The one cent sales tax increase could get a vote in the House Ways and Means Committee today as lawmakers continue to grapple with a more than $900 million dollar current financial year shortfall. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says many republicans could vote for an increase in the sales tax, but they want the governor to commit to some long-term spending cuts:
CUT 11 (09) “regular session”
Vote on various proposals to increase taxes are expected in the committee today.

Due to the threat of extremely severe weather, most schools in southeast Louisiana are out and several Louisiana parishes state government offices will close at noon today. State climatologist Barry Keim says in addition to strong winds, hail and possible tornadoes, flash flood warnings could be issued in some parts of the state…:
CUT 6 (08) “flood issues”

You can cast a ballot in Louisiana’s March 5th Presidential Preference Primary this week through Saturday at early voting locations. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says this primary is costing Louisiana $3.5 million dollars and moving to a caucus could save the state money and reduce future spending…:
CUT 14 (09) “different way”
He says it would take a vote by legislators to make the change.

Tulane University released a study which shows students in the state voucher program scored far lower in math than those in public school. The numbers improved slightly in the second year, but were still much lower that public school performance.

At the Capitol Monday, House Appropriations approved a series of bills aimed at reducing or cutting down on the number of state contracts, which supporters say will save the state some much needed dollars.

The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote on various tax proposals today, including a measure that would increase the state sales tax by a penny. Halen Doughty reports…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Louisiana is bracing for severe weather moving into the state, and schools mostly across the southeast have cancelled classes for today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says those areas are under the second highest of five categories of risk designated by NOAA…:
CUT 5 (07) “entire day”

Every year the Legislative Auditor puts out a report which highlights areas state government could be doing a better job of protecting taxpayer dollars. Daryl Purpera says the found some big issues within the Department of Health and Hospitals including failing to collect Medicaid payments for patient services. He says they are planning to increase the number of auditors within DHH…:

CUT 8 (10) “these issues”

He says auditors are about to start taking a deeper look at how state agencies use their credit cards, travel and collect cash.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission will reportedly vote tomorrow on whether or not to approve the sale of Cleco. The company agreed to a sale proposal from an investment group which was approved by CLECO shareholders, so now it’s in the hands of the PSC. This would put the public company in private hands. Macquarie Investments have already said that this would have little to no effect on customers.

Most of the state is looking at severe weather today, including the potential for tornadoes. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will be a bumpy ride over the next 24 hours or so as result of cold front that’s moving through Louisiana…:
cut 4 (08) “across the state”
New Orleans, Houma, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Alexandria are under an enhanced threat of severe weather. Keim says the disturbance will diminish tomorrow morning, but it’s going to be chilly.

Today could be a pivotal day in the special session that’s been called to eliminate a $900 million deficit this fiscal year. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote on various proposals to increase taxes, including a measure that would increase the state sales tax by a penny. La-Politics.com publisher Jeremy Alford…:
CUT 10 (05) “to do it”
He says Republicans could get on board, but they want the governor to commit to some long-term spending cuts.

Charges have been upgraded against a 16-year-old, who fatally shot his 16-year-old niece, in what Baton Rouge police call an accidental shooting. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says state government can do a better job of protecting taxpayer dollars. He says on multiple occasions his auditors discovered the Department of Health and Hospitals didn’t do what was needed to receive payments from third parties for Medicaid patients…:
CUT 7 (10) “million dollars”

Much of Louisiana is under an enhanced severe weather threat today and that includes the potential for tornadoes. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
There is a high wind advisory for the entire state today beginning at 4pm-6pm. The National Weather Service says winds could increase to 20-30 miles per hour with gusts possibly getting to 40 miles per hour or higher.

At the Capitol today as there are just 14 days left in the special legislative session, the House Ways and Means Committee is set to vote on some of Governor John Bel Edwards tax proposals, including a one cent increase to the state’s sales tax.

Early voting for the Louisiana Presidential Preference Primary continues today through Saturday. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says this primary is costing Louisiana $3.5 million during tough budget times. He says switching to a caucus format would save the state that money, because a caucus is paid for by the political parties…:
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The primary will be held March 5th.

Baton Rouge Police say the gun that apparently went off by accident as a 16-year-old was playing with it, and struck his 16-year-old niece in the head killing her, was a stolen firearm. The suspect was booked back into the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Detention Center on charges of negligent homicide and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.

A House committee approves several bills aimed at reducing the number of state government contracts. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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There are 15 days left in the special legislative session that’s been called to address a 850 to 950 million dollar deficit this fiscal year. Governor John Bel Edwards has said it’ll take cuts to the budget and tax increases to close the gap. The House Ways and Means Committee is set to vote tomorrow on some of the governor’s tax proposals, including a one cent increase to the state’s sales tax.

More groups are coming forward expressing anger over the latest viral Crimestoppers video by Captain Clay Higgins with the Sheriff’s Office in St. Landry. The so called, “Cajun John Wayne” is coming under fire for some of the terminology he used to refer to the Gremlins Gang suspects. The ACLU of Louisiana also said that Higgins implies using the force of summary execution which is not the way we work in this country. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says Acadiana is dealing with this gang that’s been terrorizing the area for a long time. He says they may have veered off point, but the message is pretty simple…:

Cut 11 (09) “watch for ya”

The International Energy Agency said today that oil prices should remain low through 2016. That’s good news for motorists, who are paying some of the lowest gas prices we’ve seen since 2004. But David Dismukes, executive director at the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says low gas prices are not helping Louisiana’s economy…

CUT 8 (06) “right now”

The House Appropriations Committee approved a series of bills today aimed at reducing or cutting down on number of state contracts, which supporters say will save the state some much needed dollars. Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy says there’s a 29-million dollar contract to help the state build a website for food stamp recipients. Other examples Kennedy named include contracts for tutoring students and providing adult education to prisoners. Kennedy says the governor should bring in his cabinet secretaries today and demand they cut at least 10-percent of their contracts

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Kennedy says there are dozens if not hundreds of contracts that the state spends money on that are NOT needed. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says an examination of state contracts is underway and they plan to eliminate some of them in the coming weeks as part of their cost cutting plan

cut 15 (10) “do something” 

Tuesday could be a pivotal day in the special session that’s been called to eliminate a $900 million deficit this fiscal year. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote on various proposals to increase taxes, including a measure that would increase the state sales tax from 4-cents to 5-cents. Jeremy Alford, publisher of la-politics-dot-com, says the sales tax bill is a key revenue raising measure that the Edwards administration is pushing for.

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Alford says many republicans could vote for an increase in the sales tax, but they want the governor to commit to some long-term spending cuts.

The committee has also heard bills that would increase taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, rental cars, phone lines, internet sales and hotels. Alford says the committee may vote on just a few of these proposed taxes.

cut 12 (08) “this huge gap”

Whatever tax measure pass out of the Ways and Means committee will go to the House floor, where it will need 70 votes for passage to the senate.

Oil prices will not rebound until next year, according to experts at the International Energy Agency. David Dismukes, Executive Director at the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says this is disappointing news to the oil industry, after hearing reports about a production freeze in the Middle East. But Dismukes doesn’t see a cutback in production by oil producing countries…

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Today the price of US oil is trading around $30 a barrel.

The House Appropriations Committee approved a series of bills today aimed at reducing or cutting down on number of state contracts, which supporters say will save the state some much needed dollars. Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy says there are dozens if not hundreds of contracts that the state spends money on that are NOT needed

cut 13 (06)  “you throw up”

Some of the examples Kennedy named include contracts for tutoring students and providing adult education to prisoners.

A man who cops say was acting strange at a movie theater in Lafayette was issued a summons for disturbing the peace. Corporal Paul Mouton says during the film Deadpool, witnesses reported seeing 35-year-old Christopher Harmason of New Iberia walking up and down the aisles…:

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Mouton says Harmason was issued a misdemeanor summons and was told not to come back to the theater.

More groups are coming forward expressing anger over the latest viral Crimestoppers video by Captain Clay Higgins with the Sheriff’s Office in St. Landry. The so called, “Cajun John Wayne” is coming under fire for some of the terminology he used to refer to the Gremlins Gang suspects. National Action Now President Rev. Raymond Brown  feels Higgins’ video is a smack in the face to our criminal justice system. He says it sets a poor example to call people ugly names…:

cut 10 (10)  “maximum force”