The national Confederate flag controversy could be causing problems at a Louisiana High School. Emelie Gunn has the story…:
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According to financial reports filed Wednesday by federal regulators, Governor Bobby Jindal has raised about $579,000 for his Republican presidential campaign. Since Jindal announced his candidacy on June 24th, the report shows he’s drawing most of his money from a base of supporters in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry has handed out “F” grades to 94 lawmakers in their annual legislative scorecard. LABI’s Vice President for Policy and Research Camille Conaway says lawmakers who received an “F” grade voted for more than 600 million dollars in new taxes on businesses…:
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Lawmakers say the tax increases were necessary to prevent big budget cuts to higher education and health care.

The St. John The Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man is under arrest after cops say he used his 5-year-old son to break into his mother’s house through an air conditioning vent to unlock the door. They say 30-year-old Anthony Wilson are accused of robbing the residence then fleeing with the child and his wife. The couple was caught after cops responded to a burglar alarm. They face multiple charges after the child confessed.

A new report finds Louisiana has the third highest average combined state and local sales tax rate in the country. Jeff Palermo has the details…

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The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Monroe man accused of stabbing three women. They say 44-year-old Earl Haynes was involved in an altercation with several people when he grabbed a large kitchen knife. The victims tried to flee, but Haynes followed them outside where he allegedly stabbed three of them. The three victims were transported to a local hospital. Haynes is being held on three counts of aggravated battery.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s annual legislative scorecard shows 94 lawmakers received “F” grades for approving $600 million in new taxes on businesses. LABI’s Camille Conaway says there will certainly be an impact on the election cycle as a result of the tax increase…

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Many lawmakers who received “F”s are up for reelection or running for another political office this year.

The national Confederate flag controversy has prompted some to create a Facebook page calling for the “Rebels” mascot to be changed at West Monroe High School. Alumnus Shane Acree, who supports the current mascot, says West Monroe High has generational pride and students and alumni don’t want their mascot changed…

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Acree has started a counter page called “Hands off my West Monroe High School mascot.”

LABI handed out 94 “F” grades to lawmakers on their yearly scorecard. Scott Carwile has more on why so many failed…

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Lake Charles Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot at several people outside a home. Authorities say the five victims said a green SUV stopped and someone got out of the vehicle and began shooting at them. No one was seriously injured in the incident. No arrests have been made, at this time, but police say they do have several leads. The investigation is ongoing.

A recent report by the Tax Foundation shows Louisiana has the third highest average combined state and local sales tax in the nation. Economist Scott Drenkard says Louisiana has one of the highest rates, because of its generous homestead tax exemption, which reduces the amount of property taxes homeowners pay…

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He says Louisiana’s average combined state and local sales tax rate is 9.01 percent.

The controversy over the Confederate flag and monuments has caused some to question whether the “Rebels” mascot is appropriate for West Monroe High School. 1989 Alumnus Shane Acree says their mascot has nothing to do with what’s going on with the Confederate flag controversy across the country…

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A Facebook page has been started calling for a new nickname for West Monroe High, but Acree says he’s heard it isn’t being seriously considered by the School Board Superintendent.

According to the Tax Foundation, Louisiana has moved past Alabama for the third highest average combined state and local sales tax in the nation. Economist Scott Drenkard says Louisiana’s average combined state and local sales tax rate is 9.01 percent. He says that’s because a few local governments raised their sales taxes

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The Tax Foundation puts together a report every July on sales tax rates.

94 state lawmakers received “F” grades in the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s annual legislative scorecard. LABI’s Camille Conaway says this past session saw the highest tax increase in Louisiana in decades and it was unnecessary because there were other avenues that the legislature could’ve used to balance the budget.

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Many of the lawmakers who received “F” grades are up for reelection or running for another political office.

The controversy over the Confederate flag and monuments has spilled over to whether the “Rebels” mascot is appropriate for West Monroe High School. A Facebook page has been started calling for a new nickname for the school. But 1989 Alumnus Shane Acree has started a counter page called “Hands off my West Monroe High School mascot.”

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The West Monroe High School Rebel Mascot Change Facebook page states their message is: “we have seen the rebel mascot and partnering Confederate flag cause much harm and suffering to many of our friends, family, and business associates.”

Livingston Sen. Dale Erdey is asking the Department of Transportation to study the possibility of turning the inside shoulder of I-12 into a travel lane between Baton Rouge and Walker. He says, right now, the process is in the early stages…

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Erdey says not only would this help the many motorists who use I-12 through Baton Rouge, it would be good for commerce as well.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry has handed out “F” grades to 94 lawmakers in their annual legislative scorecard. LABI’s Vice President for Policy and Research Camille Conaway says lawmakers who received an “F” grade voted for more than 600 million dollars in new taxes on businesses…

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Lawmakers say the tax increases were necessary to prevent big budget cuts to higher education and health care.

Louisiana has moved past Alabama for the third highest average combined state and local sales tax according to the Tax Foundation. Economist Scott Drenkard says Louisiana ranks high on their list, because it has the highest average local tax rate in the country…

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Drenkard says Louisiana’s average combined state and local sales tax rate is 9.01 percent.

Livingston Senator Dale Erdey is asking the Department of Transportation to check the feasibility of turning the inside shoulder of I-12 into a travel lane between Baton Rouge and Walker. The proposal would make the 15 mile corridor grow from six to eight lanes between the I-10/12 split and Walker. Erdey believes this would be a huge help…

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Erdey says the request is contained in a Louisiana Senate approved resolution he has sponsored and is about to get a review by DOTD.

Louisiana’s Republican Congressional delegation does not support the Iran nuclear deal President Obama has agreed to. Eric Gill reports…:
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Sixty-one-percent of state House members and 77-percent of the senate received “F” grades from the powerful lobbying group, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. LABI says these legislators received “F” grades for voting on bills that raised taxes on businesses.

The release of Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” which is a sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird” is creating some controversy. Because prominent character Atticus Finch is portrayed as a racist in this latest book. Jessica Lacher-Feldman, head of LSU’s Libraries’ Special Collections division, says each reader needs to form their own opinion…:
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Louisiana’s most popular summer-blooming tree, the crepe myrtle, is blooming later and less than normal this year. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings says we’re seeing a decrease flower development because of weather conditions this past spring…:
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Owing says there’s nothing that can be done, at this point, to improve the bloom of crepe myrtles for this year.

Republicans in Louisiana’s Congressional delegation don’t like the Iran nuclear deal that the president has agreed to. Essentially, it would mean that in exchange for limits on nuclear activities, Iran gets billions in relief from international sanctions. 1st District Congressman and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise…:
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Money, he says that could be used against the US and allies.

Shreveport Police have a man in custody accused of stabbing his teenage nephew to death. Cpl. Marcus Hines says officers learned that 15-year-old Willie Latin III was stabbed following a physical altercation inside his home. He says Latin was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later…
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The “To Kill A Mockingbird” sequel by Harper Lee is out, and some people are calling the character Atticus Finch a racist in the book, “Go Set A Watchman.” Jessica Lacher-Feldman, head of LSU Libraries’ Special Collections division, says readers need to take the book as a piece of literature written in the 1950′s and understand it represents 1950′s Alabama.
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The Louisiana Association of Business and industry has come out with their report card on lawmakers, and it shows 94 legislators received an “F.” For those that didn’t pass, the LABI says all of them voted for 600 million dollars in taxes on business. They say many of those lawmakers are up for re-election, and that voting record will have an impact on the fall elections.