This weekend is the state’s annual sales tax holiday, dropping sales taxes from 5 to 3 percent on Friday and Saturday. Emelie Gunn has more on these back to school sales tax exemptions….

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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 Attorney Lance Unglesby denies allegations that Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa bribed Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, to drop out of the race. Jeff Palermo has more on the case…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana saw a 36% increase in international travel to the state, according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Halen Doughy has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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This Friday and Saturday is the state’s annual sales tax holiday where shoppers will only have to pay 3-percent sales tax on purchases, rather than 5-percent. Department of Revenue Spokesperson Byron Henderson says the exemption applies to the first 25-hundred dollars of the purchase price of each eligible item, not the entire transaction.

cut 4  (11)  “exemption”

With school coming up, Henderson says this is a great weekend for parents to do their back to school shopping. But he says there are some purchases that are not eligible for the sales tax exemption…

Cut 5  (09)  “rentals”

Henderson also reminds parents to save their receipts on back-to-school items like school supplies, uniforms, tuition and educational equipment because they are tax deductible. He says you can report these purchases and get a tax break when you filed your state income taxes.

Cut 6 (11) “refund”

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Attorney Lance Unglesby says Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa did not bribe Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, in an effort to get him out of the race. Unglesby says Matassa was actually offering Lawson a loan to get him out of financial trouble.

CUT 7 (10)  “his sister”

Allegations surfaced earlier this week when an audio recording was released that purportedly has Matassa and a business partner offering Lawson 12-hundred dollars.  Unglesby says Matassa’s intent was not to bribe Lawson for the benefit of the incumbent in the race, Neal Bourque.

Cut 8  (09)  “his life”

Ascension Parish District Attorney Ricky Babin decided to open the investigation after audio was released on the website, the Pelican Post, of a private conversation between Lawson, Matassa and his friend Olin Berthelot. He says his office is working with the Attorney General’s office to put the facts together.

Cut 9 (09)  “the originals”

Babin says the fact that these allegations were made is very troubling and they take cases like this very seriously.

Cut 10 (09) “a community”

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Louisiana’s FastStart workforce training program has been ranked the best in the nation for the seventh year in a row by the corporate site selection website, Business Facilities. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says what really drives the program’s success is the workforce in Louisiana.

cut 11 (10) “work space”

FastStart has helped over 150 companies in Louisiana and provided training for more than 23-thousand employees in the past 8 years. Pierson says the program draws companies to Louisiana and then finds them qualified workers to fill positions once the facilities open.

cut 12 (10) “company needs”

Pierson says similar programs in other states have also done well, and it’s only by constantly improving our program that Louisiana has remained the best program in the country for seven years running.

Cut 13 (09) “our state”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announces that international travel to Louisiana has increased 36% over the past year. He says that puts Louisiana second only to Michigan for annual growth. He says international tourism has huge benefits for the state.

cut 14 (08)  “one city”

Nungesser says New Orleans saw a 37% increase during the same time period and this is the third consecutive year of double digit growth in international visitors. He credits Louisiana’s great food and culture and its people for the big increase in tourists from outside of the United States.

Cut 15 (11) “hospitality industry”

Nungesser says he wants to make sure that visitor rate continues to rise. He says we just have to make sure Louisiana always puts its best foot forward.

Cut 16  (09)  “our state”

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The LSU football team his the practice field this morning for the first of several practices leading up to the season opener against Wisconsin on September 3rd. Coach Les Miles knows he has a lot of talent on this squad and wants to see it play out over the next month…

Cut 17 (20)  “very happy”

LSU is considered one of the favorites to win the Southeastern Conference and play in the College Football Playoff. They’ll need to get good play from quarterback Brandon Harris. Miles says he likes the poise the junior brings to the field…

Cut 18 (15) “more of that”

Veterans on the LSU team will practice this morning and then freshman and a few of the older players will have their own practice in the afternoon.

Cut 19 (15) “need reps”

Construction will soon begin on Interstate 10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin, according to the Department of Transportation. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Today marks the 4 year anniversary of the Assumption Parish sinkhole in Bayou Corne. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A 5-year-old has died after being shot accidentally by his 9-year-old brother. Col. John Fortunato with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says police received a call from the children’s mother, 29-year-old Generra Brown, and when first responders arrived at the scene, they made a horrific discovery.

CUT 3 (09)  “the face”

The 5-year-old has been identified as Melvin Brady. Fortunato says the two boys were playing in a closet when they came across a handgun.

CUT 4 (07)  “younger child”

Fortunato says a semiautomatic handgun was found lying next to the child. He says the boys’ mother was not home at the time of the shooting.

CUT 5 (07)  “elderly neighbor”

Fortunato says no charges have been filed at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.

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The Department of Transportation announces they will soon begin the process of widening Interstate 10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says this area of the interstate is heavily trafficked by freight trucks. He believes widening the road to three lanes in both directions will alleviate congestion.

CUT 6 (10) “travel through”

Wilson says a $60 million federal FASTLANE grant will pay for the repaving and widening of I-10. He says there are a lot of transportation improvements needed in Louisiana, but this project best fits the criteria for this award.

CUT 7 (08) “in Louisiana”

Wilson says this federal grant frees up state dollars to be used for other highway improvements. He says construction to widen I-10 should begin in January, and both lanes will remain open during the roadwork.

CUT 8 (10) “with construction”

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Today marks the 4 year anniversary of the Assumption Parish sinkhole in Bayou Corne, and leaders say many residents have moved on — but there are some who don’t want to let go. John Boudreaux is the Emergency Preparedness Director at Assumption Parish. He says this has been an unprecedented event…:

CUT 9 (07) “of the area”

The horrific environmental disaster is still affecting the community. Boudreaux says this is one of those situations that you never think could happen to you, but a reminder about why it’s so important to always been prepared for anything…:

cut 10 (10)  “emergency response”

Boudreaux says most residents are pleased with their settlements from Texas Brine and have established their lives elsewhere, but there are still about 15 who remain in the area. He says 4 years ago they were working hard to figure out where this strage bubbling was coming from, and had no idea it was anything along the lines of this massive sinkhole…:

Cut 11 (10) “and unknowns”

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Louisiana has received $400-thousand from the Centers for Disease Control to fight the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health says this money is targeted specifically for pregnant women, who are most at risk. He says the money will be used to educate both OBGYNs and women about the virus, as well as for medical care if a woman gets Zika.

cut 12 (08) “on it”

Welch urges pregnant women to take extra precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. He says that includes removing any standing water from their yards and watching out for mosquitos when they are outside.

Cut 13 (08)  “long pants”

Welch says there have been 17 Zika cases in Louisiana, and all of them are travel related. He says we have not seen local transmission yet in Louisiana, but it’s still a possibility because the mosquito that carries the virus is active here.

cut 14 (08)  “the state”

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An employee has been arrested in Thibodaux for allegedly stealing money from her register at work in order to pay for braces and her education. Thibodaux Police spokesperson David Melancon says 20-year-old Tralvaunta Bentley pocketed a lot of money in just over two weeks…:

cut 15 (07) “her till”

Melancon says Bentley was booked with felony theft on a $35-hundred bond and was released the same day after posting bond. He says this criminal act was a slap in the face to everyone who works hard to pay for their education.

cut 16 (07) “in life”