Emotional testimony is being heard right now before a Senate Judiciary Committee on the death penalty. Senator Dan Claitor wants capital punishment to go away in Louisiana, and many in support of the measure spoke for over an hour and a half. Lawmakers are now hearing from victims who say they would live in fear if their offenders were allowed to stay in jail and not be executed.

Governor Edwards is set to release a TV ad aimed at building support for his tax reform plan. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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The deal with the contractor selected to oversee the state’s disaster recovery program is now official. IEM is set to oversee the $1.3 billion dollar federal flood system for homeowners. The size of the contract is an estimated $226.7 million. IEM was the same firm originally chosen to do the work, but the state scrapped the contract because it was too costly. The governor’s office said re-opening the bidding process ended up saving the state money.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is not happy about the removal of the Liberty Place monument in New Orleans, and says he’s going to do everything he can to protect the other Confederate era structures…:
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New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the city has a right to control its own property. The other monuments also set to be secretly removed are of Confederate generals Robert E Lee, P.G.T. Beauregard and Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

A Senate committee has begun debate on Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor’s legislation to eliminate the death penalty for capital murder and aggravated rape cases after July 31. He says in light of the state’s budget problems, the death penalty doesn’t make sense financially.

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is disappointed the Liberty Place monument in New Orleans was taken down. He says the state’s confederate monuments should stay in place because they’re part of our history.

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The Lt. Governor says he urged Attorney General Jeff Landry to file a suit to stop the removal of the statues, but apparently the state doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on.

Country music superstar Hunter Hayes of Breaux Bridge is getting behind an effort that connects service dogs with veterans. Michelle Southern reports…

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The CenturyLink Center in Bossier City announces a once-in-a-lifetime concert event, Paul McCartney. The event is reportedly one of four McCartney concerts listed on the website Bandsintown, and it’s the only date announced in the US. The Beatles star is slated to perform in Bossier City on July 15.

A bill that would eliminate the death penalty in Louisiana goes before a Senate Committee today. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says, as a Catholic, he believes we should promote life, not snuff it out…:
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He also feels the death penalty doesn’t make an fiscal sense here.

Governor John Bel Edwards is launching an ad campaign which promotes his tax plan for the legislative session. The centerpiece of the idea, to place a new tax on businesses while reducing individual income taxes, did not get a warm reception from Republicans in the House Ways and Means committee. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards is looking out for his low income supporters…:
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Supporters of the plan say it would give 90% of residents in the state a tax cut.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser isn’t happy about the Liberty Place monument in New Orleans being taken down. The monument commemorated a group of white supremacists who fought against the racially integrated police force in 1874. But Nungesser says there are structures all over the world that memorialize darker parts of history..:
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The New Orleans City Council voted to remove four confederate-era monuments, which Mayor Mitch Landrieu says will all come down soon.

A Destrehan teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage high school student is set to go on trial today in Jefferson Parish. Shelley Dufresne was one of the teachers allegedly involved in a threesome with another teacher and the 16-year-old boy at a Kenner apartment. She avoided a felony conviction when she pleaded guilty to obscenity in St. Charles Parish, but Jefferson Parish prosecutors will pursue felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile charges.

The death penalty in Louisiana would be gone under a measure set to be heard before a Senate Committee today. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says the state does not get a return on the dollars by killing prisoners convicted of murder…:
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The measure would not affect individuals currently on death row.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is not happy about the removal of the Liberty Place monument in New Orleans, and says he’s going to do everything he can to protect the other Confederate era structures…:
Cut 11 (11) “to stand on”
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the city has a right to control its own property. The other monuments also set to be secretly removed are of Confederate generals Robert E Lee, P.G.T. Beauregard and Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to begin an ad campaign aimed at pushing his tax reform plan. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat believes the goal of the administration’s commercial is to blame Republicans for the state’s current failing system…:
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The PAC, Rebuild Louisiana, is paying for the ad.

Five-time Grammy nominee, singer/songwriter, Hunter Hayes of Breaux Bridge, is teaming up with Heartgard Plus and Warrior Canine Connection for a new campaign called “Heartgardians.” It’s designed to raise awareness about the positive impact dogs have on veterans and service members. Hayes you can enter for a chance to win a trip to Nashville by nominating a veteran.:
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You can enter by using the hashtags #NominateAVeteran and #Sweepstakes on social media.

A bill that would get rid of the death penalty in Louisiana is slated to go before a Senate Committee today. Don Molino has more…:

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It’s expected Governor John Bel Edwards will launch an ad campaign this week promoting his tax reform plan. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat:
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The administration is pushing a proposal to place a new tax on businesses while reducing individual income taxes.

Country music sensation and Breaux Bridge native Hunter Hayes is taking time out of his busy schedule to help connect veterans with the healing power of dogs, through the Heartgardians Sweepstakes. Hayes says he decided to get behind the effort when he found out about the Warrior Canine Connection program…:
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You can find out more about the sweepstakes online at heartgardians.com.

And speaking of talent from the Acadiana region — named Hunter, singer Hunter Plake will find out tonight if he advances to the top 11 on NBC’s The Voice. The Frost native performed last night as a top 12 finalist.

ESPN is reporting former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson finalized a 2 year deal with the New Orleans Saints. It’s worth a reported $7 million dollars. So it should be a good Monday Night football game when New Orleans opens the 2017 regular season against Minnesota.

Governor Edwards is set to release a TV ad aimed at building support for his tax reform plan….:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A bill that would eliminate the death penalty in Louisiana goes before a Senate Committee today. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says given the state’s massive budget problems, this punishment makes no fiscal sense:
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He says the measure would apply to capital crimes committed after July 31st.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is not happy the Liberty Place monument in New Orleans was taken down under the cover of night. He feels Confederate monuments are part of Louisiana’s history…:
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New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the city has the right to remove statues it owns.

GLO Airlines says it’s shutting down this week after filing for bankruptcy – but not for good. Officials with the New Orleans based company, which offers regional flights to and from The Big Easy and cities including Shreveport, Little Rock, Memphis, Tennessee and Huntsville, said in a news release it plans to resume flights in about a week. They said its aircraft operator terminate its contract with GLO in an unjustified action.

The centerpiece of Governor John Bel Edwards plan to overhaul Louisiana’s tax structure did not receive a warm reception from Republicans in the House Ways and Means committee. The governor is proposing a Commercial Activity Tax on businesses as a way to generate revenue to make up for the one-point-three billion dollars in temporary sales taxes that expire next year. But Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey fears this tax on business sales will hurt economic development efforts….
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Discussion on this bill resumes on Tuesday.

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee approves a proposal to exempt diapers and tampons from the state sales tax. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says the constituion already exempts essential items like water, food, and prescriptions from the states sales tax. The measure heads to the Senate floor.
A bill that will be heard before the House Transportation Committee could eliminate inspection stickers on personal vehicles in most parishes. Emelie Gunn has more…
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A bill to abolish the death penalty in Louisiana goes before a Senate Committee Tuesday. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says given the state’s massive budget problems, this punishment makes no fiscal sense. The District Attorneys association opposes the the legislation.