A Mason-Dixon Poll finds voters are satisfied with the job Governor Edwards is doing, but it doesn’t mean he will be re-elected in 2019. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The special session called to address a looming one-billion budget shortfall is on the verge of getting nothing accomplished. The House overwhelming rejected a sales tax bill that would have generated an additional 300-million in revenues.

Representative James Armes says he has an idea.

Cut 12 (13) “large sales tax rates.”

State Senator Troy Carter has filed a bill for the regular session that raises the age to purchase an assault rifle from 18 to 21. Carter says this is in response to the Florida school shooting which killed 17. The New Orleans Democrat says he believes in the Second Amendment rights, but…

Cut 14 (11) “that matter.”

LSU’s new hazing policy calls for expulsions from campus for those who haze another student. Division of Student Affairs Kurt Keppler says System President F King Alexander did not want to leave a gray area where hazing is concerned and students found guilty of doing so will be banned from campus…

Cut 7 (05)  “a thing.”

A Mason Dixon Polling and Strategy poll finds that Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards has a 55 percent approval rating. 31 percent disapprove and 14 percent answered they were unsure. Pollster Brad Coker says the high approval rating doesn’t give him a pass for 2019, especially if his opponents are either House Majority Whip Steve Scalise or Republican Senator John Kennedy. But…

North Louisiana U.S. Congressman Republican Ralph Abraham has been pondering a run… Coker says his current poll finds Abraham would not do well going head-to-head with Edwards…

Cut 6 (07)  “the state.”

LSU’s new hazing policy says fraternities will no longer be able to tailgate before home football games on the parade grounds, which they hope will eliminate fighting and other accusations of hazing that previously occurred…

Cut 9 (12)  “one knows.”

President F. King Alexander says the timeline to implement these recommendations is between now and the fall.

The House overwhelming rejected a sales tax bill that would have generated an additional 300-million in revenues.

The special session must end March 7th and it looks like there’s very little chance anything of substance can come out of this special session. There’s been some accusations that legislators were not willing to go along with substantial tax reform, because it would make Governor Edwards look good when he runs for re-election. Rep Lance Harris R-Alexandria,Chairman of the GOP House Caucus, strongly denies that claim

Cut 13 (10)  “in the pasture”

State Senator Troy Carter has filed a bill for the regular session that raises the age to purchase an assault rifle from 18 to 21. Carter says this is in response to the Florida school shooting which killed 17. The New Orleans Democrat says he believes in the Second Amendment rights to a degree.

If approved, the legislation would allow those who sell weapons to those under 21 to be fined up to a thousand dollars and up to one year in jail. Carter says this law would not ban assault rifles completely, but the weapons shouldn’t be available for everyone…

Cut 16 (03) “AR-15s.”

New Orleans Senator Troy Carter has filed a bill for the regular session that raises the age to purchase an assault rifle from 18 to 21. Kelley Ray has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

A Mason Dixon Polling and Strategy poll finds that Democrat Governor Edwards has a 55 percent approval rating. 31 percent disapprove and 14 percent answered they were unsure. But Pollster Brad Coker says the high approval rating doesn’t mean he’ll be re-elected in 2019.

Coker says his approval rating among Republicans may not mirror their feelings come Election Day…

Cut 5  (06)  “for him.”

LSU’s new hazing policy calls for expulsions from campus for those who haze another student. Division of Student Affairs Kurt Keppler says System President F King Alexander did not want to leave a gray area where hazing is concerned and students found guilty of doing so will be banned from campus.

Many of the new rules come from a task force that was formed after LSU student Maxwell Gruver died in an alleged hazing incident. Gruver had a blood alcohol content of .495. Keppler says as part of the new rules hard alcohol will no longer be allowed at on campus or off campus fraternity parties…

Cut 8 (08) “and wine.”

The special session called to address a looming one-billion budget shortfall is on the verge of getting nothing accomplished. The House overwhelming rejected a sales tax bill that would have generated an additional 300-million in revenues.

Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight says his sales tax bill is part of the solution towards closing the budget deficit, but Leesville Representative James Armes says he told his constituents he would not vote for another bill to raise the sales tax rate above four-percent…

Cut 12 (13) “large sales tax rates.”

LSU students guilty of hazing will be expelled from campus. Jeff Palermo has more on the school’s new zero tolerance policy against hazing…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A Mason Dixon Polling and Strategy poll finds that Democrat Governor Edwards has a 55 percent approval rating. 31 percent disapprove and 14 percent answered they were unsure. But Pollster Brad Coker says the high approval rating doesn’t mean he’ll be re-elected in 2019, if his opponents are either House Majority Whip Steve Scalise or Republican Senator John Kennedy…

Cut 4  (11) “46-43.” 

The special session called to address a looming one-billion budget shortfall is on the verge of getting nothing accomplished. The House overwhelming rejected a sales tax bill that would have generated an additional 300-million in revenues.

Democrats strongly oppose legislation that proposes a sales tax rate of four and a quarter percent. Before the governor took office, the sales tax rate was four percent. New Orleans Representative Gary Carter says he can’t support this bill, unless there are also changes to income tax brackets which would lead to higher wage earners paying more taxes…

Cut 11 (10) “in this state.”

State Senator Troy Carter has filed a bill for the regular session that raises the age to purchase an assault rifle from 18 to 21. The New Orleans Democrat says he believes in the Second Amendment rights

Opponents to this legislation could say that you can join the military under the age of 21 and carry an assault rifle, so why couldn’t you buy one? Carter argues….

Cut 15 (08) “or none.”

A Mason-Dixon Poll finds voters are satisfied with the job Governor Edwards is doing, but it doesn’t mean he will be re-elected in 2019. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

LSU’s new hazing policy calls for expulsions from campus for those who haze another student. Division of Student Affairs Kurt Keppler says System President F King Alexander did not want to leave a gray area where hazing is concerned and students found guilty of doing so will be banned from campus…

Cut 7 (05)  “a thing.”

The special session called to address a looming one-billion budget shortfall is on the verge of getting nothing accomplished. The House overwhelming rejected a sales tax bill that would have generated an additional 300-million in revenues.  Ruston Representative Rob Shadoin expressed disappointment over not coming together on a solution towards the state’s constant fiscal woes…

Cut 10 (10) “gotta stop”

State Senator Troy Carter has filed a bill for the regular session that raises the age to purchase an assault rifle from 18 to 21. Carter says this is in response to the Florida school shooting which killed 17. The New Orleans Democrat says he believes in the Second Amendment rights, but…

Cut 14 (11) “that matter.”

LSU President F. King Alexander announced this morning the adoption of recommendations made from the “LSU Task Force on Greek Life.” Alexander took a hard line by adopting the policies and adding some of his own. There will be no more grey areas, any hazing means mandatory expulsion. Alexander says the implementation could be as soon as immediate or wait until the fall semester.

Parts of North Louisiana are bracing for more rain tonight into Thursday.  Flood Warnings have been issued for the Ouachita and Red Rivers until further notice. The Red River at Shreveport is above flood stage at nearly 32 feet, while downstream at Grand Ecore, it is over 35 feet and expected to hit 39 feet by Friday. Shreveport National Weather Service Forecaster Aaron Stevens says the forecast is dire for the area…

Cut 10 (10) “really fast.”

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is bucking his Washington colleagues as he’s threatening to be the fly in the ointment on gun control. Jim Shannon has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

The small town of Urania in LaSalle Parish has landed a big sawmill that will create 110 jobs and an additional 300 indirect jobs. The project will create 150 jobs when construction starts in April. Mayor Terri Corley hopes they can attract local workers who left after Louisiana-Pacific closed…

Cut 4  (07) “to work.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards calls the next 24 hours critical for the state House to get behind tax bills to address a looming one billion dollar deficit. With one week to go in the special session, the House has yet to pass any revenue generating proposals. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says he sees a lack of urgency in the House

Cut 15 (07) “right now”

A billion dollars worth of temporary sales taxes will expire June 30th and Edwards called lawmakers into a 17-day special session to replace the revenue that will be lost. Magee says any tax bill will need 70 votes to pass and he doesn’t see it happening…

Cut 16  (12)  “get there”

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Secretary of State Tom Schedler to resign immediately as a result of a lawsuit filed by his former secretary accusing one of the top state officials of sexual harassment. In a statement to the press, Edwards says sexual harassment in the workplace should not be tolerated…

Cut 11 (06) “sexual harrassment.”

Republican state senator Sharon Hewitt also believes Schedler should step down. Hewitt’s political consultant Jay Connaughton (Con-au-tin) says she believes there will be a negative impact on the Secretary of State’s office if he remains…

Cut 14 (08) “is indefensible”

Hewitt is the first Republican asking for Schedler’s resignation. Schedler has no comment about the calls for his resignation.

Governor Edwards and Republican state senator Sharon Hewitt call on Secretary of State Tom Schedler to resign because of sexual harassment allegations.…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

Nine Louisiana parishes along the I-20 corridor are under a flash flood watch through tomorrow morning. Aaron Stevens is with the National Weather Service in Shreveport….
cut 9 (09) “…pretty quicly quickly”

Republican U-S Senator John Kennedy says he doesn’t plan on voting for any of the gun control bills that may come before the Senate in reaction to the deadly mass shooting at a Florida school two weeks ago. Kennedy says statistically gun owners are not the problem…
cut 8 (10) “…danger to anyone”
Kennedy says if we enforced the laws on the books many of the shootings, including the one in Florida would not have happened.

The small town of Urania in LaSalle Parish has landed a big sawmill that will create 110 jobs and an additional 300 indirect jobs. A joint venture by Hunt Forest Products and Tolko Industries will build a state of the art 115-million-dollar mill in the heart of the state’s 11-billion-dollar forest products industry. Urania Mayor Terri Corley is thrilled they can use the former location of the old Louisiana-Pacific mill…
ut 3 (06) “a sawmill.”

Democratic Governor John Bel Edwawds joined Republican state senator Sharon Hewitt in calling for Secretary of State Tom Schedler to step down. An employee in the Secretary of State’s office has filed a harassment suit against the official who oversees elections in this state. Edwards says the alleged harassment casts doubt on the integrity of the Secretary of State’s office…
cut 12 (11) “…to resign”
Schedler has no comment on the calls for his resignation.

Governor Edwards says the next 24 hours critical for the state House to pass tax bills to address a looming one billion dollar deficit. With one week to go in the special session, the House has yet to pass any revenue generating proposals. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says he sees a lack of urgency in the House
Cut 15 (07) “right now”

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy opposes a bill to modify the existing back-ground check systems for firearm purchases because he says that system is flawed.Kennedy sympathizes with the victims of the latest mass school shooting in Florida but , as he says, he will not be sucked into a pro temporary gun-control law we don’t need.
Cut 7 (11) “ones we have”
The proposed legislation does not expand background checks but rather requires officials to do a better job of screening.

Ruston-based Hunt Forest Products and Tolko Industries will build a state of the art 115-million-dollar mill in the LaSalle Parish town of Urania. heart of the state’s 11-billion-dollar forest products industry. Mayor Terri Corley Corley says the sawmill will employee 110 people…
Cut 5 (07) “had before.”
Construction is expected to begin in April and operations will begin next year.

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Secretary of State Tom Schedler to resign immediately as a result of a lawsuit filed that accuses the state’s top election official of sexual harassment. Edwards says sexual harassment in the workplace should not be tolerated…
Cut 11 (06) “sexual harrassment.”
An employee in the Secretary of State’s office filed the suit. Schedler admits to having what he calls a consensual sexual relationship with the accuser.

The House was scheduled to vote on tax bills today as there’s a week to go in the special session that was called to address a looming one billion dollar budget deficit. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says any tax bill will need 70 votes to pass and he doesn’t see it happening…
cut 16 (12) “…get there”
U.S. Senator John Kennedy is bucking his Washington colleagues as he’s threatening to be the fly in the ointment on gun control. Jim Shannon has more.
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

LSU System President F King Alexander says the school’s hazing policy will not leave any gray area, if you haze, you’ll be expelled. Alexander says this policy is part of 28 recommendations that the university will put in place as a result of the death of a fraternity pledge last September. Authoities say Maxwell Gruver drank himself to death in a hazing incident.