Today is the last day of the special session called to tackle the state’s massive budget deficit. Speaker of the House Taylor Barras urged House members to come together on a deal to prevent big cuts to higher education and healthcare. He says this won’t be easy but they must take action.
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Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law the bill that raises the cigarette tax from 86-cents to $1.08. Consultant with the Invest in a Healthy Louisiana Campaign Randy Hayden says the legislature should’ve increased the tax on all tobacco products not only on cigarettes and millions of dollars have been left on the table.
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Multiple homes in north Louisiana are under water after a huge storm has dumped more than half a foot of rain. Glenn Springfield with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says evacuations are ongoing throughout the parish. Many roads have been closed because of high waters. And he says it doesn’t look like the storm is letting up anytime soon.
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Springfield says people should avoid driving today if possible.

Cleco has asked state regulators for another hearing on the company’s proposed sale to a foreign investment group for nearly $5 billion. Public Service Commission chairman Clyde Holloway says he isn’t in favor of another hearing. He says the commission and an administrative law judge have already heard enough testimony from the company.
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Cleco’s attorney says the commission’s vote was flawed because it wrongly decided on the merits of the transaction.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the bill that increases the cigarette tax. Beginning April 1^st the tax on a pack of cigarettes will be 22-cents higher, which will generate 11-million dollars in revenue for the state this fiscal year. Consultant with the Invest in a Healthy Louisiana Campaign Randy Hayden says there was no possibility that the legislature could over tax cigarettes during this session. He says when states increase the cigarette tax they are increasing revenue, while decreasing health care costs in the future.

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Only a few hours remain in the special session called to address the state’s massive budget deficit.  Speaker of the House Taylor Barras urged House members to come together on a deal to prevent big cuts to higher education and healthcare.

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Cleco has asked state regulators for another hearing on the utility company’s proposed sale to a foreign investment group for almost $5 billion. Public Service Commission chairman Clyde Holloway says he is not in favor of another hearing.

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Cleco’s attorney says the commission’s vote was flawed because it wrongly decided on the merits of the transaction. Holloway says they have already heard enough testimony from Cleco.

A massive storm is sweeping across Louisiana today pouring over half a foot of rain into the northern part of the state. Bill Davis, with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, says as flood waters rose during the night, they began evacuating people. Davis says schools and government offices are closed today. He says the sheriff’s office has teamed up with the Wildlife and Fisheries office to use their boats for rescues.

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A torrential downpour is flooding northern Louisiana as the storm has already dumped half a foot of water, and officials say it isn’t over yet. Halen Doughty has more…:
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Negotiations about ways to repair Louisiana’s budget are underway as lawmakers have until 6pm today before the special legislative session must end. House Speaker Taylor Barras urged his colleagues to reach an agreement to balance this and next fiscal year’s finances without making deep cuts.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law the bill that increases the cigarette tax. Beginning April 1st the tax on a pack of cigarettes will be $1.08 rather than 86-cents. Consultant with the Invest in a Healthy Louisiana Campaign Randy Hayden says he was disappointed that the tax wasn’t increased more…:
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The cigarette tax hike will generate 11-million dollars in revenue for the state this fiscal year.

Gas prices jumped 2 cents today to $1.62 according to Triple AAA as the market begins to level off. The cost at the pump for a gallon of regular is up almost a nickle from the same time last month.

Numerous homes and cars in north Louisiana are dealing with flood water as the result of a colossal storm that has dumped over a half a foot of rain — with more on the way. Lt. Bill Davis, with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, says flood waters have kept them busy…:
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Glenn Springfield with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says many residents in northeast Louisiana are also getting lots of rain…:
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The flood watches in effect in those areas will move into the central and southeast portions of the state tonight into tomorrow and through Saturday.

Lawmakers are in rush mode now at the Capitol as they are up against a 6pm deadline where the special session called to repair the state’s massive budget shortfall must end. Matters still on the table include hiking the sales tax a penny and removing exemptions — and for how long.

Employer confidence is not at its best as the National Federation of Independent Business says small business optimism has fallen to a 2-year low. State Director of the NFIB, Dawn Starns, says that trend is being seen in Louisiana as well, and when it comes to what’s going on at the Capitol, instead of increasing taxes on businesses and consumers, their members would like state government cut spending…:
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She says sales trends have declined and small business owners do not plan to increase hiring or spending as expectations for future conditions remained negative.

Meanwhile a measure to raise the state’s cigarette tax has been signed by Governor John Bel Edwards. So on April 1st, the tax on a pack of cigarettes will go from 86-cents to a $1.08 in Louisiana. The measure will provide an additional 11-million dollars in state revenues this fiscal year.

State lawmakers have a just a few hours left to address a massive budget shortfall, as the special legislative session ends tonight at 6 PM. Halen Doughty has more…
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A bill to increase the state’s cigarette tax has made it through the process and received the signature of Governor John Bel Edwards. So on April 1st, the tax on a pack of cigarettes will go from 86-cents to a $1.08. The measure will provide an additional 11-milion dollars in state revenues this fiscal year.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called on the Louisiana National Guard to help residents in northwest Louisiana who are trying to escape flood waters. Lt. Bill Davis, with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office, says they started evacuating people during the night…
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In Webster Parish, about 80 homes have been flooded and a nursing home near Minden had to be evacuated.

LSU Health Shreveport has received a 1.6 million dollar grant to research the connection between light alcohol consumption and ischemic strokes. Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences Dr. Chris Kevil ays a study a few years ago, called the French Paradox, found similar results….
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Kevil says the professor awarded the grant will attempt to define how light alcohol consumption actually protects from ischemic stroke.

As record rainfall continues to pound north Louisiana, several parishes have worked tirelessly to rescue people from vehicles and homes in flood stricken areas. Officials are asking the public in these areas to stay put as several inches of rain are still expected to fall. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service says there’s an area of low pressure just sitting there..:
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Flood warnings, watches and wind advisories are posted throughout the state.

The special legislative session must end at 6 so lawmakers will try to wrap up work today on revenue raising and budget cuts to close the massive budget deficit. Jeremy Alford with la-politics-dot-com says legislators are closing in on this year’s shortfall…:
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A 19-year-old died after being involved in a crash with a tow truck last night in Iberville Parish. State Police believe 19-year-old Orthello Batiste of White Castle ran a red light and was hit on the drivers side by an Advantage Towing truck. Batiste was pronounced dead at the scene, and a passenger in his vehicle who was not buckled up sustained serious injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

LSU Health Shreveport has received over a million dollars in grant money to research the connection between light alcohol consumption and strokes. Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences Dr. Chris Kevil says the researcher is attempting to figure out why light alcohol consumption lowers the incidence of ischemic stroke…:
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According to the National Stroke Association, it’s important to identify risk factors, reduce those risk factors, and learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke.

A ton of rain has already fallen in western Louisiana. Northwest and Northeast regions of the state are already dealing with flood stricken areas that have forced road closures and some evacuations. Jeff Palermo reports on the weather system moving in…:
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With less than 10 hours left in the special session, Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says one of the ways lawmakers look to close the budget gap is not only to add a penny to the state sales tax, but remove several exemptions from the existing four cents…:
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The session must end at 6.

Cleco is asking the Public Service Commission for an immediate rehearing on the on a bid by Macquarie Investors to purchase the Pineville-based utility company. The PSC voted on February 24th against the sale, but lawyers for Cleco assert that the decision was procedurally flawed and wrongly decided on the merits of the transaction.

Small business optimism has fallen to a 2-year low, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. State Director of the NFIB, Dawn Starns, says state specific data is not available, but Louisiana small businesses also lack optimism, especially with all of the money problems the state is facing.:
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The report also shows that sales trends have declined and small business owners do not plan to increase hiring or spending as expectations for future business conditions remained negative.

State lawmakers have until 6pm to balance the budget and address the shortfalls as the special session ends…:
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As severe weather and rain moves into the state, the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says first responders have been working overnight to rescue and evacuate people from homes and vehicles in flood-stricken areas. They say 30-40 homes in Haughton were evacuated, and some residents in Webster Parish are also being forced to leave due to high water. Flash flood warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service in Shreveport for parishes in northwest & northeast Louisiana until late this morning. Most of the state is under a flash flood watch.

Optimism among small businesses falls to a 2-year-low. That’s according to a report by the National Federation of Independent Business and state director Dawn Starns says, while there is no state specific data, Louisiana falls in line. She says proposed tax increases here are affecting businesses…:
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The report shows spending and hiring plans are both down.

LSU Health Shreveport receives a 1.6 million dollar grant to research the connection between alcohol consumption and ischemia, which is a lack of blood flow to the brain that often causes strokes. Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and Sciences Dr. Chris Kevil says drinking one to three alcoholic beverages a week could protect against strokes:
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He says ultimately, the goal is to create life-changing medication for patients.