Small business optimism has reached its highest level in 34 years. That’s according to the National Federation of Independent Business, who surveys its members regularly. NFIB state director Dawn Starns credits federal tax reform legislation…
Cut 6 (11) “…at the end of the year.”
Starns says Louisiana small businesses are anxious to see what state legislators will do with the sales tax rate. Right now it’s set to go down from 5 to four percent on July 1st, but it’s possible legislators will renew a portion of the expiring one-cent sales tax to fill budget holes.

WWL-TV in New Orleans captured video of a cement truck in New Orleans getting stuck in a sinkhole in the French Quarter. That cement truck was apparently on the scene to fix the sink hole. Another truck was called in to pull the truck out of the hole.

Two Acadiana men have been arrested in connection with the death of a 19-year-old girl in St. Martinville. Simone Robin’s body was found in St. Landry Parish on Saturday, but Major Ginny Higgins, with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s office says…
cut 11 (06) “…several days”
Robin’s trailer was also set on fire Saturday. Brandon Boutte and Toby Boutte are the two men who have been arrested.

Those looking for straight flights to Orlando and Austin, Texas can find them at the Baton Rouge airport starting in September. Florida-based Via Airlines will provide that service. Airport spokesperson Jim Caldwell says it’s great news for those looking for direct flights to Disney World and it might also bring in some tourists from Texas….
cut 13 (10) “….bring people here”
The non-stop flights will start on September 13th

Negotiations are underway in advance of next week’s special session, with legislators hoping to reach a deal in principle on a tax plan that could stave off major cuts to state programs, like TOPS….
cut 3 (10) “….both sides”
That’s Senate President John Alario who says the discussion is centering around a plan to renew a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax.

Starting in September, Baton Rouge Airport will offer nonstop flights to Orlando, Florida and Austin, Texas. Airport spokesperson Jim Caldwell says Florida-based Via Airlines will operate flights to Orlando on Monday and Thursdays….
cut 12 (11) “…on a quality airline”
Austin service will fly Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Small business optimism is at its highest level in 34 years and second highest level in the 45-year history of the National Federation of Independent Business Survey. The NFIB report found that small businesses report high numbers in several key areas, including compensation, profits and sales trends. Nineteen-percent of small business owners also plan on price increases. NFIB state director Dawn Starns says that’s the signal of a strong economy…
cut 8 (12) “…with doing business.”
The percentage of owners reporting capital outlays moved up one point to 62-percent.

The popular area LSU area restaurant Chimes will get a major face lift this summer. A second-floor outdoor bar and dining area will be added to the iconic restaurant located just outside the LSU North Gate. The renovations means the restaurant will be closed for three weeks. Chimes has been a hangout for LSU students and Baton Rouge residents for over 25 years.

House and Senate leaders have already met once this week and more meetings are expected before the start of Monday’s special session. Senate President John Alario says the goal is to try and reach a deal in principle before the session that begins on a tax plan that will reduce budget cuts…
cut 4 (11) “…off the table”
Governor John Edwards is pushing legislators to approve a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax to make up for the loss of 648-million dollars in revenues.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office has made another arrest in the weekend brawl along the West Pearl River that resulted in the death of 46-year-old Jeffery Howell of Pearl River. 20-year-old Blaine Manalle of Slidell was booked last night on a charge of second-degree murder. 21-year-old Cameron Alphonso is also facing a second-degree murder charge. No word on what sparked the fight.

Two Acadiana men have been arrested in connection with the death of a 19-year-old girl in St. Martinville. Simone Robin’s body was found in St. Landry Parish on Saturday, but Major Ginny Higgins, with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s office says…
cut 11 (06) “…several days”
Robin’s trailer was also set on fire Saturday. Brandon Boutte and Toby Boutte are the two men who have been arrested.

Starting in September, travelers can fly direct from the Baton Rouge Aiport to the Magic Kindgom, with the addition of Via Airlines. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Negotiations have begun this week in advance of next week’s special session, with parties involved hoping to get a deal in place before Monday to avoid another dramatic last second finish to what will be the last session of the fiscal year. The half-cent sales tax that came close to passage last session had a six year sunset, but Senate President John Alario says in a perfect world, he’d like to see a permanent tax plan put in place to give the state some fiscal predictability.

Cut 5  (11) “more stable”

The session begins June 18^th.

Small business optimism has reached its highest level in 34 years.  That’s according to the National Federation of Independent Business, who surveys its members regularly. NFIB state director Dawn Starns credits the tax reform legislation approved last December…

Cut 6 (11)  “…at the end of the year.”

Two Acadiana men are under arrest in connection to the murder of a St. Martinville teenager. Twenty-five-year-old Brandon Boutte of St. Martinville was charged with Obstruction of Justice and Second Degree Murder in the death of 19-year-old Simone Robin. St. Martin Parish Sherriff’s Spokesperson Major Ginny Higgins says Robin’s trailer was set on fire Saturday, and her body was found later that day on a levee in St. Landry. Higgins says arson investigators discovered the attempt to destroy Robin’s home was not completely successful.

Cut 10 (10) “be determined”

Twenty-two-year-old Toby Boutte was also charged with one count of accessory after the fact of second-degree murder.

And here’s commodities.

Legislators are attempting to work out a deal in principle for a revenue plan before the special session begins on Monday. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

During an event hosted by Washington news organiziation POLITICO, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise quickly answered no when asked if he plans to run for governor next year. The Jefferson Parish Republican is a candidate to replace the retiring Paul Ryan as U-S House Speaker.

Democrat Renee Fontenot Free has entered the Secretary of State’s race, along with Republican state representative Julie Stokes. Free works in the state Attorney General’s office and one of her goals is to increase voter turnout…
cut 16 (11) “”…vote counts”
Republican state representative Julie Stokes also plans to run in the November general election.

Two Acadiana men are under arrest in connection to the murder of a St. Martinville teenager. Brandon Boutte of St. Martinville was charged with Obstruction of Justice and Second Degree Murder in the death of 19-year-old Simone Robin. St. Martin Parish Sherriff’s Spokesperson Major Ginny Higgins says Robin’s trailer was set on fire Saturday, and her body was found later that day on a levee in St. Landry.
Cut 9 (10) “their parish.”
Twenty-two-year-old Toby Boutte of Sunset was charged with accessory after the fact.

Renee Fontentot Free, who is the director of the public protection division in the Attorney General’s office, has announced she’s running for Secretary of State. Democrats have not fared well in statewide elections over the last decade, but Free says her party registration should have no bearing on her qualifications for a non-politicial job…
cut 15 (08) “….be neutral”
Republican State Representative Julie Stokes has also announced her candidacy.

Negotiations are underway in advance of next week’s special session, with legislators hoping to reach a deal in principle on a tax plan that could stave off major cuts to state programs, like TOPS….
cut 3 (10) “….both sides”
That’s Senate President John Alario who says the discussion is centering around a plan to renew a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax.

The last special session revealed a rift in opinion within the Louisiana Republican Party between pro budget cut hardliners, and moderates who support a fully funded budget…
Voicer 2 (31) ” I’m Matt Doyle”

A Eunice man is dead after crashing his vehicle during a high speed chase with police in Jefferson Davis Parish. State Police Sgt James Anderson says it started when Kinder Police attempted to pull over 26-year-old Aaron Charlot for a traffic violation…
cut 9 (04) “…all this”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office had made another arrest in the weekend brawl along the West Pearl River that resulted in the death of 46-year-old Jeffery Howell of Pearl River. 20-year-old Blaine Manalle of Slidell was booked last night on a charge of second-degree murder. 21-year-old Cameron Alphonso was arrested Sunday morning and his charges were upgraded to second-degree murder yesterday. No word on what sparked the fight.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries continues to aggressively test for chronic wasting disease among the deer population in northeast Louisiana, but so far all of the tests are negative. Sampling tests began after a deer was found with C-W-D near the Louisiana border in Issaquena County….
cut 6 (10) “…bait ban”
That’s state wildlife veterniaran, Doctor Jim LaCour, who says the feeding ban was in place in East Carroll, Madison and Tensas to keep deer from gathering in one place, increasing the chances of spreading the disease.

Candidates are lining up to replace Tom Schedler as Secretary of State in a special election in November, including Democrat Renee Fontenot Free.
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Republican State Representative Julie Stokes is also running.

A Eunice man trying to flee from Kinder Police officers died during the chase…
cut 7 (07) “…of speed”
That’s State Police Sergeant James Anderson, who did not give a reason why 26-year-old Aaron Charlot decided not to stop when a Kinder Police officer tried to pull him over Monday morning.

For Governor John Bel Edwards to tout the upcoming third special session of 2018 a success, he’ll need to get 70 members in the House to approve a proposal to renew a half-cent of an expiring one-penny sales tax. It would generate an estimated 500-million dollars of revenue, but River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot is one of several Republicans who prefers that the state tighten its belt…
cut 10 (08) “….of Louisiana’
The special session begins Monday.

Democrat Renee Fontenot Free has entered this fall’s Secretary of State’s race, along with Republican state representative Julie Stokes. Free works in the state Attorney General’s office and one of her goals is to increase voter turnout…
cut 16 (11) “”…vote counts”
The general election will be in November.

A feeding ban enacted by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in East Carroll, Madison and Tensas parishes has been rescinded as the state has yet to detect chronic wasting disease among its deer population. State Wildlife Veterinarian, Doctor Jim LaCour…
cut 4 (12) “…Louisiana line”
LDWF has sampled about 300 deer in the area and they have yet to detect the fatal neurodegenerative disease.

A Eunice man trying to elude officers died in a single-vehicle crash in Jefferson Davis Parish Monday morning. State Police Sergeant James Anderson says 26-year-old Aaron Charlot was traveling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, before losing control two miles north of Louisiana Highway 101…
cut 8 (07) “…to stop”
Charlot was pronounded dead at the scene. No word on why he didn’t stop when a Kinder Police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

Does the governor have the votes to pass a tax bill that would renew a half-penny of an expiring one-cent sales tax? It will take 70 votes for the legislation to pass the House and it’s the critical piece of legislation for the upcoming special session that John Bel Edwards has called in the hopes revenue can be raised to stave off cuts across state government. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot voted against the half-penny tax proposal earlier this month and is among several Republicans who want to see government reduced and it starts with state worker pay raises…
cut 11 (08) “…governor wants”
But Shreveport Republican Thomas Carmody supported the half penny, because he says the state is obligated to fund critical programs, like TOPS…
cut 12 (11) “…partnership”
The special session begins Monday.

Renee Fontentot Free, who is the director of the public protection division in the Attorney General’s office, has announced she’s running for Secretary of State. Democrats have not fared well in statewide elections over the last decade, but Free says her party registration should have no bearing on her qualifications for a non-politicial job…
cut 15 (08) “….be neutral”

It’s an ailment that is causing a serious threat to the deer population, and since January, a feeding ban was enacted in order to minimize the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, spreading into Louisiana. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
voicer 1 (24) “…Kevin Barnhart”

Will Governor John Bel Edwards third special session of the year be successful? The debate will center on renewing a half penny sales tax that supporters say can prevent cuts across state government. The proposal came up seven votes short of passing in the House earlier this month. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says the governor needs to reassure Republicans the money will be spent responsibly….
cut 13 (07) “…have nothing”
The 10-day special session begins Monday.

Democrat Renee Fontentot Free has entered the Secretary of State race. A special election will be held in November. She works in the Attorney General’s office as the Director of the Public Protection Division and she also once worked in the Secretary of State’s office…
cut 14 (09) “…very gratifying”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has lifted a feeding ban it had in effect since January after extensive testing in East Carroll, Madison and Tensas parishes have yet to detect chronic wasting disease among the deer population. State wildlife veterinarian, Doctor Jim LaCour why the ban was put into effect..
cut 5 (13) “….licks, mineral sites”
Louisiana is on alert for C-W-D after a deer was found dead from the disease in Mississippi just a few miles from the Louisiana border.