Four days into the special session and there’s only been one significant piece legislation that has made it to the House floor that could significantly reduce the budget gap. The measure would result in consumers paying a state sales tax of 4.3 percent after July 1st and it’s expected to generate 370-million dollars in revenue, but the shortfall is pegged at 648-million. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the bill is the best opportunity at reducing the proposed cuts within state government….
cut 14 (09) “….very slim”
But it’s unclear if this legislation has the 70 votes to get full House approval.

The LSU baseball team will take on Florida tonight in an elimination game at the SEC Tournament. The Gators lost to Arkansas earlier today.

It’s not even hurricane season and we already have our first named storm. Subtropical storm Alberto has formed near the Yucatan Peninsula and the five day forecast has southeast Louisiana in the cone of uncertainity for landfall early next week. Phil Grigsby is with the National Weather Service in Slidell and he says heavy rainfall is Alberto’s main threat….
cut 4 (08) “…the west”
Grigsby says coastal areas need to keep a close eye on this one.

The State Fire Marshal’s office continues to investigate the explosion at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Pineville claimed the life of a Jena man. An earlier report from Proctor and Gamble said that there was no plant explosion, and the death was related to a forklift incident, but State Fire Marshal office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says investigators have confirmed that a smaller scale explosion did occur….
cut 7 (10) “…of equipment”
56-year-old Allen Kendrick of Jena died in the incident.