Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the legislature on the first day of the special session.  Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

North Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham made no bones about his intentions to take a hard look at running for Governor. On the day when Governor John Bel Edwards took center stage at the capitol and opened the special legislative session, Abraham took a swipe at his potential opponent while speaking to the Baton Rouge Press club.

Cut 7 (09)  “lack of trust”

Three teens were arrested in connection with two alleged social media threats made against Tangipahoa Parish Schools. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says a 17-year-old female and a minor are charged in spreading a post that said, “Don’t go to school Monday.  A school shooting is going to happen and they are warning everyone.” Edwards says that resulted in his deputies sweeping the school before allowing students on campus…

Cut 10 (08) “the night.”

A female employee at False River Academy died Monday afternoon in a vehicle accident that occurred on the New Roads campus. 66 year old Edith Atkinson was killed when she was pinned between her husband’s truck and a school bus. Her 74 year old husband was driving the truck.

Governor John Bel Edwards didn’t specify what taxes he wanted approved to address a one-billion dollar budget gap as lawmakers convened for the first day of the special session. But he encouraged legislators to pass legislation that gives Louisiana a stable tax structure that ends the constant budget deficits the state has faced over the last decade.

The Senate Democratic Caucus offers a plan on solving a one-billion dollar budget deficit, but it faces opposition from anti-tax groups. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

Three teens were arrested in connection with two alleged social media threats made against Tangipahoa Parish Schools. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says a 17-year-old female and another juvenile are charged in spreading a post that said, “Don’t go to school Monday. A school shooting is going to happen and they are warning everyone.” Edwards says that resulted in his deputies sweeping the school before allowing students on campus…
Cut 10 (08) “the night.”
Edwards says his deputies also arrested 18-year-old Troy Webber of Amite, who allegedly threatened to shoot fellow students and faculty upon returning to school today.

Sad story out of Pointe Coupee Parish as a female employee at False River Academy was killed when her 74-year-old husband accidentally pinned his wife between his truck and a school bus. 66-year-old Edith Atkinson died from her injures at a local hospital.

Governor John Bel Edwards is laying laying out his plan for tackling the fiscal cliff at the capitol. The cliff is the result of the expiration of sales taxes in July. Political pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards might renew portion of that penny, but he’ll have to agree on spending reforms

Cut 13 (07) “for cuts”

LSU president F. King Alexander is calling on legislators to find a budget solution that funds higher ed and TOPS by the end of the February special session.

Cut 21 (10) “difficult position”

Alexander says there was a noticeable impact the last time the state failed to properly fund TOPS in a timely manner. He says if lawmakers wait until June to solve the one billion dollar fiscal cliff, the damage will already have been done for the 2018-2019 school year.

The Senate Democratic Caucus offers a solution on solving the one-billion dollar shortfall. Troy Carter, who is a state senator from New Orleans, says the Democratic plan would replace the money lost from the expiring penny sales tax by expanding the tax base and compressing bracket. He says the changing of income tax brackets would not mean a huge increase in taxes for higher income wage earners.

Cut 7 (10)  “richest of the rich”

But Director for the Louisiana Chapter of Americans for Prosperity, John Kay, says the Senate Democratic Caucus proposal would raise income taxes on the middle class by 50-percent…

 Cut 8 (09) “they need.”

Kay doesn’t see how this tax plan will get the 70 votes needed in the House, 

The Senate Democratic Caucus offers a plan on solving a one-billion dollar budget deficit, but it faces opposition from anti-tax groups…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

Governor John Bel Edwards will speak at the joint special session of the Legislature at 5pm.  He has invited special guests – college student Donna Satterfeal, who would be affected by a reduction of TOPS funding, Kelly Monroe the executive director of the ARC of Louisiana and Tina Haines, whose daughter is a recipient of a Children’s Choice Waiver.  Edwards has said all these programs would be affected if the budget shortfall isn’t fixed.

At least three Louisiana schools have received social media threats.  Ville Platte, Dutchtown and Ponchatoula High Schools were threatened over the weekend.  State Police Major Doug Cain says in light of the recent Florida school shooting that killed 17, making false threats is not a game and creates problems for law enforcement officials…

Cut 3 (08) “of threats.”

Two were arrested in connection with the Ponchatoula incident, including 18-year-old Troy Webber of Amite and a 17-year-old female.

Louisiana has experienced some fantastic weather as of late, leading to the question, Was Louisiana’s resident forecaster Pierre C. Shadow correct in saying we would have a longer Spring?  State Climatologist Barry Keim says…

Cut 12 (11) “have happened.”

Governor John Bel Edwards will lay out his plans on tackling the fiscal cliff when he speaks to a joint session of the legislature at 5: 00 today. Edwards called a special session to address a one-billion dollar budget deficit as a temporary one-cent sales tax expires on June 30th. Political pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Pinsonat says the governor will have difficulty getting tax bills passed out of the House, but might be able to work out a deal with the Senate…

Cut 14 (09) “the House.”

The Senate Democratic Caucus offers a solution on solving the one-billion dollar shortfall. Chairman Troy Carter proposes compressing income tax brackets, removing sales tax exemptions that benefit some businesses and expand the sales tax base, so certain services are taxed…

Cut 6  (05)  “have to hurt”

But anti-tax critics say proposal would raise income taxes on the middle class.

LRN

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At least three Louisiana schools have received social media threats, with Ville Platte under lockdown due to one received this morning.  Dutchtown and Ponchatoula High Schools were threatened in social media over the weekend.  State Police Major Doug Cain says If a threat against a school is found to be false, Cain says they will investigate and if they find the person who made it, there will be consequences…

Cut 4  (08) “be tolerated.” 

Officials say the Dutchtown threat was made by a former student living in another state.

And a 17-year-old girl was arrested in relation to the situation in Tangipahoa Parish. She was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after posting a snapchat video that claimed an incident was going to occur at a Tangipahoa school.

In a separate incident, 18-year-old Troy Webber of Amite was arrested after making a threat this weekend that he was going to shoot his fellow students when returning to school today. Webber has been charged with Terrorizing.

Louisiana Radio Network, Im Matt Doyle.

Governor John Bel Edwards will lay out his plans on tackling the fiscal cliff when he speaks to a joint session of the legislature at 5: 00 today. Edwards called a special session to address a one-billion dollar budget deficit as a temporary one-cent sales tax expires on June 30th.  Pinsonat says Edwards will have a hard time getting the GOP on board with his plan.

Cut 15 (07) “on government”

Pinsonat says the governor will have difficulty getting tax bills passed out of the House, but might be able to work out a deal with the Senate…

The Senate Democratic Caucus offers a solution on solving the one-billion dollar shortfall. That involves raising new revenue. But Director for the Louisiana Chapter of Americans for Prosperity John Kay says the Senate Democratic Caucus proposal would raise income taxes on the middle class…

Cut 8 (09) “they need.”

LRN

At least three Louisiana schools have received social media threats, with Ville Platte under lockdown due to one received this morning.  Dutchtown and Ponchatoula High Schools were threatened in social media over the weekend. State Police Major Doug Cain says  safety of students and school administration is top priorit right now.

Cut 5  (07)  “that school.”

recent above normal temperatures are making it feel more like Spring, but a pesky front is expected to move into North Louisiana starting tomorrow evening, which State Climatologist Barry Keim says will bring the temperatures closer to normal in that area for the remainder of the week…

Cut 11 (11) “the weekend.”

Winter may not be over, as record lows in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and New Orleans have been observed as far out as early April.

Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Matt Doyle.

The Senate Democratic Caucus offers a solution on solving the one-billion dollar shortfall due to hit in July. Chairman and New Orleans Democrat Troy Carter proposes compressing income tax brackets, removing sales tax exemptions that benefit some businesses and expand the sales tax base, so certain services are taxed. He says the changing of income tax brackets would not mean a huge increase in taxes for higher income wage earners.

Cut 7 (10)  “richest of the rich”

But Director for the Louisiana Chapter of Americans for Prosperity, John Kay, says the Senate Democratic Caucus proposal would raise income taxes on the middle class. Kay doesn’t see how this tax plan will get the 70 votes needed in the House, especially when many legislators are looking at ways to reduce spending.

Cut 9 (05) “in the house”

LRN

Just a few ago, some in Louisiana were putting up with ice and snow on the ground.  But recent above normal temperatures are making it feel more like Spring.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says areas of South Louisiana will continue to see the warm temperatures for some time…

Cut 10 (07) “of Louisiana.”

A pesky front is expected to move into North Louisiana starting tomorrow evening, which Keim says will being the temperatures closer to normal in that area for the remainder of the week…

Governor John Bel Edwards will lay out his plans on tackling the fiscal cliff when he speaks to a joint session of the legislature at 5: 00 today. Edwards called a special session to address a one-billion dollar budget deficit as a temporary one-cent sales tax expires on June 30th. Political pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards might renew portion of that penny, but he’ll have to agree on spending reforms

Cut 13 (07) “for cuts”

Louisiana Radio Network

Legislators return to the State Capitol this afternoon to address a one-billion dollar shortfall for next fiscal year. LSU system president F. King Alexander is calling on legislators to find a budget solution that funds higher ed and TOPS by the end of this special session. Alexander says students are making decisions now on where they’ll attend college next fall…
Cut 13 (07) “other state.”

The Senate Democratic Caucus offers a solution on solving the one-billion dollar shortfall. Chairman Troy Carter proposes compressing income tax brackets, removing sales tax exemptions that benefit some businesses and expand the sales tax base, so certain services are taxed….
cut 6 (05) “…have to hurt”
But an anti-tax group known as the Louisiana Chapter of Americans for Propserity says this proposal would raise taxes on the middle class.
Social media threats have been made against several Louisiana schools just days after a gunman opened fire on a Florida school, killing 17. Kelley Ray says State Police are distributed by the increase in threats, real or not…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

A 71-year-old Louisiana inmate serving a life sentence for the fatal shooting of a sheriff’s deputy was denied parole today by a three-member panel of the state’s parole board. Henry Montgomery just turned 17-year-old when he fatally shot an East Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputy in 1963. He received a parole hearing thanks to a US Supreme Court ruling that juvenile homicide offenders should have an opportunity at parole.

State legislators return to the capitol today for another special session. This time lawmakers will work to fix the fiscal cliff which is a result of about a billion dollars in temporary sales taxes expiring on June 30th. Jeff Palermo has a preview…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

This is the fifth special session in two years. The House and Senate will convene around 4 PM. Governor Edwards will speak in the House Chamber at 5 PM and present his plan on solving the state’s fiscal problems.

At least three Louisiana schools have received social media threats, with Ville Platte under lockdown due to one received this morning. Dutchtown and Ponchatula High Schools were threatened in social media over the weekend. State Police Major Doug Cain says in light of the recent Florida school shooting that killed 17, making false threats creates problems for law enforcement officials…
Cut 3 (08) “of threats.”
No arrests have been made as of yet concerning these latest threats.

Many Americans are swimming in debt and getting in deeper than ever. One report suggests total household debt rose to 13-trillion-dollars for 2017. Professor of Economics at Xavier University of Louisiana Dr. Jose Bautista many people do not have a savings account, so they use credit cards for emergencies and that can start a slippery downhill slide…
Cut 16 (06) ” to multiply.”
Louisiana appears to be America’s capital of past due debt, with almost half of its residents in debt that has gone into collections.

A special session to address a one-billion-dollar fiscal cliff starts today.  Governor Edwards says popular programs such as TOPS may see cuts if the legislature don’t find a way to bridge the financial gap.  Shreveport republican Alan Seabaugh says he’s starting to see the framework for a grand bargain…

(CUT 11) (11) “funding TOPS.”

Springtime is acceptance letter season for most college bound high school students, and the state’s budget uncertainty is causing many to rethink whether they want to attend school in Louisiana. LSU president F. King Alexander is calling on legislators to find a budget solution that funds higher ed and TOPS by the end of the special session.

Cut 12 (10) “difficult position”

The special session kicks off today to address a one billion dollar shortfall. Legislators have until March 7^th to find a fix to the looming fiscal cliff or else cuts will occur in the areas of higher education and health care. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says the governor has talked privately with house speaker Taylor Barras (Bah-rah) on solutions, but doesn’t think there is a viable solution yet…

Cut 4  (09) “real detail” 

Many Americans are swimming in debt and getting in deeper than ever. One report suggests total household debt has risen to 13-trillion-dollars for 2017.  Professor of Economics at Xavier University of Louisiana Dr. Jose Bautista says a lot of workers aren’t making enough money…

Cut 15 (12) into debt.”