The state House advances a package of bills to the Senate that would raise 670-million dollars that can be used to cover a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. The legislation heading to the senate raises the tax on cigarettes and scales back tax programs. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says more work needs to be done to solve this budget crisis….

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Pinsonat says what the House did on Thursday is a good start.

The House approved a measure that would limit the amount of credits issued as part of the film tax program to $200 million dollars despite objections from lawmakers who thought the cap should be lower. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris tried to amend it to $150 million dollars saying that other $50 million needs to be used elsewhere…

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There is currently no cap on the program.

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron will receive an honorary degree this morning during Grambling State University’s Spring Commencement. Aaron will be bestowed with a Doctor of Humane Letters. John Rosenthal, a university Vice President, says Grambling not only has a great football tradition, but a great baseball tradition as well…

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The Doctor of Humane Letters is the university’s highest honor. In Aaron’s 23-year Major League career, he hit 755 home runs, a Major League record that stood for over 30 years.

The state House approves several bills that will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to stave off large cuts to higher education and health care. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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But even though, House members approved 670-million dollars in tax revenue generating bills, they were hoping to get above 900-million dollars. A couple of the measures that were on the agenda for Thursday, did not come up, because the votes weren’t there to pass.

Several Higher ed leaders issued statements applauding lawmakers on their commitment to the future of the state.

The House approved a measure that would limit the amount of credits issued as part of the film tax program to $200 million dollars despite objections from lawmakers who thought the cap should be lower. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris tried to amend it to $150 million dollars saying that other $50 million needs to be used elsewhere…:
CUT 7 (11) “museums open”
But the amendment failed with opponents saying the $150 million dollar cap would run the industry out of town. The bill now heads to the Senate.

Two bills that seek to control the wild hog population in Louisiana pass the House Natural Resources Committee. One of the bills would authorize a lifetime hunting license to shoot the hogs which Ouachita Parish DA Jerry Jones supports saying it would be easier on farmers…:
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The bills head to the Full House.

The state House approves a series of bills that raises hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues to spare higher education and health care. Before the discussion began, House Speaker Chuck Kleckley explained to legislators how important it is to vote “Yes” on these bills…:
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Solar and movie tax credit scale backs were approved as was the 32 cent tax increase on a pack of cigarettes. The bills now head to the Senate.

34 people were busted by state police accused of committing insurance fraud. Sgt. Nick Manale says these people are charged with faking car accidents in order to collect the insurance money. He issues the warning that they aren’t the only ones watching for these cases as insurance companies are watching too…:
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Manale says these insurance fraud cases affect insurance rates and policies across the state.

It appears that Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne has fired the first shot in Louisiana’s governor’s race. Eric Gill has more…:
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The Dallas Cowboys have signed former LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins, who had been a projected first-round pick in last week’s NFL draft until his name came up in a police investigation. It is reportedly a 3-year deal in the range of $1.65-1.7 million, and is fully guaranteed.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been approved by the state House today as lawmakers work to stave off cuts to higher education and health care. The bills moved through quickly including scale backs of movie and solar tax credit programs. Legislators also approved bills that will result in higher taxes on businesses. House Ways and Means Chairman Joel Robideaux explained the need to do this, even though there’s opposition from business and industry…:
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The 32 cent tax increase on a pack of cigarettes bill also passed today.

An additional 201 state vehicles will be sold at auction Saturday and it’s open to the public. The Division of Administration says they’ve already been able to sell 243 underutilized cars through the auctions generating a total of $809,900 for the state.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne takes the first jab at an opponent in the Governor’s race. Dardenne issued a statement calling David Vitter an absent US Senator because instead of voting Tuesday, he was drinking beer with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in an effort to boost his gubernatorial bid. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says the more important the job, the more likely it is that jabbing rules are thrown out the window…:
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Now that we know that former LSU Tiger La’el Collins was not the father of Brittney Mills’ deceased baby, where does the investigation into the murder go from here? Baton Rouge Police Corporal Don Coppola says the needed Collins to take a paternity test because he was the murder victim’s ex-boyfriend…:
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Collins signed with the Cowboys today. The murder investigation is ongoing.

The state House approves several bills that will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to stave off large cuts to higher education and health care. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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Former LSU Tiger La’el Collins has reportedly signed with the Dallas Cowboys on a 3 year 1.65 million dollar contract and the team confirms the news. Baton Rouge Police say the offensive lineman fully cooperated in the investigation into the shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend and paternity tests prove Collins is not the father.

State Police announce the arrest of 34 individuals over the last two months following numerous criminal investigations by their Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit. Sgt. Nick Manale says these cases affect insurance rates and policies across the state. He says in one case a subject paid a friend to rent a truck and then staged a crash…:
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It is reported that intentional or staged crashes costs the insurance industry billions of dollars each year in fraudulent claims.

Another bill that passed on the House Floor today would double Louisiana’s littering fines. Gonzales Representative Johnny Berthelot’s bill would take a $75 first offense littering fine and make it $150 with $1,000 for subsequent offenses. After the 90-2 vote the bill now heads to the Senate.

The first bills that bring in revenue have been speeding through the Louisiana House much faster than originally thought. Lawmakers are trying to stave off cuts to higher ed and healthcare. Among the bills passed today, a 32-cent tax increase on a pack of cigarettes. The author of the measure is Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie and he says it will generate 68-million dollars that can go towards health care costs…:
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The bill passed 77-27 and most of the bills are also passing by large margins.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests a Thibodaux man who allegedly shot a four year old in the neck with a pellet gun after the child stuck his tongue out at him. They say 22-year-old Darrin Rideaux claimed he thought the weapon was not loaded. He is booked this morning on one count of negligent injuring. The child was treated and released.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne fired the first shot in the Louisiana Governor’s race. Dardenne called US Senator David Vitter an absentee Senator after he apparently missed a vote while drinking beer with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in Baton Rouge. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says things are about to get rolling…:
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It didn’t take long for a team to pick up former Tiger La’el Collins as it’s reported the Cowboys get him on a 3 year $1.65 million dollar contract. The offensive lineman was never a suspect in the murder of his ex-girlfriend Brittney Mills who was murdered at 8 months pregnant on April 24th, but the case was enough to keep him from being drafted. Baton Rouge Police Corporal Don Coppola says they are still actively working on this investigation…:
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The state House approves a series of bills that raises hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues to stave off large cuts to higher education and health care. Before the discussion began, House Speaker Chuck Kleckley explained to legislators how important it is to vote YES on these bills…:
CUT 12 (10) “doing here today”
Among the bills passed today, a 32 cent tax increase on a pack of cigarettes and a measure that will require businesses to pay more sales tax on utility purchases they make.

Now that we know that former LSU Tiger La’el Collins was not the father of Brittney Mills’ deceased baby, where does the investigation into the murder go from here? Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman Don Coppola says this is still very much an ongoing active case they are working on…:
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He says they asked Collins to take a paternity test because the relationship he had previously had with Mills was a romantic one but they learned he was not the father Wednesday.

It appears that Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne has fired the first shot in Louisiana’s governor’s race. Eric Gill has more…:
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There’s buzz in New Orleans that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are moving as their home goes on the market. Realtors show the French Quarter property is going for $6.5 million dollars.