Ponchatoula-based Elmer’s Chocolates remains popular for the Easter holiday. Emelie Gunn has more…
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Procrastinators have a few extra days to file their federal income taxes this year, as the deadline is April 18th. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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The LSU Gymnastics Team is in St. Louis competing for a chance to win their first ever NCAA National Championship title. Jeff Palermo has more….
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Ponchatoula-based Elmer’s Chocolate continues to be an Easter tradition. CEO Rob Nelson says this year they brought back the Double Nut Gold Brick Fudge just in time for the holiday. He says even though Elmer’s brought back a fan favorite from years ago, it’s not the most popular item in the Easter basket.
Nelson says they’ve seen an increase in candy sales because of a later Easter this year. He says the selling season for Easter runs from the day after Valentine’s Day until Easter Sunday.
Nelson says Elmer’s Chocolate recently underwent a big company expansion, completely revamping how the company makes boxed chocolates. But Nelson says that hasn’t affected Easter candy at all.
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Louisiana is the trashiest state in America, according to State Parks Director Robert Barham. He says if you don’t believe him, just look at the litter in ditches on the side of the road. He says he’s been to all 50 states, and he’s never seen anything like the litter here in the Bayou State.
Barham says we’re all potential litterers, whether it’s a pickup truck driver with an unsecure load or someone pulling a boat with trash in the back or even a driver who doesn’t think twice about throwing a gum wrapper out the window. He says we have got to do better.
Barham says law enforcement needs to pay attention to litter and know that it is important for economic development, protecting the environment, and preserving natural resources. But he says it’s up to everyone to keep Louisiana clean and litter-free.
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Authorities are still trying to figure out why an active duty soldier at Ft. Polk would be detonating what appeared to be homemade bombs in Kisatche National Forest. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says they got a call about 23-year-old Ryan Keith Taylor setting a fire in the park Wednesday afternoon.
Taylor is an active duty soldier stationed at Fort Polk, but he lived off post. Craft says authorities found some substances in his vehicle, which prompted a search of Taylor’s apartment in New Llano. He says a hazmat team came to search the apartment for explosive materials.
Craft says after clearing the area, hazmat teams detonated the pipe bomb along the tree line behind the apartment complex. He says the multi-agency investigation is ongoing, but Taylor is not cooperating with police.
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Time is running out to file your federal income taxes, but procrastinators have a couple extra days. Baton Rouge Tax Preparer Brandon Lagarde says tax day is traditionally April 15, but it falls on a Saturday this year, which means the deadline would usually be Monday. But he says the nation’s capital will observe Emancipation Day on Monday.
Lagarde says taxpayers that need an extension, can file paperwork to do so, but if they owe the federal government, then April 18th is the deadline for taxpayers to submit payment to the federal government. He says there are tools on the I-R-S website that can help determine what you might owe or if you will receive a refund check.
Lagarde says if you need help filing your taxes at the last minute, you could be in trouble. He says his office and most CPAs around the state are extremely busy. But he says they will do what they can to help.
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The LSU Gymnastics team can win its first national title in program history this weekend as they compete in the NCAA Championships in St. Louis. The Tigers who were national runner-ups last year, are ranked second behind last year’s national champion, Oklahoma. Head Coach D.D. Breaux says she’s confident the girls could become LSU’s first national champions.
Breaux is in her 40th year and LSU just won its first SEC Championship since 1981. Breaux says the girls have a lot of confidence after winning that competition.
There are 11 other schools competing for the National Championship. The semi-finals are today and the teams with the top 6 scores advance to Saturday night’s Super Six, where a champion will be crowned. Breaux says if everyone brings their A game, they will come home with a trophy.