1:30 LRN Newscast Dec 29

Former state lawmaker Vic Stelly, mastermind of the “Stelly Plan” state tax reform of 2002, died over the weekend of COVID-19. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the 79-year-old Stelly had a vision for a new way of funding state government using income taxes instead of sales taxes.

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Vic’s wife, Terry Stelly, died of COVID 13 hours after her husband passed away.

Vaccines at two VA homes were administered Monday to residents and staff. Roughly 40-percent of all fatalities from COVID have been in nursing home settings. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson Brandee Patrick says, however, they will continue to follow CDC and CMS guidelines.

Cut 11 (11) “…new guidance.”

Two house fires killed three residents over the weekend in North Louisiana. Ashley Rodrigue, spokesperson for the State Marshal says a 63-year-old man was killed Sunday in Eros, and on Saturday a couple in their 60s perished in Shreveport. She says Shreveport firefighters entered through the front door to attack the blaze of the couple’s home.

Cut 3 (10)  “…that man.”

She says the front door had a locked deadbolt on that was keyed on both sides. Both fires remain under investigation and the identities of the fatalities have not been released.

A Legislative task force is studying whether Louisiana elections should move to a closed primary system and will submit its recommendations by the next regular session. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat..
Cut 5 (08) “…Presidential.”