During the middle of the night, contractors hired by New Orleans removed one of the four controversial Confederate monuments. The 35-foot Liberty Place monument was dismantled and hauled away in a few hours. Tulane Professor Richard Marksbury said on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster that he found it extreme for police to have snipers on hand for the removal…
cut 5 (10) “….with that”

Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Deputies are looking for the gunman who fired shots into an elderly victim’s home over the weekend, killing an 80-year-old woman. Major Wendell Raborn says authorities responded to several calls reporting gunshots in the area off South Hopkins Street in New Iberia.
Cut 14 (09) “on them “
The woman has been identified as Bertha Hill.

Governor Edwards main tax plan is receiving a frosty reception from Republican legislators in the House Ways and Means committee, who object to raising taxes on businesses. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh expressed his concerns…
cut 11 (11) “…paying more”

A bill that will be heard before the House Transportation Committee could eliminate inspection stickers on personal vehicles in most parishes. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Liberty Place monument, one of four Confederate statues set to be removed in New Orleans, was taken down this morning by contractors. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the removal of these statues sends a message that New Orleans celebrates its diversity. But Tulane Professor Richard Marksbury said on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster these statues are a teaching moment…
cut 6 (10) “….anymore”

A measure to be heard before the House Transportation Committee would eliminate inspection stickers on personal vehicles in most parishes. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says he filed the bill because the inspection stickers do not lead to safer roads.
Cut 7 (06) “stickers on”
Inspection stickers will still be required in the five-parish Baton Rouge area, because federal law mandates it, due to air quality concerns.

Lafayette Police are searching for a 21-year-old woman who is wanted for attempted manslaughter. Authorities say Natasha Portis intentionally struck two women along the side of the street early this morning.

A major reconstruction project begins on Bourbon Street today. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The first of four confederate statues that are set to be taken down in New Orleans was removed early this morning. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says there are three other statues that will be taken down, two of them are of Confederate generals and the other was a Confederate President. He says they will come down sooner rather than later, but won’t say when…
cut 4 (11) “…deterred”
Landrieu says they’ve also raised enough money privately to remove the statues.

A major construction project began today on the first 8 blocks of Bourbon Street. Director of New Orleans Public Works Col. Mark Jernigan says they’ll remove and replace the existing pavement, along with all of the aging pipes underneath the famous street.
Cut 10 (09) “90 years”
Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

A northwest Louisiana lawmaker has a bill that would do away with the need to get an inspection sticker in most parishes. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley knows the public supports this idea…
cut 8 (10) “…runaway”
Bagley believes an inspection sticker is more about the money than public safety, since you can drive around and still see broken tail lights.

U.S. Representative Mike Johnson remains confident Congress can pass legislation that will overhaul the nation’s health care system. Johnson says they are discussing a plan that gives states more flexibility to pull out of Affordable Care Act provisions…
cut 15 (06) “…on everyone”
Johnson says another provision that’s gained support would put cancer patients and individuals with a chronic illness in a separate market place funded by the federal government.

U.S Representative Mike Johnson is optimistic House members are close to agreeing on a bill to overhaul healthcare in the country. He says a provision that gained a lot of traction would put cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses in a separate, federally funded market place. Johnson says Maine recently did this…

Cut 14 (10) “went down.”

A proposal by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell would put on the ballot for voters an option to exempt state sales tax on items like diapers and tampons. Morrell says other constitutional amendments already exempt essential items like water, food, and prescriptions from the states sales tax.

Cut 5 (11) “their tampons”

The bill will be looked at today by the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee.

During the overnight hours, New Orleans city contractors began removing the first of four Confederate monuments. The Liberty Place monument was taken away at around 5:30 this morning by pieces on a flat bed truck. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says this statue was put up to honor the killing of police officers by white supremacists…

Cut 3 (10) “strong today”

A 6 million dollar construction project begins today on the first 8 blocks of Bourbon Street. Director of New Orleans Public Works Col. Mark Jernigan says existing pavement, drainage lines, water, sewer and gas lines will be replaced. He says visitors can expect to see a new and improved Bourbon Street, but it’s what they won’t see that’s really important.

Cut 12 (09) “to walk on”

Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

The centerpiece of Governor Edwards tax overhaul plan receives a hearing today in a House committee. The Commercial Activity Tax imposes a tax on businesses for any transactions they make. Franklin Representative Sam Jones, says so far this is the only plan presented to deal with the one-point-three billion dollars in temporary taxes that expire in 2018…
cut 8 (10) “…to fund TOPS”
So far, there’s little support for this proposal.

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee will look at a proposal today that would exempt items like diapers and tampons from the state sales tax. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says his bill would acknowledge that these are not luxury items, they’re essential.
Cut 4 (09) “feminine hygiene products”
The proposed constitutional amendment would be put on the ballot for voters, if it’s approved by the legislature

U.S. Representative Mike Johnson is confident Congress will pass a new healthcare bill. Don Molino has more…
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

During the middle of the night, the Liberty Place monument in New Orleans was taken down. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says these monuments do not represent the values of New Orleans. Three other monuments have been targeted for removal, and Landrieu says they have enough money to take those statues down as well, but will not say when.

The House Ways and Means Committee begins two days of discussion on the Commercial Activity Tax proposed by Governor John Bel Edwards. The CAT is a sales tax businesses pay on their transactions. So far there’s little support for the proposal. Franklin Representative Sam Jones hopes legislators will change their mind after learning more about it.
Cut 7 (10) “might be”

U.S. Representative Mike Johnson believes House members are moving closer to agreeing on a bill to overhaul healthcare. Johnson says there was frustration the previous legislation was pulled at the last minute, but he’s hopeful new amendments will secure passage through the House and Senate.
Cut 13 (09) “of weeks”

The first of four controversial Confederate monuments in New Orleans was removed over night. It took about four hours for crews to dismantle the Battle of Liberty Place and then place the pieces on a flat bed truck to be hauled away. There was heavy police presence as workers took down the statue. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the Liberty Place statue will eventually be relocated into a museum or other facility.

Also, taking place today in New Orleans, major roadwork begins on one of the world’s most famous streets. Construction equipment will begin removing the old pavement on Bourbon Street and replacing aging sewer, water and drainage pipes. Director of New Orleans Public Works Colonel Mark Jernigan says pedestrians will have access to Bourbon Street…
cut 11 (11) “…reconstruction projects”
Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

Governor Edwards’ proposed Commercial Activity Tax will be discussed today in the House Ways and Means Committee. It faces heavy opposition from the business community, who says it’s a burdensome tax at a time when the state’s economy is struggling. But the bill’s author, Franklin Representative Sam Jones, says something must be done to address a looming budget shortfall and provide a predictable revenue stream…
cut 9 (09) “…fund government”

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee hears a proposed constitutional amendment that would exempt diapers and tampons from the state sales tax. The measure is by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell who says he’ll reject attempts to add other items, like beer…
cut 6 (08) “…in diapers”
This bill will need to pass the legislature with a two-thirds vote and then voter approval.

U.S. Representative Mike Johnson remains confident Congress can pass legislation that will overhaul the nation’s health care system. Johnson says they are discussing a plan that gives states more flexibility to pull out of Affordable Care Act provisions…
cut 15 (06) “…on everyone”

The first 8 blocks of Bourbon Street is undergoing reconstruction that begins today. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

During the middle of the night, the Battle of Liberty Place monument was removed. The first of four New Orleans confederate statues to be taken down.

The centerpiece of Governor John Bel Edwards tax overhaul plan receives a hearing today in the House Ways and Means committee. The Commercial Activity Tax imposes a tax on businesses for any transactions they make. The bill’s author, Franklin Representative Sam Jones, says so far this is the only plan that’s been presented to deal with the one-point-three billion dollar fiscal cliff in 2018…
cut 8 (10) “…to fund TOPS”
So far, there’s very little support for this proposal.

A major construction project begins today on the first 8 blocks of Bourbon Street. Director of New Orleans Public Works Col. Mark Jernigan says they’ll remove and replace the existing pavement, along with all of the infrastructure underneath.
Cut 10 (09) “90 years”
Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.

Today the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee takes up a proposal by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell that would exempt diapers and tampons from the state sales tax. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

This week US Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy met with White House officials seeking an additional $2 billion for flood recovery. Kennedy says he’s thankful for the financial assistance Congress has provided to flood victims, but it is not enough to help the middle class and small businesses fully recover.
Cut 5 (07) “hand out”
Congress has already appropriated $1.6 billion in flood recovery.

Lawmakers will begin pouring over Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed Commercial Activity Tax on Monday. The corporate tax would replace tax revenue scheduled to fall off the books next year when a one-cent sales tax expires. Edwards says the CAT will make sure businesses pay their fair share.
Cut 13 (10) “work for”
A television ad supporting the governor’s tax plan is scheduled to run next week.

The Louisiana National Guard says the burn chamber at Camp Minden will be leaving soon. The burn chamber has completed burning thousands of tons explosive material that was left abandon by Explo Systems. There was talk of keeping the chamber operational at Camp Minden to burn more hazardous materials. But area residents opposed such an idea. The Guard says the burn chamber will not be used again at Camp Minden.

LSU’s spring game is tonight inside Tiger Stadium tonight. There will be several inexperienced wide receivers on the field. Senior DJ Chark is the only one with a lot of experience catching passes on Saturdays in the fall. Quarterback Danny Etling says the young wide outs have made progress during the spring…
Cut 19 (17) “go a long”

A convicted killer and rapist will not be released on parole on Sunday as originally scheduled. Samuel Galbraith was sentenced in 2000 to 71 years in prison for the brutal murder of 21-year-old Karen Hill, a conveience store clerk in Vernon Parish. The state parole board granted Galbraith’s parole, but it was learned the victim’s mother never received a parole notification letter. It was sent to a different address to a different state. Another hearing will be scheduled in the future.

Iberia Parish Sheriff deputies are trying to determine who fatally shot an 80-year-old woman. Officers were called to the scene just before one AM this morning after gunshots were heard in the area. Investigators say they found several bullet holes in the front door of a home and after forcing the door open, the elderly victim was found dead, apparently struck by multiple gunshots.

State Police say 28-year-old Dwight Johnson of Covington was killed when his motorcyle crashed into the rear axle of a trailer in Abita Springs yesterday.

An-anti tax group called Truth in Politics says a poll they commissioned finds the public doesn’t want to see their taxes increased. Executive Director Kelli Bottgher says 75 percent of respondents oppose a recommended 23 cent hike on the state’s gasoline tax.
Cut 11 (11) “repair infrastructure”
The survey also finds 80 percent of respondents say government spends too much, taxes too much, or both.

There is a threat for severe weather today as a result of a cold front that will provide the state with cool temperatures tomorrow. State Climatologist Barry Keim says eastern portions of Louisiana are under a slight risk of severe weather..
cut 15 (07) “…eye out”
Keim says high temperatures may stay in the 60s for some parts of the state tomorrow.