Be prepared for major changes when filing your 2022 taxes as today marks the first day you can file state and federal taxes. Brooke Thorington has more.

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The U.S. Postal Service unveils the new postage stamp featuring Louisiana author Ernest J Gaines during a ceremony today. Whitney Thomas Reports.

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A mass shooting in Shreveport Sunday sends adults and children to the hospital. More from Kevin Gallagher…

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You can begin filing your state and federal income taxes for 2022 today, but be mindful of several changes that could reduce your refund amount. Connor Brown, with LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors, says incentives for the pandemic are no longer in effect. For example, the CARES Act allowed up to $600 of charitable donations as a deduction in addition to your standard deduction, for those married filing joint, even if you didn’t itemize…

Cut 4 (06)  “…be itemizing.”

The enhanced child tax credit has also reverted. Brown says in 2021 it was up to $3,600 per qualifying child under five or $3,000 if they were under age 17…

Cut 5 (08) “…16 and under.”

And the credit for child and dependent care expenses has dropped from a potential maximum of $8,000 to $2,100 dollars, reverting back to rules that were in effect before the American Rescue and CARES Act. And in addition to smaller refunds, expect a longer turnaround time due to IRS staffing shortages. Brown says when in doubt have a tax professional prepare your taxes.

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The U.S Postal Service is continuing their Black Heritage series by honoring renowned author Ernest J. Gaines with a postal stamp. The ceremony will  take place today at the University of Louisiana at  Lafayette where he once taught creative writing. USPS Spokesperson David Walton says Gaines was a vital voice to the African American experience.

Cut 7 (08) “..and violence.”

The U.S Postal Service receives about 30,000  stamp suggestions from the public on individuals with a strong background in history. Gaines is best known for his novels “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” and “A Lesson Before Dying.”  Walton says they are thrilled to celebrate Gaines as the 46th stamp in the Black Heritage Series.

Cut 8 (12)  “..in the air.”

The Ernest J. Gaines Black Heritage stamp will be a forever stamp that holds the same value as the current First- Class Mail stamp. Walton says philatelists will have something new to add to their collection.

Cut 9 (14)  “…are chosen..”

(Philatelists are stamp collectors)

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Eight people were shot inside a home in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. Police chief Wayne Smith says five adults and three children, two three-year-olds and a five-year-old were wounded…

Cut 10 (14)  “…so much.”

Four of the victims are listed in critical condition, including a three-year-old boy. Smith says it appears this was a drive-by shooting…

Cut 11 (08)  “…well-been.”

The search for the shooter is ongoing. Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor is upset at this kind of violence in her district…

Cut 12 (11) “…thought is.”

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Baton Rouge Police are investigating a mass shooting inside a nightclub that injured 12 people, three of the victims are said to have life-threatening injuries. The shooting happened inside The Dior Bar and Lounge early Sunday morning on Bennington Avenue near College Drive. Lt. Bryan Ballard says it was a targeted attack…

Cut 13 (13)  “of Baton Rouge.”

Investigators are not commenting on whether it was a single shooter or multiple shootings. Police chief Murphy Paul urges anyone with information to call Crimestoppers…

Cut 14 (10)  .for life”

It’s unknown how many people were in the club when shots rang out, but officers were already outside of the establishment and responded quickly…

Cut 15 (12)  “..medical services.”

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The LSU men’s basketball team’s losing streak is up to six games. On Saturday, the ninth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers took down the Tigers 77-56. It’s the fifth straight game LSU has lost by double digits, the longest such streak in 56 seasons. First-year coach Matt McMahon knew the rebuilding process would be tough

Cut  16 (16)  “…continue to improve.” 

LSU is at Arkansas tomorrow night. The Bayou Bengals’ last win was against the Razorbacks on December 28th.

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Joe Burrow and the Bengals are one more win away from returning to the Super Bowl after beating the Bills 27-10 on a snowy Sunday afternoon in Buffalo. Burrow threw for 242 yards and two TDs and gave a lot credit to his offensive line which has seen its share of injuries in recent weeks

Cut 17 (07) “…as a team.” 

The Bengals now head to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, who they beat in last year’s AFC Title game. Burrow believes they are a better team this year…

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The Pelicans led for much of the game yesterday in Miami, but the Heat ended up burning New Orleans in the fourth quarter by pulling off a 100-96 victory over the Pels. 24 turnovers hurt the Pelicans in this one, but Coach Willie Green was proud of his team’s fight…

Cut 19 (12) “…of the basketball”

The Pelicans have lost four in a row and nine of their last 12 as they continue to play without two of their best players, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson. Larry Nance Junior says they have a strong locker room that can handle this storm

Cut 20 (17)  “…end of the season” 

Ingram participated in a five-on-five practice Saturday, which is a sign he’s close to returning from a toe injury. New Orleans hosts Denver on Tuesday.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser addressed the elephant in the room when asked his thoughts on the state GOP.

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Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s proposal to create a 45-million dollar fund that would be used to attract additional private insurance companies to Louisiana is met with skepticism. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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It ruffled some feathers when the state Republican Party endorsed Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor before any other GOP candidates announced their intentions. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser, who’s opted to seek re-election had some harsh words for party leader Louis Gurvich on the Newell Normand show on WWL Radio in New Orleans.

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Nungesser says party leadership bullied committee members into endorsing Landry and not only has it upset Louisiana GOP members it’s being noticed by Republicans in other states also.

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Not only did Nungesser call for Gurvich to resign, but he also accused some party members of collecting a commission for fundraising and that the Landry campaign is funneling money to the party as a payback for the endorsement.

Cut 5 (08) “…an embarrassment.”

In addition to Landry, three other Republicans and one Independent have announced their gubernatorial candidacy.

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An ongoing labor study by fiscal website “WalletHub” ranks Louisiana among the top states for people leaving their jobs. Wallethub.com analyst Jill Gonzales says, even in the face of record high inflation, folks are choosing to just quit work…:

Cut 6 (08)  “…higher side of things.” 

Gonzales and others call it “the Great Resignation;” an emerging trend of walking out on one’s employment, for one reason or another. Alaska ranks highest, with over 4-percent of its workforce resigning over the past year. Louisiana is at #4, with 3.4-percent. Gonzales says this is having a negative effect on employers…:

Cut 7 (10)  “…of high inflation.” 

Gonzales says job burnout is the prime factor making people quit. Better opportunities are also behind many resignations, but a great many simply re-evaluated how and where they want to work in the wake of the pandemic. She says employers are also re-evaluating things like pay scales, benefit packages and more…and they can get that done…:

Cut 8 (04)  “…slowly but surely.” 

See the report at “WalletHub.com/edu”

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Five-year-old was killed in Jennings Thursday evening after police say his six-year-old cousin got a hold of a gun and it went off. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says they received a call from a neighbor who was approached by the babysitter of the five children, and he asked for help.

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According to American Press the victim’s name is Auden Gaines.

The child later died at the hospital. The 26-year-old male babysitter along with the child’s aunt Kurstin Richard (ree-shard) have been arrested and the other children were taken to a child advocacy center in Lake Charles.

The children in the home were related and range in age from three to eight years.

Semmes says it’s one of the most tragic cases he’s ever seen in his career

Cut 10 (11) “…everybody involved.” 

Semmes says the victim’s mother and aunt live at the home along with four other children. The babysitter and the victim’s aunt were arrested and taken to the Jefferson Davis Parish Jail.

Cut 11 (11)  “…back stolen.”

Richard is charged with principal negligent homicide, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and cruelty to a juvenile.

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Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon made his case to state lawmakers today on why a special session is needed next month to address the big decline in private insurance companies willing to provide property coverage. Donelon believes wants to give insurance companies a financial incentive to write policies in coastal areas…

Cut 12 (08) “…incentive program.”

Donelon says a similar incentive program used after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita decreased the number of homeowners who needed coverage from Citizens Insurance, a state-run property insurer more expensive than private insurance.

There are some lawmakers who prefer waiting until the regular legislative session to create the incentive fund, but Donelon says that just delays the time many homeowners will be subject to high rates in order to be covered by Citizens

Cut 13 (10) “rate increase” 

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder is skeptical of Donelon’s plan, he says there’s no guarantee this will result in new or more private insurance companies taking on more policies..

Cut 14 (08)   “…it’s a maybe.”

Donelon didn’t name the companies, but he says there are seven private insurers anxious to take advantage of the state’s incentive program.

During the joint budget legislative committee meeting, House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue questioned whether it would be better if they put the 45-million dollars to help policyholders who have Citizens

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A decision on whether to hold a special session in early February will need to be made soon.