The revenue shortfall for next fiscal year has been lowered from 994 million dollars to 648-million dollars. The Revenue Estimating Conference confirmed that new budget deficit number after hearing the state has received an increase in personal income taxes, because of changes to federal tax laws. But state legislators are still faced with cutting 648-million dollars for the budget that begins July first. House Speaker Taylor Barras says a House vote on next year’s budget is expected next week…
cut 7 (07) “….next Thursday”
It’s unclear if the Senate will accept a budget that contains 648-million dollars in cuts. If they don’t, a special session would be necessary to raise revenues to cover up the budget gap.

A Shreveport police officer was shot in the wrist and another woman was seriously injured in a standoff today in the Caddo Heights neighborhood. Authorities say a man suspected in the shootings has surrendered and he was not injured. The officer who was shot is expected to be okay.
Legislation that would prohibit smoking inside bars and casinos statewide failed to get out of the House Health and Welfare Committee today. Jim Shannon has more..
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

A Lafayette family has come forward to claim its 56-million dollar Powerball jackpot prize. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the mother of the family has been playing the lottery for years and their tax attorney says the family is deserving of their new found fortune…
cut 9 (08) “….their lives”

Legislation that would prohibit smoking inside bars and casinos statewide failed to get out of the House Health and Welfare Committee today. If passed, it would virtually ban smoking in just about every public building in the state. Brent Rochon is a cardiologist who testified in favor…
cut 12 (10) “…the smoke”
But the gaming industry was there in opposition. Alton Ashy represents video poker…
cut 13 (10) “…your decision”
The bill’s author, Representative Dustin Miller, can still bring the bill back before the panel and he does plan on making changes to the legislation.

The fiscal cliff is smaller, but there is still a sizable revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. The Revenue Estimating Conference lowered the budget deficit from nearly 1-billion dollars to 648-million dollars. House Speaker Taylor Barras anticipates the House will approve a budget next week that will contain over 600-million dollars in cuts…
cut 6 (10 ) “…pass it”
Governor Edwards is pushing legislators to end the regular session early, so a special session can be called to address the fiscal cliff.

For the second time in the last five months, an Acadiana area family has claimed a Powerball jackpot. A tax attorney representing the Moore Family Trust out of Lafayette brought their 56-million dollar ticket from the March 24th drawing to Louisiana Lottery headquarters. Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says on what the family plans do their with their winnings…
Cut 8 (10) “as well.”
Chopin says the Moore Family Trust received over 23-million dollars after state and federal tax withholdings.

The fiscal cliff is smaller, as the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference has lowered the budget shortfall from 994-million to 648-million-dollars. Jeff Palermo has more…
Voicer 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Senator John Kennedy says he’s seriously considering a run at governor next year. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Kennedy has sure been acting like a candidate….
cut 28 (10) “…to run”
A woman was killed and her son wounded in a gun fight with Winn Parish Sheriff deputies yesterday afternoon. State Police Trooper Scott Moreau says they arrived at the home attempting to serve a civil warrant on 50-year-old Kendall Lemoine. Moreau says both Kendall and 71-year-old Betty Lemoine were armed with guns….
cut 4 (12) “…critical condition”
None of the deputies at the scene were injured.

Former Saints special teams standout Steve Gleason is under considering for the Congressional Gold Medal. Gleason is battling A-L-S and has been a leader on efforts to develop and provide technology for those suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Louisiana’s revenue shortfall has declined from 994-million to 648-million-dollars, as a result of the state collecting more income taxes due to the federal tax overhaul. House Speaker Taylor Barras says the extra money would likely go to higher ed and TOPS….
Cut 5 (13) “dollar range”
But based on this new revenue projection, the state would still have to make 648-million dollars in cuts.

We are 18 months away from the gubernatorial primary. Pollster Berinie Pinsonat says if U-S Senator John Kennedy decides to run against Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards, Kennedy will be the main GOP challenger….
cut 10 (09) “….raise money”
Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham is also thinking about running.

Winn Parish Sheriff’s deputies were met with gun fire when they were trying to serve a civil warrant in the small community of the Chee Chee Dam area yesterday afternoon. 71-year-old Betty Lemoine was killed by deputies who had just driven up to their home. State Police is also investigating, Trooper Scott Moreau.
Cut 3 (:13) “With fire arms”
Shots fired shortly afterwards, and Betty Lemoine was killed, while Kendall Lemoine was seriously injured. None of the deputies were hurt.

A Tulane study finds grade school students can benefit from yoga classes to help them manage stress and anxiety. Principal author Alessandra Bazzano (Ba-zon-no) says the New Orleans based third grade class was picked for the study since it is a crucial time of transition for them when academic expectations increase…
Cut 11 (11) “those tests”

US Senator John Kennedy says he’s seriously considering a run for governor next year. Michael Farrar spoke with pollster Bernie Pinsonat…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michael Farrar”

The legislative session is one month into it and lawmakers are nowhere close to passing any meaningful legislation. Political observers say the milk-toast session has had very little highlights so far. Jeremy Alford is the publisher of LaPolitics.com…

Cut 4  (11) “significance yet” 

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A Tulane study finds grade school students can benefit from yoga classes to help them manage stress and anxiety. Principal author Alessandra Bazzano (Ba-zon-no) says P.E. time has been reduced at schools nationwide, the study showed that students, no matter what age, need to be allowed other activities that take them out of the classroom…

Cut 12 (07) “it is.”

The Revenue Estimating Conference met this morning to give an update on how big the revenue shortfall is for next fiscal year. Previous estimates put the deficit around a billion dollars, but this morning the r-e-c adopted a revised forecast, adding 345.9 Million to next years budget.
This shrinks the official budget gap from 994 million to 648 million.

The legislative session is one month into it and lawmakers are nowhere close to passing any meaningful legislation. Political observers say the milk-toast session has had very little highlights so far. Jeremy Alford is the publisher of LaPolitics.com…

So will see any significant legislation pass in the regular session? Alford says the bills that will create new forms of gambling and loosen restrictions on the riverboat casinos are the most interesting to watch…

Cut 6 (09) “the 1990′s..”

No exact date has been suggested as to when the session should end.

Speculation continues over who will run against Governor John Bel Edwards as we are 18 months out from the primary. Two Republicans have come to the forefront, U.S. Senator John Kennedy and U.S. Representive Ralph Abraham. Both say they are exploring the idea of running. Pinsonat says in order for the Republican Party to solidify their stance in the Governor’s race, Kennedy needs to make his intentions known soon…

Cut 9 (12)  “a decision.”

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A Tulane study finds grade school students can benefit from yoga classes to help them manage stress and anxiety. Principal author Alessandra Bazzano (Ba-zon-no) says the New Orleans based third grade class was picked for the study since it is a crucial time of transition for them when academic expectations increase…

Bazzano says more schools are participating in yoga sessions and their research finds it can improve a child’s well-being and emotional health…

Cut 13 (10)  “yoga”

The state ethics board has cleared four louisiana state troopers who took an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas while on their way to a police conference in California. The ethic’s board concluded Former head of state police Mike Edmonson instructed the men to stay at the pricy resorts in route to the convention.

A Tulane University study shows that grade school students can benefit from yoga classes to help them manage stress and anxiety. Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

The legislative session is one month into it and lawmakers are nowhere close to passing any meaningful legislation. Political observers say the milk-toast session has had very little highlights so far. Jeremy Alford is the publisher of LaPolitics.com…

Alford says the main goal at this point is still to wrap up the regular session early, so they can immediately return in a special session to deal with the budget. But he says there doesn’t seem to be much urgency…

Cut 5  (10)  “fiscal session.”

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Speculation continues over who will run against Governor John Bel Edwards as we are 18 months out from the primary. Two Republicans have come to the forefront, U.S. Senator John Kennedy and U.S. Representive Ralph Abraham. Both say they are exploring the idea of running.

Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says based on what Kennedy has said in the last few months, indicates to him Kennedy will make a run for the Governor’s Mansion…

Cut 8 (10)  “gonna run.”

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets this morning to give an update on how big the revenue shortfall is for next fiscal year. Previous estimates put the deficit around a billion dollars, but Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s likely the R-E-C will recognize an additional 300-million dollars in revenues, because the state is collecting more income taxes as result of the federal tax overhaul…

Edwards says even if the shortfall is reduced to 700-million dollars, a special session is needed to pass a tax plan to fund critical priorities…

Cut 15 (08) “another cut”

US Senator John Kennedy says he’s seriously considering a run for governor next year. Michael Farrar spoke with pollster Bernie Pinsonat…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michael Farrar”

The legislative session is one month into it and lawmakers are nowhere close to passing any meaningful legislation. Political observers say the milk-toast session has had very little highlights so far. Jeremy Alford is the publisher of LaPolitics.com…

Cut 4  (11) “significance yet” 

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A Tulane study finds grade school students can benefit from yoga classes to help them manage stress and anxiety. Principal author Alessandra Bazzano (Ba-zon-no) says P.E. time has been reduced at schools nationwide, the study showed that students, no matter what age, need to be allowed other activities that take them out of the classroom…

Cut 12 (07) “it is.”

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets this morning to give an update on how big the revenue shortfall is for next fiscal year. Previous estimates put the deficit around a billion dollars, but Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s likely the R-E-C will recognize an additional 300-million dollars in revenues, because the state is collecting more income taxes as result of the federal tax overhaul…

Cut 14 (09) “to solve”

Are lawmakers on track to end the regular session early so they can address the fiscal cliff in a special session? Jeff Palermo spoke with a capitol observer…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Speculation continues over who will run against Governor John Bel Edwards as we are 18 months out from the primary. Two Republicans have come to the forefront, U.S. Senator John Kennedy and U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham. Both say they are exploring the idea of running. Kennedy was asked about it Wednesday…

Cut 7 (12)  “more money.”

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A Tulane study finds grade school students can benefit from yoga classes to help them manage stress and anxiety. Principal author Alessandra Bazzano (Ba-zon-no) says the New Orleans based third grade class was picked for the study since it is a crucial time of transition for them when academic expectations increase…

Cut 11 (11) “those tests”

The state ethics board has cleared four louisiana state troopers who took an all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas while on their way to a police conference in California. The ethic’s board concluded Former head of state police Mike Edmonson instructed the men to stay at the pricy resorts in route to the convention.