Starting April 1st, smokers will have to pay an additional 22-cents on a pack of cigarettes. It’s the result of legislation passed in the special session called to raise state revenues. Bill Bailey owns Smoker’s Paradise in Pineville and he’s seen customers stocking up on cigarettes before the tax hike…
cut 5 (05) “…of product”
The 22-cent tax increase is expected to generate an additional 11-million dollars for the state this fiscal year.

On a four to one vote, the Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved the sale of the Pineville-based utility company, Cleco, to a foreign investment group for nearly five billion dollars. CEO for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, Casey DeMoss, has concerns this deal will turn out to be a bad one for ratepayers…
cut 12 (06) “…not be”
Cleco has agreed not to raise rates until at least 2020 and customers should expect to see credits at around 500-dollars.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office says a Texas dragster driver accidentially ran over and killed his brother at the Thunder Road Raceway in Gillam. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says the accident was investigated by their Traffic Safet unit…
cut 8 (08) “…have been filed”
The incident occurred as the racing crew was conducting test runs and 55-year-old Stuart Smith of Atlanta, Texas, backed hs dragster up and struck his 60-year-old brother.

Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says flood damage done to the state’s roads and bridges is an estimated 20-million dolalrs. Wilson says they are still assessing the damage and finding out how many miles roadway need to be repaired…
cut 14 (10) “…an inspection”
Wilson says the state and federal government will share in the costs of the repairs.