Violent crime in Louisiana was down three percent year to year in 2018, and the murder rate is down eight points according to new FBI crime data.

LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Peter Sharf says the murder rate decline is largely thanks to an 8 percent drop in the Crescent City.

Cut 3 (10) “…elsewhere”

But despite the decline in violent crimes, Louisiana continues to lead the United States for its homicide rate.

Bayou Steel in St. John Parish announces it is closing, resulting in the layoff of 376 workers…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association says a new survey is out that puts Louisiana as having the ninth-worst overall transportation infrastructure in the country. Association president Ken Perret points to a 14-billion dollar backlog in transportation projects and that will not go away until the state raises its gasoline tax…
cut 11 (12) “…loss of lives”
Louisiana’s 20-cent a gallon gasoline tax has not been adjusted in 30 years and Perret says the gubernatorial and legislative candidates need to have an open discussion with voters on transportation funding.

A new gasoline tax goes into effect today in Arkansas as the gas tax in the Natural State will rise by three-cents to 24.5 cents a gallon and diesel fuel goes up an additional six-cents. It’s the first change in Arkansas fuel taxes in 20 years and it’s expected to generate an additional 95-million dollars.