Despite a flurry of votes in the final minutes of the special session, including a bill that increases the state’s four-cent sales tax by a penny, Louisiana is still facing a 30-million dollar deficit for this fiscal year and a shortfall that could be as much as 800-million dollars next fiscal year. Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards says lawmakers could have done a better job…:
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Edwards says another special session is possible in mid-June.

Entergy reports about 5400 people statewide are without power this morning, including 3,000 in East Baton Rouge Parish. Heavy rainfall will continue to pound Louisiana into Saturday morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the northern part of the state was hit with thunderstorms and floods, but now the system should shift down into central and southern Louisiana today and Friday:
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Today the original teddy bear, Louisiana’s black bear, will be formally removed from the endangered species list during a press conference at the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge. Halen Doughty has the story…:
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The special session to address the state’s 940-million budget deficit for this fiscal year has finally come to a close. Lawmakers have been working for several weeks on a combination of budget cuts and revenue raising measures. Jeff Palermo reports from the Capitol…

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Cleco has asked state regulators for another hearing on the utility company’s proposed sale to a foreign investment group for almost $5 billion. Public Service Commission chairman Clyde Holloway says he is not in favor of another hearing.

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Cleco’s attorney says the commission’s vote was flawed because it wrongly decided on the merits of the transaction. Holloway says the commission and an administrative law judge has already heard enough testimony from the company.

Numerous homes in north Louisiana are under water as the result of a colossal storm that has dumped nearly a foot of rain. Bill Davis, with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, says as flood waters rose during the night, they began evacuating people….

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Ouachita parish is also getting hit hard by the storm. Glenn Springfield with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says evacuations have been underway throughout the parish since last night.

Lawmakers are going down to the wire on agreeing to a plan that would stave off big cuts to higher education and healthcare. The special session called to address a 940-million dollar deficit this fiscal year and a 2-billion dollar deficit next fiscal year must end at 6pm. House Speaker Taylor Barras gave this pep talk to legislators earlier today.

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The negotiations have been taking place all day behind closed doors. There are three primary bills that legislators are trying to agree on. One of the bills is an increase to the four-cent sales tax. Another bill makes cuts to the current budget, and Jeremy Alford, with la-politic-dot-com, says the other proposal would take away a four-cent state sales tax exemption.

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Governor John Bel Edwards is set to hold a press conference shortly after the 6pm end to the special session.

Edwards has signed a bill into law that increases the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 22-cents. Beginning April 1^st the tax on a pack of cigarettes will be $1.08, which will generate 11-million dollars in revenue for the state this fiscal year. Consultant with the Invest in a Healthy Louisiana Campaign Randy Hayden says the legislature should’ve increased the tax on all tobacco products not just cigarettes. He says millions of dollars have been left on the table.

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Hayden says there was no possibility that the legislature could over tax cigarettes during this session. He says when states increase the cigarette tax they are increasing revenue, while decreasing health care costs in the future.

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Lawmakers have agreed to increase the alcohol tax as well.

We’re in the final countdown of the special session, which must end tonight at 6pm. House Speaker Taylor Barras urged members to come together on a deal to prevent big cuts to higher education and healthcare.

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Barras says there are three bills that need to pass today, one dealing with budget cuts, another that would increase the state’s sales tax, and the other would alter tax exemptions.

Meanwhile in North Louisiana, roads are closed and homes are flooded as about a foot of rain has fallen in some areas along I-20. In Bossier parish, they are calling for a mandatory evacuation of 3,500 residents because of rising flood waters. In Ouachita parish, Glenn Springfield with the sheriff’s office says evacuations are also underway there.

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Several parishes have declared a state of emergency.

The governor has signed into law a bill to increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 86-cents to $1.08. But not everyone thinks this is enough. Emelie Gunn has more…

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St. Tammany parish sheriffs announced today that an arrest has been made in connection with the murder of James Hamilton. A 16-year-old juvenile has been arrested and charged with 2^nd degree murder. The juvenile was turned in by his grandmother and his attorney this afternoon. He is being booked into Calcasieu parish as a fugitive from St. Tammany.

There are only a few hours left in the special session called to address the state’s massive budget deficit and there is still no revenue deal in place. Speaker of the House Taylor Barras pleaded to lawmakers reach an agreement to prevent big cuts to higher education and healthcare. He urges his fellow House members to come together so they can explain to the people of Louisiana that they’ve accomplished what they were asked to do.
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Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law the bill to increases the cigarette tax to $1.08 starting on April 1st. Consultant with the Invest in a Healthy Louisiana Campaign Randy Hayden says he was disappointed that the tax wasn’t increased more…
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The bill to increase alcohol tax passed with a 71 to 23 vote in the House.

Numerous homes in north Louisiana have flooded as the result of a giant storm that has dumped nearly a half a foot of rain. Bill Davis, with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, says they began evacuating people as flood waters rose during the night.
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Louisiana State Police closed Interstate 20 in Gibsland and several northwest parishes have declared a state of emergency due to flooding.

Cleco is asking state regulators for an additional hearing on the proposed sale to Macquarie Infrasturcture and Real Assets for $5 billion. Public Service Commission chairman Clyde Holloway doesn’t agree with another hearing. He says he has suspicions about the future of the company and its customers.
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He says he is concerned about a tax scheme related to the deal that would allow the investors to pocket taxes collected from the monthly rates.

Today is the last day of the special session called to tackle the state’s massive budget deficit. Speaker of the House Taylor Barras urged House members to come together on a deal to prevent big cuts to higher education and healthcare. He says this won’t be easy but they must take action.
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Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law the bill that raises the cigarette tax from 86-cents to $1.08. Consultant with the Invest in a Healthy Louisiana Campaign Randy Hayden says the legislature should’ve increased the tax on all tobacco products not only on cigarettes and millions of dollars have been left on the table.
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Multiple homes in north Louisiana are under water after a huge storm has dumped more than half a foot of rain. Glenn Springfield with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says evacuations are ongoing throughout the parish. Many roads have been closed because of high waters. And he says it doesn’t look like the storm is letting up anytime soon.
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Springfield says people should avoid driving today if possible.

Cleco has asked state regulators for another hearing on the company’s proposed sale to a foreign investment group for nearly $5 billion. Public Service Commission chairman Clyde Holloway says he isn’t in favor of another hearing. He says the commission and an administrative law judge have already heard enough testimony from the company.
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Cleco’s attorney says the commission’s vote was flawed because it wrongly decided on the merits of the transaction.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the bill that increases the cigarette tax. Beginning April 1^st the tax on a pack of cigarettes will be 22-cents higher, which will generate 11-million dollars in revenue for the state this fiscal year. Consultant with the Invest in a Healthy Louisiana Campaign Randy Hayden says there was no possibility that the legislature could over tax cigarettes during this session. He says when states increase the cigarette tax they are increasing revenue, while decreasing health care costs in the future.

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Only a few hours remain in the special session called to address the state’s massive budget deficit.  Speaker of the House Taylor Barras urged House members to come together on a deal to prevent big cuts to higher education and healthcare.

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Cleco has asked state regulators for another hearing on the utility company’s proposed sale to a foreign investment group for almost $5 billion. Public Service Commission chairman Clyde Holloway says he is not in favor of another hearing.

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Cleco’s attorney says the commission’s vote was flawed because it wrongly decided on the merits of the transaction. Holloway says they have already heard enough testimony from Cleco.

A massive storm is sweeping across Louisiana today pouring over half a foot of rain into the northern part of the state. Bill Davis, with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, says as flood waters rose during the night, they began evacuating people. Davis says schools and government offices are closed today. He says the sheriff’s office has teamed up with the Wildlife and Fisheries office to use their boats for rescues.

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