmy Field said he once asked the Heisman Trophy winner if had butterflies before fielding a punt. Cannon didn’t even hesitate….
cut 9 (07) “…are full”
Cannon died Sunday morning at the age of 80.

The special session is off to a slow start as legislators struggle to find a fix to the 648-million dollar budget shortfall that could devastate healthcare and education. 1.4 billion dollars in sales taxes are set to expire, and Governor John Bel Edwards has called on legislators to renew a portion of that to fix state finances. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says that would save education and healthcare from deep cuts….
cut 10 (09) “….July 1″
Houma Representative Republican Beryl Amedee says the governor’s decision to veto the budget has caused chaos in the capitol, and threatens to throw a wrench in the legislative process.
Cut 12 (10) “seems irrational”
This special session is set to end June 4th.

LSU’s only Heisman winner, running back Billy Cannon was laid to rest yesterday. Michael Farrar has more.
Cut 2 (30) I’m Michael Farrar”

At the SEC Baseball tournament, LSU lost 4-3 to Florida and the Tigers will play South Carolina in an elimination game at 1:00 today.

Despite higher gas prices, AAA estimates nearly 42-million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (28)   Connor Ferrill“

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LSU’s only Heisman winner, running back Billy Cannon was laid to rest yesterday. Michael Farrar has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Michael Farrar”

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The special session is back in action and lawmakers struggling to find a compromise that will produce a passable budget. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Despite higher gas prices, AAA estimates nearly 42-million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. That’s a five-percent increase from last year and the highest number of travelers in more than a dozen years. AAA Spokesman Don Redman says about 37-million travelers will hit the road…

Cut 4  (12) “last year” 

Just over three-million people are expected to fly to their destination next weekend and travel by train, bus or cruise ships is up two-percent. He says families are seeing some added incentives this summer with almost a 7% percent decrease in airfare prices, 11% in car rentals, and depending on the hotel, travelers could save about 14% compared to last year. He says if gas prices continue to increase it could affect travel…

Cut 5  (12)  “less travel”

With the abundance of travelers this weekend, commuters normally taking the interstate can expect some delays today and tomorrow afternoon.

Cut 6 (13) “vacation”

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LSU’s only Heisman winner, running back Billy Cannon, was laid to rest Wednesday, surrounded by friends, family, and fans. Several people spoke and gave their best memories of one of the greatest athletes in Bayou State history. Angola Warden Darrel Vannoy says after news got out that Cannon had died, the inmates took up a collection for his casket.

Cut 7 (11)  “that man”

Former Angola Warden Burl Cain talked about the time Dr. Cannon, the head of  the State Penitentiary’s Dental Program, had a stroke. Cain says he called for an ambulance and only the best would do.

Cut 8 (12)  “the road”

Teammate and friend Jimmy Field says one time an LSU teammate asked Cannon if he was getting any butterflies during the run up to a punt return. Cannon didn’t even hesitate.

Cut 9 (07)  “are full”

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The special session is rolling along with legislators struggling to find a fix to the 648 million dollar budget shortfall that could devastate healthcare and education. One point four billion dollars in sales taxes are set to expire, and Governor John Bel Edwards has called on legislators to renew a portion of that to fix state finances. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says that would save education and healthcare from deep cuts.

Cut 10 (09)   “july 1″

The governor vetoed a budget passed at the end of the regular session that hacked higher ed and state agency budgets, and no budget bill has been filed for the special session. Dardenne says the clock is running down on an opportunity to save the budget.

Cut 11 (10) “address this”

Houma Representative Republican Beryl Amedee says the governor’s decision to veto the budget has caused chaos in the capitol, and threatens to throw a wrench in the legislative process.

Cut 12 (10) “seems irrational”

Amedee says she’s having a hard time justifying any renewal of the expiring taxes to plug the budget gaps while her home district is struggling economically.

Cut 13 (10)  “stay afloat” 

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The state will hold a sales tax holiday this Saturday and Sunday for storm supplies to help folks get a jump start on their hurricane preparedness. State taxes will be reduced from the usual 5 percent to 3 percent. Department of Revenue Spokesman Byron Henderson says it’s a great opportunity to pick up some essentials.

The House Ways and Means committee held its first hearing of the special session and it became more of a gripe session. Republicans on the panel criticized the Edwards administration for vetoing a budget in the regular session, and expressed concerns about raising revenues, instead of finding savings. Democrats are also frustrated, New Roads Representative Major Thibaut.

Cut 12 (10)   “it permanently”

The state is facing a 648 million dollar shortfall that could lead to mass reductions in healthcare services, higher education funding, and TOPS.

Oil City Representative Republican Jim Morris says leaning on taxes now means more taxes later.

Cut 13 (10) “been in”

Reports indicate that a consensus may be growing on plugging a portion of the budget shortfall by renewing half of the one penny sales tax that is set to expire. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says the Edwards administration is not asking for an overall increase in taxes, because renewing just some of the expiring revenue would still be a tax cut relative to last year…

Cut 14 (09)  “a cut”

As a way to generate revenue, the Edwards administration is also propsing the elimination of ceratin sales tax breaks enjoyed by specific industries and buisinesses, known as “cleaning the penny”. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey says he prefers spending reform as a way to address the fiscal cliff…

Cut 15 (14) “support”