2:30PM Newscast January 31

An Amtrak train carrying Republican members of Congress to a retreat in West Virginia, including Senator Bill Cassidy and Representative Garret Graves collided with a garbage truck near Charlottesville, Virginia.  Officials says one in the garbage truck is dead and another seriously injured. Cassidy says he and his wife were not injured, but says other passengers felt the brunt of the collision.

Cut 12 (12) “attended to.”

Cassidy and his wife are doctors and provided aid. Congressman Graves was not injured.

The Coast Guard about 1,300 gallons of pol spilled from a facility into the southwestern Louisiana Wetlands. The area where the spill occured is currently used to released endangered whooping cranes back into the wild. The spill was linked to Peak Operating Company.

The Coast Guard is reporting that as of now, the spill is contained.

LRN

Today is the deadline for retailers to mail notices to Louisiana residents who purchased products online, but did not pay sales tax at the time of purchase. Customers are required to include these forms so they can pay those taxes when they file their taxes this year. Louisiana Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says it’ll be easy to track down those who fail to file.

Cut 4  (11) “tax returns” 

Louisianans looking to buy local products at their grocery store should look for a new logo. Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says they have overhauled their Certified logo program with flashier, more diverse logos to further highlight goods made in the Bayou State. Strain says there’s a couple of different certified options for products that pass the test.

Cut 15 (06) “to Table”

Louisiana Radio Network