A Senate committee has made major changes to GOP House Chairman Lance Harris’ sales tax bill and now the legislation will raise enough revenue to fill a projected budget shortfall for next fiscal year. The panel removed more sales tax exemptions than what the House called for and Harris doesn’t see the Senate version passing the lower chamber…
Cut 13 (09) “the bill”
The revised sales tax bill eliminates sales tax exemptions for manufacturing machinery, farm equipment and business utilities, which would produce an extra 300-million dollars.

A bill requiring public schools to display, and instruct students on the motto “In God We Trust” was signed by the governor after facing little opposition in the legislature. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow on why she filed the bill….
Cut 10 (07) “school system”

Even though Republicans in Washington D-C failed in their effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act Louisiana GOP Senator Bill Cassidy says discussions continue on how to make health care affordable care. Cassidy has released a White paper report and one thing he’s really looking at is the wide variety of costs for prescription drugs…
cut 5 (10) “…hundred dollars”
Cassidy says the U-S Senate remains split on health care, so it’s unclear when another attempt will be made to reform health care.

According to the Associated Press, Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law a bill that prohibits an abortion after the 15-week mark of a pregnancy. It will only take effect if the federal courts uphold a similiar law in Mississippi.

The governor has also put his signature on a bill that would require public schools to display the motto “In God We Trust” in their buildings and the legislation requires the teaching of that motto to the students.

And the governor has also signed a bill that would ask Louisiana residents if they want to legalize fantasy sports betting in their parish. The bill’s author, River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says it requires knowledge and strategy when a player competes on Fan Duel or Draft Kings…
cut 7 (06) “…of skill”
The issue will appear on the November ballot. Talbot will bring legislation next year that would put in place the regulations and how the state plans to tax it.

Authorities are seeking tips in the fatal double shooting of a 29-year-old man and her four-year daughter in LaPlace. St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre says Cameron and Cali Mack were gunned down last night by an unknown shooter….
cut 4 (11) “…more shots”
The victims were heading up the stairs to their home when they were shot.

Two teenagers from the Opelousas area have been charged with aggravated kidnapping and negligent homicide for their roles in the death of 11-year-old Bryla Bell, who died when the car she was driving crashed into a tree. St. Landry Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says 19-year-old Kelvin Monte and 17-year-old Jon’ Torras Bryant arranged to pick up Bryla outside of her Lawtell home…
cut 13 (07) “….aggravated”
Guidroz says the suspects did not realize Bryla was just 11-years-old.

A four-year-old girl and her father were fatally shot last night in LaPlace. St. John the Baptist Sheriff Mike Tregre says they were walking up the stairs to their home, when a gunman came out of the darkness and started firing…
cut 3 (08) “…crime stoppers”
Tregre says no suspects or motive at this time.

Online fantasy sports is heading to the November ballot after being signed by the Governor. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle “

St. Tammany President Pat Brister sent a letter to the governor asking the state to expedite road expansion on I-12 in her parish after a fiery crash led to four dead on Saturday. Brister wants the planned expansion moved up from its currently scheduled 2023, but State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they just don’t have the cash to do.
Cut 9 (08) “wait”

19-year-old Kelvin Monte and 17-year-old Jon’Torras Bryant have been charged with aggravated kidnapping of a child and negligent homicide for their roles in the death of an 11-year-old Bryla Bell who crashed after a pursuit by law enforcement. St. Landry Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says Bell’s mother knew her daughter snuck out of the home to be with the young men…
cut 14 (10) “…a pursuit”
The suspects jumped out of the vehicle in Opelousas and Bryla took the wheel and eventually crashed and died

Authorities are seeking tips in the fatal double shooting of a 29-year-old man and her four-year daughter in LaPlace. St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre says Cameron and Cali Mack were gunned down last night by an unknown shooter….
cut 4 (11) “…more shots”
The victims were heading up the stairs to their home when they were shot.

In November, Louisiana voters will be asked whether they want to legalize fantasy sports betting in their parish with websites like Fan Duel and Draft Kings. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says if approved, the legislature will come back next year to see how they can generate revenue by taxing it…
cut 8 (10) “…in the spring”

St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister is urging the Edwards administration to expand Interstate 12 in the Covington area after a fiery 18-wheeler crash claimed the lives of four people on Saturday. Brister says the number of motorists on this stretch of highway has increased substantially over the last few years…
cut 15 (09) “…not that”
State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says it’s the legislature that decides what projects get prioritized…
cut 11 (11) “….plans were”
Wilson says funding is also a question mark as the state legislature missed out on a chance to pay for major highway projects when it didn’t pass an increase to the state’s gasoline tax.

The House Appropriations Committee has sent several budget bills to the House floor for consideration. House Bill 1 would fund TOPS at 80 percent, and cut higher education by 26 million dollars. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says funding TOPS at such a high level while slashing higher ed doesn’t make sense.
Cut 10 (10) “you want”
Legislators are trying to pass a budget before the special session ends June 4th.

The search is on for a gunman who fatally a shot a four-year-old girl and her father in LaPlace. St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre says deputies are canvassing the neighborhood as they search for more leads…
Cut 5 (10) “some justice”
The victims were walking up the stairs to their home, when Tregre says a gunman came out of the darkness and started firing his weapon.

New Orleans is hosting over 7,000 teachers this week for a yearly development conference. Becca Dill has the story.
Cut 1 (30) I”m Becca Dill“

And St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister has written a letter urging Governor John Bel Edwards to move up the time line for a proposed I-12 expansion in the Covington area. The letter comes days after a fiery 18-wheeler crash that killed four people. Brister says that stretch of interstate has become dangerous…
cut 14 (06) “…panicky almost”

A four-year-old girl and her father were fatally shot last night in LaPlace. St. John the Baptist Sheriff Mike Tregre says they were walking up the stairs to their home, when a gunman came out of the darkness and started firing…
cut 3 (08) “…crime stoppers”
Tregre says no suspects or motive at this time.

Four people were killed in a fiery crash on Interstate 12, near highway 21 on Saturday and now St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister is asking the Edwards administration to move up the time line on expanding the interstate to three lanes. Brister says plans to expand I-12 were recently pushed back to 2023….
cut 16 (12) “…at Walker”
Brister says congestion on I-12 in the Covington area has created safety hazard for motorists and additional lane is needed sooner than later.

Governor John Bel Edwards vetoes legislation that would have prevented local governments from placing zoning restrictions on developers, preventing them from building affordable housing in certain areas. Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center Executive Director Cashauna Hill says local zoning ordinances should be left to the cities and not controlled by state government….
cut 9 (10) “…they serve”
Metairie Senator Danny Martiny, the bill’s sponsor, argued that cities should not be allowed to dictate what developers build, and that rent prices should be left up to the market.

Two people involved in the death of an 11-year-old girl in Opelousas are in custody. Bryla Bell was at the wheel when she died in a police chase. Two young men were in the vehicle with her, prior to the chase and authorities questioned those two men yesterday and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is expected to announce charges against the men later today.

Budget bills have been sent to the House floor after they received approval from the House Appropriations Committee. The proposed spending plan for next fiscal year will contain at least over 200-million dollars in cuts, because the legislature is not expected to replace all of the revenue from temporary taxes that are set to expire on June 30th. A group called the Poor Peoople’s Campaign raised its concerns to the House Appropriations Committee…
cut 11 (15) “…a budget”
Budget bills heading to the House call for cuts to public colleges, but funding for nusing home residents and public-private hospitals would not be impacted.

The search is on in LaPlace for a gunman who fatally shot a four-year-old girl and her father as they were walking up the steps of their home last night.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ has vetoed legislation so that local governments can keep requiring developers to build affordable housing….
Voicer 2 (32) ” I’m Matt Doyle”

The state department of education’s sixth annual teacher leader summit is underway in New Orleans. State Superintendent of Academic Content Rebecca Kockler says educators will receive great tips, including how to pick the best books for the class….
cut 6 (12) “…of that”