State lawmakers have a just a few hours left to address a massive budget shortfall, as the special legislative session ends tonight at 6 PM. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 3 (30) “….reporting”

A bill to increase the state’s cigarette tax has made it through the process and received the signature of Governor John Bel Edwards. So on April 1st, the tax on a pack of cigarettes will go from 86-cents to a $1.08. The measure will provide an additional 11-milion dollars in state revenues this fiscal year.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called on the Louisiana National Guard to help residents in northwest Louisiana who are trying to escape flood waters. Lt. Bill Davis, with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office, says they started evacuating people during the night…
cut 3 (08) “….due to the waters”
In Webster Parish, about 80 homes have been flooded and a nursing home near Minden had to be evacuated.

LSU Health Shreveport has received a 1.6 million dollar grant to research the connection between light alcohol consumption and ischemic strokes. Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences Dr. Chris Kevil ays a study a few years ago, called the French Paradox, found similar results….
cut 6 (10) “…as well”
Kevil says the professor awarded the grant will attempt to define how light alcohol consumption actually protects from ischemic stroke.