Lawmakers still haven’t raised enough revenue in the special session that ends tomorrow to fill the budget deficit for next fiscal year. Governor John Bel Edwards has asked for $600 million dollars in additional funding, but Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says the hole is probably bigger than that…:
CUT 16 (08) “being down”
The Senate says they are going to try once again to bring back a bill regarding personal income taxes that the House as already rejected, but leaders in the lower chamber say they don’t see the votes changing.

Beginning today, cops in New Orleans are changing the way they deal with people who possess pot, but State Police says troopers are not on board. NOPD says officers have been instructed to issue a citation similar to a traffic ticket to people caught with a small amount of marijuana. But State Police says they are responsible for enforcing Louisiana’s laws and they want to remain consistent from New Orleans to Shreveport.

Attorney General Jeff Landry and law enforcement officers are partnering to stop the production and distribution of child pornography. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A statewide network of civic organizations says the state grants billions of dollars in local tax revenue to benefit large manufacturers, when that money would be better served going to things like schools a police. Together Louisiana spokesman Broderick Bagert says they are calling on the governor to change the program, which he is allowed to do under the constitution…:
CUT 12 (08) “on them”
But others say this exemption is given out all over the country and without it Louisiana stands to lose businesses to other states.

With two days left in special session, lawmakers are struggling to raise enough money to tackle the state’s massive budget deficit. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says the supplemental budget bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee and TOPS is funded at around 70-percent. He says other areas still don’t have adequate funding…:
Cut 15 (10) “prisons”
Alford says the state’s budget hole is likely more than $600 million.

A woman from Minden died and two others were injured in a Webster Parish, two vehicle crash, according to State Police. They say 33-year-old Kevin Liker of Dubberly tried to pass two vehicles in a no passing zone, when he struck a pickup truck head-on. The passenger in the truck, 66-year-old Linda McCoy was not buckled up and sustained fatal injuries in the crash. Investigators believe speed and alcohol were factors in the incident which is under investigation.

Former state legislator Ebert Guillory has released an interesting ad in support of his candidacy for the 4th district Congressional race. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Attorney General Jeff Landry and law enforcement are teaming up to tackle cyber-crimes against children. State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson says parents can help by keeping a close eye on their kids online…:
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The venture is dubbed Operation Broken Heart.

The industrial tax exemption program that benefits large manufacturers is costing local governments 1.6 billion dollars a year, according to Together Louisiana. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Senate leaders say they are going try again to make moves that would help fill the state’s budget deficit for next fiscal year. The session must end tomorrow night. Senate President John Alario told reporters he hopes to revive an individual income tax measure which was struck down by the House, but lawmakers in the lower chamber say they don’t see votes changing.

Former state senator Elbert Guillory is in the race for the 4th Congressional District seat, and he’s running a very unique YouTube ad to gain voters’ support, by using coconuts as a metaphor. He can be seen in the ad standing behind a podium, holding a mesh bag with two coconuts…:
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Political analyst Pearson Cross thinks this is a “Donald Trump” move by Guillory…:
CUT 10 (09) “the person”
Cross is becoming less politically correct is an emerging trend among candidates.

An unidentified deputy in West Baton Rouge Parish has been suspended without pay for failing to perform a proper inmate headcount, after failing to notice one of the prisoners put a dummy in his bed to trick the officer into thinking he was sleeping. The inmate ended up coming back to the prison with 2 bags of pot according to authorities.

With two days left in special session, lawmakers are struggling to raise enough money to tackle the state’s massive budget deficit. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says legislators are just short of raising 300 million dollars
of the $600 million the governor requested. He says conservatives in the House aren’t budging…:
cut 14 (11) “more revenue”
He says the shortfall for next fiscal year is likely more than $600 million.

The state gives away 1.6 billion dollars in local tax revenue for the industrial exemption program, which benefits large manufacturers. That’s according to Together Louisiana and spokesperson Broderick Bagert says school districts, parishes and other local entities are missing out on these dollars…:
cut 11 (03) “tax money”
But others say this exemption draws big companies to Louisiana.

Attorney General Jeff Landry and law enforcement are teaming up to tackle cyber-crimes against children. Landry says since April, 57 alleged perpetrators have been arrested for the distribution and possession of child pornography as part of “Operation Broken Heart”…:
cut 4 (09) “that exploitation”
State Police is assisting in the effort to reduce internet crimes against children.

According to the latest campaign finance reports for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. $4.7 million dollars has been paid to a Louisiana business which makes the infamous “Make American Great Again” hats. Ace Specialties in Lafayette’s owner is also listed as an official point of contact for the Trump for President store.

The legislative session ends on Thursday night at midnight and 284-million dollars in revenues have been approved as a result of changes to tax laws. Governor John Bel Edwards has pushed for 600-million dollars in the hopes the state can avoid making cuts to the budget.

Senate President John Alario says he wants to revive a piece of legislation that would reduce the amount of tax deductions a person receives if they itemize on their state income tax forms. The proposal would generate an estimated 88-million dollars. It’s an effort supported by the governor, but such a proposal has already been dismissed by the Louisiana House.

If 284-million dollars is all that could be raised, cuts will occur to higher ed, various health care services and the TOPS program to name a few. How much of the revenue raised in this special session should go to TOPS versus hospitals that provide care for the poor is a major debate right now.

Governor Edwards has established a task Force to develop ways Louisiana can safely lower its prison population and reduce inmate housing costs. Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says Louisiana incarcerates more residents per capita than anywhere else in the world and this task force will come up with recommendations that the legislature can approve in 2017…:
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LeBlanc says more programs at the local level can help reduce the recividism rate and lower the jail population.

The governor has signed a bill into law that raised the age threshold for victims of sex trafficking from 18 to 21. Before this law, victims between 18 to 21 could have been arrested for prostitution. Executive Director of Project 41 in West Monroe, Lindsey Nadler, says the public can also get involved in the fight against human trafficking…
cut 11 (10) “…is key”

A manpower report published in Forbes Magazine says New Orleans and Baton Rouge rank 1-2 when it comes to toughest cities to find a job this summer. LSU Economist Loren Scott there is some truth to the report that construction of large scale construction projects between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is slowing down due to the energy market. But he says right in the middle is St. James Parish, where there are a large number of huge potential projects that are in the design and financing stages…:
cut 14 (11) “…New Orleans area”

At the state capitol, time is ticking on lawmakers to give final approval on tax changes designed to raise revenue to avoid major cuts to state services. At this point the state doesn’t have enough money to fully fund TOPS and there’s disagreement at what level the program should be funded.

The governor has formed a task force that will provide the legislature with recommendations on how to reduce the state’s incarceration rate, which is said to be the highest in the world. Louisiana’s Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says they lack needed resources at the local level that can provide an alternative to housing an offender in jail…
cut 4 (09) “…that access”
LeBlanc says providing released inmates with health care can also help reduce the recidivism rate.

Here’s a bizarre story out of Caddo Parish, sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says they arrested a Shreveport man for trespassing after he climbed up a historic monument outside of the courthouse during the middle of the night and the statue’s arm fell off in the process…
cut 16 (06) “…with trespassing”
Twenty-seven-year-old Tromell Conerlious’ bond was set at 500-dollars.

Manpower says based on its survey of metropolitan areas, New Orleans and Baton Rouge are the two worst in the country to find a job this summer. LSU Economist Doctor Loren Scott says the summer is a slow time for New Orleans tourism industry…
cut 13 (07) “…heat is brutal”
Scott says the job outlook is actually much worse in Houma and Lafayette, because of the downturn in the oil and gas industry.

A new report released by the Annie E Casey Foundation finds Louisiana ranks 48th for child well-being. Teresa Falgoust, with the Agenda for Children, says the state ranks so low because of the number of kids who live in poverty, but the report highlights some positives. Falgoust says Louisiana ranks seventh in pre-school attendance and literacy has improved…
cut 8 (09) “…71-percent”
The governor has formed a Justice Reinvestment Task Force that aims to safely reduce the incarceration rate and the cost of housing inmates. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

Shreveport police are calling the death of an 81-year-old man a homicide. Authorities say William Hines was found dead inside his home on Monday afternoon. An exact cause of death is not known, but investigators have enough information to determine Hines was murdered as there was a stab wound to his upper body.