The centerpiece to Governor John Bel Edwards fiscal reform plan is expected to be introduced to the legislature today. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Ochsner Cancer Institute in Jefferson Parish is giving Louisiana cancer patients new hope through its Precision Cancer Therapies Program. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The state Department of Wildlife in Fisheries has scheduled a drawdown of Lake Bistineau to combat the giant salivina problem. Emelie Gunn on the May 1^st drawdown…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The centerpiece of Governor John Bel Edwards’ plan to overhaul’s Louisiana tax code is expected to be filed today. The measure has been referred to as a gross receipts or Commerical Activity Tax. Publisher of la-politics-dot-com, Jeremy Alford, says there’s very little support for this new tax on businesses…

Cut 4  (10) “somehow”

The CAT tax acts as a corporate  sales tax. Any business that has sales over one-point-five million dollars, a portion of those sales are taxed. Many small business owners would be assessed a flat tax. But Alford says even members of the governor’s party are not supportive…

Cut 5  (10)  “this thing”

Alford says the governor has struggled to drum up support for the CAT tax, because no one thought it would be up for debate in this session…

Cut 6 (11) “sponsor is”

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A Baton Rouge lawmaker is pushing for 18-wheelers to be required to drive at least 10 miles lower than the posted speed limit on Interstate highways. Representative Steve Carter filed the legislation after the speed limits were reduced on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.

Cut 7 (10)  “has occured”

This measure would also pertain to drivers of school buses and tractor trailers. Carter says multiple ostates have similar laws and this can greatly improve safety.

Cut 8 (08) “we’re having”

Once the legislation is heard, it will go before House Transportation Committee. Carter hopes this also helps with traffic given the state’s infrastructure problems.

Cut 9 (11)  “enhance safety”

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Ochsner Cancer Institute in Jefferson Parish will provide more treatment options, thanks to the hospital’s new Precision Cancer Therapies Program. Medical Director of the program, Dr. Marc Matrana (Muh-tron-ah) says this program connects Louisiana cancer patients with access to cutting-edge, early-phase clinical trials, something currently not available in our state.

Cut 10 (11) “of innovations”

Matrana says currently cancers are treated with the standard treatment for that type of cancer, meaning all colon cancers, for example, are typically treated the same. He says while this is effective for most patients, some need more personalized care. He says this gives more options and hope to patients.

Cut 11 (09 “and innovative will”

Matrana says they’re bringing in more and more trials to the state every day. So if cancer patients are not seeing results with standard treatments, Ochsner’s new Precision Cancer Therapies program can give many of them other options.

Cut 12 (10) “that we have”

For more information on the Ochsner Precision Cancer Therapies Program, visit ochsner.org/earlyphase or call 504-800-6370.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has scheduled a drawdown of Lake Bistineau to control rapidly growing giant salvinia. LDWF Biologist Manager Jeff Sibley says the drawdown, set for May 1^st, is a little bit earlier this year in order to get the situation back under control. He says summer temperatures promote giant salvinia growth.

Cut 13 (09) “the lake”

The drawdown is scheduled to go on until November 30^th. Sibley says normally during this time of year there are under 1,000 acres of giant salvina in the lake. He says the drawdown dries out large areas of the lake and takes away the places that are the best habitat for the plant to grow.

Cut 14 (10) “two weeks”

During the drawdown, the lake has about 10-thousand acres of water in it and remains open to the public. Sibley says the giant salvinia limits recreational boating and most importantly, degrades the aquatic habitat making it unsuitable for fish or wildlife.

Cut 15 (09) “so quickly”

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At the halfway point of the SEC Schedule, the LSU Baseball team is 9-6 in league play after taking two of three from Ole Miss. The Tigers clinched the series victory with a three to two win over the Rebels on Saturday afternoon. That’s win number 25 on the season for the Tigers and Coach Paul Mainieri….

Cut 16 (10) “this series”

Eric Walker was the winning pitcher in Saturday’s win. The freshman from Texas is now 5-0 and he got some help from the fielders behind him, including second baseman Cole Freeman who had a couple of nice defensive plays….

Cut 17 (11)  “good game”

LSU hosts Lamar tomorrow night. The Tigers have won five of their last six after going through a stretch where they lost six of nine. Freeman likes how the Tigers are playing….

Cut 18 (15)    “the limit” 

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Louisiana Tech took two of three from Old Dominion over the weekend. The Bulldogs defeated the Monarchs seven to three as Tech pounded out three home runs in the ninth inning. Jordan Washam started the long ball display by hitting a solo home run to give the Diamond Dogs the lead for good…

Cut 19 (14)   “of fun”

Marshall Boggs hit a two-run bomb and Chase Lunceford also clubbed a home run in that decisive 9th inning. Tech is now 6-9 in Conference USA and Coach Lane Burroughs says his team showed a lot of heart…

Cut 20 (13)   “the ballgame”

The Humane Society of Louisiana is trying to figure who dragged a pit bull by a moving vehicle near St. Landry Parish. Michelle Southern reports…:

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According to an annual survey from the National Retail Federation, Easter spending is expected to reach an all-time high. Halen Doughty has more…

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The Humane Society of Louisiana is trying to figure out who is responsible for apparently dragging a pit bull from a moving vehicle in Acadia Parish near St. Landry. Executive Director Jeff Dorson says the 3-year-old dog was found by its owner in a ditch with horrible injuries..:

Cut 3 (08) “terrible shape”

Dorson says the owner didn’t have the resources to care for the dog, so their members raised over $800 to help pay for the dog’s care. He says they have no idea who could have done such a thing to a helpless animal…:

Cut 4  (07) “activity”

Dorson says the dog has a long road to recovery, but he is expected to pull through. He says that if anyone knows or hears anything about this incident, please let the Humane Society know…:

Cut 5  (10)  “he or she did”

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The Louisiana SPCA is urging families to put chocolate bunnies over real bunnies in Easter baskets. Spokesperson Deepak Saini (Dee-pahk San-ee) says giving a child a rabbit for Easter might sound like a festive idea, but many don’t realize the huge responsibility and the amount of care these animals need.

Cut 6 (06) “long time”

Saini recommends giving kids a basket with marshmallow chicks or candy rabbits. He says every year hundreds of rabbits are abandoned after Easter.

Cut 7 (10)  “of work”

Saini advises parents to do their research if they do decide to purchase a bunny as a pet, because they live up to 15 years and they require as much care as a cat or dog. He says plus your home needs to be bunny-proofed…

Cut 8 (08) “on things”

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The burning of M6 propellant at Camp Minden in Webster Parish is complete, but the job might not be done yet. The Louisiana National Guard has the option to extend their contract with ESI and allow them to continue to burn off hazardous substances there. But LSU Shreveport science professor Brian Salvatore, who sits on the concerned citizens’ advisory board, wants the burning to stop now.

Cut 9 (11)  “explosives business”

Salvatore says when he spoke with Major General Glenn Curtis, who leads the Louisiana National Guard, he didn’t want to comment on whether the burn chamber will continue to operate on the Guard’s property. He says the Webster Parish Police Jury passed a resolution in December calling on the company to remove the burn chamber. But he says they voted again last week and decided to rescind the resolution.

Cut 10 (08) “their heads”

Salvatore says the members he spoke to simply said they were neutral and no longer wanted to be involved. But he says a much higher ranking state official will have the ultimate say in the matter.

Cut 11 (10) “John Bel Edwards”

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With Easter coming a few weeks later this year, holiday spending is expected to reach record highs. Anna Serafin Smith with the National Retail Federation says their annual survey finds 80 percent of consumers will celebrate Easter, spending a record total of over $18 billion. That’s a six percent increase over last year.

Cut 12 (09) “happy Easter”

Smith says customers will spend an average of $152 per person on Easter, including food, clothing, candy and gifts. She says 87 percent of shoppers will spend a combined nearly $6 billion on food. Clothing spending is at its highest level in a decade, with 50 percent of consumers planning to buy new Easter attire.

Cut 13 (08) “Easter Sunday”

Their report also finds 89 percent of consumers plan to spend a total of $2.6 billion on candy. A survey from Offers.com finds Reese’s egg are Louisianan’s favorite Easter candy. Sixty-one percent of shoppers plan to spend almost $3 billion on gifts for Easter. Smith says that’s because outside of Christmas, this is the only other holiday that allows the whole family to chip in.

Cut 14 (09) “entire family”

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