Columbia Senator Neil Riser sponsors a bill that would exempt flood victims from state income tax for the 2017 year. Michelle Southern reports…:
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A measure that would allow couples with children under the age of 18 to divorce after a 180-day waiting period advanced out of a House committee today. Currently couples with kids, who are seeking a divorce, must wait one-year. Supporters say a year long wait leads to more bickering between the disgrunted adults. The full House will debate the bill next.

A measure that would offer parole after 30 years behind bars for those convicted of life sentences for murder committed while they were juveniles passed out of a Senate committee. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor’s bill has the support of State Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson. Johnson says there needs to be a line drawn between immature juveniles and corrupt juveniles.
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The bill heads to the senate floor for more discussion.

State Police say a 62-year-old man is facing charges of vehicular homicide for allegedly driving drunk when he struck and killed a pedestrian in Terrebonne Parish. Master Trooper Brooks David says Albert Williams Jr. was driving down LA 24 in Houma shortly before 9 p.m. when he struck 43-year-old Byron Acosta…:
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Williams was booked into the Terrebonne Parish Correctional Center.

The Senate bill that deals with juvenile inmates who were sentenced to life in prison without parole, which is declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, advanced out of committee today. Louisiana has hundreds of former juveniles now serving time and the bill seeks to allow them to be parole eligible in certain cases. The Louisiana District Attorneys Association opposes aspects of the measure.

Columbia Senator Neil Riser sponsors a bill that would exempt flood victims from state income tax for the 2017 year…:
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Under Riser’s proposal, the first $100,000 of income that a family earns this year would be exempt from the state income tax if they sustained $10,000 of damage.

A 62-year-old has been charged with vehicular homicide after hitting a pedestrian and killing him in Terrebonne Parish last night, according to State Police. Master Trooper Brooks David says Albert Williams Jr. was likely impaired when investigators arrived on scene…:
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43-year-old Byron Acosta died on the scene.

The LSU Ag Center’s Sensory Services Lab is seeking food lovers, dubbed Tiger Tasters, to help with analysis on certain products. Manager Ashley Gutierrez says companies are also involved in the tastes tests and are looking for a wide range of subjects to take part…:
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If you’re a consumer interested in testing food products, visit the LSU School of Food and Nutrition website.

A lawmaker from Columbia doesn’t think flood victims should have to pay state income taxes on what they earn in 2017. Senator Neil Riser says it’s the least the state could do to help survivors of the disaster rebuild their lives…:
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Under a bill he filed for the current session, those who sustained $10,000 of damage would be exempt from income taxes this year up to $100,000 for families and $50,000 if filing single.

If you’re critical of how people dance, you might want to avoid Cole Rodriguez. He’s a 34-year-old man from Raceland who cops say attacked his girlfriend when she made fun of his moves. David Melancon, with the Thibodaux Police Department, says while police were transporting Rodriguez to jail on charges of domestic abuse battery, he still wan’t happy…:
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He was booked on a $7,500 bond.

LSU’s Sensory Services Lab is seeking food lovers to volunteer as Tiger Tasters on the Baton Rouge campus. Halen Doughty has more…:
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The House Ways and Means Committee is looking at proposed changes to the state sales tax today. Jeff Palermo has more on a proposal from Houma Representative Tanner Magee…:
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Columbia Senator Neil Riser sponsors a bill that would exempt flood victims from state income tax for the 2017 year…:
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He says it’s the least the state could do to help 2016 flood victims rebuild their lives.

State Police say a 62-year-old man is facing charges of vehicular homicide for allegedly driving drunk when he struck and killed a pedestrian in Terrebonne Parish. Master Trooper Brooks David says Albert Williams Jr. was driving down LA 24 in Houma shortly before 9 p.m. when he struck 43-year-old Byron Acosta…:
Cut 3 (09) “that crash”
Williams was booked into the Terrebonne Parish Correctional Center.

A Raceland man has been arrested for allegedly hitting his on and off again girlfriend after she made jokes about his dance moves. David Melancon with The Thibodaux Police Department says 34-year-old Cole Rodriguez was at a bar on the dance floor when things turned violent.:
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Rodriguez was booked with domestic abuse battery, resisting an officer and battery of a police officer.

A bill that would do away with a 25-dollar credit parents can claim on their state income taxes for educational expenses heads to the Senate floor after receiving approval from the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee. Chairman J-P Morrell of New Orleans says this would save the state 13-million dollars and those savings can be used for other education programs like TOPS and the child readiness tax credit….
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Today, the House Ways and Means committee discusses sales tax bills. Houma Representative Tanner Magee seeks to lower the sales tax rate, but remove a lot of exemptionsl. Magee says there are plenty of unnecessary cases when sales taxes are exempted…
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There will not be a vote on Magee’s bill.

Divers recovered the body of 29-year-old Travis Jermaine Savage of Alexandria from Cotile Lake in Rapides Parish. Witnesses say Savage was swimming with family members when he went under and did not resurface.

Democratic lawmaker Ted James spoke before the Baton Rouge Press Club to give his thoughts on the legislative session. Emelie Gunn has more…
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American Airlines has announced they will begin providing non-stop flights from Shreveport Regional Airport to Charlotte, Nort Carolina starting on August 22nd.

The House Ways and Means committee is talking about sales taxes today. Houma Representative Tanner Magee has a proposal to lower the state sales tax from five to two-percent. He says that could mean expanding the sales tax base to include services and other items that are not currently taxed…:
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He seeks to address the fact that Louisiana has the highest combined state and local sales tax in the country.

New Orleans Senator JP Morrell wants to get rid of a little-known education tax credit he says would save the state $11 million dollars. He says that money could be more wisely invested in other education programs with proven results…:
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He says the tax credit he wants scrapped is $25 for people who have a kid in school.

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James, a Democrat, is sharing some of his ideas for the legislative session. One deals with criminal justice reform and reducing the state’s number of non-violent offenders in prison. James says 700 million dollars of taxpayer money is spent each year on incarceration which can drastically be cut down…:
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James also made remarks about his support of Governor John Bel Edwards’ tax reform plan, which includes getting rid of tax incentives on big corporations and reducing personal income taxes.

If you love to eat, LSU needs your help. The Sensory Services Lab on the Baton Rouge campus is recruiting Tiger Tasters to sample tasty new foods before they hit the shelves, and share their thoughts with companies…:
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That’s Sensory Services Lab Manager Ashley Gutierrez.

The House Ways and Means committee continues its review of the various bills to change Louisiana’s tax structure, in an effort to provide more budget stability. Today the panel looks at sales taxes. Houma Representative Tanner Magee has a proposal to lower the state sales tax from five to two-percent, and remove the unnecessary exemptions…:
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He seeks to address the fact that Louisiana has the highest combined state and local sales tax in the country.

Representative Ted James has filed legislation that would increase the amount of training cops receive — in response to the fatal officer involved shooting of Alton Sterling last July…:
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The Baton Rouge Democrat has also filed a bill which caps how long officers are paid while on administrative leave after a deadly shooting.

LSU’s Sensory Services Lab is seeking food lovers to volunteer as Tiger Tasters on the Baton Rouge campus. Halen Doughty has more…:
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Cops in New York say a Southwest Airlines pilot from Louisiana has been arrested on a weapons charge after a loaded handgun was found in his carry-on bag. Authorities say 55-year-old Erik Gibson was being checked by TSA before a flight to Tampa when officers found the gun. Apparently he flew to Albany Sunday from New Orleans but went through a crew line and wasn’t screened. Gibson, who claimed he forgot about the gun, was charged with misdemeanor weapon possession.

The House Ways and Means Committee will look at proposed changes to the state sales tax today. Jeff Palermo has more on a proposal from Houma Representative Tanner Magee…:
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State Police say a 62-year-old man is facing charges of vehicular homicide for allegedly driving drunk when he struck and killed a pedestrian in Terrebonne Parish. Investigators said they determined Albert Williams of Montegut was impaired when he ran over Byron Acosta of Houma who suffered fatal injuries.

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says he supports Governor John Bel Edwards’ tax reform plan, which includes getting rid of tax incentives on big corporations and reducing personal income taxes. But the Democrat says the governor’s proposals have not gained a lot of traction among Republicans, who offer no alternatives…:
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James also sponsors a bill that would require State Police to be called to investigate officer involved shootings in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The LSU AgCenter is looking for taste testers. Sensory Services Lab Manager Ashley Gutierrez says they share research with food companies around the country…:
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To sign up to be a Tiger Taster, visit the LSU School of Food and Nutrition website.