While many internet transactions are already seeing sales taxes collected for the state, as of January 1, all purchases from out of state internet retailers will be subject to a flat 8.45 percent tax. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says some of the bigger retailers have already been collecting the tax.
Cut 4 (05) “…a year now.″
Robinson says her office has provided out of state internet vendors with guidance on collecting sales tax from purchases made by Louisiana consumers and are expected to do so after January 1st.

State Republican Party Chairman Louis Gurvuich has indicated he would like to see an end to Louisiana’s Jungle Primary system. He says it creates issues for Republicans when there’s a large field of candidates running for office. But on his “Ask the Governor” show, Edwards said closed primaries would foster a political culture closer to the one in Washington D-C…
cut 15 (09) “….two parties”

AAA expects a record 112-million people will travel for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday….
cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

After the first day of the early college football signing period, LSU’s class ranks as the fourth best in the country according to 24-7 sports-dot-com. The top three schools ahead of them, Alabama, Georgia and Texas A-and-M.

According to the US Census Bureau, Louisiana is among nine states that saw a population from July 2017 to July 2018, with a decrease of nearly 11,000. Demographer Greg Rigamer says since 2010, Louisiana’s population has only increased by 115,000,
cut 7 (11) “…Louisiana at 2.5%”
Texas has seen an increase of 3.5 million and Florida 2.5 million.

Mississippi-based YoungWilliams plans to hire 80 workers in Bossier City and another 160 in Baton Rouge after signing a five-year agreement with the state to provide call center support for the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. D-C-F-S Secretary Don Pierson says YoungWilliams is investing in the state for the long haul…
cut 10 (09) “….dollars”
Previous call center functions were handled by a company operating in Florida and California.

Louisiana’s two US Senators are on opposite sides of a criminal justice reform bill approved by the Senate on an 87-12 vote. Bill Cassidy says the legislation helps non-violent and low risk parolees re-enter society, get a job and stay out of trouble. But John Kennedy says the First Step Act is a violation of American public safety.

As expected the nation’s top cornerback signed with LSU on the opening day of the early college football signing period. Jeff Palermo has more on the Tigers 2019 recruiting class…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

According to the US Census Bureau, Louisiana has seen a population decrease of nearly 11,000. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The nation’s number one prospect according to Rivals-dot-com is officially an LSU Tiger on the first day of college football’s early signing period. Derek Stingley Jr. signed his national letter of intent in front of classmates at Dunham High School…
Cut 3 (07) “…applause.”
Stingley has 27 career interceptions during his prep career.

There are people living in a Mandeville neighborhood hoping their neighbor takes down the five inflatable dragons up in her front yard. It started with two dragons, both of them wearing a Santa Claus hat. But the homeowner, Diana Rowland, says she received an anonymous note saying her neighbors were wondering if she was involved in a demonic cult. So Rowland decided to add three more dragons because of her judgy-mcfudgyface neighbor.

A vivint-source-dot-com report finds that Louisiana has one of the highest rates for holiday thefts in the nation. PR Specialist Hilary Bird says over the past five years, Louisiana had an average of 68 thefts per 10-thousand residents during the holiday season…
cut 13 (11) “…the holiday”
Larceny is the most common crime, which is pickpocketing or breaking into someone’s car.

New data from the U-S Census Bureau came out today and it shows that Louisiana’s population declined by nearly 11-thousand from July 2017 to July 2018. Demographer Greg Rigamer says much of the out migration involves college grads who leave for stronger and more viable employment opportunities.
Cut 8 (09) “…It’s not a good trend.”

One of the nation’s top high school football players signed with LSU today on the opening day of the early college football signing period. Cornerback Derek Stingley Junior of Baton Rouge says he chose LSU, because it will benefit him after his playing days are over…
cut 5 (12) “….after football”
A couple of other five-star prospects are signing with LSU at this hour, Destrehan running back John Emery and offensive guard Kardell Thomas.

Louisiana has signed a contract with YoungWilliams who will process calls for the Department of Children and Family Services for the next five years. The deal also means, Young Williams will have centers in Bossier City and Baton Rouge and creating 240 new jobs. Economic development Secretary Don Pierson says the jobs pay on average 27-thousand dollars a year and he says they’re part of the state’s efforts to diversify its job openings…
cut 11 (10) “…skilled positions’
The center will receive about 500-thousand calls a month.

A report from VivintSource says Louisiana has the 7th highest number of holiday time thefts of any state in the nation. PR Specialist Hilary Bird says Louisiana ranked poorly in many areas, but stood out in particular one…
Cut 12 (10) “…season.”
Larceny is the theft of personal property.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has teamed up with Connecticut AG George Jepsen in a suit against generic drug manufacturers, claiming the companies violated anti-trust laws to push prices higher than they should be on over 300 drugs. Landry says they’re discussing a settlement with 18 manufacturers in a suit that involves 47 other states.
Cut 13 (07) “…fixed prices”
Generic drugs account for almost 90-percent of prescriptions.

According to the U-S Census Bureau, Louisiana is among nine states that has seen a population loss, with a decrease of nearly 11,000 between July 2017 and July 2018. Demographer Greg Rigamer says it’s not a good sign and a reflection upon the state’s economy.
Cut 6 (08) “…and states have.”
Since 2010, Louisiana’s population has only increased by 115,000, compared to Texas who has seen an increase of 3.5 million and Florida with 2.5 million.

The Trump Administration has banned bump stocks, giving owners 90 days to destroy, or turn in their devices. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The nation’s number one prospect according to Rivals-dot-com signed with LSU this morning on the first day of the early signing period. Derek Stingley Junior signed his national letter of intent in front of his classmates at Dunham High in Baton Rouge…
cut 3 (07) “….applause”
Stingley has 27 career interceptions during his prep career.

The US Justice Department is drawing up the paperwork to ban bump stocks, which can turn a legal weapon into an illegal machine gun. Bump stocks were used in the Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people at a country music concert. Earlier this year, New Orleans Senator Troy Carter pushed the Louisiana legislature to pass a state law to ban bump stocks…
cut 5 (10) “….communities”
The Justice Department estimates 520,000 bump stocks have been sold in the US since 2010.

47 states including Louisiaana are involved in a lawsuit that claims 18 generic drug manufactures colluded to inflate prices that hurts patients and insurance companies. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry…
cut 15 (08) “….drug prices”
Landry hopes any settlement money that comes Louisiana’s way can be used to reduce health costs in this state.

State health officials declare an outbreak of hepatitis A, with 24 known cases of the highly contagious liver disease. Several states have experienced an outbreak since 2016 and LDH Immunization Director Doctor Frank Welch says it seems like its Louisiana’s turn…
Cut 10 (10) “…Louisiana”
Welch says people who are most at-risk need to get vaccinated. Risk groups include illegal drug users, the homeless, and those in transient housing.

The state department of transportation announces plans to begin construction on the I-210 Prien Lake Bridge in Lake Charles. The work will entail replacing the main span concrete block, installing guardrails and lighting. DOTD spokesperson Tammy York says significant delays are expected when work begins…
cut 9 (06) “….it will be”
The Department will announce a start date later this month.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is working with Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen on a class action lawsuit against 18 generic drug manufacturers and two executives, claiming the industry colluded to drive up generic drug prices. Landry says these companies acted like a price-fixing cartel…
cut 14 (10) “…wack”
Jepsen says generic drug companies worked together to inflate prices as much as 600-percent.

The department of transportation announces the I-210 Prien Lake Bridge repair work will start in early January and significant delays are expected during construction. D-O-T-D spokesperson Tammy York says the project will cost 35-million dollars…
cut 8 (07) “…underneath”
I-210 Prien Lake eastbound and westbound bridges will be reduced to one lane in each direction during the day.

The Trump administration is moving towards banning bump stocks, which was used in 2017 by a gunman in Las Vegas to kill 58 people at a country music concert. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter, a gun control advocate, says it’s a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done…
cut 6 (07) “…mental capacity”
The proposed ban on bump stocks could go into effect on Friday and bump stock owners have 90 days to destroy their devices or turn them into the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Louisiana Health Department has declared a hepatitis A outbreak as there’s been 25 cases of the contagious liver disease. L-D-H Immunization Director Frank Welch says those individuals who are at risk should get vaccinated…
cut 11 (12) “…at risk”
Most of the cases are in the Morehouse Parish and Baton Rouge areas.