Former US Representative Joseph Cao (Gow) has entered the race for the US Senate seat, joining seven other well-known candidates. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the candidates with high name recognition and available funds will have a leg up. Democrats Foster Campbell and Caroline Fayard are also in the running, but Cross says only one of them may have a real shot…:
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Parents with children that have developmental disabilities went before the Senate Finance Committee urging lawmakers to increase taxes to help fund programs that help them take care of their kids. Ashley McReynolds is the mother of 9-year-old Cooper who has a serious genetic disorder that makes him feel like he’s starving to death. She says without state assistance they would not be able to raise Cooper at home…:
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The West Monroe-based show Duck Dynasty marks its 100th episode today. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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Former state lawmaker Brett Geymann of Lake Charles says he’s running for Louisiana 3rd District Seat in the US House of Representatives. Geymann, a republican, is seeking to replace Charles Boustany, who is running for US Senate.

The state house is meeting at this hour and said they plan to take up the cigarette tax increase proposal.