The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says over the last three years the state has had the largest percentage growth in business taxes in the nation. LABI President Steven Waugespack…
Cut 7 (11) “…percent.”
That 12.5 percent was seen between fiscal year 2016 and 2017. The business lobby has also raised serious concerns about changes to the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, after the East Baton Rouge school board recently shot down Exxon’s request for the tax break. But Governor Edwards stands by his decision to give local governments the power to reject I-TEP requests and not a state board…
cut 10 (11) “…process”

Governor John Bel Edwards holds a statewide business summit today. About 500 business leaders are expected to attend the event in Baton Rouge. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the summit will go over many of the key elements impacting business.
Cut 4 (09) “…our state today.”
The Republican Party of Louisiana has taken issue with the event, saying it’s a taxpayer-funded campaign event for Edwards’ re-election campaign. Pierson says that’s not true, saying the event is underwritten by corporate sponsors and the Governor’s participation just comes with his job.

Tough loss for the 13th ranked LSU basketball team last night as they fell to the Florida Gators 82-77 in overtime. It’s the second home S-E-C loss for the Tigers and Coach Will Wade calls that embarrassing.

A massive fire engulfed a 150-year-old mansion on St. Charles Avenue in the New Orleans Garden district today. Fire Chief Tim McConnell says it was one of the largest fires in New Orleans in many years and not easy to extinguish…
cut 13 (14) “….that area”
Three people, including a 92-year-old woman, escaped the mansion before it sustained catastrophic damage.

A woman who thought she was getting into a ride-sharing vehicle said she was sexually assaulted by the driver. The victim was leaving a Tigerland bar near the LSU campus last night and Baton Rouge Police Sergeant L’Jean McKNeely says they are looking for surveillance video that may have captured the incident…
cut 10 (10) “…dark colored sedan”
The victim did not require hospitalization.

A llama is under the care of a LSU Veterinary Clinic after being shot three times and it’s owner is facing a felony cruelty to animals charge. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The former longtime executive director of the national Delta Kapp Epsilon fraternity told the Advocate it was known for 30 years the LSU chapter had severe hazing problems and the university knew it too. Nine DKEs were arrested last week on hazing charges and LSU has placed multiple administrators on leave for failing to act properly after hearing rumors.

About 80 New Orleans firefighters battled a massive blaze that destroyed a historic mansion on St. Charles Avenue in the garden district. A tired New Orleans Fire Chief, Tim McConnell says investigators are trying to determine a cause and thankfully no one was injured….
cut 14 (05) “…getting out”
A total of three people escaped. The Rex parade which rolls on Mardi Gras day stops at this house for a toast every year.

A 67-year-old Opelousas woman faces criminal charges after she allegedly shot her pet llama after it attacked her. St. Landry Sheriff’s Major Eddie Thibodaux says Madeline Bourgeois has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
Cut 3 (11) “…shot at him.”
The lama is recovering at a local animal hospital.

About 500 business people representing various sectors of the economy will be in Baton Rouge tomorrow for what Governor John Bel Edwards calls a statewide business summit. The state Republican Party calls it a campaign ploy, but Edwards says the goal of the conference is to see how the public and private sector can drive Louisiana’s economic future.

Want to adopt a horse that’ll march in a Mardi Gras parade? Matt Doyle has more on a Louisiana Humane Society effort to save those horses from the slaughterhouse…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A massive fire has destroyed a three-story, 150-year-old mansion on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, but three people, including a 92-year-old woman escaped the blaze. New Orleans Fire Chief Tim McConnell says the seven-alarm fire started just before eight A-M and it was out of control when the first firefighters arrived…
cut 12 (14) “…got here”
The Rex parade which rolls on Mardi Gras day stops at this house for a toast every year.

A 67-year-old Opelousas woman has been charged with animal cruelty after she shot her pet llama four times after it attacked her. St. Landry Sheriff’s office Major Eddie Thibodaux says investigators have determined Madeline Bourgeois was no longer in danger and should not have shot the animal…
cut 5 (08) “…relocating the llama”
The llama is recovering at a local animal hospital.

Baton Rouge Police say a woman was attacked and assaulted after getting into a vehicle she mistaken for being her rideshare driver in the Tigerland area. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says the victim knew she was in trouble when she got a notification that her real driver was one minute away after she got into the vehicle of her attacker.
Cut 9 (10) “…sexually assault her.”
McKneely says the victim escaped by getting out of the vehicle while it was still in motion.

The Human Society of Louisiana is once again encouraging animal lovers to adopt a horse that’s been brought to the area to participate in Mardi Gras parades. Humane Society of Louisiana CEO Jeff Dorson says last year a Baton Rouge woman adopted a horse that had a very special connection to her family history.
Cut 8 (11) “…season.”
For more information go to the Facebook page is called Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program.

A 67-year-old Opelousas woman is facing animal cruelty charges after she shot her pet llama four times. St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Major Eddie Thibodaux says Madeline Bourgeois is facing the felony charge, because the llama had finished attacking her and she didn’t need to use the weapon to defend herself…
cut 4 (09) “…to animals”
The Llama is recovering at a local animal hospital.

A record seven local governments now have a state-appointed administrator to help those communities who are under financial distress. State legislative auditor Daryl Purpera says the fiscal mess was so bad, these local entities usually welcome the help…
cut 12 (08) “…administrator”
Bogalusa and Sterlington are the latest cities to receive an administrator.

The Humane Society is working to find homes for 16 horses that will march in this year’s carnival parades. It’s the third year of the program and has so far saved 32 horses from potentially being sent to slaughter. Humane Society of Louisiana CEO Jeff Dorson says these horses are brought into the area to accommodate equine demand during Mardi Gras.
Cut 6 (13) “…sale barns.”
If you are interested in purchasing any of the horses go to the Facebook page for the Louisiana Mardi Gras Parade Horse adoption program.

A record seven local governments in Louisiana are under control of a fiscal administrator appointed by the state, because of budget woes. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says the administrators have broad authority to address the fiscal crisis by laying off employees or raising rates….
Cut 10 (10) “…making decisions”
This week the Fiscal Review Committee appointed administrators to handle the finances of Bogalusa and Sterlington.

A 67-year-old Opelousas woman faces criminal charges after she allegedly shot her pet llama after it attacked her. St. Landry Sheriff’s Major Eddie Thibodaux says Madeline Bourgeois has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
Cut 3 (11) “…shot at him.”
The Llama is recovering at a local animal hospital.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System president Monty Sullivan responds to Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed’s comments on the cost of attending a community college. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s office took into custody a student at St. Martinville High School after the subject posted video on social media that had him brandishing a handgun on a school bus and also inside a classroom. The arrest took place yesterday morning.

The state health department reports the number of flu cases has spiked with Louisiana reporting widespread flu activity. Immunization director for the Louisiana Department of Health, Doctor Frank Welch, says the flu season could get worse with Mardi Gras parades and celebrations set to ramp up. He recommends washing your hands frequently and do not share drinks…
cut 8 (11) “….that flu shot”
The flu causes about 500 deaths and three-thousand hospitalizations every year in Louisiana.

A cold front is sweeping across the state today. It’s in the mid 40s for most of the state today, but the cold front has yet to move through southeast Louisiana. So it’s still in the low 70s there. But the temperature will fall fast once the front moves through. Stormy weather will return on Friday.

Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says Louisiana students use a larger part of their income to attend a community college compared to their peers in the South and nationally. But president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College system, Monty Sullivan, says the state’s community and technical schools have not raised tuition in four years and fees in three years…
cut 5 (11) “….affordable”
Reed encourages students to apply for financial assistance.

Teacher pay is expected to be a big topic when the legislative session begins in April. Abbeville Senator Bob Hensgens has filed a bill that would give teachers a 250-dollar tax deduction for supplies paid out of pocket. The Vermillion Parish Republican hopes passing the legislation will inspire more school districts to help teachers pay for supplies.
Cut 15 (06) “…do more.” (2x)
The deduction would apply to anyone who is employed as a teacher or aid in a qualified school, and works on average fifteen hours a week.