According to House Transportation Committee chairman Kenny Havard, lawmakers will likely consider increasing the state’s gasoline tax during the 2017 session. Halen Doughty has more…
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The last of the final goodbyes to the three recently slain Baton Rouge Police officers took place today as Corporal Montrell Jackson is laid to rest. Michelle Southern reports..:
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Tragedy hit the Sabine River this weekend when a father and his two sons drowned in Beauregard Parish. Sheriff Rick Mosely says 51-year-old Harlin Powell’s 12-year-old son Dale Powell and stepson Robbie Merritt were swimming in the river when they began to struggle.
Mosely says by the time his deputies arrived at the scene, it was already too late. He says they recovered Mr. Powel from the river, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He says search teams then began trying to locate the two boys.
Mosely says it’s been about five years since anyone has drowned in that part of the river. He says the Sabine River is a popular swimming spot, but the current is stronger than it looks.
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Lawmakers will likely consider a bill to increase the state’s gasoline tax, when they meet for the 2017 fiscal session. That’s according to Representative Kenny Havard, who serves as chairman of the House Transportation Committee and sits on the newly-formed Transportation Taskforce. Havard says the state’s gasoline tax has not been raised in over 20 years and there is not enough funds to address the $12 billion backlog for transportation maintenance, much less any new projects.
Louisiana’s 20-cent gas tax ranks 41 in the nation, and only 16-cents of it goes to the transportation trust fund. Havard says he doesn’t really want to raise any taxes, but the state needs the revenue to address the problems with our roads and bridges.
The 18 member taskforce must come up with suggestions for the 2017 session by January 1. Havard says he is open to any other ideas to fund transportation projects, including tolls and public-private partnerships.
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The final of the three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers slain in an ambush on cops was laid to rest Monday. Thousands turned out for the funeral of BRPD’s Corporal Montrell Jackson, a 32-year-old 10-year veteran of the department who leaves behind a wife and baby boy, Mason. Governor John Bel Edwards says we have to make this world a better place for Mason:
Edwards says Jackson was a pillar of this community and used God’s gifts to make a difference for Baton Rouge and Louisiana. Jackson’s younger brother, 24-year-old Kendrick Pitts, spoke to Montrell and said he was loved by everyone…:
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Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden says law enforcement from throughout the country have been pained by the deaths of the three cops, but he’s confident they will come out of it stronger people…:
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LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye returns to New Iberia today after surviving a fatal wreck in Wisconsin. Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler died in the one-vehicle crash, when the driver apparently lost control on wet pavement and struck a tree. Delahoussaye’s coach at New Iberia High, Rick Huston, says Delahoussaye suffered injuries that require more medical attention
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Delahoussaye was in the back seat of the car at the time of the accident. The kicker is heading into his senior season at LSU and has a chance to be the starting kicker after losing that job to Trent Domingue, who has since transferred to Texas. Hutson says Delahoussaye bleed purple and gold…
Delahoussaye was in Wisconsin to participate in the Kohl’s Kicking Camp. He was participant in the camp last week and was scheduled to serve as a camp counselor this week. Hutson says Delahoussaye has attended that camp since high school and he’s thankful his former player only suffered minor injuries..