The special legislative session ends tomorrow at 6pm, and lawmakers are still trying to address the state’s huge fiscal deficit through a combination of budget cuts and tax increases. We’re waiting to see what legislation will come out. Jeremy Alford with la-politics-dot-com says the certainties in this session include taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, and car rentals, but he says more bills still have to be approved.

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In the House, there has been talk of increasing the state sales tax by more than a penny to increase revenue. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry supports the proposal….

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Democrats oppose this idea. Baton Rouge representative Ted James…

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Senate democrats, who believe businesses are not paying their fair share of taxes, took out some of their frustrations with the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Stephen Waguespack. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau is one of those lawmakers who is not happy that LABI is pushing legislators to increase the state sales tax by more than a penny…

cut 12 (10) “…we can’t pay anymore”
Waguespack says businesses are already dealing with a horrible economic recession…
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A senate committee approved a bill today that would remove a four-cent sales tax that businesses currently do not have to pay. This is all part of the discussion over how the state should address a massive budget shortfall this fiscal year and next.

The special legislative session ends tomorrow, and lawmakers are still trying to close a massive budget hole for this fiscal year, which could mean raising the state sales tax by more than a penny. But Baton Rouge Representative Ted James doesn’t think that’s a good idea. James says unfortunately there are House members who would rather pass taxes on the consumer and ignore reducing our corporate tax exemptions.

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A state senate committee approved legislation that would remove some tax exemptions for businesses, and that measure now heads to the Senate floor. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry president Stephen Waguespack argues that businesses and taxpayers should share the burden and each take a “middle of the road” hit. But New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says LABI continues to push bills that lead to higher taxes on consumers but doesn’t result in businesses contributing to the higher tax burden.

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Multiple flash flood watches are in effect as north and south Louisiana is expecting a huge amount of rain. CS Ross with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says we’ll see heavy downpours throughout the week.

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Ross says Louisiana will experience some storms bringing in high winds and the chance of hail, along with tornadoes.

St. Joseph residents are pleading with the state government to get cleaner water. Garrett Boyte of St. Joseph says the water there has been yellow or murky brown for over a decade. Boyte and others from the town met with Governor John Bel Edwards and state legislators to discuss raising the standards for water in Louisiana.

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Boyte says manganese has been linked to adverse health effects, especially for infants, and it is found in St. Joseph’s water at alarmingly high amounts.

Lawmakers have until 6 pm on Wednesday to figure out how to solve the state’s budget deficit. Emelie Gunn has more on what’s being proposed in the last days of the special session…

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Meanwhile in the upper chamber a senate committee approved legislation that would reduce sales tax breaks that businesses receive. Democrats on the committee complained that businesses are not doing their fair share to help close the state’s massive budget shortfall. The bill heads to the senate floor and will likely face opposition in the House.

Residents of St. Joseph are lobbying for cleaner water. Garrett Boyte, a resident of St. Joseph, says the water there has been yellow or murky brown for over 10 years, and it contains elements that are linked to health risks. Boyte says 400 water systems in the state are facing similar issues.

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Boyte met with Governor John Bel Edwards to discuss upping the minimum standards for water in Louisiana.

Multiple flash flood watches go into effect this afternoon as north and south Louisiana will see some heavy rainfall. CS Ross with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says we’ll see heavy downpours throughout the week.

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Ross says a tornado watch has been posted until 6 o’clock tonight, covering the western parishes of Louisiana.

Senate Democrats went after the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Stephen Waguespack during a hearing at the state capitol.  New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says LABI continues to push bills that lead to higher taxes on consumers but doesn’t result in businesses contributing to the higher tax burden.

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Governor John Bel Edwards has mentioned he wants to see businesses pay more of the share with increased taxes. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry is pushing an idea to increase the state sales tax by more than a penny and this would impact businesses too. Henry says with the additional increase to the state’s sales tax, businesses would still pay their fair share.

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The special session must end tomorrow night.

Residents of St. Joseph are petitioning the state legislators for better water. Garrett Boyte, a resident of St. Joseph, says manganese is found in St. Joseph’s water at alarmingly high amounts and the element has been linked to adverse health effects, especially for infants. He says the governor is considering proposed legislation to fix Louisiana’s water problems.

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St. Tammany parish sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of a man from Abita Springs. Investigators say the case is still pending, including autopsy results, identification of the man and determination of the cause of death.

Here’s a look at commodity prices

Cut Minipig

Lawmakers have until 6pm tomorrow to come up with solutions to the massive current year budget deficit, and even bigger shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. The debate still hinges on whether more cuts need to be made or revenue raised. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says threats to higher education is hurting enrollment at LSU…:
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House Republicans kept rejecting tax measures late last night, but did pass a bill that would lower tax cuts that businesses get for utility expenses. A three-year sunset was put on Monroe Representative Jay Morris’ legislation..:
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The House convenes at 10 a.m. and the Senate comes in at 3 p.m.

Louisiana is once again bracing for the possibility of severe weather and with it the potential for flooding. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front is slowly moving over the gulf south and this storm is expected to wreak havoc over the South…:
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He says the storm will get ramped up tomorrow and into Thursday and advises people to be prepared.

The Mississippi River is rising in South Louisiana again which will lead to twice a week checks of the levees. Ricky Boyett with the Army Corps of Engineers, says the heavy rains this week should not affect the water levels too much. He says the high river isn’t uncommon for this time of year…:
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He says at this time they don’t anticipate opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway like they had to in January.

The deadline to the end of the special legislative session is fast approaching, and closed door meetings late into Monday night between House Republicans and Governor John Bel Edwards appear to remain heated. The full House did approve one bill yesterday that would reduce tax breaks to businesses on utilities. Republican Metairie lawmaker Cameron Henry told reporters there was no need to pass additional revenue raising measures, which frustrates Democrats, like New Orleans Representative Walt Leger…:
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Meanwhile, higher ed leader Joseph Rallo says if lawmakers fail to find funds, big cuts are coming…:
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The special session must end at 6pm tomorrow.

The Army Corps of Engineers is keeping a close eye on the Mississippi River levees south of Baton Rouge. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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Parts of the Southern Plains and northern Gulf Coast are expected to receive excessive rainfall in the coming days. State climatologist Barry Keim says the storm will ramp up tomorrow into Thursday and hit Louisiana in waves.:
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Many parishes are under a flash flood watch.

Governor John Bel Edwards issued a 48 hour warning at 6pm yesterday, reminding lawmakers that’s how much longer they have in the special session to come up with solutions to fix the current and next fiscal years budget. He says the legislature must approve more revenue generating bils or there will be consquences…:
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Legislators worked into the late hours of the night with the House only approving a bill that would generate about 20-million dollars for this year’s budget and 110-million for next year’s.

Several inches of rain are expected to fall across the Bayou State over the next several days. State climatologist Barry Keim says flash flooding is possible…:
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Many parishes in Louisiana are under a flash flood watch or coastal flood advisory through Thursday.

Higher Ed Commissioner Joseph Rallo says budget concerns are leading to lower enrollment at Louisiana colleges next school year. Halen Doughty has more..:
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The Mississippi River is rising in South Louisiana again which will lead to twice a week checks of the levees. Ricky Boyett with the Army Corps of Engineers, says they are preparing for the water to rise even more…:
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Lawmakers worked deep into the night on coming together on a plan to prevent big cuts to health care and colleges. The House approved a bill that reduces tax cuts businesses receive for utility costs and their equipment purchases. A three-year sunset was put on Monroe Representative Jay Morris’ legislation..:
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This only raised $20 million dollars to fix the current year budget gap and $110 million for the next financial year. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says, without new revenue, it’s possible universities will have to cancel classes and professors receive furlough notices…:
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6pm tomorrow is lawmakers’ deadline.

Many parishes remain under a flash flood watch through late Wednesday/early Thursday as a severe weather system moves through the gulf south. Don Molino reports…:
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The Mississippi River is rising again in south Louisiana, and the US Army Corps of Engineers says they will begin patrolling the levees twice weekly until water levels drop. The National Weather Service forecast has the Mississippi River cresting on March 13th at 13 feet.

The clock is ticking on lawmakers who are trying to come up with a funding plan to close huge budget deficits this fiscal year and next. Governor John Bel Edwards says unfortunately tax increases are necessary to stabilize the state’s budget and avoid deep cuts to higher ed and health care…
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Edwards says he wants to see businesses share in the increased tax burden.

The US Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of Michael Wearry, who was sentenced to death in the killing of a 16-year-old pizza delivery driver whose body was found near Hammond in 1998. The nation’s highest court said prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that could have helped his defense. District Attorney Scott Perrilloux says they plan to re-try Weary…
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Several flash flood watches are already posted, set to go in effect tomorrow as a large weather system is expected to dump several inches of rain in Louisiana. Brandi Hughes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, says the rains won’t stop until this weekend…

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Hughes says the heaviest rain should arrive in Louisiana on Wednesday.

Louisiana native Peyton Manning tearfully announced today that, after 18 years in the NFL, he’s decided to hang up his cleats. Nelson Stewart, Manning’s high school teammate and current head coach at Isidore Newman, says Manning helped evolve the NFL into the passing league it’s become…:

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In his retirement speech, Manning said he wants to thank the people of New Orleans and south Louisiana because they support their own team, but they also support their own.