Early voting is underway in the December 7th election. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
______________________________________
The state Legislature has approved a major change to Louisiana’s tax laws, which will result in a cut in income taxes in exchange for higher sales taxes. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
______________________________________
Early voting is underway in the December 7th election. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office says what’s unique about this early voting period is that it goes straight through Thanksgiving; and as such, there are some days when the polls will be closed.
Cut 3 (11) “…their voice heard.”
Watson says turnout is expected to be low, which would be unfortunate since everyone will have something on their ballot.
Cut 4 (10) “…big mayor’s race.”
Watson says the Baton Rouge mayor’s race may be the highest profile runoff race, but it’s not the only high-profile item on the ballot.
Early voting ends Saturday, November 30th.
______________________________________
A prison escapee’s run for freedom comes to an end. 20-year-old Jamarcus Cyprian escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail back on May 16th; and on Wednesday, he was arrested at an apartment complex in Hammond. Cyprian was serving time for armed robbery. Sheriff Gerald Sticker says deputies were executing a search warrant in connection with a shooting at another apartment complex, in which he was identified as a person of interest.
Sheriff Sticker says Cyprian was going to great lengths to change his appearance so that he would not get caught.
Sticker says Cyprian was traveling out of and back to Louisiana during his six months on the lam.
Cut 8 (11) “…some family there.”
And Sticker says Cyprian was likely committing several crimes in Dallas during the times he went to that city. It was ten days before jail employees realized that Cyprian was gone, only discovering this after three other inmates escaped. Those three were quickly recaptured.
______________________________________
A Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputy is recovering after being shot by a patient at a psychiatric treatment facility. Tommy Carnline with the sheriff’s office says there was a disturbance between the patient and hospital employees, and the patient started fighting with a deputy who was trying to de-escalate the situation.
Cut 9 (12) “…shot the suspect.”
Carnline says both the deputy and the suspect were taken to hospitals.
Carnline says this could have ended much worse for everyone involved.
Cut 11 (03) “…injured too bad.”
The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
______________________________________
Louisiana lawmakers have approved a tax reform package that will result in lower income taxes for working individuals, but a higher state sales tax rate. The individual income tax rate would be a flat three-percent rate. The standard deduction would triple $12,500 dollars. Leesville Senator Mike Reese says this tax change will help grow the economy…
Most Democrats also supported the tax code overhaul, even though the state sales tax rate will increase from 4.45 percent to five percent for the next five years. Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux is the Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus
Cut 13 (12) “…additional adjustments.”
The cut in income taxes would result in a one-point-three billion dollar annual loss in revenue. The state will get most of that back by raising the state sales tax to five percent. Also getting approved on Friday, charging state and local sales taxes for streaming services and online games.
The film tax credit program has been capped at 125-million dollars, down from 150-million. Legislators also voted to repeal the corporate franchise tax. Foil says this tax penalized businesses
The tax section of Louisiana’s constitution has also been changed, which will require voter approval in March.