With the legislative session approaching, lawmakers are working on a bill that would raise the state’s gasoline tax for the first time in 30 years. Democratic Representative Sam Jones of Franklin says he would like to see a proposed gas tax increase go before the voters this fall, but the discussion continues over how many additional tax cents the tax hike should go.
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Some of the worst traffic congestion in the country is in the Capital City. That’s why Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter supports a higher gas tax…
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Officials say every penny the gasoline tax goes up, an additional 30-million dollars can be spent on transportation needs.

Former legislator Elbert Guillory will lead an outreach effort to bring more minorities to the GOP. Guillory became the first black Republican state senator in 2013 when he switched from the Democratic Party. He says his hope is to convince African-American voters the Republican Party has their interest in mind.
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Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere says Guillory can help the GOP reach one-million registered voters in the state.

It’s the first full day of the NCAA Tournament and workers could be districted by March madness. Office Team District president Brandi Britton says employers should capitalize on major sporting events to bring employees together and have more fun at work…
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Britton says their survey shows 66-percent of employees feel that celebrating sporting events can boost their overall hapiness at work.

State lawmakers are putting together a bill for the regular session that would increase the state’s gasoline tax for the first time in decades. Halen Doughty has more…
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A study from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission finds the state’s seat belt usage rate is at an all-time high of 88-percent. That’s nearly a two-percent point increase over the previous year. The report shows the increase is mostly attributable to more minority drivers and passengers buckling up.

Governor Edwards must find a new leader for State Police. Colonel Mike Edmonson’s last day as superintendent is March 24th as he is retiring with the department under fire for a travel scandal. Edwards says Edmonson also oversees the Office of Motor Vehicles, the Fire Marshal’s office, and highway safety…
cut 12 (11) “…law enforcement community”

Workplace productivity might be down today, because it’s the first full day of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament. Office Team District President Brandi Britton says employers who incorporate fun activities surrounding March Madness can promote healthy mix of work and play, but managers still need to be organzied about it…
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Governor Edwards believes State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson’s retirement is the best approach for the department. The governor accepted Edmonson’s retirement yesterday as the L-S-P has been the center for controversy because of travel scandal involving four troopers. Edwards says he and the Colonel discussed the issue for the past few days…
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Edmonson’s last day is March 24th.

Lawmakers are discussing legislation that would raise the state’s gasoline tax 17-cents per gallon, which would generate over 500-million dollars that can be used to improve roads. Franklin Representative Sam Jones would like to see the issue go to the voters this fall, because there are unmet transportation needs around the state…
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A gasoline tax will be discussed more in the upcoming session.

Former state lawmaker Elbert Guillory has been picked to lead an effort by the Republican Party to attract more minority voters to the G-O-P. Guillory, who is black, believes the Democratic Party is not addressing important issues facing blacks and hispanics, like jobs and crime
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Guillory switched from the democratic party to the republican party in 2013.

Former Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany has a new job. The Republican doctor has joined the Capitol Counsel Washington D-C lobbying firm, which focuses on health care, tax and trade issues.

Amid investigations into Louisiana State Police’s travel spending, Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson announces his retirement, effective March 24. Edmonson says he wouldn’t have done anything differently because problems are always going to arise.

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Edmonson says he will work with the governor and his successor to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The state’s credit rating has been downgraded for the third time since February of last year. The dip comes as a result of continued financial uncertainty, and it will make it more expensive for the state to borrow money for highway construction. Governor Edwards says the downgrade demonstrates the need for structural tax reform in the regular session.

Four people are dead and another critically injured in Metairie, and police are still trying to piece together what happened. Police say three of the deceased victims and one wounded were found with gunshot wounds in an apartment, and another victim with a stab wound to the head was discovered in a different unit in the complex. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says it’s too early to speculate about what exactly happened.

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The victims are identified as Kyle Turner of Laplace, and John Henry, Rosemary Charles, and Harold Frisard of Metairie.

Bars on Bourbon Street will not have to close their doors at 3 am. The proposal has been tabled by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, but he still plans to tighten security in the city. French Quarter Business League president Alex Fein says they are encouraged by the other recommendations to make New Orleans safer.

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After spending nine years as the leader of State Police, Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson announces he’ll retire from his post on March 24th. The agency has been the center of controversy regarding questionable travel by four state troopers. Edmonson says he loves his job, but stepping down will bring normalcy back to the department…:
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Edmonson says he will work with Governor John Bel Edwards and his successor to make the transition as seamless as possible.

A 33-year-old New Iberia man has pleaded guilty to sending threatening letters to government offices, including one that was sent to Governor John Bel Edwards. Prosecutors say Kyle Dore put white powder in several of the letters and implied the sustance was toxic, but tests showed it wasn’t. He’ll be sentenced on June 9th.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a quadruple homicide at an apartment complex in Metairie. Emelie Gunn has more…
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Another contractor has been arrested for defrauding flood victims. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says one of the victims was 70-years-old…
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Andrew Darian is facing several charges including home improvement fraud.

Today, State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson announced his plans to retire March 24th. LSP is under investigation by multiple agencies after four troopers made taxpayer funded overnight stops in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon while attending a training conference in San Diego. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this announcement shouldn’t come as a surprise…:
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Edmonson says he decided to step down so the agency can return to normalcy.

Former Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany has a new job. The Republican doctor has joined the Capitol Counsel Washington D-C lobbying firm, which focuses on health care, tax and trade issues. The 61-year served in the U.S. House of Representative for 12 years and had an unsuccessful run for U-S Senate last year.

Jefferson Parish authorities found four people dead at an apartment complex in Metairie early this morning. Sheriff Newell Normand says originally they were investigating a triple homicide, but they found another body in an apartment where the door was open……:
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The four fatal victims range in ages from 40-to-61-years-old. One of the victims is a female. It remains a very active investigation.

Baton Rouge Police have arrested a contractor from Denham Springs who allegedly took deposits and payments from two homeowners but never completed the work. 48-year-old Andrew Darian faces several charges. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola…
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Colonel Mike Edmonson has stepped down as superintendent of State Police. Edmonson has led state police for two governors, but he leaves as multipe investigations are ongoing into a travel scandal involving four state troopers. Edmonson says he wouldn’t have done anything differently….
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Over a dozen members of State Police have also been subpoenaed as part of a federal investigation into illegal campaign contributions involving the Louisiana State Troopers Association and its executive director. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says Edmonson’s retirement is the best move for everyone..
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Edmonson’s last day is March 24th.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is no longer pushing a proposal to have all bars in the city close their doors at 3AM every day. French Quarter Business League President Alex Fein says they were concern that proposal would negatively affect businesses…
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Jefferson Parish authorities found four people dead at an apartment complex in Metairie early this morning. Sheriff Newell Normand says when authorities arrived they found three people deceased and a woman shot in the face, who was transported to a local hospital. He says as deputies were canvasing the scene, a nearby apartment had an open door…:
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Authorities say that man died of multiple stab wounds.

State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson announces his plans to retire March 24 amid controversy. Michelle Southern has more…
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Four people were found shot to death inside an apartment complex in Metairie and another woman was taken to the hospital after she was shot in the face. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says they are still trying to figure out what happened…
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Authorities have been on the scene since a 9-1-1 call at 3:30 this morning.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has scraped the proposal to have all bars in the city close their doors at 3 AM. French Quarter Business League President Alex Fein is glad to hear that and they remain pleased with the other safety measures that will be implemented that’s part of a 40-million dollar security plan…
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Another contractor has been arrested for derfrauding flood victims. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says one of the victims in this case was 70-years-old…
cut 4 (11) “….to rebuild”
Darian is facing several charges including home improvement fraud.

After spending nine years as the leader of State Police, Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson announces his plans to retire March 24th. The agency has been the center of controversy regarding questionable travel by four state troopers. Edmonson says he loves his job, but stepping down brings a sense of normalcy to the department…:
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Edmonson says he will work with Governor John Bel Edwards and his successor to make the transition as seamless as possible.

A Caddo Parish mother has pleaded guilty to all charges related to the wreck that ejected her 5-month-old from her SUV. Cops believe 31-year-old Lindsey Logan was on drugs when she got into a crash that sent her baby through the front windshield of her vehicle. Logan pleaded guilty to 2 counts of first-degree vehicular negligence stemming from the wreck in June 2016 since her 7 year old was also in the vehicle. Both children are recovering.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has decided not to go forward with his previous suggestion to close the doors of all bars in the Crescent City at 3 a.m. in an effort to increase safety. French Quarter Business League President Alex Fein says they’ve been against the idea from the get go and are glad that proposition has been taken off the table…:
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Landrieu still plans on using 40 million dollars to tighten security in the city.

Jefferson Parish authorities found four people dead at an apartment complex in Metairie early this morning. Sheriff Newell Normand says originally they were investigating a triple homicide and finding another body turns back the clock on the investigation…:
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He says another woman is in the hospital after calling 911 to report she’d bee shot in the head. Normand says it’s too early in the investigation to speculate about what exactly happened.

Today, State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson announced his plans to retire March 24. LSP is under investigation by multiple agencies after four troopers made taxpayer funded overnight stops in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon while heading to a training conference in San Diego. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says all things considered, this announcement shouldn’t come as a surprise…:
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Edmonson issued a statement saying Governor John Bel Edwards did not ask him to step down.

Anyone who has questions for Governor John Bel Edwards will have the opportunity to speak with him this afternoon during his monthly call in radio show “Ask The Governor.” Edwards will be joined today by the Executive director of the Office of Community Development, Pat Forbes. You can hear the show on certain affiliates of the Louisiana Radio NEtwork beginning at 2pm and the call in number is 1-877-217-5757.

Jefferson Parish authorities found four people dead at an apartment complex in Metairie early this morning. Sheriff Newell Normand says when authorities arrived they found three people deceased and a woman shot in the face, who was transported to a local hospital. He says as deputies were canvasing the scene, a nearby apartment had an open door…:
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He says it’s too early in the investigation to speculate about what exactly happened.

WBRZ is reporting that a teacher is accused of assaulting a student during school hours in East Feliciana Parish. They say Jaworski White was arrested Tuesday by Clinton Police and charged for allegedly slapping a student.