Today the Senate Labor Committee is scheduled to hear a proposal that would raise the minimum wage to $8.00 an hour beginning next year, and then to $8.50 in 2018. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Southeast Louisiana is under a tornado watch through 9 this morning, according to the National Weather Service. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through tomorrow for the region as 1-2 inches of rainfall are in the forecast. In north Louisiana, heavy rainfall is also expected this afternoon and tonight as Flood Warnings continue.

A bill to prevent peeping Toms from using drones to spy on people received unanimous support from the House Criminal Justice Committee. Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter says his bill will somewhat duplicates existing laws by adding the use of an unmanned aircraft to video surveillance crimes…:
cut 11 (09) “those crimes”
The bill now heads to the House floor for debate.

Tomorrow the state sales tax will increase from four cents to five cents until June 30, 2018. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan Rice expects some people looking to make a major purchase will try to get that out of the way before the increase goes into effect. But he says this likely won’t change consumer’s purchasing habits…:
Cut 8 (10) “quite frankly”
Also, state taxes on cigarettes and alcohol will increase on Friday.