Two people were found shot in a parked vehicle on Interstate 55 near the Amite overpass. That’s according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office, who has deputies at the scene and State Police is assisting with traffic. Motorists should expect to see delays in the area.

The Pointe Coupee Sheriff’s office is investigating the death of a 20-year-old woman. Investigators say the door of the home belonging to Madeline Falgout was kicked in and she was found unresponsive inside her home at 10:45 this morning. No arrests have been made.

The calendar says It’s the first full week of summer and State Climatologist Barry Keim says it sure feels like it outside….
cut 10 (13) “…this time of year”
Political analyst Clancy Dubos says the big winner from the third special session is the public. That’s because lawmakers approved a sales tax plan that fully funds TOPS, public colleges, the food stamp program and health care. And Dubos says the state sales tax rate will go down just over a half-percent on Saturday….
cut 7 (10) “…this program”

The legislature appropriated four-million dollars to begin operating a new juvenile justice facility in Bunkie. Once fully funded at 12 million dollars, the site will host 72 beds. Office of Juvenile Justice Deputy Secretary Dr. James Bueche (Bush) says there other facilites are outdated….
Cut 3 (12) “those facilities.”
The facility will house juvenile offenders who have been classified as a threat to the community, and not eligible for community based rehab.

The special session came to a close last night with lawmakers approving legislation that fully funds TOPS, higher ed, health care and reduces cuts in corrections, juvenile justice and other areas. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 15 (09) “:…compromise is”
Edwards says the legislature’s decision to set the sales tax rate at 4.45 percent until July 2025, will give the state budget stability for the next seven years.

Political analyst Clancy Dubos expects to see a continuing effort for a constitutional convention, which several lawmakers say is needed for more budget and tax reform. But Dubos…
cut 8 (11) “…for everybody”

The state legislature has appropriated the four-million dollars needed to begin operating a juvenile justice facility in Bunkie. Office of Juvenile Justice Deputy Secretary Doctor James Bueche says young offenders at this facility will receive good education and specialized care…
cut 4 (09) “….the dorm”
Bueche says once fully funded, the facility will house 72 individuals.

After a stop at a gas station in Grand Coteau this weekend, someone is now $2 million richer. The St. Landry Parish convenience store has produced other big lottery winners in recent months and news of the luck at the establishment has gotten around. .
Cut 12 (08) “…somebody got lucky again.”
The 1 Stop store owner, Nasir Sohail, says he won 350-thousand dollars in December playing Louisiana Lotto, while no one has yet to claim the two-million dollar Powerball ticket from this past weekend.

With a new fiscal year set to begin on Saturday, state lawmakers finally agreed on a sales tax plan that prevents Louisiana from going over the fiscal cliff, which would have resulted in deep cuts to colleges, TOPS and public safety programs. Governor John Bel Edwards says he will sign the measure that renews .45 percent of an expiring one-cent sales tax…

cut 16 (12) “…divides us”

Summer is back with a vengeance as State Climatologist Barry Keim tells us we can expect higher than normal temperatures through the week due to a high pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico which will see higher humidity levels and reduced cloud cover.

cut 9 (12)  “…between 100 to 110.”

The budget approved last night in the legislature OK’d four million dollars to get a new juvenile justice facility up and running in Bunkie. Once fully funded at 12 million dollars, the site will host 72 beds, and utilize the Missouri Model that emphasizes rehabilitation methods to deal with young offenders. Office of Juvenile Justice Deputy Secretary Dr. James Bueche says it provides relief to an overburdened system.

Cut 3 (12) “those facilities.”

The facility will house juvenile offenders who have been classified as a threat to the community, and thus are not eligible for community based rehabilitation.

A budget and sales tax deal is on its way to the governor’s desk that fully funds higher ed, healthcare, and TOPS, and sets the state’s sales tax rate at 4.45% on July 1st through mid-2025. The bill raises 463-million dollars for next fiscal year. Mandeville Republican Senator Jack Donahue says it’s the compromise the legislature needed to get done…
cut 10 (11) “….this state”
After the third special session of the year ended last night, Governor John Bel Edwards thanked lawmakers for finding courage to compromise and put Louisiana first…
cut 14 (11) “…as well”

The legislature’s decision to renew a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax will provide funding to begin operating a new Juvenile Justice facility in Bunkie. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Lottery says a Powerball ticket purchased at One Stop in Grand Coteau in St. Landry Parish is worth two-million dollars. That ticket matches the five regular numbers in Saturday’s drawing and the ticket had a powerplay multiplier which doubled the winnings to two million dollars.

A final budget is in that fully funds higher ed, healthcare, and TOPS, while instituting a 4.45 percent sales tax. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The news that the budget deal was on the way to the governor’s desk garnered quite the reaction.

Cut 30…

That’s the sound of a video posted to Twitter by UL System President Jim Henderson, of the excitement from Girls State, a summer leadership and citizenship program made up of high school juniors, upon hearing the news of TOPS and Higher Ed remain fully funded.

President Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani is in Lafayette today to host a fundraiser for Republican Congressional candidate Josh Guillory, who is seeking to unseat GOP Representative Clay Higgins this fall. Meanwhile, President Trump endorsed Higgins. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a bizarre circumstance…

Cut 4  (07) “…anything like this.”

A group of Republican US Senators will head to Russia this week, including Louisiana’s John Kennedy.  Kennedy says he wants to establish some rapport with high-ranking government officials and he hopes one of those meetings will include Russian President Valdimir Putin.  Kennedy says he also intends to discuss the allegations of election interference in the US and other countries through the use of social media, a claim he says Russian denies.

Cut 9 (12)  “…stop it.”

With a new fiscal year set to begin on Saturday, state lawmakers finally agreed on a sales tax plan that prevents Louisiana from going over the fiscal cliff, which would have resulted in deep cuts to colleges, TOPS and public safety programs. Governor John Bel Edwards says he will sign the measure that renews .45 percent of an expiring one-cent sales tax…
cut 16 (12) “…divides us”

A group of Republican US Senators will head to Russia this week, including Louisiana’s John Kennedy. Kennedy says he wants to establish some rapport with high-ranking government officials and he hopes one of those meetings will include Russian President Valdimir Putin.
Cut 7 (10) “…Russian economy.”
Kennedy says he’s heard the Russian economy is in shambles, because they are spending their money on Syria and weaponry.

Big fundraiser takes place tonight for Republican Josh Guillory, who is an attorney that’s seeking to unseat fellow Republican Clay Higgins as the Congressman for southwest Louisiana. President Trump’s lawyer Rudy Guiliani is the headliner for the fundraiser, but Mr. Trump has endorsed Guillory. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says President Trump’s endorsement of Higgins will lead to more votes for the incumbent Congressman than Giuliani’s fundraising efforts for Guillory…
Cut 6 (13) “…called weird.”

The auto racing world is mourning the death of Sprint car driver Jason Johnson of Eunice. Johnson died from his injuries sutained in a wreck during a World of Outlaws race Saturday night in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The crash happened on lap 18 of a 40-lap race as Johnson was racing for the lead. He was 41-years-old.

Governor John Bel Edwards is celebrating the passage of a budget deal that he says will fully fund the state’s most critical priorities in a responsible way. Edwards made these remarks last night following the end of the special session…
Cut 14 (11) “as well”
The key legislation is a sales tax bill that will set the rate at 4.45 percent as of July 1st and stay that way until July 2025. The sales tax rate was set to drop to 4-percent on Saturday. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt blames the governor as a reason why consumers will pay higher taxes…
cut 12 (11) “…priorities”

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani continues his support of Republican Congressional candidate Josh Guillory today in Lafayette. Michael Farrar has the story.
Cut 1 (29) I’m Michael Farrar.“

A group of US Senators, including Louisiana’s John Kennedy, will travel to Russia later this week. Kennedy says the goal is to establish some rappport with high-ranking government officials…
cut 8 (06) “…our common problems”
Kennedy says he wants to find out more about Russia’s economy and he says allegations that Russia interfered with the presidential election in 2016 will also be brought up.

The special session came to a close last night with lawmakers approving legislation that fully funds TOPS, higher ed, health care and reduces cuts in corrections, juvenile justice and other areas. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 15 (09) “:…compromise is”
The taxpayer will pay a 4.45 percent sales tax rate as of July 1st as a result legislation that will get the governor’s signature.

President Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani is in Lafayette today for a fundraiser for Republican Congressional candidate Josh Guillory, who is seeking to unseat GOP Representative Clay Higgins this fall. Meanwhile, President Trump endorsed Higgins. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a bizarre circumstance…
Cut 4 (07) “…anything like this.”

A group of US Senators is heading to Russia this week, including Senator John Kennedy. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) ” I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Crowley Police say they are looking for a second suspect in an alleged road rage incident that left one person dead and another in jail. Officers say the incident happened on Saturday night on the I-10 West Exit 82 off ramp. The shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Byron Francis Junior of Crowley. Police are looking for the passenger in Francis’ vehicle.