Time is running out for lawmakers to implement meaningful tax reform this session, and party leaders meet today seeking a compromise. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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LSU is a number four national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Jeff Palermo has more on the Tigers…
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A measure to change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and Arts in Natchitoches has sparked unexpected emotion. Emelie Gunn has more…
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There’s 10 days left in the regular session and very little has been accomplished. Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Reynolds of Minden says he’ll meet with Republican leaders to see what can be done in the final days. He says with only 41 votes in the House, it’s hard for Democrats to get anything through the process.
Governor John Bel Edwards and Democrats are pushing for tax reform, because 1.3 billion dollars in temporary sales taxes expire July 2018. But Republican House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says Democrats haven’t presented a plan that the legislature and the public can get on board with…
One possible solution to solving the fiscal cliff is to keep the extra penny that was added to the sales tax last year. But Reynolds doesn’t like that idea, which he says is being discussed by House members…
(It’s likely a special session will be needed to address the fiscal cliff.)
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A Senate committee will hear the so-called “sanctuary cities” bill today. The House-approved measure would prohibit cities that do not fully cooperate with immigration authorities from receiving certain state grants. Attorney General Jeff Landry supports the proposal and doesn’t understand why local governments would try to establish a sanctuary city…
It took two votes for this bill to pass the lower chamber. Opponents believe it would unfairly target Hispanics. Landry believes sanctuary cities allow violent criminals to stay in the United States….
New Orleans could be impacted by this legislation, if it becomes law. The NOPD has a policy that prohibits its officers from asking suspects about immigration status. Landry says once the bill becomes law, his office will determine which jurisdictions violate the state’s sanctuary cities policies…
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A bill to change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and Arts in Natchitoches has sparked a big discussion and will be heard in House Education on Wednesday. Delhi Senator Francis Thompson’s proposal would change the school’s name to Jimmy D. Long Sr. Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts. Thompson says Long helped open the school in 1983.
Long served as a state representative from 1968 to 2000. Thompson says this is not a name change, it’s a name addition. He says Jimmy Long was the most moral and hardworking legislator he’s ever worked with and was dedicated to creating the school.
But many LSMSA alumni oppose the name change. Lorie Aguilera graduated in 2002 says it’s a much bigger deal than it sounds. She says the school would lose its identity, especially with prestigious colleges..
Aguilera says Thompson did not ask if any facility or alumni supported the change. She says this would also be extremely expensive for LSMSA to reach out to parents and universities to alert them of the change.
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With the growing popularity of organic foods, lawmakers are looking at how Louisiana could produce it’s own organic produce. The House will discuss a resolution this week that would connect the LSU and Southern Ag programs with the state to study cultivating organic products. The author is Marrero Representative Patrick Connick…:
Connick says there is a baker in New Orleans who makes bread and spends $100,000 a year on his organic ingredients. Connick said Graison Gill would like to be able to spend that money in Louisiana…:
Connick says Graison is just one of the examples that shows organic farming is an emerging industry…:
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LSU baseball will begin NCAA Regional play on Friday at Alex Box Stadium by hosting SWAC Tournament champion Texas Southern. The other two teams coming to Baton Rouge are Southeastern Louisiana and Rice. And if LSU wins the B-R Regional they’ll face the winner of Hattiesburg Regional, which features Southern Miss and Mississippi State. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri says one game at a time…
The Tigers are seeded fourth nationally after winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament and sharing the SEC regular season title with Florida. They’ve won 11 in a row and Mainieri likes the mindset of his team…
Mainieri says he has yet to decide who will be the starting pitcher on Friday in the regional opener against Texas Southern….