The proposed penny increase to the state’s four-cent sales tax easily clears a Senate committee heads to the Senate floor. The panel extended the sunset time on the additional penny from 18 months to 5 years. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says they need this additional revenue in place long enough so they can perform long-term budget reform…:
Cut 14 (08) “do it”
Morrell says the governor has always said the clean penny is a bridge to restructuring our tax system and getting to a more stable revenue source.

Today the Louisiana National Guard at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans opens a Desert Storm exhibit to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the conflict. Louisiana National Guard Historian Rhett Breerwood says many enemy weapons captured by Guardsman will be on display…:
Cut 6 (08) “as well”
He says honored at the exhibit will be the 16 guard unites that were mobilized in Desert Storm.

The state Department of Health and Hospitals will open a water testing lab in Shreveport, which will help speed up the testing process from samples taken in north Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more on the story…:
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A man who led police on a high speed chase which ended in West Feliciana Parish Saturday admits that he killed two women in St. Martinville, then sent their home on fire. The State Fire Marshal’s Office says 31-year-old Dereke Siner knew the victims, 68 year old Adeline Etienne and 30-year-old Jamie James. Siner is charged with two counts of first degree murder, one count of aggravated arson and one count of obstruction of justice in St. Martinville.