Time is running out for much else to get done during this legislative session that must end June 8th. Governor John Bel Edwards and Democrats are pushing for tax reform, because 1.3 billion dollars in temporary sales taxes expire July 2018. One possible solution is to keep the extra penny that was added to the sales tax last year. But Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Reynolds of Minden doesn’t like that idea…:
Cut 6 (08) “let’s fix it”
It’s likely a special session will be needed to address the fiscal cliff.

A Prairieville man is under arrest amid allegations he ran over his wife with a vehicle and left her critically injured in the driveway of their home. 60-year-old Timothy Cockerham is charged with aggravated second-degree battery domestic violence and hit and run driving, according to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. Cockerham posted $75,000 bond. This case is still under investigation and more charges may be pending.

A measure to change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and Arts in Natchitoches has sparked unexpected emotion. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Attendance figures for The Bayou Country Superfest in New Orleans were released and they are a far cry from what the three day concert has seen in the past. Officials say about 60,000 turned out at the Mercedes Benz Superdome over the weekend to see the likes of Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Brooks and Dunn and Hank Williams, Jr. Around 100,000 attended the Superfest last year at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Time is running out for lawmakers to implement meaningful tax reform this session, and party leaders meet today seeking a compromise…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Thousands remain without power today after deadly storms that moved through most of the top half of the state Sunday into Monday. CLECO reports about 6000 customers are still in the dark, and roughly 15,000 lost power at the height of the storm. Entergy reports about 3300 are still affected from the system that claimed the lives of two young adults after heavy winds knocked down trees in DeSoto and Caldwell Parishes.

With the growing popularity of organic foods, lawmakers are looking at how Louisiana could produce its own organic produce. The House will discuss a resolution this week that would connect the LSU and Southern Ag programs with the state to study cultivating organic products. The author is Marrero Representative Patrick Connick…:
Cut 14 (10) “the state”
He believes organic farming is the future.

A bill to change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and Arts in Natchitoches has sparked a big discussion and will be heard in House Education on Wednesday. Delhi Senator Francis Thompson’s proposal would change the school’s name to Jimmy D. Long Sr. Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts…:
Cut 10 (07) “is due”
Long helped open the school in 1983.

There’s 10 days left in the regular session and very little has been accomplished to address the 1.3 billion in temporary sales taxes that expire July 2018. Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Reynolds says with only 41 votes in the House, it’s hard for Democrats to get anything through the process…:
Cut 4 (10) “tax reform”
Republican Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says Democrats haven’t presented a plan where both the legislature and the public can agree..
Cut 5 (10) “next step”
It’s likely a special session will be needed to address the fiscal cliff.

A Senate committee will hear the so-called “sanctuary cities” bill today. Attorney General Jeff Landry doesn’t understand why local governments would not fully cooperate with immigration authorities..:
Cut 7 (06) “community safe”

FEMA says today is the deadline for August 2016 flood victims who are still in hotels through the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Eligible participants must check out by Wednesday.

LSU is a number four national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Jeff Palermo has more on the Tigers…:
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Time is running out for lawmakers to implement meaningful tax reform this session, and party leaders meet today seeking a compromise. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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LSU is a number four national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Jeff Palermo has more on the Tigers…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A measure to change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and Arts in Natchitoches has sparked unexpected emotion. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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There’s 10 days left in the regular session and very little has been accomplished. Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Reynolds of Minden says he’ll meet with Republican leaders to see what can be done in the final days. He says with only 41 votes in the House, it’s hard for Democrats to get anything through the process.

Cut 4  (10) “tax reform”

Governor John Bel Edwards and Democrats are pushing for tax reform, because 1.3 billion dollars in temporary sales taxes expire July 2018. But Republican House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says Democrats haven’t presented a plan that the legislature and the public can get on board with…

Cut 5  (10)  “next step”

One possible solution to solving the fiscal cliff is to keep the extra penny that was added to the sales tax last year. But Reynolds doesn’t like that idea, which he says is being discussed by House members…

Cut 6 (08) “let’s fix it”

(It’s likely a special session will be needed to address the fiscal cliff.)

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A Senate committee will hear the so-called “sanctuary cities” bill today. The House-approved measure would prohibit cities that do not fully cooperate with immigration authorities from receiving certain state grants. Attorney General Jeff Landry supports the proposal and doesn’t understand why local governments would try to establish a sanctuary city…

Cut 7 (06)  “community safe”

It took two votes for this bill to pass the lower chamber. Opponents believe it would unfairly target Hispanics. Landry believes sanctuary cities allow violent criminals to stay in the United States….

Cut 8 (12) “additional crime”

New Orleans could be impacted by this legislation, if it becomes law. The NOPD has a policy that prohibits its officers from asking suspects about immigration status. Landry says once the bill becomes law, his office will determine which jurisdictions violate the state’s sanctuary cities policies…

Cut 9 (11)  “particular bill”

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A bill to change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and Arts in Natchitoches has sparked a big discussion and will be heard in House Education on Wednesday. Delhi Senator Francis Thompson’s proposal would change the school’s name to Jimmy D. Long Sr. Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts. Thompson says Long helped open the school in 1983.

Cut 10 (07) “is due”

Long served as a state representative from 1968 to 2000. Thompson says this is not a name change, it’s a name addition. He says Jimmy Long was the most moral and hardworking legislator he’s ever worked with and was dedicated to creating the school.

Cut 11 (06) “recognition”

But many LSMSA alumni oppose the name change. Lorie Aguilera graduated in 2002 says it’s a much bigger deal than it sounds. She says the school would lose its identity, especially with prestigious colleges..

Cut 12 (12) “to leave”

Aguilera says Thompson did not ask if any facility or alumni supported the change. She says this would also be extremely expensive for LSMSA to reach out to parents and universities to alert them of the change.

Cut 13 (08) “be needed”

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With the growing popularity of organic foods, lawmakers are looking at how Louisiana could produce it’s own organic produce. The House will discuss a resolution this week that would connect the LSU and Southern Ag programs with the state to study cultivating organic products. The author is Marrero Representative Patrick Connick…:

Cut 14 (10) “the state”

Connick says there is a baker in New Orleans who makes bread and spends $100,000 a year on his organic ingredients. Connick said Graison Gill would like to be able to spend that money in Louisiana…:

Cut 15 (13) “others do”

Connick says Graison is just one of the examples that shows organic farming is an emerging industry…:

Cut 16 (10)  “the future”

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LSU baseball will begin NCAA Regional play  on Friday at Alex Box Stadium by hosting SWAC Tournament champion Texas Southern. The other two teams coming to Baton Rouge are Southeastern Louisiana and Rice. And if LSU wins the B-R Regional they’ll face the winner of Hattiesburg Regional, which features Southern Miss and Mississippi State. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri says one game at a time…

Cut 17 (18)  “to Omaha”

The Tigers are seeded fourth nationally after winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament and sharing the SEC regular season title with Florida. They’ve won 11 in a row and Mainieri likes the mindset of his team…

Cut 18 (20)    “get it done”  

Mainieri says he has yet to decide who will be the starting pitcher on Friday in the regional opener against Texas Southern….

Cut 19 (18)   “Friday”

The state Department of Veteran’s Affairs reminds Louisianans to remember the real reason for the Memorial Day long weekend…
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The LSU Tigers are a number four national seed in the NCAA Tournament and they’ll start regional play this Friday at Alex Box Stadium against SWAC Tournament champion Texas Southern. The other two teams in the Baton Rouge regional are Southeastern Louisiana and Rice. The Lions are a two seed with a 36-20 record. The Owls received an automatic bid after winning the Conference USA Tournament.

There’s a chance another special legislative session could begin 30 minutes after the current regular session ends on June 8th, according to Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com. Governor Edwards has struggled to reach a compromise with the GOP dominated House over budget issues and Alford says battle lines were drawn on the first day he took over as governor.
Cut 12 (10) “this term”

Pet owners will soon have more time to claim their lost pets after a natural disaster. A measure awaiting the governor’s signature gives pet parents 30 days to claim their animals following a state of emergency. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain…
Cut 13 (11) “an owner”
Currently, local laws only gives 10 days.

Two young adults are dead in separate incidents after heavy winds knocked down trees in DeSoto and Caldwell Parishes. 21-year-old Demontre Lewis was a backseat passenger of a truck when a falling tree hit the vehicle during a severe thunderstorm. An 18-year-old in Caldwell Parish was killed after a tree fell on his home.

It’s reported that an estimated 27-thousand people are without power after the severe weather.

The LSU Tigers are the number four seed in the NCAA baseball tournament and will open up the Baton Rouge Regional against Texas Southern at 2:30 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium on Friday. The number two seed, Southeastern Louisiana and number three seed Rice are the two other teams in the Baton Rouge Regional. McNeese, Louisiana Tech, and UL-Lafayette did not make the field of 64.

Americans around the country are celebrating a day off work for Memorial Day but it’s important to remember the real reason for the holiday. State Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Col. Joey Strickland asks Louisianans to take time to remember our fallen heroes today.
Cut 4 (08) “our people”
11-thousand Louisiana men and women have died the country in all wars.

The Centers for Disease Control warns the public about a germ causing infections in public pools. Michelle Hlvasa (Vah-sah) with the CDC reminds people to stay out of pools for at least two weeks after they’ve had diarrhea.
Cut 9 (08) “have stopped”
to learn more about healthy swimming, visit CDC.gov

Many Americans are celebrating a day off with friends and family but many forget the true meaning of the Memorial Day Holiday. State Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Col. Joey Strickland says remembering those who lost their lives doesn’t have to be a big show, it can be a private moment.
Cut 6 (07) “our freedom”

11-thousand men and women from Louisiana made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States in all our wars.

The Center for Disease Control is warning the public about bacteria in public pools as the summer is in full swing. Michelle Hlvasa (Vah-sah) with the CDC says cryptospordium is causing a lot of outbreaks and is linked to swimming. She says there has been an increase in infections.
Cut 7 (10) “outbreaks”

The LSU Tigers are a number four national seed in the NCAA baseball tournament and will host Texas Southern to start of the Baton Rouge Regional at 2:30 at Alex Box Stadium on Friday. The other two in the Baton Rouge Regional are the number two seed, Southeastern Louisiana and the number three seed, the Rice Owls.

It’s possible a special legislative session could convene right after the current session ends.
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Louisiana Economic Development has launched a business startup program for military veterans. Secretary Don Pierson says after learning LSU’s Baton Rouge campus was helping disabled veterans, LED created the Louisiana Veteran Entrepreneurship Program. He says many soldiers have a desire to start a small business after leaving active duty.

Cut 11 (11) “small businesses”

For more information on the program call (225) 578-7555.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is asking for the public’s help in finding a man who threw a dog out of a moving vehicle in Marksville. A witness reported seeing a white male toss the dog out the window of a dark green Chevrolet last Sunday. Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call 1-888-6-HUMANE.

Today and tomorrow consumers can purchase hurricane preparedness supplies at a state sales tax discount. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Bayou Country Superfest ranks in the top 10 on Vivid Seat’s list of 2017 summer music festivals. This weekend’s festival in New Orleans came in at number 7 on the online ticket market place’s ranking, which is based on ticket sales. According to the site, Bayou Country Superfest’s $34 tickets are one of the least expensive of top festivals.