Coastal parishes in southeast Louisiana experienced a rare snowfall during the overnight hours. Just enough to cover the ground and make some roads slick. It is a little warmer this morning and highs today we’ll get in the 40s, but another hard freeze is expected tonight and into tomorrow morning.

What kind of impact will the GOP tax bill approved at the end of 2017 have on Louisiana businesses. Matt Doyle spoke with LSU economic Doctor Loren Scott..
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Don Molino”

State Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere says the governor’s appetite for spending is out of control by only calling a special session if legislative leaders agree to tax increases to deal with a one-billion dollar budget deficit. But Governor Edwards says he’s proposing a revenue neutral plan…
cut 12 (13) “…over time”
Edwards has asked for an agreement in principle with House Republican leaders by January 19th before calling a special session.

The toll rate on the L-A One bridge in LaFourche Parish increased as much as 25-percent for some vehicles as of January first. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson….
cut 15 (14) “…18 dollars”

A few national corporations have announced bonuses for employees as a result of the GOP tax bill, but on a local level the response has been somewhat more muted. LSU economist Loren Scott says Louisiana businesses are still analyzing the thousand page tax bill…
Cut 4 (10) “in Louisiana”
Republicans say the bill will help maintain the current three percent growth in GDP, and Scott says if that happens, it would be a big boost to the Louisiana economy.

Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere is blasting Governor John Bel Edwards for the options he’s presented towards solving a looming one-billion dollar budget deficit….
cut 11 (05) “…shortfall”
But Edwards says he’s asking the legislature to approve a revenue neutral plan that would reduce the state sales tax to four-cents, but removing sales tax exemptions for businesses.

No major statewide elections in Louisiana in 2018, but UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says a lot of moves will be made this year to get ready for the 2019 governor’s race….
cut 8 (12) “….2019”
Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham has already expressed interest in running for governor and there’s speculation Republican U-S Senator John Kennedy will also challenge Governor Edwards.

Qualifying for Louisiana’s spring municipal elections begins today. In West Monroe, the state’s longest serving Mayor Dave Norris says he plans on seeking an 11th term, but could face a challenge from state senator Mike Walsworth.

Still no word on if Matt Canada is done at LSU after one season as the Tigers offensive coordinator. Head Coach Ed Orgeron refused to comment about Canada’s future following the loss to Notre Dame yesterday. Coach O did talk about replacing two of the team’s best wide receivers with the incoming recruiting class…
cut 19 (15) “…on offense”
And LSU running back Derius Guice says he still has to talk with Coach Orgeron about his future. Guice is thinking about returning for his senior season, but if he enters the NFL draft, he’ll likely be a first round pick.

Guice’s former position coach, Jabbar Juluke, has been named the running backs coach and assistant head coach at UL Lafayette. Juluke spent last season with Texas Tech and the former head coach at Karr also previously served as an assistant at Louisiana Tech.

The SEC will crown its 9th national champion in football in 12 years when Georgia and Alabama meet for the national title on Monday night in Atlanta. Nick Saban will go after his sixth national championship…
cut 30 (09) “…we can”
Alabama dominated Clemson 24-6 last night in New Orleans in the Sugar Bowl, while Georgia rallied to beat Oklahoma 54-48 in double overtime.

For the Saints to advance in the NFC playoffs, they’ll have to beat Carolina for a third time this season. The Panthers and Black and Gold meet in the Dome on Sunday afternoon at 3:40. 13 out of 20 times since the league merged in 1970, the team that won twice in the regular season also went on to win the playoff game. Carolina tight end Greg Olsen did not play in the first two games and he’s back from injury and usually plays well against New Orleans.

There are reports of snow falling just off of Louisiana’s coast and there’s a possibilty for some accumulation in the areas of Morgan City, Houma, Grand Isle, Raceland and possiby into metro New Orleans. The entire state is under a hard freeze warning tonight and into tomorrow morning.

The cold weather is a big threat to this year’s crawfish harvest. Matt Doyle has more.
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Fourth District Congressman Mike Johnson and Attorney General Jeff Landry have released the “Louisiana Student Rights Review.” Johnson says the publication found at mike-johnson-for-Louisiana-dot-com answers legal questions and clears up misconceptions about religious expression on school campuses.
Cut 9 (08) “public schools.”
Johnson says the Constitution protects the rights of students to live out their faith in a public school.

Was it hard for you to be motivated to return to work today after taking time off for the holidays? CEO of Mid-America Careers Nick Murphy says many fear the large backlog of work that stacked up, but he says don’t feel as though everything needs to be done right away…
Cut 7 (11) “stay dilligent.”

The frigid weather has shut down crawfish production in south Louisiana. Louisiana Crawfish Promotion Board President David Savoy….
cut 14 (10) “…next week”
Savoy says the halt in the crawfish harvest will make it more difficult to find good size mudbugs for the upcoming carnival season.

Another hard freeze is expected tonight into tomorrow, with morning low temperatures in the low to mid 20s. Phil Grigsby, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says we’ll have to wait until the weekend before the Bayou State can thaw out…
cut 5 (10) “…night time hours”
And there’s a possiblity we can see snow flurries after midnight in the Morgan City and Houma areas, possibly into metro New Orleans.

Fourth district Congressman Mike Johnson and Attorney General Jeff Landry have released a publication that lays out the rights students have when it comes to prayer and religious expression in public schools….
cut 11 (09) “…exercise them”
Johnson says the free online resource can be found at mike-johnson-for-Louisiana-dot-com. The U-S Representative says too many people have been misled into believing schools must be religious free zones when he says the truth is our First Amendment rights are not surrendered inside a school. Johnson was previously a constitutional law attorney prior to his election to Congress.

Still no word on if Matt Canada is done at LSU after one season as the Tigers offensive coordinator. Head Coach Ed Orgeron refused to comment about Canada’s future following the loss to Notre Dame yesterday.

Another hard freeze warning is in effect for tonight into tomorrow morning. But Phil Grigsby, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says there is some good news, as the winds will die down and that will make it feel a little warmer outside.
cut 4 (09) “…out there”
Grigsby says we’ll have to wait until this weekend before the low temperatures get above the freezing mark.

Managing your money is a popular New Year’s Resolution. Baton Rouge CPA Layne McDaniel says if you really want to make an expensive purchase, give yourself time before plopping down your hard earned money….
cut 11 (10) “…it already”
McDaniel says putting 10-to-15 percent of your monthly salary into a savings account should be a realistic goal.

Louisiana’s craft brewery industry has the opportunity to grow, thanks to the recently approved GOP tax bill, because it cut in half the excise tax on beer for most producers. Cary Koch, director of the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild, says Louisiana ranks 48th in the country for the number of breweries per capita and this tax cut can help grow this industry….
cut 15 (09) “…kinda plateau”

If you are in a job that you truly are not happy with, it may be a good time to make a change at the start of the new year. Many employers are starting to hire with new budgets in place. But CEO of Mid-America Careers, Nick Murphy, cautions not to make too quick of a jump…
cut 8 (09) “…equally miserable”
Martin says for those returning to work today, with a large back log because of the holidays, don’t put extra pressure on yourself to get it done today.

Do your best to get used to this cold weather, because it will be around all week. Jeff Palermo has more from the National Weather Service…
voicer 1 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Are you looking to save money in 2018. Baton Rouge CPA Layne McDaniel on what you should put into some sort of a savings account in 2018….
cut 12 (07) “…start with”
McDaniel says if you plan on making a big purchase, give it 24 hours, before making a decision on if it’s a wise investment.

In 2018, some major road construction projects will be completed. State transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson…
cut 9 (10) “…late 18”
Wilson says motorists will see work on I-10 between Lafayette and Ascension Parish this year.

Many find it hard to be motivated at work after taking time off for the holidays. And with the extended cold snap, it may be challenging to get out and go back to work. But once you get there, CEO of Mid-America Careers Nick Murphy says do not be too hard on yourself as you get back into “work mode”…
Cut 6 (10) “back into it.”
There may be a large backlog of work that needs to completed that has stacked up. Murphy says don’t feel as though everything needs to be done right away.

Louisiana craft brewers are getting a sizable tax cut as a result of the GOP tax bill passed in Congress. Cary Koch, director of the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild, says the excise tax has been cut in half on the first 60-thousand barrels produced…cut 14 (09) “…more workers’

There are about 40 breweries in the state.

State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says 2018 will see major work on Interstate 10. A widening project between Lafayette and the Atchafalya Basin will ramp up and they are breaking ground on another widening project in East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes. Wilson says both projects could lead to delays, so motorists need to be aware…
cut 8 (10) “…two lanes”
L-A 318 overpass and the Albertson’s Parkway overpass in Lafayette will be completed this year and so will I-49 north in Caddo Parish.

Do you want to save more money this year? Kelley Ray spoke with a CPA to get some tips on how to make that possible…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Tough start to 2018 for LSU fans as the Fighting Tigers couldn’t hold on to a late 17-14 lead and lost to Notre Dame 21-17. Meanwhile, Alabama is back in the national championship game after a dominating win over Clemson in last night’s Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The Crimson Tide will play Georgia in the national title game.