The majority of Louisiana small business owners oppose an increase to the state’s gasoline tax. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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The 2017 Louisiana survey finds most Louisiana residents approve of Medicaid expansion. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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Small businesses oppose increasing the state’s gasoline tax. Dawn Starns, State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says they surveyed their members and 73-percent oppose a gas tax hike. Starns says everyone wants to see better roads but….
Cut 3 (09) “they have”
The business group, BUILD IT, supports an increase in the gasoline tax by anywhere from 15 to 20 cents to help with the construction of major transportation projects. Starns says those supporters are engineers and architects who would see a boom in their business with this hike.
Cut 4 (10) “to juggle”
Starns says small business owners are also worried increased revenue from a higher gas tax won’t go to roads. She says state government needs to do more with what they have available to them.
Cut 5 (08) “transparency”
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An Easter egg hunt turned violent when a Thibodaux man’s ex-girlfriend showed up armed with a shovel handle. David Melancon with Thibodaux Police says 33-year-old Junius Boyd was at the event in Peltier (Pel-chay) Park when 25-year-old Florence Robinson arrived, just hours after the two ended their relationship.
Cut 6 (10) “his arm”
Melancon says Boyd’s child was in the vehicle when this transpired, and there were numerous children at the event who witnessed the incident. He says things escalated when Boyd got out of the vehicle and took the shovel handle, hitting Robinson in the head and causing a laceration. He says Boyd certainly had a right to defend himself, but this was taking it too far.
Cut 7 (12) “defending yourself”
Melancon says Robinson is charged with aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, criminal damage to property, and disturbing the peace. Boyd is charged with aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon. But he says things got even worse for Boyd.
Cut 8 (12) “was involved”
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The House Ways and Means Committee began looking at various tax proposals today that will be discussed over the next several weeks. First up was Jackson Representative Kenny Havard, who is pushing legislation that would reduce income taxes on individuals and make that revenue up by increasing taxes on businesses. He says with the state constantly facing budget cuts, it’s time for tax reform.
Cut 9 (10) “do something”
Havard believes the most sensible approach is to alleviate the tax burden on residents and ask businesses to pay their fair share.
Cut 10 (08) “that’s unfair”
A vote was not taken on Havard’s proposed legislation. There are over 140 tax bills filed in the House. Changing Louisiana’s tax laws are a major debate, because one-point-three billion dollars in temporary taxes expire next year. Havard says it is the legislature’s job to create a way to stabilize the budget.
Cut 11 (08) “the road”
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Most Louisiana residents approve of Medicaid expansion, according to an LSU survey. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, Dr. Michael Henderson says 72 percent of respondents for the 2017 Louisiana Survey approve of the expansion. He says the approval rating for the Affordable Care Act has increased over the past few years.
Cut 12 (10) “more favorable”
Henderson says they’re seeing a similar trend nationwide. He says it could be because former-President Obama has left office and people no longer attach their feelings towards him to the law. But he suspects it has more to do with people learning more about the ACA.
Cut 13 (10) “have improved”
But the survey finds only 42 percent of voters approve of the Affordable Care Act. Henderson says people also may not realize that Medicaid expansion is a provision of the ACA. But he suspects the 51 percent unfavorable view has more to do with politics.
Cut 14 (11) “the ACA”
According to the survey, 76 percent of Democrats have a favorable view of Obamacare, while 80 percent of Republicans have an unfavorable view.
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The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning incident in which they believe a person or persons drove by a bunch of houses and cars and started shooting at random. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says they received reports of gunfire in Mt. Hermon around 4am…:
Cut 15 (10) “they had been shot”
Haley says they know the gunfire was coming from a pickup truck, but not much beyond that. He says it’s not known who is responsible or why they were doing it…:
Cut 16 (08) “at this time”