Four constitutional amendments are on tomorrow’s ballot, and Amendment 2 is receiving the most attention. Jeff Palermo has the story
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Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is preparing legislation for the upcoming regular session that would prohibit local governments from taxing food bought at the grocery store in an effort to combat inflation. Sean Richardson has more.
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The LSU Lady Tigers continue their march towards the national championship tonight. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Tomorrow is Election Day in Louisiana. While there will be a small handful of special races to be decided, all voters will be deciding the fate of four proposed constitutional amendments. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says the turnout in early voting was very brisk.
Cut 4 (06) “…or voting absentee”
Landry says this election has gotten much more attention than previous elections of this caliber.
Cut 5 (05) “…after Election Day.”
The polls open at seven tomorrow morning and close at eight tomorrow night, and Landry says results should be announced a short time later.
Cut 6 (04) “…for the presidential.”
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There are four proposed changes to the state constitution on Saturday’s ballot, and Amendment 2 has received the most attention. The measure makes several changes to Article Seven of the state constitution, which deals with revenue collection and taxation. Governor Jeff Landry has traveled the state urging voters to support it…
Cut 7 (13) “…pay raise (2x).”
Teacher unions support Amendment 2 because it would make a temporary two-thousand-dollar pay raise permanent by paying down retirement debt.
Landry has said this election is a defining moment as passage of this Amendment Two will end the cycle of boom-and-bust cycles and set the state towards the path of prosperity…
Cut 8 (10) “…that cure.”
Invest Louisiana is one of several groups who oppose the passage of Amendment Two. The group’s director Jan (YAHN) Moeller says this amendment comes from a 115-page bill passed by the legislature last November, and the ballot language does not explain the extensive changes that will be made to the constitution….
Cut 9 (09) “…take a pause.”
Moeller finds it interesting that some conservatives oppose the bill because it would make it easier to remove tax breaks for churches…
Cut 10 (10) “…during the debate.”
Landry says the amendment preserves the exemption for religious organizations and he would never support anything that would harm religious organizations.
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The legislature in the upcoming regular session will consider a bill that would eliminate local sales taxes on groceries. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says his measure would provide financial relief to families that have seen grocery prices rise because of inflation…
Cut 11 (11) “…here in Louisiana.”
McCormick says while Louisiana does not impose a state sales tax on groceries, local governments do, leading some residents, particularly in Caddo Parish, to cross state lines to get groceries.
Cut 12 (09) “…any sales tax.”
With the state having the highest combined sales tax rate in the nation at 10.12-percent. McCormick says food at the grocery store should not be taxed…
Cut 13 (06) “…at this point.”
The regular session begins April 14th.
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The Humane Society of Louisiana’s Animal Fighting Task Force has rescued more than 40 dogs who were being used for dogfighting in Concordia Parish. The Sheriff’s Office got a report back in January and flew a drone over a 28-acre property in Clayton, and that’s when they found the dogs abused and abandoned. HSLA Director Jeff Dorson says they all belonged to one man.
Cut 14 (06) “…of animal cruelty.”
That man is 44-year-old Maurice Sheppard. Dorson says the Animal Cruelty Task Force was formed to be ready to respond to calls in places like Concordia Parish, which does not have a public shelter or an animal control unit.
Cut 15 (07) “…type of situation.”
As for the dogs, Dorson says they’re on the road to recovery; and, pending a temperament assessment, they’ll be put up for adoption.
Cut 16 (06) “…and watered regularly.”
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The LSU Lady Tigers will face North Carolina State tonight in the Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. LSU is playing its best basketball of the season as they scored more than 100 points in their last two games. Coach Kim Mulkey points to the health of her top players…
Cut 17 (16) “…right now.”
Tonight’s game will be played in Spokane, Washington.6:30 is the scheduled tip. LSU beat the Wolfpack 82-65 in November in a tournament in the Bahamas. Flau’Jae Johnson says N-C State has improved since then…
Cut 18 (07) “…prepared team”
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For LSU’s defense to compliment what should be another good LSU offense, the play in the Tigers defensive secondary must improve. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker says six-foot-four freshman cornerback DJ Pickett and Virginia Tech transfer Mansoor Delane are two good additions…
Cut 19 (28) “…of football”
Baker says safety Dashawn Spears and Javien Toviano are developing nicely…
Cut 20 (19) “…outstanding.”
First pitch is at 7 PM.