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…:
CUT 2 (20) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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…:
CUT 14 (07) “those pennies”
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.:
Cut 10 (06) “the economy”
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…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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…:
CUT 11 (08) “that is”
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:
cut 4 (08) “in tissues”
He says ultimately, the goal is to create life-changing medication for patients.

There are less than 12 hours left in the special legislative session, and lawmakers are still trying to address the state’s budget shortfall through a combination of budget cuts and tax increases. Jeremy Alford with la-politics-dot-com says taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, and car rentals are already approved, but more bills are still on the table…:
Cut 13 (06) “sales tax”
He says the current deficit for this fiscal year is $954 million, and next budget year’s shortfall is about $2 billion.

The Storm Prediction Center says much of Louisiana is under the threat for severe weather today. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service says the threat for severe weather includes rounds of heavy rainfall…:
CUT 7 (09) “of rain”
Most of the state is under a flash flood watch.

LSU Health Shreveport receives a 1.6 million dollar grant to research the connection between alcohol consumption and ischemic (is-scheme-mic) stroke. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Lawmakers have until 6 pm on Wednesday to figure out how to solve the state’s budget deficit. Emelie Gunn has more on what’s being proposed in the last days of the special session…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

St. Tammany parish sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of a man from Abita Springs. Investigators say the case is still pending, including autopsy results, identification of the man and determination of the cause of death.

Residents of St. Joseph are petitioning the state government for better water. Garrett Boyte of St. Joseph says manganese is found in St. Joseph’s water at alarmingly high amounts and it has been linked to adverse health effects, especially for infants. Boyte met with Governor John Bel Edwards today and he says the governor is considering proposed legislation to fix Louisiana’s water problems.

CUT 8 (11) “currently do”

Boyte says 400 water systems in the state are facing similar issues.

Multiple flash flood watches are in effect as north and south Louisiana will see some heavy rainfall. CS Ross with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says we’ll see heavy downpours throughout the week. He says Louisiana will experience storms bringing in high winds and the chance of hail and tornadoes. Ross says there’s also the chance for severe weather moving into Louisiana from Texas.

cut 15 (08) “as well” 

The special legislative session ends tomorrow at 6pm, and lawmakers are still trying to address the state’s huge fiscal deficit through a combination of budget cuts and tax increases. We’re waiting to see what legislation will come out. Jeremy Alford with la-politics-dot-com says the certainties in this session include taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, and car rentals, but he says more bills still have to be approved.

Cut 13 (06)  “sales tax”

In the House, there has been talk of increasing the state sales tax by more than a penny to increase revenue. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry supports the proposal….

CUT 3 (11) “or TOPS”
Democrats oppose this idea. Baton Rouge representative Ted James…

Cut 5 (09) “right thing”

Senate democrats, who believe businesses are not paying their fair share of taxes, took out some of their frustrations with the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Stephen Waguespack. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau is one of those lawmakers who is not happy that LABI is pushing legislators to increase the state sales tax by more than a penny…

cut 12 (10) “…we can’t pay anymore”
Waguespack says businesses are already dealing with a horrible economic recession…
cut 13 (08) “….across the board”
A senate committee approved a bill today that would remove a four-cent sales tax that businesses currently do not have to pay. This is all part of the discussion over how the state should address a massive budget shortfall this fiscal year and next.

The special legislative session ends tomorrow, and lawmakers are still trying to close a massive budget hole for this fiscal year, which could mean raising the state sales tax by more than a penny. But Baton Rouge Representative Ted James doesn’t think that’s a good idea. James says unfortunately there are House members who would rather pass taxes on the consumer and ignore reducing our corporate tax exemptions.

CUT 4 (07)  “the consumer”

A state senate committee approved legislation that would remove some tax exemptions for businesses, and that measure now heads to the Senate floor. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry president Stephen Waguespack argues that businesses and taxpayers should share the burden and each take a “middle of the road” hit. But New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says LABI continues to push bills that lead to higher taxes on consumers but doesn’t result in businesses contributing to the higher tax burden.

Cut 11 (10) “for him”

Multiple flash flood watches are in effect as north and south Louisiana is expecting a huge amount of rain. CS Ross with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says we’ll see heavy downpours throughout the week.

cut 14 (07)  “12 inches”

Ross says Louisiana will experience some storms bringing in high winds and the chance of hail, along with tornadoes.

St. Joseph residents are pleading with the state government to get cleaner water. Garrett Boyte of St. Joseph says the water there has been yellow or murky brown for over a decade. Boyte and others from the town met with Governor John Bel Edwards and state legislators to discuss raising the standards for water in Louisiana.

CUT 7 (12) “secondary standard”

Boyte says manganese has been linked to adverse health effects, especially for infants, and it is found in St. Joseph’s water at alarmingly high amounts.

There’s a push at the state Capitol to increase the state sales tax by more than a penny, something Baton Rouge Representative Ted James objects to….
cut 5 (09) “….right thing”
James says he would like to see businesses pay higher taxes to help cover the 940-million dollar shortfall.

That topic was up for discussion in a senate committee this morning. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry president Stephen Waguespack was testifying in favor of a measure to increase the state sales by more than one-cent, when New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson lashed out at Waguespack and claimed he helped create the state’s budget problems when he served in the Bobby Jindal adminsitration…
cut 10 (10) “,…no credibility”
The special session ends tomorrow night.

Much of the western half of the state is under a tornado watch until six PM tonight. CS Ross, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says a strong line of storms is moving into Louisiana from Texas…
cut 16 (04) “….days”
The Storm Prediction Center has much of the state shaded for a slight chance of severe weather tomorrow.

Residents of St. Joseph are petitioning the state government for better water. Garrett Boyte, a resident of St. Joseph, says the water there has been yellow or murky brown for over 10 years. Boyte and others from the town met with Governor John Bel Edwards and state legislators to discuss upping the minimum standards for water in Louisiana….
cut 7 (12) “…secondary standard”
Boyte says manganese has been linked to adverse health effects, especially for infants, and it is found in St. Joseph’s water at alarmingly high amounts.