We are a week away from the end of the special session that is addressing a 900-million dollar deficit this fiscal year and a two-billion shortfall next fiscal year. On the surface there’s not much movement. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox is trying to get the 70 House votes needed to increase the state’s alcohol tax for the first time in decades…
cut 14 (03) “…we can get”
Meanwhile in the senate, the upper chamber has agreed to increase the state’s four-cent sales tax by a penny for the next five years. Differences remain between the House and Senate on when that additional penny should come off the books.

You’re starting to pay a few extra pennies at the gas pump. Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is a $1.60, up four-cents from a week ago and gas prices should keep rising as refinieries are shutting down for regular spring time maintenance…
cut 12 (04) “…1.75″

According to a new study from WalletHub, Louisiana is the worst state for women. Jill Gonzales from Wallet Hub says they looked at over 15 metrics including median earnings for female workers, women’s preventative healthcare, the female uninsured rate and the female homicide rate….
cut 7 (04) “…those metrics here”
Gonzales says Louisiana also has one of the highest high school dropout rates for women.

Add another name to the 2016 Louisiana US Senate race. Former New Orleans Congressman Joseph Cao says he’s running for the seat occupied by David Vitter, who is finishing out his final year in office. Cao is a republican and served one-term in the House starting in 2009.