It’s an ailment that is causing a serious threat to the deer population, and since January, a feeding ban was enacted in order to minimize the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, spreading into Louisiana. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (24) I’m Kevin Barnhart“
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The last special session revealed a rift in opinion within the Louisiana Republican Party between pro budget cut hardliners, and moderates who support a fully funded budget. Matt Doyle has more.
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Candidates are lining up to replace Tom Schedler as Secretary of State in a special election in November, including Democrat Renee Fontenot Free. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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It’s an ailment that is causing a serious threat to the deer population, and since January, a feeding ban was enacted in northeast Louisiana in order to minimize the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, spreading into Louisiana says state wildlife veterinarian Dr. Jim LaCour.
Cut 4 (12) “…the Louisiana line.”
But now, in the parishes of East Carroll, Madison, and Tensas, LDWF has lifted the feeding ban after initial testing of deer in the area did not detect the disease. Dr. LaCour explains the preemptive measure’s purpose.
Cut 5 (13) “…licks, mineral sites.”
Dr. LaCour says the ban was enacted until they completed more research on the area’s deer population. While they can’t test every deer in the state, they have tested enough and results are now in, and looking favorable.
The state of Mississippi also conducted testing in the area where the deer was found, and is still awaiting results.
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A Eunice man is dead from a crash while fleeing from police on Monday morning. Around 7 a.m., a Kinder police officer attempted to stop a 2006 Ford Mustang after observing a traffic stop violation. State Police Sergeant James Anderson says the driver, 26-year-old Aaron Charlot, chose to run.
Anderson says Charlot was traveling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour before losing control 2 miles north of Louisiana Highway 101.
Charlot was ejected from the vehicle, not wearing a seatbelt. Anderson said he had a choice.
The crash is still under investigation.
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The fiscal cliff debate is revealing a wide range of opinions from within Louisiana’s Republican Party, ranging from moderates who support the governor’s call for a half cent sales tax renewal, to anti-tax conservatives who favor budget cuts to plug the 648 million dollar shortfall. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot, who supported a third penny but not a half, says the state needs to tighten its belt.
The difference between a half penny and a third penny sales tax on a 100 dollar purchase is 17 cents.
Talbot says the state’s budget has increased by seven percent for the last few years, a rate that is fiscally unsustainable. He says items like state worker pay raises need to be addressed before any taxes are renewed.
20 Republicans supported the third penny sales tax proposal that would have required over a 100 million in budget cuts.
But not all GOP legislators agree. 22 Republicans supported the half penny sales tax that would fully fund state agencies and TOPS. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody, who supported the half penny, says the state is obligated to fund critical services like TOPS.
Without additional revenue, the budget, now signed by the governor would cut TOPS by 30 percent, and slash agency budget for Education, Corrections, the Department of Children and Family Services, and more.
Carmody says despite support from a clear majority of legislators, the half penny sales tax will need another seven votes relative to the last time it was debated to clear the 70 vote super majority threshold for tax bills. He says the governor will need to reassure Republicans on the fence that the money is being spent responsibly.
The session begins June 18th, and must end by June 27th at 6PM.
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The first entrants into the race for the Secretary of State’s office are trickling in, in the wake of a poll that showed nearly a third of Louisianans are undecided on who they will be voting for come November. Attorney General’s Director of the Public Protection Division, and Democrat, Renee Fontenot Free says her years of public service make her the ideal candidate.
Cut 14 (09) “enjoyed the work”
Democrats have struggled to take statewide offices in Louisiana for the last decade, and Free says her registration as a Democrat really has no bearing on her qualifications for a nonpolitical job.
Free says if elected, she’d work on boosting the state’s remarkably low voter participation rates that can be in the teens for many statewide and local elections.
She’ll be running to replace Tom Schedler, who stepped down after being accused of sexually harassing and stalking his secretary for nearly a decade.