The Tax Foundation ranks Louisiana in the bottom ten states for the least business-friendly tax code. Matt Doyle has the story.
_________________________________________
Roses are red, violets are blue. The marriage rate is dipping, but the divorce rate is too. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
___________________________________________
Do Louisiana voters need to be voting for a separate Governor and Lt. Governor? Matt Doyle spoke to one Covington Representative doesn’t think so…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.
____________________________________________
Louisiana has the 9th worst business tax climate in the nation according to the Tax Foundation’s 2020 report.
Policy Analyst Janelle Cammenga says that’s largely due to having the 3rd highest sales tax in the nation, an above-average corporate tax rate, and decentralized sales tax collection.
Only Washington and Alabama rank worse in sales tax issues.
Cammenga adds another area where Louisiana is suffering is in it’s use of a franchise tax. She says it’s a tax that’s being phased out in most states.
Cammenga says tax issues aren’t the biggest factor in where businesses chose to locate themselves, but they’re the factor easiest to change at a legislative level.
_____________________________
Webster Parish is welcoming a new manufacturing facility with the arrival of E.I. Williams Industries. President of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership Scott Martinez says the Canadian company specializing in sound-control equipment such as vent silencers, fan silencers, industrial silencers, and noise enclosures.
Cut 7 (07) “…segment they serve.”
Martinez says the $700,000 capital investment into an existing 50,000 square foot facility in the North Webster Parish Industrial District will result in 100 new jobs over the next five years, with an average salary of $37,400 plus benefits.
Cut 8 (09) “…and win projects.”
Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in another 122 indirect jobs over the same time period.
Martinez credits the presence of Northwest Louisiana Technical College as well as the region’s other training providers for creating a valued potential work force.
Cut 9 (09) “…in Webster Parish.″
The Webster Parish facility will be the company’s first manufacturing site in the US and equipment is scheduled to be installed in the first quarter of 2020.
____________________
Nationally, marriage rates have dipped almost eight percent over the decade. In Louisiana, that number is almost 28 percent. LSU Health New Orleans clinical psychologist Amy Dickson says that doesn’t necessarily mean there are fewer people in committed relationships as you may find plenty of engaged couples.
The divorce rate is also down nearly 20 percent nationally, with Louisiana down by 23 percent. Dickson says some people who married young may have split up and just never bothered going through an official divorce.
Cut 11 (11) “…bother with that.”
Louisiana’s drop in marriage rate is only edged out for the bottom spot by Nevada. On the opposite end of the spectrum, our neighbors in Mississippi have seen their marriage rates grow more than any other state at just over 31 percent.
Cut 12 (12) “…that through marriage.”
_____________________________________
Covington Representative Mark Wright files an amendment to consolidate the Governor and Lt. Governor onto one ticket, instead of having voters chose them separately.
Wright says for starters, the Lt. Governor’s job is nearly all tourism-related, and it would make for more efficient government if tourism was folded directly into the Governor’s administration.
But he says that’s not a shot at the current Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, who was ok with similar legislation last session.
And Wright says combining the ticket could open up some interesting political options for gubernatorial candidates who now get to pick a running mate.
Wright says a handpicked Lt. Governor could also facilitate more efficient operations from the Governor’s office, who could use the Lt. Governor as a high profile surrogate when they’re not available.
If it clears the legislature, the amendment would be on the November 3rd Presidential ballot.
__________________________________________
Its opening day of the college baseball season and at Alex Box Stadium the 11th ranked Tigers will face Indiana. LSU junior outfielder Daniel Cabrera is expected to be the Tigers leading hitter and he says the chemistry on this team is outstanding
Cabrera will lead off and play center field tonight against the Hoosier. The opening day starting lineup features two freshmen. Cade Doughty at second base and Shreveport’s Hayden Travinski will bat the designated hitter tonight. Coach Paul Mainieri on what he likes from these two kids…
This is Mainieri’s 14th season as head coach of the Tigers. He’ll send sophomore right-hander Cole Henry to the mound as he’ll throw the first pitch of the season for the Tigers
_____________________________________________
Emotions will be riding high tonight at Tigue Moore Field as the Ragin Cajuns host Southeastern Louisiana. It’s U-L Lafayette’s first game since the death of longtime head coach Tony Robicheaux. New head coach Matt Deggs says he’ll understand if the emotions get to his players
The Cajuns are coming off a losing season, a 28-and-31 record. But Deggs says the players are looking forward to returning to the top of the Sun Belt Standings and playing for their former coach