Today the Louisiana House of Representatives will vote on multiple tax proposals that Governor John Bel Edwards is pushing to solve the state’s massive budget deficit. Emelie Gunn has more…:

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Freshman Baton Rouge Representative Ronnie Edwards lost her life Wednesday after a more than two year battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. House Speaker Taylor Barras confirmed the news to the full House at the State Capitol yesterday afternoon. Governor John Bel Edwards said even though Rep Ronnie Edwards’ time was short in the legislature, it was a dream come true for her and a testament to her tireless effort to improve her community. She was 63.

ExxonMobil invests $13 million into the National Math and Science Initiative College Readiness Program. NMSI CEO Matthew Randazzo says the College Readiness Program is focused on driving student achievement around rigorous college-level courses and advanced placement. He says students will have access to more AP courses and fee waivers for the AP tests…:
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Four schools in Louisiana already benefit from this program, including Bossier and Parkway High Schools.

On a three-to-two vote the Public Service Commission rejects Cleco’s attempt to sell the Pineville-based utility company to a private investment group. International investors were looking to buy Cleco for nearly five billion dollars.

Today the Louisiana House of Representatives will vote on multiple tax proposals that Governor John Bel Edwards is pushing to solve the state’s massive budget deficit. Emelie Gunn has more…

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The National Math and Science Initiative College Readiness Program received a $13 million investment from ExxonMobil. Halen Doughty has the story…

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The Public Service Commission rejects Cleco’s attempt to sell the Pineville-based utility company to a private investment group. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The House of Representatives votes today on several different tax proposals that the governor is pushing for as a way to solve the state’s budget crisis. Up for consideration, is an increase to the state’s sales tax, higher cigarette and alcohol taxes and fewer tax exemptions for businesses. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says negotiations have been ongoing on which tax bills will pass…

cut 4  (10)  “they want”

It takes 70 votes for a bill that raises taxes to pass the House and advance to the Senate. Dubos says House Republicans want the governor to commit to long term budget reform, before taxes are raised. And he says they have a good point…

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There are 14 days left in the special session and whatever tax bills clean the House, still need to be debated in the Senate. Dubos says the House seems more reluctant to raise taxes than the Senate so there is a lot more negotiating to do….

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ExxonMobil invests $13 million into the National Math and Science Initiative College Readiness Program. NMSI CEO Matthew Randazzo says the College Readiness Program is focused on driving student achievement around rigorous college-level courses and advanced placement. He says students will have access to more AP courses and fee waivers for the AP tests.

CUT 7 (09)  “excited about”

Randazzo says the investment will allow NMSI to support educators with the tools they need to be better AP teachers. He says students benefit from high school AP courses…

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Four schools in Louisiana already benefit from this program, including Bossier and Parkway High Schools. Last year, students from Parkway and Bossier saw a 215% increase in qualifying math, science and English AP exam scores. Randazzo says this investment will allow NMSI to impact additional schools

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Republican State Representatives sent Governor John Bel Edwards a list of long-term changes they want in the state government as they try to negotiate the governor’s proposed tax increases aimed at fixing the budget deficit. Legislators are interested in pension reform, capital outlay reform and tax reform. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, who oversaw preparation of the letter, says legislators don’t want to keep having to deal with midyear deficits.

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Harris says legislators realize there are structural problems with the way Louisiana conducts its fiscal business. He says these changes might lead Republican House members to approve the governor’s proposed tax increases.

cut 11 (10) “revenue options”

Harris says these and other ideas should get Louisiana to a position where it is not dealing with serious budget issues every year. He says that while some of their proposals will be addressed immediately, many of them will have to wait until next year’s fiscal session.

cut 12 (05) “couple of years”

The letter also asks that any tax increases approved during the special session end once revenue from long term reform is collected. The governor’s office did not have an immediate response to the letter.

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The Public Service Commission has rejected Cleco’s attempt to sell the utility company for 5-billion dollars to a foreign investment group. The deal was rejected by a 3-2 vote. Commissioner Foster Campbell voted against the sale. He says we need stronger regulations on monopolies, not weaker regulations.

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Campbell says the sale would have led to less control over a company that has 286-thousand customers throughout Louisiana who depend on Cleco for power. Campbell says the citizens of Louisiana are better off because the deal did not pass.

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Cleco representative Jennifer Cahill says Cleco is disappointed with the PSC’s decision not to allow the transaction.

Cut 15 (06) “its stakeholders” 

Cahill says the sale would have been in the best interest of the customers. She says Cleco will review its options regarding this decision.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke at a rally on the steps of the state capitol today in which about two-thousand students attended to protest proposed cuts to higher education.  UNO Student Government Vice President Jessica Willis told the students from colleges and universities throughout the state that this effort is about working together as a group…:

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The Council of Student Body Presidents and the Board of Regents organized today’s rally.

The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would cut 117 million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget, which is 87 million dollars more than what Governor John Bel Edwards recommended. Chairman Cameron Henry’s plan also calls for a 44-million dollar cut to K-12^th grade public school education. Democratic Representative Walt Leger of New Orleans objects to these cuts…

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Governor Edwards has said he opposes any cuts to public schools.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission has rejected the proposed sale of utility company Cleco to a private investment group. Cleco argued the transaction would benefit customers, but PSC members Clyde Holloway and Foster Campbell raised concerns about having a foreign investment group operating the power company.

Several south Louisiana parishes are still recovering from yesterday’s storms today after as many as seven suspected tornadoes touched down. St. James spokesperson Brandon Keller says two people were killed and 30 were injured when one of twisters leveled an RV park in Convent. He says there are ways people can get involved to help.

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Assumption was also hit hard by a tornado. John Boudreaux, director of the Assumption office of emergency preparedness, says a water tower on LA-1 was knocked down.

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Governor Edwards has declared 7 parishes a disaster area.

About two-thousand students rallied at the state capitol today to protest cuts to higher education.
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The House Appropriations Committee approves a bill that cuts 117 million dollars from the current budget, which is 87 million dollars more than what Governor Edwards recommended. Chairman Cameron Henry says his legislation has bi-partisan support…
cut 10 (07) “this time”

Cleanup is ongoing in south Louisiana today after as many as seven suspected tornadoes touched down during a storm system that roared through the state yesterday. St. James spokesperson Brandon Keller says two people were killed when one of twisters hit an RV park in Convent….
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Keller says 30 people were injured, seven of them are in critical condition.

State Police is investigating a deadly shooting in Baton Rouge involving several East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputies. Troop A spokesman Bryan Lee says detectives were responding to a domestic disturbance report indicating a man had attacked two women with mace. He says witnesses reported that 48-year-old Travis Stevenson was threatening to kill himself during the day and cops eventually caught up with him.
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Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency for 7 parishes that sustained damage as a result of Tuesday’s severe weather outbreak. St. John the Baptist, St. James and Assumption were some of the hardest hit parishes. Assumption Emergency Preparedness Director John Boudreaux says crews from the state are assessing damage from the storm.

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Two people were killed when a tornado hit an RV park in Convent.

About 2 thousand college students were on the steps of the state capitol this afternoon expressing their frustrations over budget cuts. Higher education could be on the chopping block in light of a massive budget deficit. Governor John Bel Edwards spoke to the crowd and said to the students that they all have to work together to make their voices heard, because that’s the way things are going to get done:

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The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would cut 117 million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget, which is 87 million dollars more than what Governor John Bel Edwards recommended. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith agrees with the governor that these cuts are way too deep.

cut 12 (11) “this bill”

Smith was particularly upset over a $44 million cut to K through 12 public education.

State Police are investigating a deadly shooting in Baton Rouge involving several East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputies. Deputies were reportedly responding to a domestic disturbance. Sheriff Sid Gautraux said it’s possible the man involved was trying to commit suicide by cop when he tried ramming the deputies with his vehicle. Troop A spokesman Bryan Lee says troopers were asked to investigate, as is typical protocol with officer involved shootings…:

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Lee says witnesses reported that the subject had been threatening to kill himself all day.

Today the House Appropriations Committee approved $117 million dollars in cuts, which is $87 million more than suggested by the governor. The measure now heads to the House floor. Democratic Representative Walt Leger of New Orleans does not like this bill…:
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But Appropriations Chairman, Representative Cameron Henry of Jefferson Parish, says this proposal has bi-partisan support. The vote was 14-9.

The two suspects accused in the robbery, kidnapping and brutal murders of an elderly Baton Rouge couple pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in their first court appearance today. 42-year-old Ernesto Alonso and his cousin, 48-year-old Frank Garcia allegedly entered the home of Denis and Suzy Duplantier last year and beat them to death to get information needed to open a safe.

The National Weather Service confirms an EF2 tornado is the one responsible for ripping through the RV park in Convent Tuesday where two people lost their lives. Assumption Parish was also hit hard by a tornado. John Boudreaux, director of the Assumption office of emergency preparedness says a water tower on LA-1 totally collapsed….:
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Entergy reports that, statewide, about 17,500 customers in the effected areas remain without power.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke at a rally on the steps of the state capitol today in which over a thousand students attended to protest proposed cuts to higher education. Edwards told the group he’s always stood with the students and he stands with them now…:
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Higher education could be on the chopping block in light of a massive budget deficit.

Cleanup is underway in several south Louisiana parishes today after as many as seven suspected tornadoes touched down during a powerful storm system that roared through the state yesterday. Halen Doughty reports…:
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The National Weather Service just designated the Convent tornado as EF-2.

The state department of insurance says assistance is available to residents affected by the storms. Commissioner Jim Donelon says the sooner residents file a claim, the sooner they can start getting their lives back to normal.

The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would cut 117 million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget, which is way more than what Governor John Bel Edwards has recommended. Chairman Cameron Henry of Jefferson Parish says there is bi-partisan support to go above and beyond what the governor has called for in budget cuts….:
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The vote to cut $87 million dollars more that was sought by the governor was greenlighted 14-9 and now heads to the House Floor.

Meanwhile Edwards is speaking to a large crowd of rallying college students on the steps of the state capitol right now. The group is speaking in opposition to any further cuts to higher education.

Cleanup is underway in several south Louisiana parishes today after as many as seven suspected tornadoes touched down during a powerful storm system that roared through the state yesterday. St. James spokesperson Brandon Keller says two people died when one of twisters leveled an RV park in Convent. He says the parish welcomes aid from the public…:
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30 people were injured with several in critical condition. The Sugar Hill RV Park is now trying to find owners of pets that were found wondering the area.

State Police is investigating a deadly shooting in Baton Rouge involving several deputies with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. Troop A spokesman Bryan Lee says detectives were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance indicating a man had attacked two women with mace..:
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That’s when the man allegedly tried to ram officers with his vehicle when he was shot and killed.

About a third of Louisiana adults aren’t getting the recommended amount of sleep, according to the CDC. They found only 64% of residents here aren’t getting a good night’s rest. LSU Health Shreveport Sleep Medicine and Neurology professor Oleg Chernyshev (ah-Leg CHER-nuh-shev)…:
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He says if you find that you’re not getting that amount of zzzs then you should see a doctor to make sure it’s not the result of another problem.

Analysts say the very public feud between Governor John Bel Edwards and Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy over the current budget crisis is not helping the situation. Edwards accuses Kennedy of not telling the whole story with his assertion that the legislature doesn’t need to raise taxes. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s not clear that Kennedy’s comments are helping lawmakers get their work done.
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It’s possible that several tornadoes touched down in south Louisiana yesterday and at least two people are confirmed dead in St. James Parish. Officials say a twister could have roared through the Sugar Hill RV Park destroying or damaging about 100 trailers. Acadian Ambulance took 30 injured individuals to the hospital and Sheriff Willy Martin says at least 7 of those are in critical condition. Cleanup efforts are also underway in Assumption and St. John Parish who were also hit hard by this storm.

Hundreds of students are expected to rally on the steps of the capitol at noon today to protest cuts to higher education. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says public colleges are facing a credit downgrade which would make it more difficult for schools to borrow money. He says it’s due in large part to the current budget crisis…:
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Under a best case scenario, higher ed is facing a 70-million dollar cut.

Today the Louisiana Public Service Commission votes on whether or not Cleco will be sold to the investment group Macquaire Infrastructure and Real Assets for almost 5 billion dollars. Cleco spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says approval of the sale would be the best outcome for their customers. Cooper says despite rumors, it won’t lead to higher rates for customers…:
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Those who oppose say it’s not worth the long-term risk to Cleco ratepayers.

Analysts say the very public feud between Governor John Bel Edwards and Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy over the current budget crisis is not helping the situation. Edwards accuses Kennedy of not telling the whole story with his assertion that the legislature doesn’t need to raise taxes. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…:
CUT 12 (05) “budget problems”
Tax measures will be taken up on the House floor tomorrow.