Bishop Michael Duca is leaving the Diocese of Shreveport to succeed Robert Muench as the Bishop for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Duca says he’s surprised by the appointment made by the Vatican, but looking forward to the opportunity….
cyt 14 (10) “…reservation”
Duca has been the bishop of Shreveport for the last ten years.

The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s office arrests an ex-boyfriend in the death of a 20-year-old woman, who was found dead in her home yesterday. Sheriff Bud Torres says 21-year-old Eric Duhon Junior confessed to killing Madeline Falgout….
cut 5 (11) “….matter to rest”
Torre says it appears a baseball bat was used to kill Falgout.

The traffic death of a Sterlington officer in 2016 has yielded a 15 year sentence for a 46-year-old Louisianan,,,.
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

State Police arrest a 23-year-old Jonesville man for a fatal hit and run that killed a 14-year-old girl taking out the garbage. Troopers say Earl Hancock lost control on Taylor Road in Catahoula Parish and hit Cadance Parker and then fled the scene. Hancock was apprehended a short time later and authorities believe he was under the influence when the wreck happened.

The fiscal cliff is officially gone as the Revenue Estimating Conference recognized 500-million dollars in revenue that will be used to shield TOPS, public colleges and most state agencies from cuts after July 1st. The REC heard from the state’s legislative economist and then Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne called for a vote to recognize the money…

Cut 13 (07) “…recognized.” 

Over three decades ago The Bossier Educational Excellence Fund was started with just $500,000 from the yearly state tax revenue of Louisiana Downs. Now, that fund has grown to over $50 million, and the man that’s credited with its start, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, recalls the time when the then Governor, Edwin Edwards, gave the green light for the account.

Cut 6 (13)  “for classroom experience.”

Campbell estimates the fund continues to grow by about 2-3 million annually.

The man who struck and killed a Sterlington police officer, David Elahi with his car in 2016 was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. Elahi was standing behind the fog line conducting a traffic stop when 46-year-old Tracy Govan’s vehicle crossed over the marker and struck three officers. Prosecutors say Govan was intoxicated, because two hours later he blew a .062 blood alcohol level, but Govan’s Attorney Louis Scott says that’s not over the limit.

Cut 10 (12) “.08″

And now commodities

The fiscal cliff is officially gone as the Revenue Estimating Conference recognized 500-million dollars in revenue that will be used to shield TOPS, public colleges and most state agencies from cuts after July 1st. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne led the meeting, one day after the governor signed a new sales tax bill into law…
cut 12 (11) “…we have”

Higher ed officials are welcoming the new budget that preserves university and TOPS funding. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) I’m Matt Doyle.“

An ex-boyfriend has been charged with second-degree murder in the apparent beating death of a 20-year-old Pointe Coupee Parish woman. Madeline Falgout was found dead in her home yesterday in Fordoche. Sheriff Bud Torres says they believe the murder weapon is a baseball bat, but an exact motive has not been determined…
cut 4 (08) “…should have more”
Torres says 21-year-old Eric Duhon Junior confessed to the murder.

The man who struck and killed a Sterlington police officer, David Elahi with his car in 2016 was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. 46-year-old Tracy Govan was found guilty of vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injury in February. Govan’s Attorney, Louis Scott, says it’s a shocking sentence considering his client’s clean record and the fact it was an accident.
cut 9 (09) “that nature”
Elahi was standing behind the fog line conducting a traffic stop when Govan’s vehicle crossed over the marker and struck three officers.

Higher education is celebrating the passage of the budget and tax plan that saves universities and TOPS from further budget cuts. Without the passage of the 4.45 percent sales tax, TOPS was on the block for a 30 percent cut, with higher ed looking at tens of millions in reduced funding. Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed says now that the system has stabilized funding, they can get to work building on their recent success and increasing the quality of education in the state.

Cut 6 (07) “education.”

Even with that tax reduction coming up July 1^st, economist from the Tax Foundation, Scott Drenkard, says residents still pay the most expensive sales tax rate in the nation. Often it’s the local retailers that feel the biggest negative impact when it comes to the high sales tax rate.

Cut 8 (07)  “…sales tax areas.”

Following the discovery of 20-year-old girl dead in her home in Fordoche, her ex-boyfriend is now in custody.  Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Bud Torres says 21 year old Eric Duhon Junior was arrest last night and booked this morning, charged with second-degree murder in the death of Madeline Falgout.

Cut 3 (10) “…building our case.”

Investigators say a family member discovered Falgout inside her home on Monday.  Duhon is being held in the parish jail.

The man who hit a Sterlington police officer, David Elahi with his car in 2016 for was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in connection with the death of that officer. 46-year-old Tracy Govan was found guilty of vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injury back in February. District Attorney Steve Tew, who tried the case, says he “hopes the gamily of the officer can now find a way to heal from this horrific tragedy. “

Govan blew a .0062 blood alcohol level two hours after the crash. The legal limit is .008.

Higher education is celebrating the passage of the budget and tax plan that saves universities and TOPS from further budget cuts. Without the passage of the 4.45 percent sales tax bill, TOPS was on the block for a 30 percent cut and higher ed was looking at tens of millions of dollars in cuts. Higher Education Commissioner Dr. Kim Hunter Reed credits the students who let their voices to be heard…
Cut 4 (09) “phone bank.”

House Bill 10, which provides the funding for higher ed, was approved in the House on a 74-24 vote. Several Republican lawmakers opposed previous efforts to renew a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh on how the Edwards administration got the votes…
cut 11 (11) “…people off”
Seabaugh made the comments on KEEL Radio.
On July 1st, Louisiana’s sales tax rate will go from 5 to 4.45 percent. Kevin Barnhart reports consumers will continue to pay the most expensive sales tax rate in the nation…
Voicer 2 (31) ” I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

St. John the Baptist Parish judge Jeff Perilloux has been indicted on three felony counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and one count of misdemeanor sexual battery. The 50-year-old judge denies accusations he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and groped two other teens. Perilloux took a leave absence in May.

TOPS students and their parents are breathing a sigh of relief as the state has fully funded the scholarship program as a result of renewing .45 percent of an expiring one-cent sales tax. And new Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed forsees TOPS being fully funded for the next several years…
cut 5 (09) “…preparation”

Louisiana’s sales tax rate on Saturday, which is the start of a new fiscal year, will go from five-percent to 4.45 as result of legislation approved in the third special session of the year. But Tax Foundation Economist Scott Drenkard says Louisiana residents will still pay the most expensive sales tax rate in the nation, when you combine state and local sales taxes….
cut 7 (06) “….ahead of Tennessee”

GOP lawmakers who voted against the final tax bill are speaking out against the legislation that sets the sales tax rate 4.45 percent. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The ex-boyfriend of a 20-year-old woman found dead in her Pointe Coupee Parish home has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. 21-year-old Eric Duhon Junior was booked this morning. Madeline Falgout was found dead inside her home yesterday and officials say a baseball bat appears to be the murder weapon.

Higher ed officials are welcoming the new budget that preserves university and TOPS funding. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) I’m Matt Doyle.“

But Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh says the legislature’s decision to renew nearly half an expiring one-cent sales tax will be bad for Louisiana’s economy….
cut 12 (06) “…thousand jobs”
The new state sales tax rate of 4.45 percent will go into effect Saturday.

The Vatican announces Bishop Michael Duca, the current Bishop of Shreveport, is leaving to replace Bishop Robert Muench, who is retiring as the leader of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Duca has been Bishop of Shreveport since May of 2008.

Homicide detectives in Pointe Coupee Parish are looking to make an arrest in the death of a 20-year-old woman who was found dead in her home in Fordoche yesterday morning. Sheriff Bud Torres says they have a person of interest…
cut 14 (10) “…standpoint”
Torres says they believe a baseball bat was used to kill Madeline Falgout.

New Orleans police arrest a 36-year-old man after he allegedly stabbed two people after his drink was knocked over at a Bourbon Street bar. Authorities say Gomes-Taylor Dumar used a knife to cut a teenager and stabbed a 36-year-old man. Both victims were taken to the hospital, but there has not been an update on their conditions.

Louisiana’s sales tax rate will drop from five-percent to 4.45 percent on Saturday. But Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh takes issue with the governor’s claim that it’s a tax cut, because the sales tax was scheduled to go down to four-percent on July 1st.
Cut 10 (10) “dice it.”

And according to the Tax Foundation, the state’s new combined state and local sales tax will still be the highest in the country at 9.47-percent, slightly higher than Tennessee. But Tax Foundation economist Scott Drenkard says Louisiana ranks much lower when it comes to property and state income taxes…
cut 9 (13) “…six percent”

The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s office is hoping to make an arrest soon in the the death of a 20-year-old woman. Sheriff Bud Torres says their investigation started yesterday morning….
cut 13 (07) “….foul play”
The victim has been identified as Madeline Falgout and Torres says the murder weapon appears to be a baseball bat and detectives have a person of interest.

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s deputies believe a man and woman found shot in a vehicle along I-55 north near Amite is a possible attempt at murder-suicide. At last report, both subjects are in critical, but yet stable condition. And the sheriff’s office says the two individuals are not local residents.

Higher ed officials are welcoming the new budget that preserves university and TOPS funding. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30)  I’m Matt Doyle.“

_____________________________________________

Even with the sales tax plan that will see the state sales tax rate go from 5 percent to 4.45 percent coming up July 1^st, Louisiana residents still pay the most expensive sales tax rate in the nation.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) ”  I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

____________________________________________________

GOP lawmakers who voted against the final tax bill are speaking out against the legislation that sets the sales tax at 4.45 percent. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

_____________________________________________

Higher education is celebrating the passage of the budget and tax plan that saves universities and TOPS from further budget cuts. Without the passage of the 4.45 percent sales tax, TOPS was on the block for a 30 percent cut, with higher ed looking at tens of millions in reduced funding. Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Reed says a mobilization of students helped push the bill over the finish line.

Cut 4  (09) “phone bank.”

TOPS once again avoided any structural changes, despite early session pushes to raise the academic bar for qualification. The solvency of the scholarship will likely continue to be an issue though, with record numbers of students now qualifying for the program, due to increased test scores in Louisiana high schools. Reed says that shouldn’t deter lawmakers from continuing funding.

Cut 5  (09)  “preparation.”

Reed says now that the system has stabilized funding, they can get to work building on their recent success and increasing the quality of education in the state.

Cut 6 (07) “education.”

___________________________________________________

Even with the sales tax plan that will see the state sales tax rate go from 5 percent to 4.45 percent coming up July 1^st, economist from the Tax Foundation, Scott Drenkard, says residents still pay the most expensive sales tax rate in the nation.

Cut 7 (12)  “…ahead of Tennessee.”

Drenkard says often it’s the local retailers that feel the biggest negative impact when it comes to the high sales tax rate.

Cut 8 (07)  “…sales tax areas.”

While the sales tax rate being as high as it is in the state, Drenkard says Louisiana does have more desirable tax rates in other areas, such as property taxes and income taxes.

Cut 9 (13)  “…at six percent.”

______________________________________________

The sales tax bill that fully funds healthcare and higher ed passed with two thirds support, but those who voted nay are speaking out against the legislation that raises 466 million dollars and sets the sales tax rate at 4.45 percent. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh takes issue with the governor’s claim that it’s a tax cut, just because it means a half cent lower sales tax than Louisiana had last year.

Cut 10 (10)   “dice it.”

Seabaugh made headlines during the last special session when he filibustered a last second attempt to vote on a tax deal that reportedly would have passed, guaranteeing that another special session would be called.

The tax plan came a long way from February, when it had little to no support from Republican legislators, but many of the GOP caucus members who eventually backed the tax bill say they couldn’t let crucial state services get axed. Despite those public statements, Seabaugh believes many Republicans were strong armed, or bribed into supporting legislation that he says is a tax increase.

Cut 11 (11) “people off.”

More than half of the GOP legislative caucus supported the final tax bill.

Seabaugh says the Governor’s tax plan will end up running people out of the state.

Cut 12 (06) “thousand jobs”

The interview was conducted on a Shreveport radio station.

______________________________________

A 20-year-old girl was found dead in her home in Fordoche, with investigators saying there appeared to be no forced entry. Madeline Falgout was discovered in the residence around 1045AM yesterday. The cause of death has not been officially determined, and Point Coupee Parish Sherriff Bud Torres says he suspects someone else was involved.

Cut 13 (07)  “foul play.” 

As of now, police suspect the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

No arrests have been made, nor are investigators sure what the motive for the crime may have been, but Torres says they may have narrowed down the list of suspects to people who were close to Falgout.