Business groups are hailing the tax reform package passed by the legislature in the just-concluded special session. Will Green, the president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, says the new tax structure will entice more companies into doing business here in Louisiana.

Cut 3 (13) “…income tax rate.”

Starting January 1^st, Louisiana residents will pay lower income taxes. It’s the result of the legislation approved by lawmakers in the tax reform special session. Governor Jeff Landry says the state’s three-tiered income tax system will be replaced by a flat three-percent tax and the standard deduction will be increased to $12.500 in 2026

Cut 9 (11)  “…working poor.”

Head coach Gary Goff didn’t win enough football games at McNeese and after three seasons he was fired today. The Cowboys went six and six this season after failing to win a game on the field last year. Jim Gazzolo covers McNeese for the American Press and says two former McNeese players, Slade Nagle, who is an assistant coach at LSU and Kerry Josephy, who is the quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears are two possible replacements…

Cut 13 (08)  “…rally around.”

Two bills have been approved by the Louisiana Legislature to make temporary pay raises for public K-12 teachers and support staff permanent, pending voter approval of a constitutional amendment in March. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala’s bill, which unanimously passed the House and the Senate requires school districts to use the savings created by the retirement debt payment in Emerson’s Bill to fund the permanent raise.

Cut 8 (12) “…on the local side.”

The Louisiana Legislature approved two bills to make temporary pay raises for K-12 teachers and support staff permanent, pending voter approval of a constitutional amendment in March. The legislation allocates funds from protected education trusts to reduce nearly $2 billion in teacher retirement system debt. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala (back-a-la) says both amendments allow surplus savings to fund early childhood education and address staff shortages.

Cut 7 (09) “…bigger raise.”

Head coach Gary Goff didn’t win enough football games at McNeese and after three seasons he was fired today. The Cowboys went six and six this season after failing to win a game on the field last year. Jim Gazzolo covers McNeese for the American Press and says there were many who thought Goff won enough games this season to keep his job…

Cut 12 (11) “…little surprised.”

Business groups are applauding the tax reform package approved by the legislature in the just-ended special session. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Starting January 1st, Louisiana residents will pay lower income taxes. In exchange, the state sales tax rate will increase to five-percent on that date. But Governor Landry says in the end, Louisiana residents will pay less taxes…

Cut 10 (15) “…against you.”

Business groups are hailing the tax reform package. Will Green, the president and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, says the new tax structure will entice more companies into doing business here in Louisiana.

Cut 3 (13) “…income tax rate.” 

And now, that corporate income tax rate is lower than those in many neighboring states.

Pending voter approval, teachers will see their temporary pay raises become permanent. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala (BACK-ah-la) says shifting money from protected education trusts would free up approximately 287-million dollars annually for local school districts, enabling a two-thousand-dollar raise for teachers and a one-thousand dollar raise for support staff.

Cut 6 (12) “…give pay raises.”

LSU snaps its three-game losing streak by beating Vanderbilt Saturday night, 24-17. In the week leading up to the game, Josh Williams, Greg Penn, Will Campbell and Garrett Nussmeier called a players-only meeting. Williams discussed the nature of the meeting after the game. 

Cut 16 (10) “…out for us.”

Starting on January 1^st, Louisiana residents will pay lower income taxes. It’s the result of the legislation approved by lawmakers in the tax reform special session that concluded last Friday. Governor Jeff Landry says the state’s graduated individual income tax system will be replaced by a three-percent flat tax and the standard deduction will be increased to $12.500 in 2026

Cut 9 (11) “…working poor”

To pay for the lower income taxes, legislators raised the state sales tax rate to five-percent, beginning on January 1^st.

The LSU football team ended a three-game losing streak on Saturday with a 24-17 win over Vanderbilt. Defensive end Bradyn Swinson says the defense used a simple game plan and it paid off…

Cut 15 (10) “…probably ran today”

Families are preparing for the big Thanksgiving feast. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, a classic dinner that includes eleven main items will not break the bank…

Cut 4 (11) “….was last year”

Louisiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson says the low cost is spurred in large part by a drop in the price of turkeys. Davidson says a frozen 16 pound turkey should cost you around 15-dollars.

After a 20-year hiatus, Northwestern State University is resuming its rodeo program. N-S-U had a rode program from the early 1960s through to mid-90s but cuts to academic programs made it difficult recruit students. Currently the team has two members, including McKenzie Davis, an accounting major from Pollock…

Cut 8 (09) “….back to Northwestern”

Is the tax reform package passed by the legislature good or bad for Louisianians? It depends on who you ask. Starting on January 1st, Louisiana’s graduated individual income tax system, which has a tax rate of 4.25 percent, will go to a single three-percent rate.

To pay for the tax cut, the state’s sales tax will go from 4.45 percent to five percent.

Cut 10 (11) :”…up even higher”

That’s Jan Moeller of Invest Louisiana. On the other hand, Daniel Erspamer, the CEO of the Pelican Institute, calls the tax plan a big victory for taxpayers…

Cut 12 (14) “….here in Louisiana”

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois says the Bayou State is now a more attractive state to do business.

LSU football won its first game in five weeks on Saturday. Andrew Greenstein has this report from Tiger Stadium.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to the Louisiana Farm Bureau, a Thanksgiving dinner prepared inside your home with all the fixings will cost 45-dollars. Farm bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson says that’s 13 dollars cheaper than the national average….

Cut 6 (12) “…all come through”

Many people spent the weekend buying groceries to make that delicious Thanksgiving meal on Thursday. Colleen Crain reports it’s not as costly as last year…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain”

Gas prices are also down compared to last year. The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.71 according to Triple-A. That’s 11-cents cheaper than a year ago. Triple-A projects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving.

The LSU football team snapped its three-game losing streak on Saturday night with 24-17 victory over Vanderbilt. In the week leading up to the game, Josh Williams, Greg Penn, Will Campbell and Garrett Nussmeier called a players-only meeting. Williams discussed the nature of the meeting after the game.

Cut 16 (10) “…out for us.”

Williams had his best game of the season, rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 61 receiving yards.

After a hiatus of more than 20 years, Northwestern State University is restarting its rodeo program. Faculty advisor Dr. Michelle Morris, a professor of educational psychology, says a huge outpouring of support from the community led to the resumption of the program.

Cut 7 (05) “…are actively recruiting.”

One of the riders that the school recruited was McKenzie Davis of Pollock, who had participated in barrel racing her entire life. She transferred from LSU-Alexandria to be part of the rodeo program at Northwestern.

Is the tax reform package that the legislature overwhelmingly passed a good thing or a bad thing? Jeanne Burns reports it depends on who you ask.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

The LSU football team’s three game losing streak ended Saturday with a 24 to 17 victory over Vanderbilt. A lot of talk heading into the game that the Tigers program was heading in the wrong direction. Coach Brian Kelly is glad his team did not listen to the noise…

Cut 30 (07) “….this football team”

The Louisiana Farm Bureau says the average cost for a Thanksgiving dinner that includes eleven main items is 45-dollars. That’s three dollars cheaper than last year and Farm Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson says a Thanksgiving dinner made at home costs cheaper this year, because turkeys do not cost as much…

Cut 5 (14) “…25.67 this year”

Northwestern State has restarted its rodeo team. The school has not had one since the mid-1990s. Doctor Michelle Morris is serving as the team’s advisor and thanks the community for stepping up and providing the school’s rodeo riders places to train…

Cut 9 (13) “…can train physically”

The team currently consists of two members and they will compete in five rodeos each semester and the national finals are in the summer.

The tax reform special session ended Friday and tax changes will take place on January 1^st. Starting on the first day of 2025, Louisiana’s graduated individual income tax system, which has a top rate of 4.25 percent, will go to a single three-percent rate.

To pay for the tax cut, the state’s sales tax will go from 4.45 percent to five percent. The state’s sales tax is set to drop to 4.75 percent in 2030. Invest Louisiana director Jan Moeller is not a fan of this plan…

Cut 11 (11) “…them are temporary”

Governor Jeff Landry originally proposed to tax 41 services that are currently not taxed, but that bill did not pass. Daniel Erspamer, with the Pelican Institute,  says the debate over sales taxes is not over yet…

Cut 13 (12) “…up in April”

A regular fiscal session will begin on April 14^th.

Families are preparing for the big Thanksgiving feast. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, a classic dinner that includes eleven main items will not break the bank…

Cut 4 (11) “….was last year”

Louisiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson says the low cost is spurred in large part by a drop in the price of turkeys. Davidson says a frozen 16 pound turkey should cost you around 15-dollars.

After a 20-year hiatus, Northwestern State University is resuming its rodeo program. N-S-U had a rode program from the early 1960s through to mid-90s but cuts to academic programs made it difficult recruit students. Currently the team has two members, including McKenzie Davis, an accounting major from Pollock…

Cut 8 (09) “….back to Northwestern”

Early voting is underway in the December 7th election. With this early voting period interrupted by Thanksgiving, Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office says turnout is expected to be low, which would be unfortunate since everyone has something on the ballot.

Cut 4 (10) “…big mayor’s race.”
Early voting ends next Saturday, but polls are closed tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving.

A Tangipahoa Parish Jail escapee who’d been on the run since mid May, is back in custody this morning.  20-year-old Jamarcus Cyprian escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail back on May 16th; he was arrested Wednesday in Hammond.  Sheriff Gerald Sticker…

Cut 6 (06) “…with a gun.”

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Louisiana lawmakers have approved a tax reform package that will result in lower income taxes for working individuals, but a higher state sales tax rate. The individual income tax rate would be a flat three-percent rate.  Leesville Senator Mike Reese says this tax change will help grow the economy…

Cut 12 (12) “…to our state.”

The film tax credit program has been capped at 125-million dollars, down from 150-million. Legislators also voted to repeal the corporate franchise tax.  Senator Franklin Foil says this tax penalized businesses

Cut 14 (07) “…concerned.”

The tax section of Louisiana’s constitution has also been changed, which will require voter approval in March.

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a tax reform package that will mean lower income taxes, but higher state sales taxes.  Under the plan, the state sales tax rate will increase from 4.45 percent to five percent for the next five years. Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux is the Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus

Cut 13 (12)  “…additional adjustments.”

The LSU Tigers are looking to avoid their first four-game losing streak wince 1999 as they take on Vanderbilt tonight.  Tigers head coach Bryan Kelly.

Cut 28: …

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Early voting is underway in the December 7th election. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A Sheriff’s deputy in Rapides Parish Sheriff’s is hospitalized after being shot by a patient at a psychiatric facility.  Authorities say there was a disturbance between the patient and hospital employees and the deputy intervened, trying to de-escalate the situation.

Cut 9 (12)  “…shot the suspect.”