The one cent state sales tax goes into effect starting today and will remain through June 30th of 2018. State officials say the revenue generated from several tax hikes that began April 1st will amount to about $300 million dollars. Consumers are also paying more for alcohol and cigarettes.

The National Weather Serivce says most of north Louisiana received record flooding for March. Forecaster Jason Hansford says Shreveport tallied over 12 inches of rain, which surpassed the previous wettest March of 11.99 inches back in 1945. He says Monroe was about double that…:
CUT 1 (13) “1980”
He says March 8th and 9th alone, Monroe tallied 16.48 inches of rain during that two day period.

Law enforcement officials are looking for a Slidell man they say had human and animal remains on an altar in his home. They say a search of 31-year-old Joshua Roques’ residence revealed human skulls, animal bones, dried blood and a large cast iron bowl surrounded by candles and other ritualistic items. The man is wanted on numerous charges including interring or cremating human remains and opening graves and stealing a body. Anyone with information about Roques’ whereabouts is asked to call Crimestoppers.

A proposed bill that seeks equal pay for men and women was approved by the Senate Labor Committee. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

According to AAA, quarterly gas prices are lower than they’ve been in over a decade, as the average price for a gallon of gas in the state is $1.88. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Several tax increases go into effect today in Louisiana that are expected to pump $300 million into the state economy by June 30. Consumers will now pay an additional one cent on the state sales tax, as well as higher taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.

Things are still moving slowly three weeks into the regular legislative session. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says legislators have raised various taxes like on alcohol and cigarettes but still haven’t raised enough revenue for the next fiscal year. He says anything that has to do with the budget will be a hot topic in the coming weeks before the session ends on June 6^th.

Cut 6 (10)  “next year” 

Pinsonat expects the voucher program along with teacher reforms to be big issues discussed during this session.

The Senate Transportation Committee passed a bill to make it legal to park on the wrong side of the road in residential areas. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says uniformly parked cars look nicer, but it isn’t the government’s place to make sure everything looks pretty in your subdivision.

Cut 9 (08)  “statute”

Quarterly gas prices are the lowest they’ve been in 12 years according to AAA. Spokesperson Mike Right says this is leading to a record-breaking number of motorists out on the roads. The average price for a gallon of gas in Louisiana is about $1.88. Wright says we could see prices at the pump increase in the coming months…:
Cut 15 (08) “Memorial Day”
He says prices are about 30-40 cents lower than this time in 2015.

It’s not an April Fool’s joke…today most everyone will be paying more in taxes either on retail items, cigarettes, alcohol, auto rentals or through temporary exemption losses. The one cent increase in the state sales tax expires June 30th of next year.

Early voting for the April 9th election ends tomorrow. Many people aren’t aware, but 41 parishes have items on a ballot next Saturday. The Secretary of State’s Office says you can find out if you’re included by getting individual ballot information online at geauxvote.com.

A bill to make it legal to park on the wrong side of the road in residential areas advances in the Senate Transportation Committee. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says currently it’s illegal to park in the opposite direction, but he believes the law was intended for highways only. He says it doesn’t pose a public safety hazard in residential areas…:
CUT 7 (10) “an hour”
He says it doesn’t pose a safety problem and ticketing for the “offense” is basically a money grab by local officials.

Lafayette’s MacKenzie Bourg will not be the 15th, and final American Idol. The local singing celebrity was booted off the show last night after making it to the final four on the TV competition. Bourg tweeted out a thanks to everyone
who came along for his journey, and that the fun is just about to start.

Three weeks are in the books for the 2016 legislative session and lawmakers still have a long way to go. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says big topics are still on the agenda like the TOPS program…:
CUT 5 (08) “have TOPS”
The session ends on June 6th.

A bill that would establish the Louisiana Equal Pay Act advanced Thursday in the Senate Labor Committee. Governor John Bel Edwards spoke in support and said all women deserve equal pay for equal work as men…:
CUT 11 (07) “of us”
Renee Amar, with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, says education, experience, and market prices determine how much an employee is paid, not whether they are male or female…:
Cut 13 (06) “their wages”
The measure now heads to the Senate floor.

Legislation to allow drivers to park on the wrong side of the road in residential areas passed in the Senate Transportation Committee. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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AAA says motorists are paying the lowest quarterly prices for gas in 12 years. in Louisiana, the statewide average for a gallon of regular is $1.88. Fuel analyst Mike Wright says drivers will see significant savings this year over 2015…:
CUT 16 (06) “last year”
He says Americans have saved almost $10-billion on gas this year compared to the same period in 2015.

A proposed bill that seeks equal pay for men and women was approved by the Senate Labor Committee. Halen Doughty has more..:
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The National Weather Service confirmed two weak tornadoes touched down in southeast Louisiana early Thursday. One east of Greensburg in St. Helena Parish, the other in Tangipahoa Parish. With more rain in the forecast, most of southeast and north Louisiana remains under flood watches or warnings.

Lafayette’s Makenzie Boyd was eliminated last night on the final season of American Idol, after reaching the singing competition’s final four.

A Metairie lawmaker thinks it should be legal to park on the wrong side of the road in residential neighborhoods. The measure by Senator Danny Martiny advanced in the Senate Transportation Committee Thursday. He says ticketing drivers parked on the wrong side of the road in subdivisions is shady…:
Cut 8 (09) “budget problem”
He believes the law was intended for highways only.

Drivers are paying the cheapest quarterly gas prices in 12 years. AAA says Americans have saved almost $10-billion on gas this year compared to the same period in 2015. Fuel analyst Mike Right says motorists are well on their way to significant savings on gas this year…:
Cut 14 (06) “gasoline bill”
The average price for a gallon of gas in Louisiana $1.88.

As the 1 cent sales tax increase goes into effect today, the Tax Foundation says Louisiana’s sales tax system is ranked worst in the nation.

According to AAA, quarterly gas prices are lower than they’ve been in over a decade, as the average price for a gallon of gas in the state is $1.88. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Three weeks into the regular legislative session and things are still moving slow. The biggest piece of legislation so far has been the minimum wage bill clearing the Senate Labor Committee. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says legislators were burnt out after a tough special session…:
cut 4 (08) “school reform”
The session ends on June 6th.

A bill seeking equal pay for men and women in Louisiana has been approved by the Senate Labor Committee. According to data from the US Census Bureau, women make 65-cents for every $1 a man makes, and that gap is even wider for minority women Author of the bill, New Orleans Senator JP Morrell, says this is not acceptable:
Cut 10 (10) “than men”
But Dawn Starns, with the National Federation for Independent Business says legislation is already in place to protect equal pay…:
cut 12 (07) “business owners”
The governor supports the measure.

The bill to increase the state’s minimum wage to $8.00 an hour beginning next year, and then to $8.50 in 2018 passed out of the Senate Labor Committee with a 4-3 vote. Governor John Bel Edwards testified in support of increasing the minimum wage today. Edwards says Louisiana households are unable to afford their basic necessities. He says it’s not just high school and college students who are working for minimum wage.

CUT 9 (06) “monthly expenses”

Baton Rouge business owner Mark Johnson opposes the increase because he says this would leave business owners with difficult decisions about absorbing the new costs.

cut 12 (06) “your choices”

This bill, and a measure seeking equal pay for men and women, heads to the Senate floor.

Lafayette’s own local celebrity, 23-year-old MacKenzie Bourg, will find out tonight if he’ll advance to the Top 3 on the final season of American Idol. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (32)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

State and local officials broke ground on an 88 acre technology park in Monroe that will feature an IBM facility that will employ 400 workers. The IBM Client Innovation Center will provide software technology services to clients across the US and partner with CenturyLink on research.

Bills to increase the minimum wage and demand equal pay for men and women were approved by the Senate Labor Committee today. Governor John Bel Edwards was on hand to testify in favor of both measures. He says a higher minimum wage could help solve the child poverty problem in Louisiana.

Cut 10 (08) “and raising”

Baton Rouge business owner Mark Johnson opposes the increase because he says it would impact small businesses production costs.

Cut 11 (09) “bottom line”

On a 4-3 vote the committee approved the minimum wage increase to $8.00 an hour beginning next year. And a 5-2 vote from the panel passed the bill seeking equal pay for women. Both bills head to the Senate floor.

A bill to allow hunters to wear blaze pink in addition to hunter’s orange passes out of the House. Author of the legislation Bogalusa Rep. Malinda White says all this does is give another option that has been proven to be safer. White says the blaze pink attire would be simple and without embellishment to meet the 400 square inches of color requirement. She says pink will stand out in the woods.

CUT 4 (08)  “and yellows”

White says men can wear blazing pink too.

Several tax increases will go into effect tomorrow in Louisiana, including a one-cent increase on the state sales tax.  LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan Rice says this likely won’t change consumer’s purchasing habits.

Cut 23 (10)  “quite frankly”

The tax on a pack of cigarettes will increase by 22-cents, and taxes on all types of alcohol will also go up.