The Louisiana Statewide Business Summit is taking place today in Baton Rouge.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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 The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says the Bayou State has seen the bigger percentage increase in business taxes in America over the last three years…

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 A task force is calling on the legislature to increase the foster care age to 21. Matt Doyle has more.

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Gov. Edwards is participating in a statewide business summit today that is meant to highlight the state’s economic development success stories.  The event will connect business leaders with administration officials in different areas of government.  Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the summit will go over many of the key elements impacting business.

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Pierson says the event will feature panel discussions from public and private sector leaders and will address the support elements of the economy.

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The Republican Party of Louisiana has taken issue with the event, saying it’s a taxpayer-funded campaign event for Edwards’ re-election campaign.  Pierson says that’s not true, saying the event is being underwritten by corporate sponsors and the Governor’s participation just comes with his job.

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A report by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says over the last three years Louisiana has had the largest percentage growth in business taxes in the nation. LABI President Steven Waugespack says the state has been ramping up it’s collection efforts on businesses.

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That 12.5 percent was seen between fiscal year 2016 and 2017.

Waguespack says one of the state’s biggest industries is being impacted by the taxes, many of which have targeted their revenue.

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The business lobby has raised serious concerns about changes to the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, after a Baton Rouge school board recently shot down an Exxon request. Waguespack says the reform is not healthy for business growth.

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But Governor John Bel Edwards stood by his decision to allow local districts, as opposed to a state board, to determine whether or not they wanted to offer ITEP requests. Edwards says they will not reconsider the decision.

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A Legislative Task Force is recommending the state allow foster kids to stay in the system through the age of 21. Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says it would dramatically improve outcomes…

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A national report notes kids who leave the foster system at 18 have a one in five chance of becoming homeless, and less than 3 percent will earn a college degree by 25.

The proposal comes with a three million dollar price tag in a session that will be dominated by debates about raising teacher pay, and issue with a cost upwards of 100 million dollars. Walters says that three million is worth it.

Cut 12 (10) “…we spend.”

Last year the legislature passed a law that allows kids to stay in the program past 18 if they are still in school even while lawmakers had a bloody battle over the expiring sales tax. Walters says she has faith they can cut through the gridlock once again.

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28 states have increased the foster age to 21.

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A Ville Platte man is under arrest after beating up an elderly disabled vet in at a gas station in Nuba.  After the beating, the suspect left his scene in his vehicle.  Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says 29 year old Kenneth Shergold is accused of approach the victim from behind and for no apparent reason, struck him numerous times in the head, back, and body with a tire iron.

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Thibodeaux says the motive is unclear.

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Thibodeaux says Shergold was located after he attack another person at a Walmart a few days later, who was able to identify him.  They went to his home and located his car and the suspect.

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A 67-year-old Opelousas woman was arrested for allegedly shooting her llama after it attacked her. St. Landry sheriff deputies responded to Madeline Bourgeois’ home to find the injured llama, named Earl, limping in the pasture. Major Eddie Thibodeaux says Bourgeois is now charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
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Earl is recovering at LSU.
The Humane Society is working to find homes for 16 horses that will march in this year’s carnival parades. Humane Society of Louisiana CEO Jeff Dorson says these horses are brought in to accommodate equine demand during Mardi Gras.
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The Facebook page is called Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program.
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Baton Rouge Police say a woman was attacked and assaulted after getting into a vehicle she had mistaken for being her rideshare driver in the Tigerland area. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says the victim knew there was a problem after getting a notification that her real driver was one minute away after she got into the vehicle of her attacker…
Cut 9 (10) “…sexually assault her.”

A massive fire has destroyed a three-story, 150-year-old mansion on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, but three people, including a 92-year-old woman escaped the blaze. New Orleans Fire Chief Tim McConnell says investigators are trying to determine a cause and thankfully no one was injured…
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The Rex parade which rolls on Mardi Gras day stops at this house for a toast every year.

A 67-year-old Opelousas woman was arrested for allegedly shooting her llama after it attacked her.  St. Landry sheriff deputies responded to Madeline Bourgeois’ home to find the injured llama, named Earl, limping in the pasture. Major Eddie Thibodeaux says the Bourgeois fired four shots at Earl, striking him three times, after the llama struck her with his front legs. He says Bourgeois was charged with animal cruelty, because she grabbed her gun after the attack was over…

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The Humane Society is working to find homes for 16 horses that will march in this year’s carnival parades. Humane Society of Louisiana CEO Jeff Dorson says they’ve got photos, bios, information about each horse’s personality, and which parade they trotted in on a Facebook page, and if any of them catch your eye you can take a trip over to Cascade Stables…

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Baton Rouge Police say a woman was attacked and assaulted after getting into a vehicle she had mistaken for being her rideshare driver in the Tigerland area. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely advises when using rideshare, pay attention to the vehicle you are entering and if you find yourself in a bad spot, take action.

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A massive fire has destroyed a three-story, 150-year-old mansion on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, but three people, including a 92-year-old woman escaped the blaze. New Orleans Fire Chief Tim McConnell says the six-alarm fire started just before eight A-M and it was out of control when the first firefighters arrived

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McConnell adds it was one of the largest fires in New Orleans in many years

A massive fire engulfed a 150-year-old mansion on St. Charles Avenue in the New Orleans Garden district today. Fire Chief Tim McConnell says it was one of the largest fires in New Orleans in many years and not easy to extinguish…
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Three people, including a 92-year-old woman, escaped the mansion before it sustained catastrophic damage.

A woman who thought she was getting into a ride-sharing vehicle said she was sexually assaulted by the driver. The victim was leaving a Tigerland bar near the LSU campus last night and Baton Rouge Police Sergeant L’Jean McKNeely says they are looking for surveillance video that may have captured the incident…
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The victim did not require hospitalization.

A llama is under the care of a LSU Veterinary Clinic after being shot three times and it’s owner is facing a felony cruelty to animals charge. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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The former longtime executive director of the national Delta Kapp Epsilon fraternity told the Advocate it was known for 30 years the LSU chapter had severe hazing problems and the university knew it too. Nine DKEs were arrested last week on hazing charges and LSU has placed multiple administrators on leave for failing to act properly after hearing rumors.

About 80 New Orleans firefighters battled a massive blaze that destroyed a historic mansion on St. Charles Avenue in the garden district. A tired New Orleans Fire Chief, Tim McConnell says investigators are trying to determine a cause and thankfully no one was injured….
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A total of three people escaped. The Rex parade which rolls on Mardi Gras day stops at this house for a toast every year.

A 67-year-old Opelousas woman faces criminal charges after she allegedly shot her pet llama after it attacked her. St. Landry Sheriff’s Major Eddie Thibodaux says Madeline Bourgeois has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
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The lama is recovering at a local animal hospital.

About 500 business people representing various sectors of the economy will be in Baton Rouge tomorrow for what Governor John Bel Edwards calls a statewide business summit. The state Republican Party calls it a campaign ploy, but Edwards says the goal of the conference is to see how the public and private sector can drive Louisiana’s economic future.

Want to adopt a horse that’ll march in a Mardi Gras parade? Matt Doyle has more on a Louisiana Humane Society effort to save those horses from the slaughterhouse…
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A massive fire has destroyed a three-story, 150-year-old mansion on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, but three people, including a 92-year-old woman escaped the blaze. New Orleans Fire Chief Tim McConnell says the seven-alarm fire started just before eight A-M and it was out of control when the first firefighters arrived…
cut 12 (14) “…got here”
The Rex parade which rolls on Mardi Gras day stops at this house for a toast every year.

A 67-year-old Opelousas woman has been charged with animal cruelty after she shot her pet llama four times after it attacked her. St. Landry Sheriff’s office Major Eddie Thibodaux says investigators have determined Madeline Bourgeois was no longer in danger and should not have shot the animal…
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The llama is recovering at a local animal hospital.

Baton Rouge Police say a woman was attacked and assaulted after getting into a vehicle she mistaken for being her rideshare driver in the Tigerland area. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says the victim knew she was in trouble when she got a notification that her real driver was one minute away after she got into the vehicle of her attacker.
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McKneely says the victim escaped by getting out of the vehicle while it was still in motion.

The Human Society of Louisiana is once again encouraging animal lovers to adopt a horse that’s been brought to the area to participate in Mardi Gras parades. Humane Society of Louisiana CEO Jeff Dorson says last year a Baton Rouge woman adopted a horse that had a very special connection to her family history.
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For more information go to the Facebook page is called Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program.

A 67-year-old Opelousas woman is facing animal cruelty charges after she shot her pet llama four times. St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Major Eddie Thibodaux says Madeline Bourgeois is facing the felony charge, because the llama had finished attacking her and she didn’t need to use the weapon to defend herself…
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The Llama is recovering at a local animal hospital.

A record seven local governments now have a state-appointed administrator to help those communities who are under financial distress. State legislative auditor Daryl Purpera says the fiscal mess was so bad, these local entities usually welcome the help…
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Bogalusa and Sterlington are the latest cities to receive an administrator.

The Humane Society is working to find homes for 16 horses that will march in this year’s carnival parades. It’s the third year of the program and has so far saved 32 horses from potentially being sent to slaughter. Humane Society of Louisiana CEO Jeff Dorson says these horses are brought into the area to accommodate equine demand during Mardi Gras.
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If you are interested in purchasing any of the horses go to the Facebook page for the Louisiana Mardi Gras Parade Horse adoption program.

A record seven local governments in Louisiana are under control of a fiscal administrator appointed by the state, because of budget woes. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says the administrators have broad authority to address the fiscal crisis by laying off employees or raising rates….
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This week the Fiscal Review Committee appointed administrators to handle the finances of Bogalusa and Sterlington.

A 67-year-old Opelousas woman faces criminal charges after she allegedly shot her pet llama after it attacked her. St. Landry Sheriff’s Major Eddie Thibodaux says Madeline Bourgeois has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
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The Llama is recovering at a local animal hospital.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System president Monty Sullivan responds to Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed’s comments on the cost of attending a community college. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s office took into custody a student at St. Martinville High School after the subject posted video on social media that had him brandishing a handgun on a school bus and also inside a classroom. The arrest took place yesterday morning.

A record seven municipalities budget woes are so severe, they’ve had to have their local spending authority handed to a state-appointed agent. Matt Doyle has the story.

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A missing 16-year-old is located and two New Orleans men are under arrest following and investigation by the Special Victims Unit of State Police.  The investigation began after the family of the teen had received threatening text messages regarding the juvenile’s whereabouts.  Arrested were Justin Noel and Steven Cooley, charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.  The investigation is ongoing with additional charges and arrests probable.

The state health department says one out of ten visits to a health care provider are for flu-like symptoms.  While there are flu cases being reported all around the state, LDH indicates a big concentration is in New Orleans. The flu causes approximately 500 deaths and nearly 3000 hospitalizations each year in Louisiana.  Flu bug expert Dr. Frank Welch says if someone hasn’t gotten a flu shot by now, they still have time.

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LDH recommends if you are sick, stay away from other people until you have not had a fever for 24 hours.

Abbeville Senator Bob Hensgens has pre-filed a bill for the legislative session that begins in April that would give teachers a 250 dollar tax deduction for purchased school supplies, reviving a temporary deduction that expired in 2008. Hensgens says a similar bill failed two years ago, but is bringing the legislation back again after reading a nationwide report on teacher spending…

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The state health department reports the number of flu cases has spiked with Louisiana reporting widespread flu activity. Immunization director for the Louisiana Department of Health, Doctor Frank Welch, says the flu season could get worse with Mardi Gras parades and celebrations set to ramp up. He recommends washing your hands frequently and do not share drinks…
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The flu causes about 500 deaths and three-thousand hospitalizations every year in Louisiana.

A cold front is sweeping across the state today. It’s in the mid 40s for most of the state today, but the cold front has yet to move through southeast Louisiana. So it’s still in the low 70s there. But the temperature will fall fast once the front moves through. Stormy weather will return on Friday.

Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says Louisiana students use a larger part of their income to attend a community college compared to their peers in the South and nationally. But president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College system, Monty Sullivan, says the state’s community and technical schools have not raised tuition in four years and fees in three years…
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Reed encourages students to apply for financial assistance.

Teacher pay is expected to be a big topic when the legislative session begins in April. Abbeville Senator Bob Hensgens has filed a bill that would give teachers a 250-dollar tax deduction for supplies paid out of pocket. The Vermillion Parish Republican hopes passing the legislation will inspire more school districts to help teachers pay for supplies.
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The deduction would apply to anyone who is employed as a teacher or aid in a qualified school, and works on average fifteen hours a week.