The House Ways Committee is convening at this hour and it’s expected they will vote today on tax proposals including the one penny sales tax increase. The committee has heard bills that would increase taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, rental cars, phone lines, internet sales and hotels. Jeremy Alford, publisher of la-politics-dot-com, says the committee may vote on just a few of these proposed taxes…:
CUT 12 (08) “this huge gap”

The state is bracing for what meteorologists say could be one of the most severe storms we’ve seen in years. Several parishes state offices are closing at noon and many schools are out today in southeast Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will be a bumpy ride over through tomorrow morning as result of cold front…:
cut 4 (08) “across the state”
The entire state is under a wind advisory through tomorrow.

It’s reported that state lawmakers are considering a proposed constitutional amendment in the special session that would put to a vote whether or not to legalize recreational marijuana in Louisiana so the state could tax it. Jesse McCormick, head of the Louisiana Cannabis Association, says if the people were able to vote on it, they could then decide the tax measure..:
CUT 3 (10) “regulate cannabis”
He says some argue that this is not the time to be getting into a marijuana debate.

Baton Rouge Police say the gun that apparently went off by accident as a 16-year-old was playing with it, and struck his 16-year-old niece in the head killing her, was a stolen firearm. The suspect was booked back into the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Detention Center on charges of negligent homicide and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.