Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says lawmakers approved two-and-half billion dollars in tax increases on businesses over the the next five years on the final day of the legislative session. One of the bills reduces the inventory tax credit businesses receive and Waguespack says that’s something the public will notice…

cut 6 (12) “those stores”

Legislators approved the tax increases and a roll back of tax credits in order to prevent big cuts to higher education and health care.

With his final legislative session as governor complete, Governor Bobby Jindal says he has few regrets with what he’s been able to accomplish in the legislature. The governor does say that he is disappointed that he was unable to repeal the state’s income tax…

cut 9 (06) “to accomplish”

Jindal says if he got everything he asked for during a legislative session, then he didn’t ask for enough.

In the wake of the arrest of two day care workers in the death of a 22-month old child, the state department of education is now posting on its website a list of unlicensed day care centers. The infant died in the care of a Baton Rouge day care center operator who had her license revoked. State Superintendent of Education John White wants to make sure this tragic incident never happens again….

cut 3 (10) “of a child”

The registry lists 16 individuals whose licenses were revoked from 10 different parishes.

The Red River is predicted to crest at 38 feet late Sunday night or early Monday morning. Jonathan Brazzell, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says there are several roads closed due to flooding in the area and more could be closed as the crest nears. He says it will take a while for the water to drain out…

cut 24 (11) “of the lakes”

Brazzell says it’s estimated that about 100 homes are at risk of flooding in the Alexandria area.

Lawmakers approved the SAVE tax credit, which is needed to prevent Governor Bobby Jindal from vetoing revenue generating bills, in the final hours of the legislative session. During the debate of the SAVE credit, there was plenty of criticism of the legislation directed towards Jindal. But the governor doesn’t take any of those remarks personally…

cut 17 (09) ” raising taxes”

The governor calls this a very successful session.

State lawmakers have voted to increase the state’s cigarette tax by 50-cents. If not vetoed, the tax will go to 86-cents beginning July first. Revenue raised from the higher cigarette tax will go towards Medicaid funding. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton was one of the lawmakers who voted in favor of the tax increase ….

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The measure passed the House on a 75-29 vote.

The Red River has crested in the Shreveport area and now it’s moving toward Alexandria. Michelle Southern has more…

cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office says a Calcasieu Correctional Center trusty was captured after walking away from a work detail yesterday in Lake Charles. They say 20-year-old Alfonso Ross was on litter detail when he decided to walk away. Ross was found less than an hour later hiding in a parking garage. He now faces an additional charge of simple escape.

As the legislative session was coming to a close yesterday, lawmakers approved the SAVE tax credit, which is needed to prevent Governor Bobby Jindal from vetoing revenue generating bills. Governor Bobby Jindal calls it a very successful session, since the legislature passed a balanced budget…

cut 16 (12) “taxes”

Opponents called the legislation a gimmick and only proposed to help Jindal’s presidential ambitions.

In Louisiana Radio Network’s 4th week of Governor Q&A, we asked the four major candidates how they would handle transportation issues in the state. Amite Representative John Bel Edwards says the state needs to take the money it gets for roads and bridges and use it for its intended purpose…

cut 13 (09) “on those items”

You can find all four candidate responses at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

The legislature passes a bill that increases the tax on cigarettes by an additional 50-cents a pack. Scott Carwile has the story…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

The National Weather Service is predicting the Red River will crest in Alexandria at 38 feet late Sunday night or early Monday morning. It’s estimated that about 100 homes are at risk of flooding in the Alexandria area. Several roads are closed due to flood conditions and more could be closed as the crest nears.

The key piece of the legislation that was needed to prevent a veto of revenue generating bills made it through in the final hours of the session. Jeff Palermo has more

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The legislature also passed a measure that would allow law enforcement agencies to scan license plates in an effort to crack down on car thieves and insurance violations. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says the technology is a more efficient way for police to cross check license plates with their databases. The measure creates a pilot program that will allow the use of the scanners until 2021.

In Louisiana Radio Network’s weekly Governor Q&A, we asked the four major candidates how they would handle transportation issues in the state. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says with our growing economy and population it’s crucial that we address the transportation projects piling up, but it must be done as part of overall budget reform…:

cut 12 (09) “for the state”

All four candidate answers can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

Jonathan Brazzell, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the Red River is predicted to crest at Alexandria at 38 feet late Sunday night or early Monday morning. He says property in Alexandria, Pineville, and areas north of the levee system are at risk of flooding. Brazzell says the biggest issue facing residents is backwater flooding…

Cut 5 (09) “Rigolette area”

Brazzell says it’s estimated that about 100 homes are at risk of flooding in the Alexandria area.

In the final hours of the legislative session, lawmakers approved the SAVE tax credit. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater told House members a vote against the SAVE fund will result in a 282-million dollar cut to higher education…

cut 15 (11) “trained work force”

The measure is needed to prevent Governor Bobby Jindal from vetoing revenue generating bills.

Legislators approved a 50-cent hike on the state’s cigarette tax. At 86-cents, Louisiana’s cigarette tax would surpass Mississippi’s tax rate, but remain lower than Arkansas and Texas. During debate on the House floor, Leesville Representative James Armes stood up for smokers…

cut 8 (08) “wanna smoke”

Revenue raised from the higher cigarette tax will go towards Medicaid funding.

Louisiana Radio Network’s fourth question in our Governor Q&A asked the four major candidates how they would handle transportation issues in the state. Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says building roads and bridges are fundamental to our economic development. He says it’s time we put the trust back into the Transportation Trust Fund…

cut 11 (09) “other areas of government”

You can find all candidate answers at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

The Red River has crested in the Shreveport area and now it’s moving toward Alexandria. Jonathan Brazzell, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says residents can expect waters to continue to rise for the next few days…

cut 4 (06) “next week”

Brazzell says property in Alexandria, Pineville, and areas north of the levee system are at risk of flooding.

In the waning hours of the legislative session, lawmakers approved the SAVE tax credit, which is needed to prevent Governor Bobby Jindal from vetoing revenue generating bills. Amite Representative John Bel Edwards called the legislation a gimmick and only proposed to help Jindal’s presidential ambitions…

cut 14 (11) “right thing”

Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater told House members a vote against the SAVE fund would result in a 282-million dollar cut to higher education.

In Louisiana Radio Network’s 4th week of Governor Q&A, we asked the four major candidates how they would handle transportation issues in the state. US Senator David Vitter says he’s sick and tired of sitting in hours of traffic instead of spending time being productive or with family….

cut 10 (09) “change that”

All four candidate responses can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

State lawmakers have voted to increase the state’s cigarette tax by 50-cents. If the measure is not vetoed, the tax on a pack of cigarettes will go up from 36-cents to 86-cents on July first. Leesville Representative James Armes voted against the tax hike, he says Louisiana benefits from having the third lowest tax in the country on cigarettes…

cut 7 (12) “restaurants”

Revenue raised from the higher cigarette tax will go towards Medicaid funding. The measure gained final legislative approval on a House vote of 75-29.

The 2015 Legislative Session is in the books and an agreement was reached on next year’s $24 billion dollar budget that would prevent deep cuts to higher education and health care. One of the ways the House and Senate came together to balance the budget was to agree to a 50 cent increase on the state’s cigarette tax. Tax breaks were also minimized as were business subsidies.

The key piece of the legislation that was needed to prevent a veto of revenue generating bills made it through…:
CUT 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The US House votes to repeal a law requiring country of origin labels on beef, pork, and poultry. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says it’s projected that Louisiana could face $1.3 billion dollars in new tariffs on exports if Congress doesn’t pass the legislation, and he says lawmakers in Washington are left with very few choices…
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The measure now heads to the US Senate.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has damage assessment teams in northwest Louisiana, gathering information on the amount of damage from the Red River flooding. GOHSEP deputy director Mark Riley says the data is needed in a request for a federal disaster declaration. More than 300 homes were affected in the Shreveport area.