Leaders in the state legislature are beginning to formulate their plans for tax reform legislation to be debated in the regular session that begins next month. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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The state has hit another milestone in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Brook Thorington has the story…
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Legislative leaders say they are putting together a tax reform plan that will be debated during the regular session that begins April 12th. Senate President Page Cortez says because of the complexity of the current tax structure, they want to bring stability, simplicity, and predictability to the state’s tax code
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Cortez says the highest priority is to create a centralized state and local sales tax collection. He says Louisiana is one of three states not to have one, which makes it more difficult on businesses when it comes to paying taxes.
Cortez says phasing out the property tax businesses pay on inventory and reducing and simplifying the corporate franchise tax are other proposals that will be debated.
He says Senate and House leaders are also looking at eliminating the ability for taxpayers to deduct federal income taxes they pay on their state returns, which could lead to an overall lower income tax rate…
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During an AARP Tele-Town Hall meeting, New Orleans physician Dr. Eric Griggs answered questions about COVID-19 and the vaccines. Griggs says the three vaccines available underwent thorough testing, Johnson and Johnson had 30-thousand clinical trial participants and 75-thousand people in the Pfizer and Moderna trials.
Griggs says it’s important not to take anything like Tylenol before you are vaccinated to dull your immune response to the vaccine however you can take pain relief after your injection.
When it comes to behavior after you have been vaccinated Griggs says because of variants of the virus you still need to continue to social distance and wear masks. As for travel and visiting with others outside your immediate household…
To hear the complete town hall, visit AARP Louisiana’s Facebook page.
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New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said today that Tulane police officer Martinus Mitchum was fatally shot on Friday by a man who tried to force his way into a high school basketball playoff game. Ferguson says Mitchum was working as a security guard and tried to escort the gunman out of the building after he hit an employee working at the door
Officer Mithum was rushed to University Medical Center where he died and 35-year-old John Shallerhorn was quickly arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder of a police officer. Ferguson calls Mitchum a hero for making sure Shallerhorn didn’t get inside the gym…
It’s been reported Shallerhorn became irate after being told he had to wear a mask at the Carver High School playoff game, but Ferguson can not confirm that
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The Louisiana Health Department says it expects to receive this week nearly 38-thousand doses of Johnson and Johnson’s newly approved COVID-19 vaccine. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says this is a single dose vaccine which could be especially beneficial for people who have difficulty taking time off of work
Kanter says the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is also a more durable vaccine and it can last up to three months in a refrigerator, whereas the other vaccines must be stored at very cold temperatures
Kanter says clinical trials on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine show its 100-percent effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths