How involved will Governor Bobby Jindal be in this legislative session as lawmakers grapple with a $1.6 billion budget deficit? Eric Gill reports…:
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One of the bills set to be discussed during the 2015 legislative session would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter says whether you get good tips or not, $2.13 an hour is deplorable pay for any worker…:
CUT 10 (08) “$7.25 an hour”

A State Trooper and a Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s deputy have been arrested on racketeering charges in a case where they allegedly planted drugs on an individual who was unlawfully arrested last year. State Trooper Corey Jackson and Lafayette Deputy Jason Kinch were arrested in the alleged scheme. Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Art LeBreton (le-breh-ton) says more people were involved…:
CUT 3 (10) “Metro Narcotics”
He says the apparent scheme resulted in over $100,000 in cash payments to people including the accused. The charges against Bryan Knight were eventually dismissed in court.

Strong storms are covering nearly the entire state today and the National Weather Service has issued Flash Flood watches for most of south Louisiana until tomorrow evening. Meteorologists say this hazardous weather could include possibly severe storms and damaging wind gusts. Rain remains in the forecast for the entire week.

The state’s $1.6 billion budget shortfall will be the centerpiece for this year’s legislative session which gets underway today. Senate President John Alario says legislators are looking at ways to generate more state revenue. He says it will take several weeks before lawmakers can agree on a plan…

cut 15 (10) “those solutions”

There are several bills that seek to increase the tax on tobacco products, but for the governor to approve them, there has to be a tax cut somewhere else to offset new revenue.

Some wonder how involved Governor Bobby Jindal will be as lawmakers grapple with the budget deficit. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat doesn’t think the legislative session will stop Jindal from traveling outside the state pursuing his presidential hopes. However, Pinsonat says you can’t run for president when the state you’re supposed to be running is a disaster…

cut 6 (09) “national ambitions”

One of the bills set to be discussed during the 2015 legislative session would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Michelle Southern reports…

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Showers and thunderstorms continue across Louisiana today which has raised concerns of flooding. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for a large portion of southwest Louisiana through this evening. In southeast Louisiana, a Flash Flood Watch is in effect through tomorrow evening. Flood Warnings are also in effect for several areas in the state.

State lawmakers convene in Baton Rouge today with a one-point-six billion dollar budget shortfall hanging over their heads. Scott Carwile has the story…

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Shreveport Police say a suspect wanted in a weekend shooting that sent one man to the hospital has been arrested. Authorities report 21-year-old Gregory O’Neal is charged with principal to attempted first degree murder. They say 20-year-old Darrell Bell was driving when he was shot at by the driver of another car. Bell suffered a gunshot wound to his side and was able to drive himself to a local hospital. Police are still working to find more suspects.

One bill set to be discussed during the 2015 legislative session would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter says he doesn’t want to continue to see hard working people who are committed to serving their businesses go home with less than minimum wage. He says that’s what HB 677 aims to correct…

cut 12 (06) “are paid fairly”

Hunter says whether you get good tips or not, $2.13 an hour is deplorable pay for any worker.

The enormous budget deficit is expected to be the biggest issue lawmakers deal with this session, there are still many other issues, such as Common Core, on the agenda as well. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says with re-election just around the corner, it will be interesting to see if lawmakers even want to get involved in some of the hot button bills…

cut 9 (07) “get a hearing at all”

He says some of those hot button issues include same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization.

The legislative session begins today in Baton Rouge. It’s expected to be a difficult one as lawmakers will tackle a spending plan that takes into account a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. Senate President John Alario says reforming the state’s film tax credit program is one of the priorities, as a recent study paid for by the Department of Economic Development found that the state is only getting 23-cents back for every dollar spent on tax credits…

cut 14 (09) “on the expenditure”

He says legislators are looking at ways to generate more state revenue

Governor Bobby Jindal will provide the opening address for the session. Many wonder how involved the governor will be as lawmakers grapple with the massive budget deficit. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s not about the amount of time the governor spends at the capital…

cut 5 (09) “his national image”

Pinsonat says very few governors are around the capital very much during the session.

The huge budget deficit will by far be the biggest issue this legislative session, but there are still many other issues on the agenda as well. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says even with the budget issues and the complicated tax situations on the table, lawmakers will still find time to touch that third rail of Louisiana politics…

cut 8 (07) “in the classroom”

He says Common Core will be one of the major items that will distract from the budget.

Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter has filed legislation that would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Hunter says they want to get the conversation started between employers and employees…

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Hunter says even though people argue that servers make at least minimum wage when you count their tips, it shouldn’t be assumed that they will achieve that.

What is expected to be a very difficult legislative session begins today in Baton Rouge. Lawmakers will have until June 11th to approve a spending plan that takes into account a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. Senate President John Alario says legislators are looking at ways to generate more state revenue…

cut 13 (11) “those things”

Alario says reforming the state’s film tax credit program is one of the priorities.

Even though the massive budget deficit will by far be the biggest issue lawmakers will be dealing with this session, there are still many other issues on the agenda. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Common Core will be one of the major items that will distract from the budget…

cut 7 (06) “volatile issue”

He says bills dealing with same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization will also be hot button issues.

Governor Bobby Jindal will provide the opening address as the legislative session gets underway today. The question is how involved will the governor be as lawmakers grapple with a $1.6 billion budget deficit? Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s important for Jindal to be active this session…

cut 4 (07) “pay a price” 3x

Pinsonat says Jindal doesn’t have to be at the capital every day during the session, but he does need to pay attention to what’s happening.

Showers and thunderstorms continue across the state today. Most of southwest Louisiana is under a flash flood watch through this evening. Most of southeast Louisiana is under the watch through Tuesday evening.

At a gathering of about 600 Christian conservatives in Iowa Thursday, the largest applause of the night went to Governor Bobby Jindal. Jeff Palermo has more…

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A fatal single-vehicle crash in St. Mary Parish has left a 20-year-old woman dead and a Franklin man in prison. The wreck occurred near Charenton and Brylan Domingue of New Iberia was pronounced dead at the scene. State Police say the driver, 28-year-old Matthew Trosclair fled the scene, but was found hiding in a field and arrested. Impairment is considered to be a factor in the crash.

State Police graduated 58 brand new troopers Friday from Cadet Class #93. Sergent Nick Manale says the cadets have trained in crash investigations, emergency vehicle operations, impaired driving detection, and traffic incident management. The 19 week long academy also includes leadership instruction…

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He says the addition of these graduates puts the number of troopers statewide at about 1000.

It’s a big weekend of outdoor activities, but revelers in south Louisiana will likely have to deal with multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Danielle Manning with the National Weather Service in Slidell says the likely chance for rain and storms remain in the forecast through Sunday…

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She says if you’re headed to one of the many festivals going on this weekend in south Louisiana, it might be a good idea to bring umbrellas, ponchos and rain boots.

At an event in Iowa Thursday, which included three other Republican presidential hopefuls, the largest applause of the night went to Governor Bobby Jindal. Jennifer Jacobs with the Des Moines Register says one effective segment of the governor’s speech was when he spoke of the qualities he’d like to see in a president…

cut 10 (10) “started applauding”

Rick Perry, Mike Huckabee, and Rick Santorum, also spoke at the event.

State Police Cadet Class #93 graduated 58 brand new troopers Friday. Sergent Nick Manale says these aspiring troopers began the rigorous Louisiana State Police Training Academy on November 30th last year…

cut 3 (11) “training course”

He says this addition puts the number of troopers at about 1000 statewide.

Today marks the 29th annual Franklin Parish Catfish Festival in Winnsboro. The festival has grown into the largest one-day festival in the state. Festival board member Leslie Young says the festival offers something for everyone…

cut 6 (10) “huge party”

They’re expected to serve over two tons of fresh pond-raised catfish at this year’s event.

The weather should be dry in north Louisiana for weekend festivities, but south Louisiana will likely have to deal with multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Danielle Manning with the National Weather Service in Slidell says the rain in the south should come in multiple rounds with breaks between the storms…

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She says the likely chance for rain and storms remain in the forecast through Sunday.

State Police graduated 58 brand new troopers Friday from Cadet Class #93. Michelle Southern reports…

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State Police say a single vehicle crash in Rapides Parish has taken the life of a Dry Prong man. Authorities say 31-year-old Donald Johnson lost control of his vehicle and exited the roadway where the vehicle began overturning. Johnson, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, was pronounced dead at the scene. This crash remains under investigation.

At a Thursday gathering of about 600 Christian conservatives in Iowa, the largest applause of the night went to Governor Bobby Jindal. Three other Republican presidential hopefuls, Rick Perry, Mike Huckabee, and Rick Santorum, also spoke at the event. Jennifer Jacobs with the Des Moines Register says it was obvious Jindal hit a home run…

cut 9 (10) “after his speech”

Jindal is expected to announce his candidacy for president after the legislative session concludes in June.

The largest one-day festival in the state, the Franklin Parish Catfish Festival, takes place today in Winnsboro. The festival features , of course. fried catfish, a free day-long video game arcade, an antique car show, and live music headlined by 2015 Grammy Award winner Jo-El Sonnier. Festival board member Leslie Young says if you like arts and crafts, the Catfish Festival is where you need to be…

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Admission to the festival is just $5.