With two days left in special session, lawmakers are struggling to raise enough money to tackle the state’s massive budget deficit. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says the supplemental budget bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee and TOPS is funded at around 70-percent. He says other areas still don’t have adequate funding…:
Cut 15 (10) “prisons”
Alford says the state’s budget hole is likely more than $600 million.

A woman from Minden died and two others were injured in a Webster Parish, two vehicle crash, according to State Police. They say 33-year-old Kevin Liker of Dubberly tried to pass two vehicles in a no passing zone, when he struck a pickup truck head-on. The passenger in the truck, 66-year-old Linda McCoy was not buckled up and sustained fatal injuries in the crash. Investigators believe speed and alcohol were factors in the incident which is under investigation.

Former state legislator Ebert Guillory has released an interesting ad in support of his candidacy for the 4th district Congressional race. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Attorney General Jeff Landry and law enforcement are teaming up to tackle cyber-crimes against children. State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson says parents can help by keeping a close eye on their kids online…:
CUT 5 (10) “with them”
The venture is dubbed Operation Broken Heart.

The industrial tax exemption program that benefits large manufacturers is costing local governments 1.6 billion dollars a year, according to Together Louisiana. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Senate leaders say they are going try again to make moves that would help fill the state’s budget deficit for next fiscal year. The session must end tomorrow night. Senate President John Alario told reporters he hopes to revive an individual income tax measure which was struck down by the House, but lawmakers in the lower chamber say they don’t see votes changing.

Former state senator Elbert Guillory is in the race for the 4th Congressional District seat, and he’s running a very unique YouTube ad to gain voters’ support, by using coconuts as a metaphor. He can be seen in the ad standing behind a podium, holding a mesh bag with two coconuts…:
CUT 7 (12) “has coconuts”
Political analyst Pearson Cross thinks this is a “Donald Trump” move by Guillory…:
CUT 10 (09) “the person”
Cross is becoming less politically correct is an emerging trend among candidates.

An unidentified deputy in West Baton Rouge Parish has been suspended without pay for failing to perform a proper inmate headcount, after failing to notice one of the prisoners put a dummy in his bed to trick the officer into thinking he was sleeping. The inmate ended up coming back to the prison with 2 bags of pot according to authorities.

With two days left in special session, lawmakers are struggling to raise enough money to tackle the state’s massive budget deficit. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says legislators are just short of raising 300 million dollars
of the $600 million the governor requested. He says conservatives in the House aren’t budging…:
cut 14 (11) “more revenue”
He says the shortfall for next fiscal year is likely more than $600 million.

The state gives away 1.6 billion dollars in local tax revenue for the industrial exemption program, which benefits large manufacturers. That’s according to Together Louisiana and spokesperson Broderick Bagert says school districts, parishes and other local entities are missing out on these dollars…:
cut 11 (03) “tax money”
But others say this exemption draws big companies to Louisiana.

Attorney General Jeff Landry and law enforcement are teaming up to tackle cyber-crimes against children. Landry says since April, 57 alleged perpetrators have been arrested for the distribution and possession of child pornography as part of “Operation Broken Heart”…:
cut 4 (09) “that exploitation”
State Police is assisting in the effort to reduce internet crimes against children.

According to the latest campaign finance reports for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. $4.7 million dollars has been paid to a Louisiana business which makes the infamous “Make American Great Again” hats. Ace Specialties in Lafayette’s owner is also listed as an official point of contact for the Trump for President store.

The legislative session ends on Thursday night at midnight and 284-million dollars in revenues have been approved as a result of changes to tax laws. Governor John Bel Edwards has pushed for 600-million dollars in the hopes the state can avoid making cuts to the budget.

Senate President John Alario says he wants to revive a piece of legislation that would reduce the amount of tax deductions a person receives if they itemize on their state income tax forms. The proposal would generate an estimated 88-million dollars. It’s an effort supported by the governor, but such a proposal has already been dismissed by the Louisiana House.

If 284-million dollars is all that could be raised, cuts will occur to higher ed, various health care services and the TOPS program to name a few. How much of the revenue raised in this special session should go to TOPS versus hospitals that provide care for the poor is a major debate right now.

Governor Edwards has established a task Force to develop ways Louisiana can safely lower its prison population and reduce inmate housing costs. Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says Louisiana incarcerates more residents per capita than anywhere else in the world and this task force will come up with recommendations that the legislature can approve in 2017…:
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LeBlanc says more programs at the local level can help reduce the recividism rate and lower the jail population.

The governor has signed a bill into law that raised the age threshold for victims of sex trafficking from 18 to 21. Before this law, victims between 18 to 21 could have been arrested for prostitution. Executive Director of Project 41 in West Monroe, Lindsey Nadler, says the public can also get involved in the fight against human trafficking…
cut 11 (10) “…is key”

A manpower report published in Forbes Magazine says New Orleans and Baton Rouge rank 1-2 when it comes to toughest cities to find a job this summer. LSU Economist Loren Scott there is some truth to the report that construction of large scale construction projects between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is slowing down due to the energy market. But he says right in the middle is St. James Parish, where there are a large number of huge potential projects that are in the design and financing stages…:
cut 14 (11) “…New Orleans area”

At the state capitol, time is ticking on lawmakers to give final approval on tax changes designed to raise revenue to avoid major cuts to state services. At this point the state doesn’t have enough money to fully fund TOPS and there’s disagreement at what level the program should be funded.

The governor has formed a task force that will provide the legislature with recommendations on how to reduce the state’s incarceration rate, which is said to be the highest in the world. Louisiana’s Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says they lack needed resources at the local level that can provide an alternative to housing an offender in jail…
cut 4 (09) “…that access”
LeBlanc says providing released inmates with health care can also help reduce the recidivism rate.

Here’s a bizarre story out of Caddo Parish, sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says they arrested a Shreveport man for trespassing after he climbed up a historic monument outside of the courthouse during the middle of the night and the statue’s arm fell off in the process…
cut 16 (06) “…with trespassing”
Twenty-seven-year-old Tromell Conerlious’ bond was set at 500-dollars.

Manpower says based on its survey of metropolitan areas, New Orleans and Baton Rouge are the two worst in the country to find a job this summer. LSU Economist Doctor Loren Scott says the summer is a slow time for New Orleans tourism industry…
cut 13 (07) “…heat is brutal”
Scott says the job outlook is actually much worse in Houma and Lafayette, because of the downturn in the oil and gas industry.

A new report released by the Annie E Casey Foundation finds Louisiana ranks 48th for child well-being. Teresa Falgoust, with the Agenda for Children, says the state ranks so low because of the number of kids who live in poverty, but the report highlights some positives. Falgoust says Louisiana ranks seventh in pre-school attendance and literacy has improved…
cut 8 (09) “…71-percent”
The governor has formed a Justice Reinvestment Task Force that aims to safely reduce the incarceration rate and the cost of housing inmates. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

Shreveport police are calling the death of an 81-year-old man a homicide. Authorities say William Hines was found dead inside his home on Monday afternoon. An exact cause of death is not known, but investigators have enough information to determine Hines was murdered as there was a stab wound to his upper body.

Louisiana ranks 48th in overall child well-being according to the Annie E Casey Foundation. Teresa Falgoust, with Agenda for Children, says unfortunately the number of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods is on the rise in Louisiana and more children are also living in families burdened by high housing costs…
cut 7 (06) “…on housing”
Falgoust says the state is making progress in some areas as they have more children than ever who have health insurance.

A recent study released by ManpowerGroup finds New Orleans has the lowest job prospects out of all metropolitan areas in the country for the next three months. Baton Rouge is ranked second But LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says there are other areas of the state suffering more…
cut 12 (10) “…there”
Scott believes New Orleans is ranked low, because tourism drops off in the summer.

The governor has signed a bill into law that raised the age threshold for victims of sex trafficking from 18 to 21. Before this law, victims between 18 to 21 could have been arrested for prostitution. Executive Director of Project 41 in West Monroe, Lindsey Nadler, says they are thrilled about the new law, because jail is not what these victims need…
cut 10 (08) “….here locally”

A Shreveport man has been arrested after he broke a historic monument while trying to climb on top of it. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Cindy Chadwick, says surveillance footage shows 27-year-old Tromell Cornelious playing a trumpet and walking around in front of the Caddo parish courthouse after midnight on June 10….
cut 15 (11) “…arm off”
Chadwick says Cornelious was charged with trespassing.

Louisiana ranks near the bottom, coming in at 48th in the country when it comes to child well-being according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Emelie Gunn has more…:

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A task force has been formed by the governor to come up with ways to improve Louisiana’s incarceration rate. Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says one idea the Justice Reinvestment Task Force has is to make sure released inmates have access to healthcare, which the expanded Medicaid Program should help…:
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Louisiana incarcerates more residents per capita than anywhere else in the world.

The governor has signed a bill into law that raised the age threshold for victims of sex trafficking from 18 to 21. Before this law, victims ages 18 to 21 could have been arrested for prostitution. The Polaris Project reports almost 350 cases of sex trafficking reported in Louisiana since 2012. Executive Director of Project 41, Lindsey Nadler says there are likely even more cases than that…:
CUT 9 (07) “as criminals”
Under the new law, denying knowing the victims’ age cannot be used as a legal defense.

The Shreveport Police Department is looking for answers in the murder of an 81 year old man who was located apparently stabbed to death in his home. Authorities say family members located the body of William Hines, and a recently returned autopsy revealed this was likely homicide. There are a number of details related to the death that remain unclear at this time, but detectives say authorities are hopeful their continued efforts and help from the public will lead to the arrest of those responsible.

A Justice Reinvestment Task Force has been established that will develop ways Louisiana can safely lower its prison population and reduce the cost of housing inmates. Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says Louisiana incarcerates more residents per capita than anywhere else in the world and hopefully this task force can come up with solutions that the legislature will approve in 2017…:
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LeBlanc says the recommendations will be a combination of legislation, policy, and budget reforms.

Toledo Bend on the Sabine River is the number one bass fishery in the country for the second straight year as dubbed by Bassmaster. The publications’ Editor James Hall says this is huge for tourism and he expects it to get even better:
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Caddo Lake ranked number 7 in Bassmaster’s Central Division of top 25 best fisheries.

Louisiana ranks 48th worst in the country for kids, according to the Annie E Casey Foundation’s 2016 Kids Count Data Book. Teresa Falgoust with the Agenda for Children says the number of kids in poverty in here is higher than in most other states, and that drives a lot of other indicators of child well-being:
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But she says the bright spot of the report is that Louisiana children rank 7th in preschool attendance and literacy has improved.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says two people are under arrest on murder charges in connection with the overdose death of a man in Destrehan. They say Richard Keller died in March, and the two people he was with at the time were booked on drug charges. A coroners report indicated Keller died of heroin overdose which is why Jaime Hymel and Roderick Hackett were booked for second degree murder.

The Senate plans to unveil its plane today on how they would like to see the TOPS program funded. The House approved only funding the scholarship program at 70%, despite opposition from lawmakers like Bogalusa Representative Malinda White. She feels hospitals for the poor should have priority over TOPS…:
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If TOPS is funded at 70%, students would be responsible for paying the remainder of their tuition.

Deputies in Lafayette are investigating two bodies that were both located in burned out vehicles separate from each other over night. They say one was found in Carenco around 1:15am, and the other at 3:30am in Scott. Authorities say at this time the bodies have not been identified and it is unknown if the two incidents are connected. Detectives are still working the scenes and the case is ongoing.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical is looking for volunteers ages 50 to 85 to participate in a research that aims to slow memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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It’s lightning awareness week and State Farm says Louisiana is third in the nation for for lightning claims. Spokesman Roszell Gadson says people should take precautions when a bad storm with lots of lightning rolls in…:
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He says lightning is most frequent during June, July, and August.