Some House Republicans are discussing legislation for the next session that would roll back the additional .45 percent sales tax approved in June because of a rosier than expected revenue forecast for the state. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris did not confirm that such legislation will be brought, but says he has heard talk of lowering the state sales tax of 4.45 percent over a few years…
Cut 7 (10) “…four years.”
But Governor John Bel Edwards says the state’s budget picture is finally stabilized and the revenues coming in can help fund at least a one-thousand dollar pay raise for teachers, which he estimates would cost 135-million dollars a year….
cut 9 (11) “….doing enough

Governor Edwards is sounding the alarm about remarkable shortages at food banks across the state that have been drained by a string of natural disasters.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Authorities in Tangipahoa parish are trying to determine how a deceased newborn infant ended up in the back of a garbage truck. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers.

Governor Edwards is sounding the alarm about remarkable shortages at food banks across the state that have been drained by a string of natural disasters.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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A rosier than expected revenue estimation for the state has some House Republicans saying the .45 percent sales tax passed in June may no longer be needed…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Authorities say they walked in on one of the worst cases of neglect they’ve ever seen in Rapides Parish after responding to a call about a natural death.

Cut 3 (31) “…Kevin Barnhart”

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Governor Edwards is putting out a call to action for Louisiana citizens to start stocking their local food banks for the holidays, as a series of natural disasters have devastated stores just at the time when banks usually can begin stocking up for spring and summer. Edwards says he’s gravely concerned after touring the half empty Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank yesterday.

Cut 4 (09) “unnerving.″

Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans CEO Natalie Jayroe says she’s highly concerned about the drastic shortages, because food banks could already only provide about half of the meals that are needed in the US in past years. She says a lack of food effects the most vulnerable populations.

Cut 5 (09) “…for help”

Food Bank of Central Louisiana Executive Director Jayne Wright-Velez says it’s troubling that supply is running low as demand skyrockets. That means the food banks are unable to keep emergency stockpiles.

Cut 6 (10) “…immediately.”

Food banks accept cash and food donations, but say they can use funds to purchase foods at lower prices than you would pay for them at grocery stores.
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Some House Republicans are discussing legislation for the next session that would roll back the .45 percent sales tax passes in June because of a rosier than expected revenue forecast for the state. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris did not confirm that such legislation will be brought but says he has heard talk of phasing out last session’s sales tax over a few years…

Cut 7 (10) “…four years.”

The .45 percent sales tax, that is set to expire in 2025, is estimated to generate 466 million annually.

But Edwards disagrees with efforts to roll back that sales tax, backing a plan to reinvest the additional revenue from a surging economy into state services that have suffered a decade of cuts, and just recently stabilized funding.

Cut 8 (10) “…education.”

The sales tax this fiscal year is down .55 percent from last year after the legislature let a majority of an expiring one cent sales tax lapse.

Edwards has championed the idea of using the increased revenue to fund at least a 1,000 dollar pay raise for teachers, which he estimates would cost about 135 million dollars a year.

Cut 9 (11) “…doing enough”

Harris agrees with the need for a teacher pay raise, but says the money doesn’t have to come from the increased revenue. He suggested it could be found by making cuts and redirecting cash from other areas of government.

Cut 10 (10)   “…be adjusted.”

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A recent survey found that 1 in 3 Americans suffers from a “festive burnout” due to the holidays being a stressful time.  Even though it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, LSU Health New Orleans clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Moore says several factors can contribute to making season not so jolly so early.

Cut 11 (09) “…starts at Thanksgiving.”

Moore recommends for those already dealing with festival burnout, it may be time to reconsider your holiday activities.

Cut 12 (07)   “cooking for others.”

Moore says it makes sense that there is so much burnout because the season can last so long with festivities kicking off around Thanksgiving or even earlier.

Cut 13 (06) “…that’s going on.” 

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Rapides Parish Sheriffs say they walked in on a fairly horrific scene in Plainview after responding to a call about a natural death, and now three people are under arrest and facing 2^nd Degree Murder, Cruelty to the Infirm, and other charges. Captain Tommy Carnline says the deputy arrived after the call, and realized something was terribly wrong at the scene of the 25-year-old special needs woman’s death…

Cut 14 (09) “…unit.”

47-year old Marilyn Maricle, 52-year-old Glen maricle, and the victim’s mother, 47-year-old Karen Harrison Johnson have all been arrested.

Carnline says authorities have called it some of the worst neglect they’ve seen in their entire careers…

Cut 15 (08) “…pretty bad.”

Carnline says they aren’t sure why the family allowed this to happen, but they do think it was intentional neglect.

Cut 16 (09) “…those cases”

The three have been booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center on a 1.1 million dollar bond.

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The Saints bring a 10-game winning streak into Dallas tonight to face a Cowboys team has won three in a row. Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense gets a lot of attention, but the Saints defense is allowing just 13 points a contest in their last three games. Coach Sean Payton…

Cut 17 (13) “might be”

New Orleans linebacker DeMario Davis says they need to slow down Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot…

Cut 18 (19)   the road“

Dallas brings a three-game winning streak into the game. Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins says they want to make Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott remain one dimensional…

Cut 19 (16)   “…we can”

Prosecutors are attempting to obtain the cell phone passcode of Matthew Naquin, a former LSU student charged with negligent homicide in the suspected hazing death of Max Gruver.  Matt Doyle tells us why.

Cut 2 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Unit is investigating the discovery of a deceased infant in the back of a waste management truck. A waste management worker discovered the body as he was performing his regular duties when he made the discovery. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene.

If you’ve purchased a fresh Christmas tree yet this year, you’ve probably noticed they cost a little more than last year. Blake Huval, the owner of Huval’s Tree Hut in Central, says during the Great Recession farmers scaled back on planting new trees, so a decade later the supply is not enough to keep up with demand…
Cut 7 (11) “…to sell it.”
Huval says if you’re look to save a few bucks, look for trees that may have a hole or two on one side and have that side face the corner of a room.

120 jobs are coming to Minden in Webster Parish as a result of Catamaran Solutions plans to assume operation of a 135,000 square foot industrial fabrication center. The jobs will come with an average salary of 61-thousand dollars a year. Minden Mayor Tommy Davis is thrilled….
Cut 3 (09) “for minden”
Catamaran plans on anticipating its Louisiana workforce to as many as 500 employees statewide over time.

This year Christmas tree prices are on the rise.  That’s due to growing shortages stemming from the Great Recession.  The 2008 financial crisis put many tree farmers out of business.  Blake Huval, the owner of Huval’s Tree Hut in Central, says for those looking to save a few bucks, he recommends looking at trees that might not be a premium grade tree.

Cut 8 (08) “…wrong with that.”

LSU is 10th in the new college football playoff rankings, which is good news for their chances of playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Jerry Palm does bowl projections for CBS-Sports-dot-com and says as long as there not any major upsets in the Big 10 or ACC Championship games, the Tigers should have a postseason game in either Arizona or Georgia…

Cut 9 (09) “Fiesta Bowl”

120 jobs are coming to Minden as a result of Catamaran Solution’s planned 20 acre manufacturing site that will be completed over the next three years. The 135,000 square foot industrial fabrication center jobs will come with an average annual salary of just over 60-thousand. Mayor Tommy Davis says Minden’s rail and interstate access helped seal the deal.

Cut 5 (08)  “…available.” 

The site is part of the state’s developing I-20 Cyber Corridor.

Prosecutors are attempting to obtain the cell phone passcode of Matthew Naquin, a former LSU student charged with negligent homicide in the Max Gruver case.  But Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the Fifth Amendment prohibits Naquin from being obligated to give a testimony revealing his cellular passcode.

Cut 12 (09)   “…act that’s testimonial.”

A hearing will take place next week on whether prosecutors can order former LSU student Matthew Naquin to provide the passcode to his phone. Naquin is charged with negligent homicide in the suspected hazing death of Maxwell Gruver. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says this is a tough issue for the court system…
cut 14 (10) “….this is different”
Ciolino says a person can’t be forced to recite the code of their cell phone, because it would infringe on their 5th amendment right which protects a defendant from self incrimation.

The price of a fresh Christmas tree is higher this year. Blake Huval, the owner of Huval’s Tree Hut in Central, says you can blame the Great Recession in 2008, because at the time, the market was flooded with more trees than demand, so growers decided to plant fewer trees.
Cut 6 (09) “…10 to 12 years.”

LSU is 10th in the new college football playoff rankings, which gives them a good shot at playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana Tech has accepted an invitation to play in the Hawaii Bowl and they’ll play Hawaii on Saturday night December 22nd.

Saints Hall of Fame linebacker Rickey Jackson reportedly underwent succesful brain surgery. Details on why the surgery was needed have not been released. Jackson was a member of the famed Dome Patrol and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

Prosecutors are attempting to obtain the cell phone passcode of Matthew Naquin, a former LSU student charged with negligent homicide in the suspected hazing death of Max Gruver. Matt Doyle tells us why.
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

WBRZ-TV is reporting Dedrick Lee, who is the son of convicted south Louisiana serial killer Derrick Todd Lee, has been charged with negligent homicide, in the fatal shooting death of a 16-year-old. The East Feliciana High School student was killed in a home in Clinton. Dedrick Lee has posted bond and you may remember his dad died in prison.

Have you gone out to purchase that fresh Christmas tree yet this year. If you have, you’ve probably noticed they cost a little more this year. Blake Huval, the owner of Huval’s Tree Hut in Central, says during the Great Recession farmers scaled back on planting new trees, so a decade later the supply is not enough to keep up with demand…
cut 7 (11) “…sell it”
Huval says if you’re look to save a few bucks, look for trees that may have a hole or two on one side and have that side face the corner of a room.

120 jobs are coming to Minden in Webster Parish as a result of Catamaran Solutions plans to assume operation of a 135,000 square foot industrial fabrication center. The jobs will come with an average salary of 61-thousand dollars a year. Minden Mayor Tommy Davis is thrilled….
Cut 3 (09) “for minden”
Catamaran plans on anticipating its Louisiana workforce to as many as 500 employees statewide over time.

This year Christmas tree prices are on the rise.  That’s due to growing shortages stemming from the Great Recession.  The 2008 financial crisis put many tree farmers out of business.  Blake Huval, the owner of Huval’s Tree Hut in Central, says for those looking to save a few bucks, he recommends looking at trees that might not be a premium grade tree.

Cut 8 (08) “…wrong with that.”

LSU’s seven overtime loss to Texas A&M cost them three spots in the rankings, but they remain ranked in the Top 10 despite three losses on the season. Palm says when you look at the teams around them, 10 is a good spot, but they could fall again if there’s a couple upsets this Saturday…

Cut 11 (11) “…LSU”

120 jobs are coming to Minden as a result of Catamaran Solution’s planned 20 acre manufacturing site that will be completed over the next three years. The 135,000 square foot industrial fabrication center jobs will come with an average annual salary of just over 60-thousand. Mayor Tommy Davis says Minden’s rail and interstate access helped seal the deal.

Cut 5 (08)  “…available.” 

The site is part of the state’s developing I-20 Cyber Corridor.

Prosecutors are attempting to obtain the cell phone passcode of Matthew Naquin, a former LSU student charged with negligent homicide in the Max Gruver case.  But Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the Fifth Amendment prohibits Naquin from being obligated to give a testimony revealing his cellular passcode.

Cut 12 (09)   “…act that’s testimonial.”

Time is running out for Congress to renew the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood insurance will lapse if sought, if a six-month extension is not passed by Friday. Senator John Kennedy says they’re working towards an extension, but some lawmakers are trying to kill the program, permanently.
Cut 14 (11) “…a home.”
Kennedy says the opposition comes from legislators from non-flood prone states.

120 new jobs are coming to Webster Parish as Catamaran Solutions will assume operation of a 135-thousand square foot industrial fabrication center in Minden. Minden Mayor Tommy Davis says the firm will provide analytics-informed construction and maintenance services for industrial clients…
cut 4 (11) “….also”
Davis says Minden’s rail and interstate access helped seal the deal.

LSU is number 10 in the latest College Football playoff rankings which puts them in position to play in either the Fiesta or Peach Bowl. Jerry Palm does bowl projections for CBS Sports and he says if LSU goes to the Peach Bowl they could face Michigan. He says if the Tigers play in the Fiesta Bowl, they’ll likely face a Group of 5 opponent like U-C-F…
cut 10 (12) “…Fiesta Bowl”
Palm says LSU could be knocked out of contention for a New Year’s Six Bowl if, Northwestern beats Ohio State in the Big 10 championship or if Pittsburgh upsets Clemson in the ACC title game.