5:30 LRN Newscast

Components of Governor Landry’s massive tax reform plan continue to receive approval from the House Ways and Means Committee. The panel has approved legislation to lower the corporate income tax businesses have to pay from 7.5 percent to 3.5 percent. Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says this will help bring more jobs to the state…

Cut 3 (11) “…to owners.” 

To make up for the loss of revenue, the legislation calls for, among other things, the elimination of the film tax credit program.

DOTD will begin transitioning I-20 westbound traffic in Bossier City into Phase 3 of its major rehabilitation project. This week, I-20 westbound will close nightly from I-220 to the Airline Drive interchange. DOTD says it’s to allow contractors to move concrete barriers to prepare for a lane shift.

The state’s unclaimed property program adds almost nine-million dollars in unclaimed state income tax refunds. State Treasurer John Fleming says his office has a lot of unclaimed money, and that money belongs to their rightful owners and not the state.

Cut 8 (15) “…think there’s anything.”

The Saints’ seven-game losing streak is over. They beat the Falcons at the Superdome yesterday, 20-17, with Derek Carr throwing two touchdown passes. The veteran Q-B says interim head coach Darren Rizzi gave a simple message to the team and that is just go out there and play, even if something bad happens…

Cut 13 (07)  “…everybody.”

The Saints will try to make it two in a row this coming Sunday against the Browns in the Superdome.

1:30 LRN Newscast

The House Ways and Means Committee approves a bill that slashes the corporate income tax from 7.5 to 3.5 percent, but it means some popular tax breaks would go away. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The major I-20 project in Bossier Parish is entering a new phase. On Saturday, traffic will shift to new travel lanes from I-220 to Airline Drive, with the remainder of the shift extending toward Hamilton Road in the following weeks.

The state treasury’s Unclaimed Property Program has just added 8.7-million dollars in uncashed state income tax refund checks. Treasurer John Fleming says all unclaimed money belongs to its rightful owners and not the state.

Cut 8 (15) “…think there’s anything.”

Those uncashed checks were sent out to almost 30-thousand taxpayers. If you think some of that money is yours, log on to l-a-cash-claim-dot-org to find out.

A huge milestone during the Saints’ win yesterday as running back Alvin Kamara became the team’s all-time leading rusher. Kamara says it’s a huge honor…

Cut 14 (14) “…in New Orleans.”

The win snapped the Saints’ seven-game losing streak.

LRN PM Newscall November 11

The House Ways and Means Committee approves a bill that slashes the corporate income tax from 7.5 to 3.5 percent, but it means some popular tax breaks would go away. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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If you think you have money that should be coming to you, it’s just as well to double check. Andrew Greenstein explains.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Components of Governor Jeff Landry’s massive tax reform plan continue to receive favorable approval from the House Ways and Means Committee. The panel has approved legislation to lower the corporate income tax businesses have to pay from 7.5 percent to 3.5 percent. Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois (BOORZ-wah) says this will help bring more jobs to the state…

Cut 3 (11) “…to owners.”

To make up for the loss revenue, the legislation calls for the elimination of the film tax credit program and a tax credit for digital media and software companies. Chris Reade, who owns software development companies in New Orleans, urged the panel not to get rid of the digital media and software tax credit, because it’s a job creator…

Cut 4 (08) “…sector.”

The legislation also eliminates tax credits for those involved in the renovation of historic buildings. Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson argued these tax credits are not bring more jobs to the state….

Cut 5 (10) “…not working.” (2x) 

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If you think you should have money coming to you, look into it. The state treasury’s Unclaimed Property Program has just added a lot of money in uncashed state income tax refunds.

Cut 6 (15) “…29,441 separate checks.” ($8.7 million)

State Treasurer John Fleming says if some of that money is yours, claiming it is easy.

Cut 7 (13) “…owed to them.”

Fleming says his office has a lot of unclaimed money, and that money belongs to their rightful owners and not the state.

Cut 8 (15) “…think there’s anything.”

_______________________________________________________

DOTD will begin transitioning I-20 westbound traffic in Bossier City into Phase 3 of its major rehabilitation project. Starting tonight, I-20 westbound from I-220 to the Airline Drive interchange will close nightly from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for five nights. This closure allows contractors to move concrete barriers to prepare for a lane shift.  DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchanan says it’s a milestone for the project…

Cut 9 (09)  “…able to do that.”

On Saturday, traffic will shift to new travel lanes from I-220 to Airline Drive, with the remainder of the shift extending toward Hamilton Road in the following weeks. Buchanan says the transition will take time.

Cut 10 (08) “…the right place.”

Buchanan advises drivers to exercise caution in construction zones, stay alert for work crews, and allow adequate following distance.  During nightly closures, westbound traffic will detour to I-220 and  Airline Drive ramps will remain open.

Cut 11 (10) “…kind of shift.”

. For ongoing updates, visit the I-20 project webpage.

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Darren Rizzi was a winner in his first game as a head coach in the NFL. Rizzi helped lead New Orleans to a 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons to end a seven-game losing streak. Rizzi received a game ball during the postgame locker room celebration, but he says everyone in the organization deserves a game ball…

Cut 12 (11) “…heard a complaint.”

Saints Quarterback Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes in the win. The veteran Q-B says Rizzi gave a simple message to the team and that is just go out there and play, even if something bad happens…

Cut 13 (07)  “…everybody.”

Saints running back Alvin Kamara became the team’s all-time leading rusher, surpassing Mark Ingram. Kamara says it’s a huge honor…

Cut 14 (14) “…in New Orleans.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Program has just added 8.7-million dollars in uncashed state income tax refunds. State Treasurer John Fleming says if some of that money is yours, claiming it is easy.

Cut 7 (13) “…owed to them.”

That money consists of unclaimed refunds owed to almost 30-thousand Louisiana taxpayers.

DOTD will begin transitioning I-20 westbound traffic in Bossier City into Phase 3 of its major rehabilitation project. This week, I-20 westbound will close nightly from I-220 to the Airline Drive interchange. DOTD spokeswoman Erin Buchanan says it’s to allow contractors to move concrete barriers to prepare for a lane shift.

Cut 9 (09)  “…the right place.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs is marking Veterans Day today. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The House Ways and Means Committee gives the thumbs-up to more components of Governor Landry’s tax reform proposal. The panel has approved legislation to lower the corporate income tax businesses have to pay from 7.5 percent to 3.5 percent. To make up for the loss revenue, the legislation calls for the elimination of the film tax credit program and a tax credit for digital media and software companies.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Today is Veterans Day. Retired Air Force Colonel Charlton Meginley, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, says this day means a lot to veterans, especially those who served in Vietnam who came home unappreciated.

Cut 11 (14) “…served in Vietnam.”

Tax credits that Louisiana’s film industry currently enjoys could be on the chopping block as the legislature continues to debate tax reform. Trey Burvant of Secondline Studios says the film industry delivers a lot of the results in tax reform that Louisiana is looking for. Burvant noted that film workers earn an average annual wage of more than 65-thousand dollars.

Cut 9 (08)  “…how film works.”

If you think you should have money coming to you, look into it. The state treasury’s Unclaimed Property Program has just added a lot of money in uncashed state income tax refunds.

Cut 6 (15) “…29,441 separate checks.” ($8.7 million)

State Treasurer John Fleming says if some of that money is yours, go to l-a-cash-claim-dot org to claim it.

Their long, national nightmare is over. The Saints ended their seven-game losing streak yesterday by beating the Atlanta Falcons 20-17. It comes in the wake of the team firing Head Coach Dennis Allen. His interim replacement is Darren Rizzi…

Cut 19 (16) “…this week” 

9:30 LRN Newscast

Components of Governor Landry’s massive tax reform plan continue to receive approval from the House Ways and Means Committee. The panel has approved legislation to lower the corporate income tax businesses have to pay from 7.5 percent to 3.5 percent. Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says this will help bring more jobs to the state…

Cut 3 (11) “…to owners.” 

To make up for the loss revenue, the legislation calls for the elimination of the film tax credit program. Jason Waggenspack of Film Louisiana argued against cutting the tax credit, highlighting that the program contributes around one-billion dollars in annual sales and 360-million dollars in local payroll.

Cut 8 (12) “…state of Louisiana.”

Governor Landry is reportedly being considered for attorney general in Donald Trump’s administration. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landry has a great relationship with the former president and president-elect.

Cut 5 (13) “…to do it.” 

In July, Landry expressed reluctance about leaving his post early, but Trump’s recent win could shift his stance.

For LSU, dreams of the College Football Playoff are over. For the second game in a row, LSU could not stop a running quarterback as Alabama pounded the Tigers, 42-13. After the game, Coach Brian Kelly said what he thought would be an exciting evening turned out to be a disappointing evening.

Cut 13 (14)  “…right way tonight.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

PETA is speaking out against plans for a live tiger to be trotted onto the field before tomorrow night’s LSU game. Klayton Rutherford with the PETA foundation says tigers do not belong in 100-thousand-seat football stadiums.

Cut 4 (11) “…drop this idea.”

The tiger is a Bengal being brought in from Florida. It’s owned by a man named Mitchel Kalmanson, who PETA says has more than three-dozen USDA violations since 2000.

Several Black people across the country, including here in Louisiana, have been receiving hate-filled spam text messages referencing slavery. State Attorney General Liz Murrill says her investigators have traced the messages to an encrypted virtual network in Poland. But she says that doesn’t necessarily pinpoint the perpetrator there.

Cut 15 (05) “…to investigate it.”

The GOP Leadership election is set for next week and with House control still not clear, Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise push to secure their leadership roles in the House.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Could Governor Landry be headed to Washington after just a year as governor? The New York Post is reporting that former President and President-elect Donald Trump is considering Landry for U.S. Attorney General, citing his involvement in a lawsuit that claimed that the Biden administration worked to silence conservative voices on social media.

10:30 LRN Newscast

The university is so far tight-lipped about it, but there are reports that LSU will have a live tiger on the field for tomorrow night’s game against Alabama. Todd Horne from Tiger Rag magazine says the governor has been pushing for this for months.

Cut 4 (09) “…LSU home games.”

The tiger is coming in from Florida and is owned by a man named Mitchel Kalmanson, who according to PETA has been cited by the Department of Agriculture more than three-dozen times for various violations since 2000. Kalmanson had no comment when we reached out to him, and multiple attempts to reach LSU have been unsuccessful.

Still no final call on which party will control the House starting in January. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter, who easily won re-election, says it’s time to turn the page.

Cut 14 (10) “…job of governing.”

The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children’s Parent Poll for 2024 is live.  Sena Richardson has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Several Black people across the country, including here in Louisiana, have been receiving hate-filled spam text messages referencing slavery. In a statement, State Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed her disgust over the text messages and said she has directed the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to investigate where the texts are coming from. The FBI is also investigating.

5:30 LRN Newscast

Debate is underway at the State Capitol on Governor Jeff Landry’s tax plan that seeks to lower income taxes for all workers but sales taxes would be added to 41 activities currently not taxed. Landry went before the House Ways and Means Committee today, urging them to pass his plan…

Cut 9 (12)  “…this state.”

State Representative Matthew Williard, a Democrat from New Orleans, is concerned Landry’s tax plan will result in less available tax dollars for the state to spend. He’s concerned about future tax cuts…

Cut 12 (16) “…deal with.”

The House Ways and Means Committee approved the bill to reduce the personal income taxes on a 15 to 3 vote. The measure could go before House Appropriations, before a vote on the House floor.

It looks like Louisiana’s record of never having a hurricane making landfall in the state in the month of November will remain intact, at least for the time being. Earlier this week, the National Hurricane Center had Hurricane Rafael turning north in the Gulf of Mexico and straight towards Louisiana, albeit weakening to below hurricane strength. But LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the forecast track has done a complete 180, now headed towards the Bay of Campeche in Mexico.

Cut 13 (11)  “…steering currents whatsoever (2x).”

And Keim says there’s a chance that the storm could dissipate altogether before reaching Mexico.

We’re getting new information on a tiger en route to Baton Rouge to reportedly take the field for Saturday’s LSU game against Alabama. The tiger is reportedly named Omar Bradley, and he’s a one-and-a-half-year-old bengal tiger owned by a man near Orlando. Governor Landry has been pushing LSU to revive its tradition of having a live tiger on the field that was halted in 2015. So far, the university has not confirmed whether the tiger will indeed take the field.

11:30 LRN Newscast

The legislature is debating Governor Landry’s tax reform proposal on this, the second day of the special session. A flat income tax rate of three-percent is at the center of Landry’s proposal. He says it would result in the biggest tax cut in Louisiana’s history as the income taxes would be lowered for most working citizens…

Cut 11 (11) “…our labor.”

To offset the loss of tax revenue from lower income taxes, the governor is proposing, among other things, to tax many services that are not taxed. Lawmakers have until November 25th to consider the proposal during this special session. Chalmette Representative Mike Bayham says given the complexity of the proposal and all of its components, that likely will not be enough time to consider everything.

Cut 6 (07) “…in the state.”

The U.S. political landscape remains in flux as the House of Representatives awaits resolution, but former President and President-elect Donald Trump holds a strong mandate and influence over the Republican-controlled Senate. Senator Bill Cassidy says even with G-O-P control, he and other members of his caucus will still need to reach across the aisle…

Cut 3 (11) “…than the minority.” 

Louisiana’s oil and gas industry is hailing Donald Trump’s re-election. Mike Moncla, the president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, says it will be good to have a President who will ease up on regulations, since according to him the Biden administration was not friendly to the industry.

Cut 4 (14) “…off-shore leasing plan.”