While the rest of the country is racing to file their taxes today, Louisiana is one of three states whose federal tax deadline is June 15th instead. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (31) “…Brooke Thorington”
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A dispute between Black Caucus members and House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo related to Garofalo’s comments about slavery threatens to tank major tax reform legislation. Matt Doyle has more.
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A poll is released ahead of today’s House floor discussion of regulating sports betting that shows most voters support sending all revenue generated by the activity to early childhood education. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The deadline to file 2020 federal taxes for the country is today however Louisiana residents still have until June 15th due to the February winter storms. Filing your 2020 taxes presents a few oddities, for example, if you received unemployment, Senior Tax Manager at Hannis T. Bourgeois in Baton Rouge, Brad Tate…
Tate says if you did already file your taxes before the law was changed to not tax less than ten thousand of unemployment there’s no need to amend your taxes, the IRS will send your return.
Tate says you also don’t have to claim income on any stimulus check received in 2020, however, if you failed to receive one…
Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma residents were given an extension until June 15th to file their federal taxes but due to the way e-filing is set up, Tate says if you need more time to file…
In the past state, taxes would be due a month after federal taxes in Louisiana however state income taxes are June 15th also.
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The Legislative Black Caucus says they will block a series of tax reform bills unless House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo is removed for comments he made about slavery in committee.
During a contentious debate about education policy Garofalo said the state should teach “the good, the bad, the ugly” of slavery. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says that outraged Black lawmakers…
Garofalo apologized and moments after making the statement said he misspoke, but according to reporting by The Advocate, the apology was insufficient to many Black lawmakers, who were also frustrated about other insensitive comments made by white Republican lawmakers throughout the session.
Pinsonat says revenue-neutral legislation that would lower the state income tax in exchange for removing deductions for federal taxes is the GOP’s priority this year, and it’s now at risk…
All tax-related bills need two-thirds support for passage in the Legislature.
Pinsonat says normally these kinds of inter-personal disputes are handled in private, but now that the issue is public both sides are digging in…
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A Louisiana Policy Institute for Children survey of 600 voters finds over three-quarters support dedicating revenue from sports betting to early childhood education.
LPIC Executive Director Dr. Libbie Sonnier says there’s an ongoing debate as to where to send revenue from the soon-to-be-available activity. She says most voters agree early childhood is the best option…
63 percent of Republicans and 72 percent of Democrats supported dedicating those funds in statute to early childhood education instead of sending it to the general fund.
Sonnier says it would cost 86 million dollars a year to guarantee early childhood education for all at-risk and underserved Louisiana kids. Sports betting is estimated to generate 10 to 30 million a year…
Monday the House will take up a bill regulating sports betting. It includes a ten percent tax on gaming at dedicated establishments and 15 percent on online gaming.
There’s widespread legislative support for increasing early childhood funding but resistance to creating yet another dedicated source of revenue. Sonnier says the funds must be dedicated.
The concern with dedicating the sports betting funds is that should the state face an economic downtown it would be unable to draw from those funds to make a balanced budget.
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The deadline to apply for the 100th Louisiana State Police Cadet Class is approaching. Trooper Monroe Dillon says the historic class will begin in early October, but participants need to apply by May 24th.
The 100th class has been delayed for two years due to COVID and budget restrictions but is now set for the fall.
Dillon says they are seeking qualified candidates to complete the 23-week academy. Cadets will receive training in firearm proficiency, de-escalation techniques, and leadership skills to name a few. Like other professions, Dillon says recruiting has become a challenge for LSP.
A common misconception about the cadet class is that it only leads to a career as a police officer. Dillon says the cadet training offers several opportunities in law enforcement for example detective, narcotics, street patrol, and more.
Cut 15 (12)“…anyone’s liking.”
For more information about the class, you can visit the Louisiana State Police’s Recruiting Facebook page. The deadline for applicants is May 24th and testing begins on the 28th.
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In a game that LSU needed to win to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive, the Fighting Tigers jumped out to a 5-to-nothing lead and went on to beat Alabama 13-5 to win the series over the Crimson Tide, who is also on the bubble to make a Regional. Coach Paul Mainieri is impressed with how his team played
On Senior Day, senior right-hander Ma’Khail Hilliard allowed three runs in five innings and struck out seven to improve his record to 5-0. Hilliard says he entered the game determined to get a win
LSU hit four home runs on the day. Giovanni DiGiacomo hit two home runs, his first two of the season. DiGiacomo says they knew they needed to score runs after losing by one run on Saturday…
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Louisiana Tech is champions of the Conference USA West division after beating UTSA 17-7 in seven innings coupled with Florida Atlantic defeating Southern Miss. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs says they found out about the Golden Eagles loss during their game…
Burroughs says it’s quite an accomplishment when you consider a tornado destroyed their stadium over two years ago, leaving them without a place to play or practice…