3:30 PM Newscast Nov 25

The special legislative session is done and starting January 1st, most Louisiana residents will pay lower income taxes as the new 3 percent flat tax and $12,500 standard deduction becomes effective. In exchange, the state sales tax rate will increase to five percent. But Governor Landry says in the end, Louisiana residents will pay less taxes…

Cut 10 (15) “…against you.”

Will Green, the president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, says Louisiana’s lower income tax rate will make it a more attractive state for people to move.

Cut 5 (08) “…jobs and talent.”

Legislation to make temporary pay raises for K-12 teachers and support staff permanent passed, pending voter approval of a constitutional amendment. The legislation allocates funds from protected education trusts to reduce nearly $2 billion in teacher retirement system debt. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala (back-a-la) says this free up around $287 million annually for local school districts, enabling a $2,000 raise for teachers and $1,000 for support staff.

Cut 6 (12) “…give pay raises.”

Head coach Gary Goff didn’t win enough football games at McNeese and after three seasons he was fired today. The Cowboys went six and six this season after failing to win a game on the field last year. Jim Gazzolo covers McNeese for the American Press and says there were many who thought Goff won enough games this season to keep his job…

Cut 12 (06) “…little surprised.”