Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement saying he was in disbelief after a sales tax bill was soundly defeated. The legislation is a critical piece towards addressing a looming one billion dollar budget deficit. Edwards says some lawmakers are unwilling to negotiate
Cut 14 (10) “move forward”
The House is set to meet again this afternoon, but time is running out as the special session must end Wednesday.

A state Department of Children and Family Services report finds there has been a 77-percent increase in the amount of juvenile human trafficking victims aged 12 or less over the past year. Author of the report Walter Fahr says part of the increase has to do with better identification methods…
Cut 9 (07) “reporting this.”
72 of the human trafficking victims identified in 2017 are 12 and younger, an astounding 260-percent increase over 2016.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents are offering a 55-hundred-dollar reward for information about who killed two black bears in St. Mary Parish in the Atchafalaya Basin. It is believed they were killed between February 2nd and 4th. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck says both bears were discovered in a fairly remote area…
Cut 3 (09) “from there.”
Einck says they believe they are looking for the same suspect in both killings.

A massive manhunt has been ongoing in south Natchitoches Parish for Rapides Prison escapee Brandon Clark. Authorities say the 39-year-old white male stole a 2018 Ford F-250 and led State Police and Rapides deputies on pursuit into Natchitoches Parish, where he ditched the vehicle and fled in the woods near the Marco -Lena areas.

The state House is set to convene again at 3:00. Will they be able to pass a tax proposal to help close a nearly one-billion dollar budget gap that’s the result of expiring state sales taxes. A key sales tax bill was overwhelmingly voted down last night and time is running out in this special session.

Gus Mijalis, a Shreveport businessman and noted close friend of former Gov. Edwin Edwards, has died. We have reaction from Edwards…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

A 55-hundred dollar reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the shooting deaths of two adult male Louisiana black bears. It’s believed the bears were killed during the first weekend of February about 10 miles south of Franklin in St. Mary Parish. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck….
cut 5 (05) “…under investigation”
It is illegal to hunt bears.

A new report on human trafficking showed a 77-percent increase in juvenile victimes identified over the past year, including more than three times as many victims age 12 or younger, compared to 2016. Walter Fahr with D-C-F-S Child Protective Services says the report shows more needs to be done to help juvenile human trafficking victims, get out of that lifestyle…
cut 11 (09) “…related issues”
For juveniles, Caddo and Orleans parishes were the most identified as the parishes of orgin.

Frustrations are high and time is short for lawmakers trying to solve the fiscal cliff. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Chairman of the House Republican Legislative Caucus, Lance Harris, blames the governor for poor negotiating tactics….
Cut 13 (10) “what happened”
Despite all of the animosity tax negoitations continue.

A state Department of children and Family Services report says there was a 77-percent increase in the number of juvenile human trafficking victims. 72 of juvenile victims were 12 or younger, which is a 260-percent increase from 2016. Walter Fahr with Child Protective Services says these young victims are easily coerced back to the trafficking lifestyle…
cut 10 (09) “….the juveniles”
Fahr says they need more oganiziation to help get these children out of the trafficking lifestyle.

Shreveport businessman and confidante of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, Gus Mijalis, has passed away at the age of 83. His family owns Farmers Seafood and he was an influential person during Edwards’ four terms. The former governor says there was no one like Mijalis…
cut 8 (10) “…we were very close”
Mijalis’ memorial service is Monday.

The special session is on the verge of collapsing without a tax plan that addresses a looming one billion dollar shortfall. This week the House has failed to get behind a proposal to raise revenues to replace expiring sales taxes. Republican Barry Ivey of Baton Rouge says GOP legislators are not willing to work with a Democratic governor……
cut 12 (05) “…tax reform”
A sales tax bill that would have generated 300-million dollars annually was overwhelmingly defeated, but tax negotiations continue today. The special session must end Wednesday.

State Senator Troy Carter has filed a bill for the regular session that raises the age to purchase an assault rifle from 18 to 21. Opponents could say you can join the military under the age of 21 and carry an assault rifle, so why couldn’t you buy one? Carter argues….
Cut 15 (08) “or none.”
Carter says he’s a second Amendment supporter, but believes the framers of our constitution didn’t envision teenagers using assault rifles on their classmates.

Gus Mijalis, a Shreveport businessman and noted close friend of former Gov. Edwin Edwards has died. Mijalis family owned the Farmers seafood company which opened in 1918. Former Governor Edwin Edwards remembers Mijalis in an adversarial position when they first met. But things quickly changed.
cut 6 (10) “…ever since”
A memorial service is scheduled for Monday.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents are offering a 55-hundred-dollar reward for information about who killed two black bears in St. Mary Parish in the Atchafalaya Basin. It is believed they were killed between February 2nd and 4th. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck says both bears were discovered in a fairly remote area…
Cut 3 (09) “from there.”
Anyone with information can call a hotline at 800-442-2511 or it can be submitted through the Tip 411 app on smartphones.

Governor Edwards and Republican state senator Sharon Hewitt call on Secretary of State Tom Schedler to resign because of sexual harassment allegations.…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

Nine Louisiana parishes along the I-20 corridor are under a flash flood watch through tomorrow morning. Aaron Stevens is with the National Weather Service in Shreveport….
cut 9 (09) “…pretty quicly quickly”

Republican U-S Senator John Kennedy says he doesn’t plan on voting for any of the gun control bills that may come before the Senate in reaction to the deadly mass shooting at a Florida school two weeks ago. Kennedy says statistically gun owners are not the problem…
cut 8 (10) “…danger to anyone”
Kennedy says if we enforced the laws on the books many of the shootings, including the one in Florida would not have happened.

The small town of Urania in LaSalle Parish has landed a big sawmill that will create 110 jobs and an additional 300 indirect jobs. A joint venture by Hunt Forest Products and Tolko Industries will build a state of the art 115-million-dollar mill in the heart of the state’s 11-billion-dollar forest products industry. Urania Mayor Terri Corley is thrilled they can use the former location of the old Louisiana-Pacific mill…
ut 3 (06) “a sawmill.”

Democratic Governor John Bel Edwawds joined Republican state senator Sharon Hewitt in calling for Secretary of State Tom Schedler to step down. An employee in the Secretary of State’s office has filed a harassment suit against the official who oversees elections in this state. Edwards says the alleged harassment casts doubt on the integrity of the Secretary of State’s office…
cut 12 (11) “…to resign”
Schedler has no comment on the calls for his resignation.

Governor Edwards says the next 24 hours critical for the state House to pass tax bills to address a looming one billion dollar deficit. With one week to go in the special session, the House has yet to pass any revenue generating proposals. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says he sees a lack of urgency in the House
Cut 15 (07) “right now”

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy opposes a bill to modify the existing back-ground check systems for firearm purchases because he says that system is flawed.Kennedy sympathizes with the victims of the latest mass school shooting in Florida but , as he says, he will not be sucked into a pro temporary gun-control law we don’t need.
Cut 7 (11) “ones we have”
The proposed legislation does not expand background checks but rather requires officials to do a better job of screening.

Ruston-based Hunt Forest Products and Tolko Industries will build a state of the art 115-million-dollar mill in the LaSalle Parish town of Urania. heart of the state’s 11-billion-dollar forest products industry. Mayor Terri Corley Corley says the sawmill will employee 110 people…
Cut 5 (07) “had before.”
Construction is expected to begin in April and operations will begin next year.