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Patterson police are searching for a suspect wanted in connection with a Friday night shooting. The intended victim in the case wasn’t hit by gunfire, Police Chief Patrick LaSalle said.

Robert J. Parker Jr., 37, of Patterson, is wanted on charges of aggravated assault, discharging a firearm in the city limits, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and resisting an officer by flight stemming from a Friday night shooting, a news release said.

On Friday night, Parker approached a person near the intersection of Sixth and Park streets in Patterson, LaSalle said. Parker is accused of firing a gun three times at a young male victim, LaSalle said. The victim wasn’t hit, though, LaSalle said.

According to the news release, the Patterson Police Department was informed of gunshots in the area of Park Street.

Police later received a call from Darrell Gash requesting an officer to Dollar General in reference to being shot at by Parker, the release said.

On Saturday, police attempted to arrest Parker, but he evaded authorities, LaSalle said. Police did recover a 26 Glock pistol with extended magazines capable of holding up to 60 rounds of ammunition that Parker is believed to have used in the shooting, LaSalle said.

The pistol was the type of weapon taken from Parker during an prior arrest, the release said.

Parker is a convicted felon and has “an extensive violent background,” LaSalle said. Parker is described as 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds.

Anyone with information on Parker or the shooting may call the Patterson Police Department at 985-395-6161.

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Lawmakers in the Louisiana House broke through their gridlock Sunday, reviving tax bills that had stalled the special session and avoiding a collapse of talks to plug a nearly $1 billion budget gap.
The Ways and Means Committee advanced two major tax bills as lawmakers continue working to broker a deal to lessen the shortfall: a sales tax bill favored by House GOP leaders and an income tax bill sought by Democrats.
The deal is far from complete as the 17-day session entered its second week.
It remains unclear if either measure can win support from the full House. Also, the tax package doesn’t fill the entire hole caused by the expiration of temporary sales taxes when the new financial year begins July 1.
After a week without votes on tax bills, the House committee voted 12-5 Sunday to advance a measure that would temporarily renew one-quarter of an expiring 1 percent sales tax and temporarily eliminate some sales tax breaks, to raise an estimated $300 million a year.
Louisiana’s current state sales tax rate is 5 percent. It drops to 4 percent on July 1. The bill by Rep. Stephen Dwight, a Lake Charles Republican, would move the rate to 4.25 percent. But 0.25 percent of the tax would again be temporary, with an expiration date in mid-2021.
The sales tax proposal is backed by House GOP leaders, but opposed by some anti-tax Republicans and by some Democrats who say it’s a heavier hit to the poor. On the floor, it would take a two-thirds vote to pass, needing both Republican and Democrat support.
A separate 10-7 vote advanced a proposal by Rep. Walt Leger, a New Orleans Democrat, that would cut tax breaks for middle- and upper-income taxpayers who itemize deductions on their income tax returns, to raise $79 million a year. The approach is backed by Democrats.
Rep. Barry Ivey, a Baton Rouge Republican, opposed the tax measures, lamenting that state lawmakers have refused efforts to do a more wholesale rewrite of Louisiana’s tax laws. Lawmakers spurned Ivey’s proposals last year, along with a tax package recommended by a task force of tax and policy experts.
“It’s a money grab to solve a legitimate problem,” Ivey said. “We’re basically doing the lazy, easy thing.”
Leger replied: “It’s become obvious that real, long-term structural reform is not possible at this time.”
Also approved Sunday were measures to continue reductions to certain tax break programs for businesses and for taxes paid to other states.
To send the bills to the full House for debate required support of some Republicans. But lawmakers who agreed to advance the measures haven’t necessarily agreed to support them on the House floor.
Edwards called the 17-day special session to close a $994 million shortfall in the financial year that begins July 1. The governor wants replacement taxes passed, saying that without them, deep cuts would be forced on the TOPS college tuition program, health services and public safety spending.
Rep. Alan Seabaugh, a Shreveport Republican, opposed the tax proposals, saying the state still doesn’t have a good idea of what the true size of the shortfall might be.
“I think this is premature,” he said.
The package of bills approved Sunday would be about $260 million short of closing the budget gap, even including a bump in personal income tax collections expected in Louisiana because of the federal tax changes.
The House Health and Welfare Committee advanced two Medicaid bills that Republican leaders have said must pass in exchange for the tax votes. One proposal is aimed at combating Medicaid fraud and the other seeks to enact work requirements on some Medicaid patients. The work requirement proposal was heavily watered down before passing.

November 2, 1948- February 23, 2018
Salvadore “Sammy” Joseph Russo Jr., 69, a resident of Morgan City, passed away Friday, February 23, 2018, at home surrounded by his loving family.
Sammy was born November 2, 1948, in Morgan City, the son of Dr. Salvadore Joseph Russo Sr. and Honorine Guerin Russo.
Sammy was a pharmacist and proud owner of Russo’s Pharmacy for 35 years where he contributed to his community, helped many families and achieved many accolades on the way. Sammy was a Veteran of the Navy Reserve and member of Knights of Columbus and the Chamber of Commerce. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and was an avid cook like his mother, “Mumsy,” with cuisine ranging from wild game to zesty Italian.
Salvadore will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 35 years, Catherine Levatino Russo; two sons, Salvadore “Sammy” Joseph Russo III and Philip Adam Russo; his adoring daughter, Catherine Rose Russo; two brothers, Lawrence J. Russo and James Kyle Russo; and sister, Honorine Russo Abel.
Salvadore was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Salvadore J. Russo Sr.; father-in-law, Sam L. Levatino; mother-in-law, Rose LaMarca Levatino; and his two beautiful sisters, Ann Russo Johnson and Cherie Russo Autin.
A mass of Christian burial was celebrated at 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Wilfredo Decal officiating. A visitation was held from 10 a.m. until the time of mass. After mass, Salvadore was laid to rest in Morgan City Mausoleum.
Pallbearers were W.H. Johnson, Leo Grizzaffi III, Matthew Taylor, Keith Taylor, Kelly Russo and Robert Sampey.
Honorary pallbearers were Buck Gautreaux and Patrick J. McCleary.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given to Sacred Heart Church in Morgan City, Louisiana.

SOUP KITCHEN
At Bayou Vista Com-munity Fellowship, 1523 Anthony St., 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27. Open to those in need.

THRIFT STORE
At 304 South Railroad, Morgan City, end of the season clearance sale 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 28, March 1, 7 and 8. All items 25 cents except books, 10 cents. All proceeds benefit Sacred Heart charities.

BLACK HISTORY
Celebration at Little Zion Baptist Church at 8 a.m. Sunday, March 4. Guest speaker the Rev. Jalen Grogan. Public invited.

BREAKFAST
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 507 Fourth St., Morgan City, annual Men’s Prayer Breakfast at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 17. Theme: “Men Sharpening Men for the Savior.” Speaker Travis Short.

FUNDRAISING
Xavier University, Louisiana, and Sanford Institute of Philanthropy, holding fundraising training for nonprofit organizations 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at East Baton Rouge Parish Greenwell Springs Branch Library, 11300 Greenwell Springs Road, Baton Rouge, meeting room 1. Cost: $45 for first two from same organization and $22.50 each additional. For info or to register, call Sharon Johnson, 225-247-6738.