Once again, Louisiana leads the nation for the highest state and local sales tax rates. Tax Foundation policy analyst Janelle Fritts says Louisiana has the highest average combined state and local sales tax rate at 9.55 percent…:

CUT 12(08)      “…very, very high.”

Some small relief, she says, will come in 2025, as a temporary .45-percent sales tax increase will expire…taking us to 9.1-percent.

Five-term Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says he will not seek re-election. The sheriff says he started thinking about retirement about a year-and-half ago…:

CUT 11(11)      “…sacrificed a lot.”

Mancuso will continue in office until June 30^th, 2024. He endorses Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory as his successor.

A Mandeville state lawmaker says he’ll try again this year to pass a bill that would hold back certain public school students who are way behind in reading. Republican Richard Nelson says the same thing was done in the state next door with great success…:

CUT 04(09)      “…elementary literacy.”

Nelson says he expects the bill to affect a fairly low percentage of kids, but those children need to receive learning assistance. By the way, Nelson is also a declared candidate for Governor this fall.

Heartwarming stuff here. LSU pitcher Thatcher Hurd has donated the money he’s received in name, image, and likeness compensation to help feed the hungry in Baton Rouge. Hurd says he decided the money could be used to really make a difference…:

CUT 07(07)      “…to me.”

Hurd also volunteers at the Baton Rouge Food Bank.

A Mandeville lawmaker files a bill that would hold back 3rd graders who are way behind in literacy skills. More from Brooke Thorington…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Much of the state is under a slight risk for severe weather this afternoon and tonight. A cold front will move through and a strong line of storms is expected to accompany the front. Forecasters say the Delta parishes could see the worst of the stormy weather.

Once again, Louisiana leads the nation for highest average combined state and local sales tax rate at 9.55 percent. New Mexico is the only state to reduce its state sales tax rate in the last five years and Janelle Fritts with the Tax Foundation explains why state lawmakers are not willing to reduce sales tax rates…
Cut 13 (10) “…in the past.”
Louisiana’s state sales tax rate is set to lower to four-percent in 2025 and lawmakers are already thinking about the loss of revenue and what that will mean for state expenses.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso announces he will not seek a sixth term in office and will retire in 2024. Mancuso has been the sheriff of Calcasieu since 2004…
cut 10 (12) “….whole time”

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso, who’s in his fifth term, says he will not seek re-election. Mancuso whose law-enforcement career spans four decades made the emotional announcement this morning with his family by his side.

Cut 9 (11) “…of my life.” 

Mancuso will continue to serve until June 30, 2024.

Mandeville Republican Representative Richard Nelson says he’ll try again this year to pass a bill that would hold back third graders who fail a literacy test. Nelson has filed House Bill 12 again this year, and says it almost passed in the last regular session, it passed the House but was shy of votes in the Senate…:

Cut 3 (10) “…educate people more.” 

An LSU pitcher has decided to use the money he’s received from a name, image, and likeness deal to help feed the hungry in Baton Rouge. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (29)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Free speech advocates are irked by Attorney General Jeff Landry’s efforts to keep adult material in public libraries out of the reach of kids. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso announces he will not run for re-election after serving in his 5^th term. Mancuso had been in law-enforcement for four decades and began his career at the age of 20. He’s officially endorsed Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory as his successor.

Police have arrested a man in connection with the burglary of a dozen squirrel monkeys last month from a Lafayette Parish zoo. Broussard PD Chief Vance Olivier says they’ve arrested 61-year-old Joseph Randell of Opelousas.

Cut 4 (10)  “…Correctional Center.”

Despite an arrest, the 12 monkeys were not recovered.

LSU right-handed pitcher Thatcher Hurd has donated the money he’s received in name, image, and likeness compensation to help feed the hungry in Baton Rouge. The donation paid for 30 thousand pounds of food for the Baton Rouge Food Bank to distribute to needy families. Hurd says he got his giving spirit from his dad…

Cut 6 (11)  “…and the community” 

The 20-year-old is a transfer from UCLA and is expected to be a weekend starter for the number one Tigers.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who is running for governor, wants the Legislature to pass a law that restricts minors from checking out sexually explicit materials from public libraries. But Lynette Mejia, (Mah-hee-ah) co-founder of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, says libraries already have policies in place to prevent minors from viewing or borrowing adult literature…

Cut 11 (09)  “…to campaign on.”
Landry has posted a report on the Attorney General’s website that provides examples of inappropriate material that children are able to view at their local library. He encourages parents and guardians to look at the Protecting Innocence Report.

Cut 13 (08)  “…for all children.”

You can view the report at AG-Jeff-Landry.com

Crime Stoppers of North Delta will pay up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of 18-year-old Isszvian Webb who is considered extremely dangerous. Monroe Police Chief Vic Zordan says Webb is wanted for three counts of attempted first-degree murder after a shooting at three officers Sunday multiple times with an AR-15-style rifle.

Cut 7 (11) “…going back.”
Zordan says Webb has evaded authorities for about a year after escaping from Green Oaks Juvenile Detention Center.

BoomNation announces more than 100,000 skilled workers are using the website to help connect with other tradespeople and find jobs. Co-CEO Brent Flavin hopes that his “LinkedIn for Blue Collar will help to innovate an outdated industry…

Cut 15 (12)  “…absolutely deserve.”

Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud has filed a bill that would require public libraries to implement policies so children cannot see or borrow sexually explicit materials. But co-founder of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, Lynette Mejia, says the legislation is an attempt at censorship and not necessary…
cut 22 (09) “…has this”
Attorney General Jeff Landry, who is running for governor, supports the legislation and says no one intends to censor anything…
cut 12 (07) “….of children’
Landry released a report that says nine books were found available in one or more public libraries that included sexually explicit materials. Expect this debate to heat up in the regular session that begins in April.

More than 100,000 Tradespeople are now using BoomNation to connect with other skilled workers, showcase their credentials, and find jobs. Kace Kieschnick spoke with Co-CEO Brent Flavin on how the platform has grown…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

Broussard Police Chief Vance Olivier says 61-year-old Joseph Randell of Opelousas has been arrested for breaking into the Zoosiana Zoo and stealing 12 squirrel monkeys. Olivier says they’ve yet to locate the monkeys as he may have sold them….
cut 6 (06) “…find out”

A Louisiana free speech advocacy group is concerned about Attorney General Jeff Landry’s efforts to curb what kids can access at public libraries. Landry unveiled his office’s Protecting Innocence Report; containing information and laying out guidelines for libraries to assure kids cannot access adult materials. Lynette Mejia, with Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, says it is primarily up to parents to monitor what their kids read and see…:
Cut 10 (10) “…legislation for that.”
the Protecting Innocence Report says nine books were found available to children that contained sexually explicit materials.

Broussard Police have arrested 61-year-old Joseph Randall of Opelousas and charged him with stealing 12 squirrel monkey’s from the Zooisiana Zoo in Lafayette Parish. A day after the Zoosiana burglary two emperor tamarin monkeys were stolen from a Dallas Zoo. 24-year-old Davion Irvin was arrested last week in connection with that burglary. Broussard Police Chief Vance Olivier says they have not ruled out that the two could be connected.
Cut 5 (05) “…theft as well.”
The Baton Rouge Based website, Boomnation, announces more than 100-thousand skilled workers are visiting the site to connect with other tradespeople. Co-CEO Dan Flavin says the platform has been effective in finding people jobs…
cut 16 (12) “….January 2023”

Crime Stoppers of North Delta will pay up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of 18-year-old Isszvian Webb who is considered extremely dangerous. Monroe Police Chief Vic Zordan says Webb is wanted for three counts of attempted first-degree murder after a shooting at three officers Sunday multiple times with an AR-15-style rifle.
Cut 7 (11) “…going back.”
Zordan says Webb has evaded authorities for about a year after escaping from Green Oaks Juvenile Detention Center.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who is running for governor, wants the Legislature to pass a law that restricts minors from checking out sexually explicit materials from public libraries. But Lynette Mejia, co-founder of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorsphip, says libraries already have policies in place to prevent minors from viewing or borrowing adult literature…
cut 11 (09) “….to campaign on”
Landry has posted a report on the Attorney General’s website that provides examples of inappropriate material that children are able to view at their local library. He encourages parents and guardians to look at the Protecting Innocence Report..
cut 13 (08) “…all children”

An Opelousas man has been arrested in connection with the burglary of a dozen squirrel monkeys from a Broussard zoo last month
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

In northeast Louisiana, the search continues for 18-year-old Issvian Webb, who is wanted on three counts of attempted first degree murder. Monroe Police Chief Vic Zordan says Webb shot at three of his officers on Sunday afternoon following a traffic stop…
cut 8 (08) :,,,justice”
Crime Stoppers of North Delta has a ten-thousand dollar reward for information leading to his arrest.

Free speech advocates are irked by Attorney General Jeff Landry’s efforts to keep adult material in public libraries out of the reach of kids.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Broussard Police have arrested 61-year-old Joseph Randell of Opelousas for stealing 12 squirrel monkeys from the Zooisiana zoo in Lafayette Parish.
cut 4 (10) “…Correctional Center”
Broussard Police Chief Vance Olivier says they have not recovered the squirrel monkeys as they were possibly sold.

Authorities in northeast Louisiana are searching for 18-year-old Isszvian Webb who officials say shot at three different Monroe police officers with an AR-15-style rifle on Sunday afternoon after his vehicle was pulled over. Monroe Police Chief Vic Zordan says they notified area law enforcement to approach Webb with extreme caution…
cut 9 (07) “….any problems”
Crime Stoppers of North Delta has offered a reward of ten-thousand dollars for information leading to Webb’s arrest.

BoomNation announces more than 100,000 skilled workers are using the website to help connect with other tradespeople and find jobs.
cut 14 (14) “….getting started”
That’s Boomnation Co-CEO Brent Flavin, a native of Lake Charles, who says BoomNation also has a podcast series called Long Live the Trades. It’s number seven on Spotify’s ranking of business podcasts in America.