Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Michael Farrar….
cut 16 (07) “…applause”
After a tough week of behind the scenes negotiations, the Louisiana House finally mustered the 70 votes needed to approve a sales tax plan that would allow the state to fully fund TOPS, higher education and reduce the cuts to the department of corrections.

The House agreed to renew .45 percent of an expiring one-cent sales tax. Governor John Bel Edwards says the state’s budget situation is on a more solid foundation…
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The Senate is expected is expected to agree to this sales tax plan and the special session could end Sunday night.

US Senator John Kennedy has attached an amendment to an appropriations bill to keep taxpayer money from going towards first-class airline tickets for federal employees. Kennedy says there’s only two reasons why a federal worker should need a first-class ticket….
cut 9 (10) “…abused”
In a report released last March, EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt allegedly spent 105-thousand dollars on first class flights in his first year on the job.

A Shreveport police Corporal Marcus Hines is on administrative leave after he accidentally fired his department-issued gun while teach two summer interns about gun safety. No one was injured in the incident.

And a Hammond Police officer suffered a gunshot wound to the foot while attempting to load his shotgun into his patrol car. Police Chief James Stewart says the officer dropped the weapon and it went off.