After nearly two years of legislative indecision, and a looming governor’s race, now it’s deadline day at the capitol, and lawmakers only have until the special session ends at midnight to reach an agreement on a budget and a sales tax bill to fund it. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says the deal he sees being put into law won’t make everyone happy, but should give both sides a win they can take home.

Cut 5  (11) “in goverment”

The LSU Baseball season has come to a close as the Tigers finished with a record of 39-27 after losing 12-0 to Oregon State last night. Tiger Rag Associate Editor, James Moran, says the Tigers didn’t have enough healthy, quality arms to get past the Corvallis Regional.  Moran says they could have a better team next season, especially if a couple of their star players decide to stay at LSU

cut 8 (12) “around”

The three-day Major League Baseball draft begins today.

The pastor of St. Peter Church in Morrow has been accused of sexual abuse of a minor in an alleged incident that occurred several years ago. Michael Guidry has been a priest for nearly 50 years, while running St. Peter for the last nine. Lafayette Bishop Doug Deshotel says the priest has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by law enforcement.

Cut 11 (12) “canonical penalties”

Three people are accused of a widespread livestock theft ring with quite the price tag. State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the husband and wife, Rickey and Wanda Thompson of Pitkin, along with their son Justin Thompson, are accused of the thefts that occurred from August to October of 2017.

Cut 9 (08)  “…one million dollars”

Ricky and Wanda Thompson have turned themselves in to the Allen Parish Jail, however Justin Thompson has yet to surrender to authorities.

Its deadline day at the capital, and lawmakers only have until the clock strikes 12PM to come to an agreement on a budget and a tax bill to fund it before the special session ends. The Senate sent an updated budget and tax bill to the House, where most of the discussions will take place today. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says he expects a deal to be cut before the end of the night.

Cut 3 (10)   “do things” 

The Senate’s budget and tax plan would raise a half penny sales tax to fully fund TOPS, higher ed, and healthcare, while the House would prefer a third penny sales tax and additional budget cuts.

The LSU Baseball season has come to a close as the Tigers finished with a record of 39-27 after losing 12-0 to Oregon State last night. Tiger Rag Associate Editor, James Moran, says Coach Paul Mainieri took them as far as they could go……

Cut 7 (12)  “not hosting”

Three people are accused of a widespread livestock theft ring with quite the price tag. State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the husband and wife, Rickey and Wanda Thompson of Pitkin, along with their son Justin Thompson, are accused of the thefts that occurred from August to October of 2017. Strain says businesses sustained significant financial losses due to the thefts.

Cut 10 (08) “….from livestock theft

Ricky and Wanda Thompson have turned themselves in to the Allen Parish Jail, however Justin Thompson has yet to surrender to authorities.

Three of four inmates who escaped from the St. Marry Parish Prison have been captured with one still on the loose. 40 year old William deans was found in Morgan City, while 28 year old Jamie Scarborough and 18 year old Tanner Scarborough were apprehended in Picayune. 24 year old Elias Todd is still being sought. Four suspects have been arrested and charged with assisting escape.

Will the House agree to the budget and sales tax plan that the Senate approved last night. Matt Doyle looks at the upper chamber’s proposal to fix the fiscal cliff…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The special session must end tonight at midnight. Governor John Bel Edwards supports the Senate’s spending plan proposal, but House Republicans are seeking a reduction in state spending and do not support a 4.5 percent sales tax rate as of July 1st. The House approved a 4.3 percent sales tax rate.

The LSU Baseball season has come to a close as the Tigers finished with a record of 39-27 after losing 12-0 to Oregon State last night. Tiger Rag Associate Editor, James Moran, says the Tigers didn’t have enough healthy, quality arms to get past the Corvallis Regional
Cut 6 (14) “lit up”
Moran says the Tigers should be better next season, if they can stay away from injuries and if a couple of their draft eligible players, like Antoine Duplantis and Zach Watson come back next season and not enter pro ball.

The Senate passed a budget, and a sales tax bill to pay for it last night, that fully funds TOPS, higher ed, and healthcare. The tax bill raises 508 million dollars by renewing half of the expiring penny sales tax, and eliminating some business tax deductions. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur says it’s a compromise he hopes everyone can be content with.
Cut 13 (07) “solid policy”
The House has yet to say whether they’ll accept or reject the Senate’s budget and tax plan. Behind the scenes negotiations are ongoing.

It won’t help next fiscal year, but executive director of the Louisiana Casino Association Wade Duty says the state will benefit from a bill signed into law that allows riverboat casinos to move gaming operations on to land…
cut 5 (09) “…..for the state”
Duty anticipates a handful of the state’s 15 licensed riverboat casinos will push to take advantage of the new law over the next year.

Three people are accused of a widespread livestock theft ring with quite the price tag. State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the husband and wife, Rickey and Wanda Thompson of Pitkin, along with their son Justin Thompson, are accused of the thefts that occurred from August to October of 2017.
Cut 9 (08) “…one million dollars”
Ricky and Wanda Thompson have turned themselves in to the Allen Parish Jail, however Justin Thompson has yet to surrender to authorities.

The American Cancer Society is now recommending that average-risk adults get a colorectal cancer screening at age 45, five years earlier than the previous recommendation. A co-author of that report is Elizabeth Fontham from LSU Health New Orleans, who says there are six different tests that screen for the disease…
cut 8 (09) “…missing anything visually”
Fontham says among adults younger than 55 years, there was a 51-percent increase in the incident of colorectal cancer.

The Senate has agreed to a budget and tax plan that would fully fund healthcare and higher ed. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “Im Matt Doyle”

The LSU baseball team’s season ended last night with a 12-0 loss to Oregon State. The Tigers who battled numerous injuries, mainly to their pitching staff, finished with a 39-27 record. It’s the first time they haven’t made it past Regionals since 2014. Northwestern State’s season also ended yesterday with a 9-5 loss to LSU.

The American Cancer Society has new guidelines recommending earlier screenings for colorectal cancer, bumping the previously recommended age from 50, down to 45. LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health founding dean Dr. Elizabeth Fontham, says there’s been an alarming new trend…
Cut 7 (:12) “…at least fifty years old.”
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths.

Entergy Louisiana agrees to purchase solar power from a yet to be constructed plant in West Baton Rouge Parish. Entergy Lousiaina CEO Phillip May says the purchasing plan is estimated to save 29-million dollars over the life of the 20 year agreement…
cut 12 (08) “…megawatt project”
The solar power plant is expected to be up and running by March 2020.

The state senate approved a 29-billion dollar budget last night and the upper chamber also agreed to a sales tax bill that would generate 540-million dollars so that higher education, TOPS and major health programs would be spared from cuts. It remains to be seen if the House will agree to the Senate proposals and Republicans like Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt want to cut government spending….
cut 15 (12) “…point one”
The special session ends at midnight tonight.

Governor Edwards has signed one of the marquee bills of the regular session, which will allow riverboat casinos to move gaming operations on land. Executive director of the Louisiana Casino Association, Wade Duty, says the upcoming investments will help the state’ bottom line…
cut 6 (09) “….increases concurrently”

The American Cancer Society now recommends that average-risk adults get screened for colorectal cancer at 45, five years earlier than the previous recommendation. Elizabeth Fontham with LSU Health New Orleans says among adults younger than 55 years, there was a 51-percent increase in the incident of colorectal cancer, so getting screened earlier in life can save lives….
cut 9 (09) “….in to cancer”

Entergy Louisiana has an agreement to buy power from a yet to be constructed solar power plant in West Baton Rouge Parish. Entergy CEO Phillip May says the solar project will produce enough electricity to power about 95-hundred homes…
cut 11 (11) “….Louisiana”
Entergy Louisiana customers are expected to save an estimated 29-million over the life of the contract.

It’s the last day of the special session, so can legislators come to an agreement on a budget and a sales tax bill that would generate hundreds of millions of dollars. The Senate’s plan calls for fully funding higher education, TOPS and major health care programs, while the House supports a lower state sales tax rate and a reduction in state spending.

Now that Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law a measure allowing riverboat casinos to come ashore, when will it happen? Matt Doyle has more…
Voicer 1 (30) I”m Matt Doyle“

Entergy Louisiana is planning on purchasing solar power generated by a solar farm that’s set to be the largest such facility in the state. The facility by Eagle Solar Group will be based in West Baton Rouge Parish, and should be up and running by 2020. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says it’s a huge project and a 20 year agreement.
Cut 10 (08) “homes”
The purchasing plan is estimated to save customers 29 million dollars over the life of the contract.

The American Cancer Society is now recommending that average-risk adults get a colorectal cancer screening at age 45, five years earlier than the previous recommendation. A co-author of that report is Elizabeth Fontham, who says there are six different tests that screen for the disease…
cut 8 (09) “…missing anything visually”

The special session must end at midnight tonight and the House will come in this morning to consider a 29-billion dollar budget approved by the Senate last night that fully funds TOPS, higher ed, hospitals and nursing homes. A half-a-cent renewal of an expiring penny state sales tax was also approved by the Senate to stave off deep cuts. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur…
cut 14 (08) “…state government”

It won’t help next fiscal year, but executive director of the Louisiana Casino Association Wade Duty says the state will benefit from a bill signed into law that allows riverboat casinos to move gaming operations on to land…
cut 5 (09) “…..for the state”
Duty anticipates a handful of the state’s 15 licensed riverboat casinos will push to take advantage of the new law over the next year.

If you’re 45 and think you can wait until your 50′s to get a colorectal scan, a new report says you’re wrong. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 2 (26) ” I’m Kevin Barnhart”

One of the three co-owners of Explo Systems has died just days before he and two others were set to go on trial for charges related to the abandonment of tons of potentially explosive artillery propellant at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. A decision has not been announced on whether the trial will proceed.

LSU’s baseball season ended last night with a 12-0 loss to Oregon State.