With a new fiscal year set to begin on Saturday, state lawmakers finally agreed on a sales tax plan that prevents Louisiana from going over the fiscal cliff, which would have resulted in deep cuts to colleges, TOPS and public safety programs. Governor John Bel Edwards says he will sign the measure that renews .45 percent of an expiring one-cent sales tax…
cut 16 (12) “…divides us”

A group of Republican US Senators will head to Russia this week, including Louisiana’s John Kennedy. Kennedy says he wants to establish some rapport with high-ranking government officials and he hopes one of those meetings will include Russian President Valdimir Putin.
Cut 7 (10) “…Russian economy.”
Kennedy says he’s heard the Russian economy is in shambles, because they are spending their money on Syria and weaponry.

Big fundraiser takes place tonight for Republican Josh Guillory, who is an attorney that’s seeking to unseat fellow Republican Clay Higgins as the Congressman for southwest Louisiana. President Trump’s lawyer Rudy Guiliani is the headliner for the fundraiser, but Mr. Trump has endorsed Guillory. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says President Trump’s endorsement of Higgins will lead to more votes for the incumbent Congressman than Giuliani’s fundraising efforts for Guillory…
Cut 6 (13) “…called weird.”

The auto racing world is mourning the death of Sprint car driver Jason Johnson of Eunice. Johnson died from his injuries sutained in a wreck during a World of Outlaws race Saturday night in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The crash happened on lap 18 of a 40-lap race as Johnson was racing for the lead. He was 41-years-old.