The Louisiana House is struggling to reach an agreement on renewing a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax that’s needed in order to avoid cuts to state services. A proposal to renew half a cent failed by 10 votes last night. So does the most recent vote come off as a failure? LA-Politics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says not necessarily…
cut 15 (12) “…wait and see”
Alford says the governor and Democrats prefer the half-a-cent sales tax renewal, while Republicans are digging in at four-tenths of a cent.

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A Slidell couple is in jail facing multiple charges for drugs and dog fighting following an investigation by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.  The Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant on the residence of the Michael Ratcliff and Antinette Johnson, finding cocaine, marijuana & pills.  Animal Services seized fifteen dogs from the property.  Seven children were also present in the home.

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A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued until 7PM tonight for a large portion of north and central Louisiana.  Ouachita, Tansas, East Carroll, Morehouse, and Webster are among the parishes in the watch box.

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While the Senate is continuing to wait on passage from the House for a solution to the upcoming fiscal cliff, Senate President John Alario says a “plan b” has been set in place in the event a gridlock continues through the close of the special session.  Alario says this is definitely not an ultimate fix to the budget issue and it would likely just continue the tax debate into the future.

Cut 5 (11) “…permanent solution at all.”