One south Louisiana lawmaker plans to donate her pay for an expected third special session back into their community.  Kevin Barnhart has the details.

Cut 1 (29)  I’m Kevin Barnhart“

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Entergy has some suggestions for keeping those electric bills down this summer. Becca Dill has the story.

Cut 2 (30) ”  I’m Becca Dill” 

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There’s still a lot of hard feelings after the special session ended on a contentious note, and legislators are now prepping for round three this year. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (31) “Im Matt Doyle”

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With the second extra legislative session of this year ending in a partisan gridlock, and a third coming up, State Representative Malinda White of Bogalusa says she’s taking action by donating her pay from an expected third special session to a worthy cause in District 75.

Cut 4  (10) “…our most lovable children.” 

A third special session would cost at least 50-thousand dollars a day.

By failing once again to pass a solution to fund the budget, White says that her constituents are aggravated with the costs and delays caused by the extra sessions.

Cut 5  (09)  “…services that they want”

While refusing the check isn’t possible under the current system, she’s reinvesting the funds into her district, saying she will not let political agendas cost the taxpayers more than it has to.

Cut 6 (10) “…need to be upset about it.”

The donation she is making is estimated to be about $1500.

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We’ve already seen record high temperatures this summer, which has prompted Entergy to give advice on how to keep electric bills low, while still keeping cool. Customer service manager Patrick Hamby says insulation is the number one preventative for keeping energy costs low, but there are several solutions to do right away.

Cut 7 (12)  “monthly bill”

Hamby says it’s important to keep the heat out by closing drapes and blinds in addition to efficient lighting.

Cut 8 (07)  “traditional lighting.”

While costs vary for each household, Hamby provides online resources to calculate your home’s energy cost.

Cut 9 (10)  “could accomplish.”
By implementing these energy saving techniques, Hamby says you can stay cool and keep energy bills low.

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The Edwards administration is sounding the alarm about the cuts that would need to be enforced, if the House does not pass a sales tax bill that generates 500 million dollars in revenue. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget that passed the legislature calls for massive cuts to popular state programs, without the additional funding.

Cut 10 (08)   “housing.”

As of now TOPS is facing a 30-percent cut, higher ed would receive a 96-million dollar cut. The governor supports a Senate approved plan that failed to  in the House that would renew half of the expiring penny sales tax.

With TOPS in particular at risk of a substantial cut, Dardenne says it’s time for those who want to protect the scholarship program to get active.

Cut 11 (11) “at risk.”

A block of anti-tax House Republicans rejected two tax plans, one that would raise half a penny and fully fund the government, and another that renews a third of a penny and would require 126 million in additional budget cuts.

Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh’s polarizing decision to purposely “run the clock out” by filibustering at the end of the night before a final tax vote all but guaranteed the governor will call for another special session. He says he shut down the session because the state has the cash to fund priorities, and doesn’t need to renew any of the 1.4 billion in expiring taxes that drop off June 30^th.

Cut 12 (06) “enough money.”

Seabuagh, whose being hailed by fiscal conservatives for putting the breaks on a session ending tax vote, says the Governor’s decision to expand Medicaid in the state is strangling the budget, and is directly responsible for the cuts that could be made to higher education and TOPS.

Cut 13 (11)  “on Medicaid” 

The governor has not announced the start date for a third special session, but it will occur before the end of the month, because the new budget year begins July 1st.

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Livingston Parish deputies were informed about a domestic dispute and dispatched to a Denham Springs home around 1 am Tuesday morning.  Sheriff’s office spokesperson Lori Steel, says the results were a deadly tragedy witnessed by several children.