Democratic Governor John Bel Edwawds joined Republican state senator Sharon Hewitt in calling for Secretary of State Tom Schedler to step down. An employee in the Secretary of State’s office has filed a harassment suit against the official who oversees elections in this state. Edwards says the alleged harassment casts doubt on the integrity of the Secretary of State’s office…
cut 12 (11) “…to resign”
Schedler has no comment on the calls for his resignation.

Governor Edwards says the next 24 hours critical for the state House to pass tax bills to address a looming one billion dollar deficit. With one week to go in the special session, the House has yet to pass any revenue generating proposals. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says he sees a lack of urgency in the House
Cut 15 (07) “right now”

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy opposes a bill to modify the existing back-ground check systems for firearm purchases because he says that system is flawed.Kennedy sympathizes with the victims of the latest mass school shooting in Florida but , as he says, he will not be sucked into a pro temporary gun-control law we don’t need.
Cut 7 (11) “ones we have”
The proposed legislation does not expand background checks but rather requires officials to do a better job of screening.

Ruston-based Hunt Forest Products and Tolko Industries will build a state of the art 115-million-dollar mill in the LaSalle Parish town of Urania. heart of the state’s 11-billion-dollar forest products industry. Mayor Terri Corley Corley says the sawmill will employee 110 people…
Cut 5 (07) “had before.”
Construction is expected to begin in April and operations will begin next year.