The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry has handed out “F” grades to 94 lawmakers in their annual legislative scorecard. LABI’s Vice President for Policy and Research Camille Conaway says lawmakers who received an “F” grade voted for more than 600 million dollars in new taxes on businesses…

cut 4 (10) “failing grades”

Lawmakers say the tax increases were necessary to prevent big budget cuts to higher education and health care.

Louisiana has moved past Alabama for the third highest average combined state and local sales tax according to the Tax Foundation. Economist Scott Drenkard says Louisiana ranks high on their list, because it has the highest average local tax rate in the country…

cut 7 (10) “everyday”

Drenkard says Louisiana’s average combined state and local sales tax rate is 9.01 percent.

Livingston Senator Dale Erdey is asking the Department of Transportation to check the feasibility of turning the inside shoulder of I-12 into a travel lane between Baton Rouge and Walker. The proposal would make the 15 mile corridor grow from six to eight lanes between the I-10/12 split and Walker. Erdey believes this would be a huge help…

cut 10 (10) “their employers”

Erdey says the request is contained in a Louisiana Senate approved resolution he has sponsored and is about to get a review by DOTD.

Republicans in Louisiana’s Congressional delegation don’t like the Iran nuclear deal that the president has agreed to. Essentially, it would mean that in exchange for limits on nuclear activities, Iran gets billions in relief from international sanctions. 1st District Congressman and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise…:
CUT 9 (09) “high cost”
Money, he says that could be used against the US and allies.

Shreveport Police have a man in custody accused of stabbing his teenage nephew to death. Cpl. Marcus Hines says officers learned that 15-year-old Willie Latin III was stabbed following a physical altercation inside his home. He says Latin was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later…
CUT 6 (09) “young man”
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The “To Kill A Mockingbird” sequel by Harper Lee is out, and some people are calling the character Atticus Finch a racist in the book, “Go Set A Watchman.” Jessica Lacher-Feldman, head of LSU Libraries’ Special Collections division, says readers need to take the book as a piece of literature written in the 1950′s and understand it represents 1950′s Alabama.
cut 14 (12) “Atticus Finch”

The Louisiana Association of Business and industry has come out with their report card on lawmakers, and it shows 94 legislators received an “F.” For those that didn’t pass, the LABI says all of them voted for 600 million dollars in taxes on business. They say many of those lawmakers are up for re-election, and that voting record will have an impact on the fall elections.

Some Republicans in Louisiana’s Congressional delegation don’t like the Iran nuclear deal that the president has agreed to; essentially giving Iran billions in relief from international sanctions in exchange for limits on nuclear activities. Fifth District Congressman Ralph Abraham says giving money to Iran is not a good idea…
CUT 11 (11) Q: “on Israel”
Congress has 60 days to review the Iran accord.

St. John Parish Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested a couple who allegedly used their 5 year-old son to break into a LaPlace residence through an AC window accordian, then unlocking the door. Twenty-seven year-old Casey Ramsey and 33-year-old Anthony Wilson were charged for burglarizing his parents’ home, simple criminal damage to property and contributing to the deliquency of a juvenile.
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With the release of Harper Lee’s long lost “To Kill a Mockingbird” sequel, many readers say the character Atticus Finch in “Go Set a Watchman” is seen as a racist. Jessica Lacher-Feldman, head of LSU Libraries’ Special Collections division, reminds readers it was written to represent Alabama in the 50’s, and we can still learn from it..
CUT 15 (10) Q: “from it”

A Shreveport argument between an uncle and his teenaged nephew turned deadly as the teen was stabbed to death and his uncle charged with his murder. Shreveport Police Cpl. Marcus Hines says there was an altercation between 59 year-old Edward Debrow (de BRO) and 15 year-old Willie Latin III…
CUT 8 (10) Q: ‘that we received’
DeBrow is charged with 2nd degree murder.

Fifth district Louisiana Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham is calling the deal President Obama made with Iran to receive billions in relief in exchange for limits on nuclear activities, a bad and dangerous move…
CUT 12 (11) Q: “United States”
Even if Congress rejects the deal, a Presidential veto could make it happen, since they would propbably not have enough votes for an override.

One of Louisiana’s moast popular blooming trees is expected to have less flower development this summer due to this past springs weather. LSU AgCenter horticulturalist Allen Owings says the crepe myrtle had diminished leaf growth…
CUT 5 (08) Q: “folliage growth”
He says there is really not too much that can be done to change that.
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In Jeff Davis Parish, 2 people are dead, including a 3 year-old child, following an overnight single vehicle crash on I-10 two miles west of Lacassine. The victims were identified as 36 year-old Luis Trochez-Ramos of New Orleans, and 3 year-old Marbella Funez of Houston. Neither of the dead were restrained in the crash.

The release of Harper Lee’s sequel to “To Kill A Mockingbird,” is stirring up some controvery…
CUT 2 (29) Q: ‘i’m Emelie Gunn”

Louisiana’s Republican Congressional delegation does not support the Iran nuclear deal President Obama has agreed to. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

The Baton Rouge hosted Miss USA Pageant which was clouded in controversy over its ties to Donald Trump who made offensive comments recently, essentially tanked in the ratings. The event was dropped by NBC and fewer than 1 million people tuned in to watch the pageant on the Reelz network, an 83% drop from last year’s show.

Shreveport Police have a man in custody accused of stabbing his teenage nephew to death. Cpl. Marcus Hines says officers learned that 15-year-old Willie Latin III was stabbed following a physical altercation inside his home. 52-year-old Edward Debrow (de BRO), Latin’s uncle is charged with second-degree murder in the teen’s death. He says the investigation is in its early stages but they are beginning to get a picture of what happened…:
CUT 7 (08) “becoming physical”
The case is under investigation. The teen died at a local hospital.

Louisiana’s most popular summer-blooming tree, the crepe myrtle, is blooming later and less than normal this year due to the spring’s unusual weather conditions which included lots of rain. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings says these trees like sunshine, above average temperatures, and dry conditions…:
CUT 4 (10) “we are now”

The president agreed to a nuclear deal with Iran and the Louisiana Republican Congressional delegation isn’t pleased. 6th District Congressman Garret Graves says Iran is hard to view as a cooperative negotiating partner and he won’t support any deal which gives them a smoother path to a nuclear weapon. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise agrees…:
CUT 10 (09) “we have”
Congress likely will not have the two-thirds vote it would need to override a promised presidential veto if they reject the plan.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says a 66-year-old man was killed Monday night after his Port Allen trailer home burst into flames. Authorities believe this was an accidental fire caused by either faulty wiring or unextinguished cigarettes as both were noted as ignition sources during cleanup. Firefighters say they extinguished the blaze quickly, but Jesse Gregorie was already dead when they arrived.

With the release of Harper Lee’s lost “To Kill a Mockingbird” squeal, many readers aren’t happy Atticus Finch can be seen as a racist in “Go Set a Watchman.” Jessica Lacher-Feldman, head of LSU’s Libraries’ Special Collections division, suggests people avoid reviews and read the book to form their own opinion…:
CUT 13 (11) “racism”

Nielsen released the numbers for the 2015 Miss USA pageant Sunday in Baton Rouge which indicate fewer than 1 million people tuned in, an all-time low. Viewership on the Reelz network this year compared to 2014 was down a whopping 83 percent.

Republicans in Louisiana’s Congressional delegation don’t like the Iran nuclear deal that the president has agreed to. Essentially this would mean that in exchange for limits on nuclear activities, Iran gets billions in relief from international sanctions. 1st District Congressman and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise…:
CUT 9 (09) “high cost”
If Congress rejects the deal, it’s not likely they have the required two-thirds vote to override the veto President Obama has promised.

State Police have identified the two victims who lost their lives following an overnight, single vehicle crash near the Lacassine exit on I-10. 36-year-old Luis Amilcar Trochez-Ramos of New Orleans and 3-year-old Marbella Funez of Houston died after the vehicle traveled into the median and rolled over. The driver and a passenger survived.

Louisiana’s most popular summer-blooming tree, the crepe myrtle, is blooming later and less than normal this year. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings says we’re seeing a decrease flower development because of weather conditions this past spring…:
CUT 3 (08) “this summer”
Crepe myrtles generally begin blooming between mid-May and early-June and continue flowering through the summer.

Shreveport Police have a man in custody accused of stabbing his teenage nephew to death. Cpl. Marcus Hines says officers learned that 15-year-old Willie Latin III was stabbed following a physical altercation inside his home. He says Latin was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later…
CUT 6 (09) “young man”
It’s alleged that during an argument with Latin, Debrow grabbed a sharp edged object that he used to stab the teenager.

An LSU AgCenter study shows Louisiana farmers suffered about 30 million dollars in feral hog damage in 2013. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 3 (30) “reporting”

US Senator David Vitter announces President Obama has made a presidential disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana as a result of flooding along the Red River. Damage estimates to farms, businesses and homes along the river are more than $17 million dollars. Public Assistance will be available to Caddo, Bossier, Grant, Natchitoches and Red River parishes.

Louisiana has relatively inexpensive electricity costs, but according to a new study by Wallethub we use the most in the country. But other factors considered show that The Bayou State is the 10th least energy expensive state. Spokeswoman Jill Gonzalez says in these hot summer months, our power bills are through the roof…:
CUT 10 (10) “in the country”
The numbers show that, on average, Louisianians pay $284 a month on energy including electricity, natural gas, fuel and heating oil.

A group on Facebook is calling for West Monroe High School to get rid of the Rebel Mascot. Though the organizers wish to remain anonymous, the page says they are West Monroe High alums who feel the Rebel mascot is too closely partnered with the Confederate flag which causes emotional harm to their friends, family and businesses.

According to a recent study by WalletHub, Louisiana is the 10th least energy expensive state, but we use the most electricity in the country. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Shreveport Police Department is investigating an overnight stabbing that claimed the life of a teenager. Authorities say a 15-year-old was stabbed to death during an dispute with another person. They confirm a 53-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the teen’s death, but their relationship is uncertain at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman Bo Boehringer says newly passed legislation will allow the department to sell advertising space on its properties in order to raise additional funds. He says these ad sales are an effort for LDWF to stay self-sufficient…

cut 6 (07) “in that process”

Boehringer says the ads will be tastefully done and people shouldn’t expect to see ads pop up in middle of Wildlife Management Areas.

Feral hogs caused at least 30 million dollars worth of damage to Louisiana farms in 2013 according to an LSU AgCenter study. AgCenter economist Shaun Tanger says there is talk about changing policies on different ways of controlling the animals, like poison baiting and trapping…

cut 15 (10) “profile issue”

He says the feral hog population in the state is about 500-thousand.