Senate Finance advances a bill that would dedicate point four-five percent of the state sales tax that is set to expire in 2025 permanently to infrastructure. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward made an emotional appeal to the committee, saying he doesn’t want to see any more of his family move out of state because of Louisiana’s inadequate infrastructure.
Cut 8 (10) “…state.”
The legislation would generate 400-million dollars every year that would go towards road and bridge improvements.

An effort to remove the state sales tax on the purchase of feminine hygiene products and diapers is heading to the Senate floor for final legislative passage. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says her legislation has wide support.
Cut 6 (11) “…Catholic Bishops”
Removing the 4.45 percent sales tax on the purchase of tampons and, diapers would cost the state $10.5 million dollars.

The Loyola University Law School has put together the first comprehensive report on prison deaths in Louisiana and it has found a vast majority of the deaths from 2015 to 2019 were the result of a medical illness. Professor Andrea Armstrong says suicide and drug overdose deaths were the second and third leading causes. Armstrong says the report points to the need for an independent panel oversight committee to look at prison deaths…
cut 16 (07) “….deaths’

The city of Ruston is getting ready for a big weekend of visitors as the city is hosting an NCAA Baseball Regional, a big youth softball tournament at its sports complex and Saturday is the Louisiana Peach Festival. Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says their sports complex has helped keep tourism up during the pandemic…
cut 12 (10) “….every weekend”