Congressman Steve Scalise wants answers as to why 17 people were killed two weeks ago at a Florida High School. Kelley Ray has the story.
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The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry is teaming up with the LSU AgCenter to fight citrus canker disease. Michael Farrar has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar.”
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Can the different factions in the state House come together on a plan to reduce a looming one-billion dollar deficit? Jeff Palermo has a preview…
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Congressman Steve Scalise is remembering the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, as they resume classes today, two weeks after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz went on a shooting rampage, killing 17 people. Scalise says today will not be easy for students returning to a place where such a horrific tragedy occurred…
The House Majority Whip from suburban New Orleans says he supports the proposal for teachers to arm themselves. Broward County Sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson resigned after not taking appropriate action during the shooting. Scalise says it upsets him that Peterson didn’t do his job..
Scalise is frustrated the FBI did not investigate Cruz after getting reports from others about his violent nature. He says the FBI was aware Cruz wanted to become a professional school shooter…
Cut 6 (11) “people accountable.”
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The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry is teaming up with the LSU AgCenter to fight citrus canker disease. The disease is spread by wind driven rain, causing lesions on the leaves and fruit. It was first found in the state in 2013 at City Park in New Orleans. State Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says there is no cure right now, but hopes their research will produce results to slow the disease…
The citrus economy has an over six-million-dollar impact to the Louisiana economy annually. But unfortunately, once a tree is infected, Strain says the fruit isn’t sellable anymore…
If a tree is suspected of carrying citrus canker disease, Strain says the best thing to do is destroy it, but he has these precautions…
The study is being funded through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
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A former school principal at a Christian school in Franklin Parish has been indicted by a grand jury on eleven counts of sexual misconduct. District Attorney Mack Lancaster says 41-year-old Stephen Couch of Winnsboro was a teacher, later a principal, at the Apostolic Tabernacle Christian School in Winnsboro when the crimes occurred…
Lancaster says the crimes with the male victims who attended the school, stretch back years…
All the victims were aged 14 to 18 at the time the offenses occurred. Lancaster says he knows many of them and their families and finds it hard to believe a trusted member of the community would commit such crimes…
Stephen Couch is the son of the Reverend Michael Couch, who serves as the director and president of the church. An arraignment hearing for Stephen Couch will be held in March.
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Will the state House come to an agreement on solving a looming one-billion dollar budget deficit as a result of expiring state sales taxes? President of the Public Affairs Research Council Robert Travis Scott says even though Republicans are the majority party in the lower chamber, Democrats are holding firm on their wishes
Cut 13 (12) “mixture of both.”
It’s believed Democrats will agree to a bill that would place the state sales tax rate above four-percent ,if Republicans agree to income tax bracket changes or cutting a tax break for middle and upper income wage earners who itemize their deductions. Scott says it appears an agreement can be reached to reduce most of the shortfall…
Cut 14 (11) “billion dollar dispute.”
Tax bills need 70 votes to pass the House. And they will also need Senate approval, before the special session ends a week from today. There was a lot of tension on the House floor on Monday. Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus Joe Bouie hopes there is a spirit of compromise today
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