The state House convenes this afternoon and one of the bills they are expected to take up is a measure that would raise the state’s tax on alcohol for the first time since 1948. The bill’s author, Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, says some legislators might be okay with increasing the alcohol tax because it hasn’t been raised since the 40s…
cut 9 (11) “….like this”
The full House is also anticipated to take up a bill to increase the cigarette tax by 22-cents.

The flu bug has been very quiet this year, but that may change soon. Influenza expert, Doctor Frank Welch, with the state office of public health, says the number of flu cases are starting to rise across the country…
cut 3 (05) “….we’re next”
Welch says it’s still not too late to get that flu shot.

State Senators are hearing about the potential impacts if they approve a House bill that cuts an additional 106-million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget. Superintendent of Education John White says they would close early childhood programs, send voucher students back to public schools and wipe out standardized testing. That led to this question by Senator Wesley Bishop…
cut 6 (08) “…yes sir”
Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee says they would have to lay-off restaurant inspectors, which would lead to more cases of foodborne illnesses.

A new water testing laboratory opens in Shreveport today. State department of health and hospitals spokesperson Bob Johannessen says this will help them cut down on shipping costs and improve the time it takes to test samples taken from water samples in north Louisiana…
cut 12 (09) “…as possible”
Johannessen says this new lab is expected to save the state 50-thousand dollars a year.