The National Weather Service says the Red River crested this morning at 36.82 feet in Shreveport. Hydrologist C.S. Ross says the rising waters have caused major backwater flooding along tributaries in Caddo/Bossier. He says unfortunately this is a sign of whats to come..:
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Governor Bobby Jindal has activated National Guard soldiers to assist in flood response efforts. Ross says at least 80 homes have already taken on water in the area.

The State Fire Marshall’s office says three adults died in a house fire Sunday morning in Monroe. They say two others were able to escape the blaze. Details of the fire are not yet complete but investigators were told that burglar bars were installed on the home and that may have prevented the three victims from escaping the blaze. The investigation is ongoing into how the fire started in the small, wood framed home.

The state Senate voted to increase the cigarette tax by 72 cents which would bring it up to $1.08 and match the Southern regional average. Lawmakers are trying to raise revenue to plug the budget hole and prevent massive cuts to higher ed and health care. The Senate is currently debating the next year’s $24.5 bilion dollar budget.

The LSU Tiger Baseball team is headed to Omaha to play in the College World Series for the 17th time and the first since 2013. The Tigers defeated UL-Lafayette on Sunday 6-3. After the game, Coach Paul Mainieri told the media that he got an email from the best friend of Lance Bergeron, one of the National Guardsmen who lost his life in the Blackhawk helicopter crash…:
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He says their team deserves to go to Omaha and he couldn’t be more proud of the players.

It appears marijuana reform legislation is on its way to becoming law in Louisiana. A medical marijuana bill has been flying through the legislature as well as pot sentencing reductions. Kevin Caldwell with Common Sense Nola says he’s glad there will finally be a way people who take chemo, have cerebral palsy or glaucoma will be able to get edible or oil forms of marijuana…:
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He says they are pleased the Sheriff’s Association and DA’s were willing to talk about meeting halfway on some of these matters.

The National Weather Service says the Red River in Shreveport reached its crest, within an inch, this morning. Hydrologist C.S. Ross says as of 8am, the river was at 36.82 feet. He says Caddo/Bossier is dealing with major flooding…:
CUT 3 (07) “backwater flooding”
Governor Bobby Jindal has activated National Guard soldiers to assist in flood response efforts.

The state Senate has begun its debate on next year’s $24 billion dollar budget proposal. Lawmakers have until 6pm on Thursday to finish their legislative work which includes approving a balanced budget for next fiscal year that starts July 1. Governor Jindal said he will veto revenue generating bills if the legislature also doesn’t pass a tax offset so he can keep his no tax pledge.

LSU defeated in-state rival UL Lafayette to punch their ticket to the College World Series. Jeff Palermo has more from Alex Box Stadium…:
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The Louisiana Legislature is on its way to sending marijuana reform proposals to Governor Bobby Jindal who gives every indication he will sign them. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (31) “reporting”

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says three people are dead after a house fire Sunday morning in Monroe. They say two others were able to escape the blaze. Details of the fire are incomplete at this time. Investigators were told that burglar bars were installed on the home and that may have prevented the three victims from escaping the blaze. The investigation is ongoing.

The state Senate voted to increase the cigarette tax by 72 cents which would bring it up to $1.08 and match the Southern regional average. The bill is by Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie and was carried in the Upper Chamber by Bogolusa Senator Ben Nevers who says not only would this tax raise revenue, it would also go towards making Louisiana citizens healthier…

cut 15 (08) “help them quit”

It’s not likely the lower chamber will go along with what the Senate approved.

The legislative session ends Thursday and it looks like Louisiana businesses are the big losers. Legislators are scaling back of tax exemptions for businesses in trying to close a one-point-six billion dollar budget shortfall. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says legislators who voted to take away some of these tax exemptions, will not be endorsed of the Louisiana Association of Business Industry in the fall election…

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Lawmakers are trying to avoid drastic cuts to higher ed and health care.

The Louisiana Legislature is on its way to sending marijuana reform proposals to Governor Bobby Jindal. One allows for the dispensing of medical marijuana and another bill drastically reduces the penalties for pot possession under 14 grams. Kevin Caldwell with Common Sense Nola says the sentence reduction bills are very progressive…

cut 5 (10) “great step”

The governor gives every indication he will sign the bills.

With just days left in the legislative session, it looks like Louisiana businesses are the big losers. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the scaling back of tax exemptions for businesses was how much of the money for the budget was raised, which upsets the business community…

cut 11 (08) “raging battle”

Legislators are trying to close a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall in order to pass a budget that doesn’t dramatically cut funding for higher education and health care.

The Louisiana House could vote on a resolution to hold a veto override session. So far house members have yet to support a higher education tax credit that is needed to provide the offset Governor Jindal needs to sign the hundreds of million of dollars in tax measures the legislature is poised to approve. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says legislators are hoping a budget solution can be found…

cut 9 (10) “this session”

The legislative session ends Thursday at 6PM.

The state Senate voted to increase the cigarette tax by 72 cents which would bring it up to the Southern regional average. It’s unlikely the lower chamber will go along with what the Senate approved. Gonzales Senator Jody Amedee voted against New Orleans Senator JP Morrell’s amendment…

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The Senate increase would raise the cigarette tax to $1.08

The legislative session ends Thursday and state capitol observers say it’s difficult to say what will happen with the budget. Scott Carwile has more…

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The National Weather Service now says the Red River in Shreveport could crest near 37 feet sometime today. It’s predicted to crest at 36.7 feet, which would be the highest crest since 1945. The Louisiana National Guard is working with local emergency officials to support flood fighting operations. The National Guard has issued 465,000 sandbags and deployed other equipment to the area to help with possible evacuation efforts.

The Louisiana Legislature is on its way to sending marijuana reform proposals to Governor Bobby Jindal who gives every indication he will sign them. One bill drastically reduces the penalties for pot possession under 14 grams and another allows for the dispensing of medical marijuana. Kevin Caldwell with Common Sense Nola is pleased..

cut 4 (08) “this year”

Caldwell says he is happy the Sheriff’s Association and the DA’s were willing to at least talk about meeting halfway this session unlike in years past.

A vote could come in the Louisiana House on a resolution to hold a veto override session. Lawmakers have until 6 PM on Thursday to finish their legislative work and that includes approving a balanced budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. House Republican Legislative Delegation Chairman Representative Lance Harris of Alexandria hopes lawmakers won’t need to call for an override veto session…

cut 8 (10) “next session”

Governor Jindal said he’ll veto revenue generating bills, if the legislature doesn’t pass a tax offset.

The state Senate voted to increase the cigarette tax by 72 cents which would bring it up to $1.08 and match the Southern regional average. Lawmakers are trying to raise revenue to plug the budget hole and prevent massive cuts to higher ed and health care. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell authored the amendment to raise the tax higher than the House approved 32 cent cigarette tax increase…:

cut 13 (09) “appropriate”

It’s not likely the lower chamber will go along with what the Senate approved.

With a few days left in the legislative session, it looks like Louisiana businesses are the big losers. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says business lobbyist groups are not happy the legislature is pushing to reduce hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits and rebates many companies enjoy…

cut 10 (11) “from them”

Legislators are trying to close a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall.

The Louisiana House could vote on a resolution to hold a veto override session. Governor Jindal said he’ll veto revenue generating bills, if the legislature doesn’t pass a tax offset, so he can keep his “no tax” pledge. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, chairs the House Republican Legislative Delegation, and he says there’s a desire in the House for an override session, if it gets to that point…

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Lawmakers have until 6 PM on Thursday to finish their legislative work and that includes approving a balanced budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st.

Governor Bobby Jindal says the state is in full blown flood fighting mode as the Red River continues to rise…:
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The projected crest in the Shreveport area of 36.5 feet on Sunday would be the highest of the Red River in 70 years.

Two day care workers are booked with homicide charges accused in the death of a 22 month old little girl they allegedly forgot and left inside a vehicle. Apparently the owner of the unlicensed daycare, 47-year-old Sheila Newman, told 26-year-old April Wright to lie to cops about where the child was found. They are both booked with negligent homicide and Newman also faces a obstruction of justice charge. Authorities believe the child was left inside the hot car for about 2 hours on a day when the heat index in Baton Rouge was 96 degrees.

A famous Baton Rouge food blogger and self-taught chef will be competing on Season 11 of Food network Star, which will premier tomorrow. Jay Ducote says-even though he did not attend any culinary schools, he says he is making his pitch based on strong training…
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The premier is at 8pm tomorrow.

And speaking of tailgating there is plenty going on today at LSU ahead of the Super Regional tonight against UL-Lafayette. Tickets for the games this weekend are going for hundreds on the secondary market and sold out in 5 minutes of going on sale Friday. First pitch between the Ragin Cajuns and Tigers tonight is 7pm and tomorrow it will be 5 or 6.