St. Mary Parish Council Nov. 13 minutes
Tue, 11/26/2024 - 6:33pm
Click on the link below to download a .pdf version of the minutes.
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Nov. 26 special Patterson City Council meeting
Tue, 11/26/2024 - 9:38am
Click on the link below to download a .pdf version of the agenda.
Golden Meadow man dies in St. Mary crash
Mon, 11/25/2024 - 6:38pm
A single-vehicle crash Friday resulted in the death of a Golden Meadow man, Louisiana State Police Troop I said.
Dead is Russ Theriot, 65.
According to Troop I, state police began investigating a single-vehicle fatality crash about 1 p.m. Friday on La. 182 near Progress Lane.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Theriot was driving a 2023 Toyota Tacoma east on La. 182. For reasons still under investigation, the Toyota traveled off the roadway to the right, struck an embankment and a set of poles, and overturned.
Theriot, who was restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Standard toxicology samples were collected from Theriot and submitted for analysis.
While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, impaired and distracted driving remain leading causes of crashes in our state, Troop I said. Louisiana State Police urge all motorists to stay sober, focused, and alert on the road.
MAURICE 'DICKIE' DIEDRICH SHANNON III
Mon, 11/25/2024 - 4:19pm
Maurice "Dickie" Diedrich Shannon III passed away peacefully at home Saturday morning, November 23, 2024.
Dickie was a lifetime resident of Morgan City. He was born in New Iberia, LA on December 31, 1935. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School until his sophomore year when he transferred to Saint Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis, MS where he graduated in 1953. It was there that he met Julie Dantagnan, who became the mother of his seven children. After graduation, he attended LSU.
M.D. "Dickie" Shannon III was the fourth-generation owner and operator of Shannon Hardware Co Ltd. Dickie was instrumental in modernizing the business by introducing computerized inventory systems, making it one of the first in Morgan City to do so. Under his leadership, Shannon Hardware expanded with three additional locations, one in Broussard, one in Houma and Tiger Island in Morgan City.
Upon his retirement, "Dickie" transferred the ownership and management of Shannon Hardware to the fifth generation of Shannons and now the sixth generation of Shannon heirs are proudly leading Shannon Hardware. In addition to Shannon Hardware, "Dickie" owned and operated the Shannon Store, Control Fire and Safety, and Industrial Specialists.
"Dickie" was a devoted member and past president of Rotary. "Dickie" loved living the good life. He enjoyed singing and dancing. He always looked forward to Mardi Gras season and was King of Hephaestus in 1984 and Captain in 1990. Dickie was a loyal fan and season ticket holder for both the New Orleans Saints and the LSU Tiger football teams. "Dickie" traveled extensively in his RV, covering most of the U.S. and Canada, as well as parts of Mexico. He combined his love of traveling in his RV with his love of football, tailgating in Touchdown Village at LSU, and the French Quarter RV park for the Saints games.
In January of 1999, "Dickie" started courting Mary Charlotte Hunter. Their whirlwind courtship included him taking her dancing at Smiley's Bayou Club in Erath and Chiley's in Lake Verret. He introduced her to life at the camp in Grand Isle, traveling by RV, and football. She adapted quickly and fell in love with him and his lifestyle. They married on November 25, 1999, and spent 25 happy years together.
"Dickie" is survived by his wife, Mary Charlotte Shannon; his son Patrick and his wife Connie of Youngsville, LA, daughter Bridget S Hancock and her husband, Walt, of Georgetown, TX, daughter Colleen Shannon of Bayou Vista, LA, daughter Laurie Shannon of Houma, LA, son Neal Shannon and his fiance Mary Sabo of Kinnelon, NJ, son Casey Shannon and his wife, Selena of Berwick, LA, stepdaughters Michelle Hunter Trapp and her husband, Ronald, of Berwick, LA; Katherine Hunter Fondren, of Tulsa, OK; stepsons Mike and Keith Taylor of Berwick, LA. He is also survived by grandchildren, Erin, M.D. "Reese" V, Thomas Shannon; Jessica, Allison, and Matthew Hancock; Carli, Marcus, and Bryanna Shannon; Brady Shannon; Amber Oppenheimer; Rebecca Nguyen and Sarah Broussard; Mary Frances and Emma Aucoin; Audry Trapp; Sutton and Reine Fondren and ten great-grandchildren.
"Dickie" is preceded in death by his parents Maurice D. Shannon Jr., and Mae Lynn Suarez Shannon; his first wife Julie Dantagnan Stearns, his son, Maurice D. "Rusdy" Shannon IV; his grandson, Kyle Holmes; second wife, Doris Taylor Shannon and stepdaughter, Lynda Taylor.
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to his caregivers, Cindi Smith, Kayla Morin, Shamaka Garrett and Loupe Soto.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 26, at Twin City Funeral Home from 5-8 pm. Eulogies will take place at this time. Anyone is welcome to speak starting at 7pm. The Rosary will follow at 7:30pm. The funeral service will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morgan City at 11:00 am Wednesday. The internment will follow at Morgan City Cemetery.
Patrick Shannon, Neal Shannon, Casey Shannon, Thomas Shannon, Marcus Shannon, and Brady Shannon will be the pallbearers.
'Dickie' Shannon, who operated iconic MC store, dies at 88
Mon, 11/25/2024 - 4:11pm
The retired owner-operator of one of Morgan City’s oldest and iconic businesses has died.
Maurice “Dickie” Diedrich Shannon III died Saturday at his home in Morgan City.
Shannon was the fourth generation in his family to run Shannon Hardware, which traces its roots to 1970 and has carried the Shannon name since 1972.
The obituary submitted by Shannon’s family said he introduced computerized inventory systems into the businesses, one of the first Morgan City businesses to do so.
Under his leadership, Shannon opened stores in Broussard and Houma.
Services for Shannon included visitation 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, including a Rosary at 7:30 p.m. The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Deputies make arrest in vehicular homicide
Mon, 11/25/2024 - 1:12pm
Staff Report
(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)
St. Mary deputies have arrested a Patterson resident as an accessory to vehicular homicide.
St. Mary
Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:
--Evelyn Johana Lopez-Gales, 23, Patterson, was arrested at 3:32 p.m. Thursday on a Louisiana State Police warrant alleging accessory after the fact for vehicle homicide. Bail has not been set at this time.
--Anthony K. Cargo, 36, Berwick, was arrested at 2:38 p.m. Saturday on charges of hit and run, driving under suspension, open container, failure to report accident and criminal damage to property.
Cargo was released on a $4,000 bond.
--Dawn Marie Louviere, 41, New Iberia, was arrested at 4:38 p.m. Nov. 20 on a warrant alleging theft. Louviere also held an active Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office warrant for the charge of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
Bail was set at $6,000 and a hold has been placed on Louviere for another agency.
--Carlo T. Griffin, 47, Bayou Vista, was arrested t 9:57 p.m. Nov. 20 on a Morgan City Police Department warrant alleging failure to pay a fine on charges of possession of marijuana and contempt of court. Griffin was released on a $667.50 court fine paid.
--Bryson Shane Gaspard, 24, Franklin, LA, was arrested at 12:52 p.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear. Bail has not been set at this time.
--Nathan Robert Corley, 45, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 9:11 a.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging theft. Corley was released on a $2,500 bond.
--Jada Lei Williams, 23, Franklin, was arrested at 10:08 p.m. Saturday on charges of theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and introduction of contraband into penal institution. Bail was set at $7,500.
---David Lenes Aucoin Sr., 47, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:53 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of criminal neglect of family. Bail was set at $5,966.64.
--Dayton Madison, 29, Jeanerette, was arrested at 10:11 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of license plate lights required and driving under suspension. Madison was released on a $400 bond.
--Kendall Reid Banks, 29, Patterson, was arrested at 10:30 a.m. Friday on two warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, driving under suspension, no proof of insurance and operating a vehicle with an expired license plate. Bail has not been set at this time.
--Robert Joseph Dupre, 36, Houma, was arrested at 2:59 a.m. Monday on charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief (tampering with property). Bail was set at $2,000.
Morgan City
Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:
--Tyrone Fitzgerald Thomas, 60, Florida Alley, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:51 p.m. Friday on charges of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court) and resisting an officer.
--Junior Saul Morales-Sanchez, 30, Victor II Boulevard, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:28 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), reckless operation of a motor vehicle, improper lighting and no driver’s license.
--Bradley Adam Pojar, 21, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 8 p.m. Saturday on charges of resisting an officer, improper lane usage, no driver’s license and failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Sean Cooper, 21, Bernice Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:43 a.m. Sunday on charges of illegal discharging of a firearm within city limits. (Released on summons.)
--Dane Anthony Farrington Jr., 42, Keith Street, Morgan City, was at 3:23 a.m. Sunday on charges of domestic abuse (child endangerment) and resisting an officer.
--Rasta Ann Johnson, 23, Lawrence Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:16 p.m. Sunday on two counts of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Sarah Elizabeth Bran, 38, Hogan Street, Berwick, was arrested at 9:58 p.m. Sunday on charges of theft ($1,000) and remaining where forbidden.
--Brittan Michael Boudreaux, 40, Elizabeth Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:20 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
--Jerral Wade Prestenbach, 35, Maine Street, Patterson, was arrested at 10:51 p.m. Thursday on two counts of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Jose Angel Davila, 51, Roderick Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:20 a.m. Nov. 20 on charges of battery on an officer, resisting an officer, failure to yield, improper lighting and failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Edward James Williams, 44, Gen. MacArthur Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:06 a.m. Nov. 20 on charges of domestic abuse battery, aggravated assault and disturbing the peace (intoxicated).
Patterson
Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:
--Daniel L. Dobbs, 39, Jake Street, Patterson, was arrested at 5:57 p.m. Nov. 20 on a charge of simple criminal damage to property. Dobbs is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.
--Jamarcus Gunner, 31, Joseph Street, Franklin, was arrested at 2:44 p.m. Thursday on a charge of battery of a dating partner. Gunner was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $1,000.
--Jerral W. Prestenbach, 35, Main Street, Patterson, was arrested at 7:47 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for another jurisdiction. Prestenbach was transported to the Morgan City Police Department.
Berwick
Chief David Leonard Sr. reported these arrests:
--Connor Wells, 23, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:22 p.m. Thursday on a Berwick warrant alleging disturbing the peace and St. Mary warrants alleging violation of protective order and failure to appear on a child support charge.
About 3:20 p.m. Thursday, officers observed Wells in the area of Sixth Street and knew him to have active warrants. Contact was made with Wells, and he was placed under arrest without incident.
The Berwick warrant stems from an incident that took place on Nov. 19 in which Wells arrived at a residence, causing a disturbance. Wells was transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.
--Anthony Bernard, 36, New Iberia, was arrested at 8:02 p.m. Sunday on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
About 7:20 p.m. Sunday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle for speeding. Officers made contact with Bernard and advised him for the reason of the stop.
During the course of the stop, a firearm was located inside the vehicle. It was learned that Bernard was a convicted felon, which prohibits him from possessing a firearm. Bernard was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
--Ronald Joseph Gibbs, 33, Diana Drive, Morgan City, was arrested Nov. 20 on a charge of felony theft and on a Probation and Parole detainer.
The charges arise from an incident at a residence in the 1200 block of La. 402.
Deputies were summoned to the area by the complainant, who indicated that he was viewing live video surveillance of an individual stealing an ATV from the residence. The footage was provided to investigating deputies, and detectives assigned to the case. It was further determined that an outboard motor had also been stolen from the residence.
Deputies and detectives through use of the electronic surveillance footage were able to identify the suspect vehicle. Deputies were able to identify the suspect as Gibbs.
Late on the afternoon Nov. 20, deputies observed the suspect vehicle eastbound on La. 70. Deputies observed the suspect vehicle near the Assumption-Ascension line and subsequently arrested Gibbs.
He was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center on pending a bond hearing.
The stolen property was recovered.
Franklin
Chief Cedric Handy reported these arrests
--Bricelon Martin, 28, Cayce Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:27 a.m. Nov. 20 on a warrant dated Nov. 19 alleging three counts of simple burglary, three counts of simple criminal damage to property, two counts of theft and three counts of resisting an officer.
Martin was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.
--Brad Romero, 23, Abbirene Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:32 a.m. Nov. 20 on a charge of obstruction of justice. Romero was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.
Morgan City police radio logs for Nov. 21-24
Mon, 11/25/2024 - 1:08pm
The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the Police Department at 985-380-4605.
Thursday, Nov. 21
6:28 a.m. 300 block of Federal Avenue; Animal complaint
6:46 a.m. 7800 block of La. 182; Alarm.
6:59 a.m. U.S. 90 East/Bridge; Traffic incident.
7:08 a.m. 200 block of Patton Street; Medical.
7:21 a.m. 1700 block of Maple Street; Animal complaint.
7:31 a.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Remove subject.
8:31 a.m. 2600 block of Sixth Street; Welfare concern.
8:43 a.m. 700 block of General McArthur Street; Complaint.
8:50 a.m. 2600 block of Sixth Street; Medical.
8:59 a.m. 1300 block of Federal Avenue; Animal complaint.
9:33 a.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Fight.
9:52 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Suspicious subject.
11:36 a.m. 600 block of Federal Avenue; Theft.
12:16 p.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Medical.
2:04 p.m. 3000 block of Wytchwood Drive; Assistance.
2:16 p.m. 600 block of Greenwood Street; Suspicious subject.
2:19 p.m. 3000 block of Wytchwood Drive; Juvenile problems.
2:36 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Vehicle accident.
3:07 p.m. 1800 block of Filmore Street; Theft.
3:08 p.m. 500 block of Marshall Street; Simple battery.
3:17 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Remove subject.
5:13 p.m. Brashear Avenue/La. 182; Stalled vehicle.
5:34 p.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Complaint.
5:42 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Remove subject.
5:54 p.m. Cypress Street; Animal complaint.
7:16 p.m. 1100 block of Front Street; 911 hang up.
8:31 p.m. La. 182; Complaint.
8:50 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
8:55 p.m. Sixth/Egle streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
Friday, Nov. 22
2:49 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Suspicious person/vehicle.
4:25 a.m. 1000 block of Willard Street; 911 hang up.
7:39 a.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Animal complaint.
7:49 a.m. Lawrence Park; Complaint.
8:23 a.m. 400 block of Fifth Street; Medical.
8:25 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.
8:33 a.m. 2600 block of Fir Drive; Alarm.
8:46 a.m. 1500 block of North First Street; Complaint.
9:07 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Assistance.
10:25 a.m. 1000 block of Marguerite Street; Vehicle accident.
10:27 a.m. 1100 block of Second Street; Animal complaint.
10:39 a.m. 300 block of Patton Street; Telephone harassment.
10:45 a.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Vehicle accident.
11:43 a.m. 400 block of Garber Street; Complaint.
11:49 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Vehicle theft.
11:52 a.m. 2100 block of Cedar Street; Vehicle accident.
12:15 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Assistance.
12:25 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Medical.
12:31 p.m. Victor II Boulevard/Redwood Street; Vehicle accident.
1:28 p.m. 800 block of Railroad Avenue; Medical.
1:44 p.m. Greenwood Overpass; Assistance.
2:25 p.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Theft.
2:29 p.m. Hickory/Bush streets; Suspicious person.
2:41 p.m. 2400 block of Tiger Drive; Vehicle accident.
3:07 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Theft.
5:09 p.m. Brashear Avenue; Stalled vehicle.
7:33 p.m. La. 70 ; Reckless driver.
8:58 p.m. Federal Avenue/Belanger Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
8:59 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
9:55 p.m. 2400 block of Tiger Drive; Fight.
10:42 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Warrants.
10:44 p.m. Fourth/General Patton streets; Fight.
Saturday, Nov. 23
2:33 a.m. 1000 block of Eighth Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
3:49 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
8:29 a.m. 900 block of Willard Street; Complaint.
8:47 a.m. Aycock Street; 911 hang up.
9:05 a.m. 900 block of Third Street; Assistance.
10:10 a.m. La. 182; Traffic incident.
11:08 a.m. 700 block of Leona Street; Open door.
11:10 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Animal complaint.
11:19 a.m. 700 block of General McArthur Street; Animal complaint.
12:33 p.m. 900 block of Apple Street; Subject removal.
2:01 p.m. Adams/Third streets; Animal complaint.
2:43 p.m. 3000 block of Keith Street; Disturbance.
4:01 p.m. Onstead/Sixth streets; Welfare check.
4:55 p.m. 3000 block of Keith Street; Disturbance.
6:16 p.m. 2400 block of Sixth Street; Loud music.
6:30 p.m. 2400 block of Apple Street; Medical.
7:43 p.m. 3200 block of Lake Palourde Road; Assistance.
9:03 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Loud music.
9:08 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
9:38 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; 911 hang up.
9:44 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Medical.
10:23 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.
10:58 p.m. 1500 block of Sixth Street; Loud music.
11:14 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.
Sunday, Nov. 24
12:43 a.m. Marquis Manor; Loud music.
1:17 a.m. 1000 block of Greenwood Street; Medical.
1:23 a.m. Bernice Street; Discharging firearms.
3:14 a.m. 2000 block of Keith Street; Complaint.
3:42 a.m. 2400 block of Tupelo Street; Medical.
5:36 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
9:57 a.m. U.S. 90 East; Hit and run.
11:10 a.m. 300 block of Third Street; Assistance.
11:56 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
12:04 p.m. 400 block of Lawrence Street; Disturbance.
12:06 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.
12:09 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.
12:25 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Stalled vehicle.
12:45 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Road blockage.
2:07 p.m. 600 block of Arenz Street; Assistance.
4:25 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Vehicle accident.
4:43 p.m. 1200 block of Fig Street; Animal complaint.
5:01 p.m. 1100 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
5:05 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Suspicious person.
5:12 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
Community Thanksgiving meal at Pharr Chapel
Sat, 11/23/2024 - 12:06pm
Volunteers at Pharr Chapel United Methodist Church hosted a free Thanksgiving meal for everyone who wanted to drop by the church Saturday. Pastor Joy Comeaux said planning for the event began in August, and volunteers prepared about 400 meals to share at the church or take home. The event was scheduled for 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Another event, a Thanksgiving social presented by Friends of the Patterson Community, is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Patterson Area Civic Center.
The Review/Bill Decker
Legislature passes Landry's flat income tax and corporate tax cut
Fri, 11/22/2024 - 11:01pm
QUINN MARCEAUX and GRACE THOMPSON, LSU Manship School News Service
BATON ROUGE — Republican Gov. Jeff Landry got the Louisiana Legislature to back his bet of lowering individual and corporate income taxes to stimulate growth in the state.
The Legislature adopted a 3% flat tax for individuals, trimmed corporate taxes and will make up some of the lost revenue by temporarily extending and increasing to 5% the state sales tax. Louisiana will now have the highest combined local and state sales tax in the nation at 10.6%.
The tax package, passed Friday with the required two-thirds votes in both chambers, received bipartisan support by aligning Louisiana’s taxes with successful neighboring states. The bills now go to the governor for his signature. The action Friday closed a special session of the Legislature that opened on Nov. 6.
“When we came to Baton Rouge, our goal was to have a long overdue conversation on our tax package,” said Sen. William Wheat, R-Ponchatoula. “This will put Louisiana in a better competitive space to compete with our surrounding states,” he said.
In a closed-door session, Senate lawmakers merged the politically-palatable income tax cut with the steep sales tax increase to win support for the package as a whole. The idea was to flatten the personal income tax from a tiered-rate system with a top rate of 4.25%, which would have created over a billion dollars in deficits, prompting lawmakers to raise the sales tax and find other sources of revenue to offset the cuts.
The bill passed the Senate 38-1 vote, with Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, casting the sole dissenting vote. House approval was 80-18, with Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Gray, as the only dissenting Republican.
Still, it was not clear that all the revenue lost by cutting taxes would be made up. “You’re creating a budget shortfall to provide a tax break for people who don’t need it, and creating another fiscal cliff,” said Jan Moller, executive director of Invest in Louisiana, a nonpartisan group in Baton Rouge that represents lower-income citizens.
This proposed sales tax increase mirrors one pushed by former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2016, when Louisiana faced a significant deficit. However, Landry’s sales tax hike is intended to offset his plan to flatten income taxes, a step toward his long-term goal of eliminating income taxes entirely. To gain support, the income and sales tax measures were combined, enabling Republican legislators to stomach raising the sales tax to the highest rate in the nation.
“We are not expanding sales tax into any new services,” Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, said. However, the package will for the first time tax digital services such as streaming services and games.
The Senate approved a significant reduction in the corporate income tax and the complete elimination of the corporate franchise tax. The corporate income tax rate was lowered from 7.5%, one of the highest in the nation, to a flat 5.5%, a move legislators believe will make Louisiana more attractive to business. The bill was passed with a 38-1 vote in the Senate and a 90-9 vote in the House.
The corporate franchise tax, a levy on owning property or conducting business in the state, will be fully eliminated starting January 1, 2026. As part of this change, certain business tax credits will expire on June 30, 2025. Louisiana was previously one of only 17 states with a corporate franchise tax. The bill was passed unanimously in the Senate and by an 84-16 vote in the House.
“Most states around us have eliminated the franchise tax,” said Sen. Jeremy Stine, R-Lake Charles, former marketing director for his family business, Stine Home and Yard,.”As a business owner this tax is a punishing tax.”
The Senate also approved a bill to make permanent the $2,000 annual stipend teachers have received over the past two years. With Louisiana facing a shortage of some 2,500 teachers, this measure aims to retain current educators and attract new talent. The raise will be partially funded by reallocating $2 billion from the state’s Millennium Trust Fund, managed by the Louisiana Education Department, to reduce debt in the teachers' retirement system.
However, teachers at charter schools and other institutions that have not contributed to the retirement system will not qualify for the raise. Additionally, some school districts may have leftover funds after receiving this state funding. Any surplus must be directed toward other school employees rather than expenses like textbooks. The bill was unanimously passed in both houses.
Two subsidies the Landry wanted to eliminate were partially preserved after protests at the Capitol; tax credits for movie-making and historic preservation of buildings.
“They can fill a room or two or three,” said Sen. Cameron Henry, R- Metairie, the president of the Senate.
Dear Abby: Handling an accident's aftermath
Fri, 11/22/2024 - 6:00am
DEAR ABBY: A month ago, my 7-year-old son was struck by a vehicle while riding his bike in a crosswalk. He’s fine now. His injuries were minor, although it was frightening. Police and paramedics responded quickly, and I took my son to the hospital to have him fully checked.
Later that day, a police officer came by our house with a new bike for our son, purchased by the driver of the vehicle. He gave us a paper with the driver’s insurance information and said something to the effect of, “Her address is on there too, if you want to thank her for the new bike. That was really nice of them.” I was shocked that he would say that.
I guess it was a nice gesture, but she hit my son with a car! The driver admitted to having been distracted. At the scene, she said she thought she had hit a dog. I could go on, but suffice it to say the driver was 100% at fault.
I put the new bike away in the garage. My son saw it there and wanted to ride it. I held out until our insurance claim was accepted, and we went for a ride today. The new bike is not as good as his old one, but he was excited about it because it is a different color. I’m so grateful that he is doing well and isn’t afraid of biking again. My question is, do I have to write that thank-you note? If so, can you please give me the words?
BICYCLE MOMMY IN WASHINGTON
DEAR MOMMY: I can think of a few choice words, but no rule of etiquette demands you thank the woman for the bicycle that was destroyed because of her inattentiveness.
DEAR ABBY: I have a group of friends I’ve known for 40 years. As time has passed, we have grown apart politically. This wasn’t a problem until recently. Whenever we get together now, they shout at me about my political choices. At first, I tried to defend my position, but I was shouted down. Then I explained that I didn’t want to talk politics, that I respect their right to have a different opinion and to please respect mine. That works only temporarily. The next time we meet, it’s the same. It’s like they think if they all talk at once, they can convince me. They can’t, and I have no desire to convince them.
It has reached the point that I’m no longer comfortable in their company, and, evidently, they’re not in mine, since they are now meeting without me. I can make new friends, but 40 years is a long time, and I miss them. Is there nothing more I can do short of pretending I agree with them, which I won’t do?
ISSUES APART IN NEW YORK
DEAR ISSUES APART: Just as there is nothing more that your old friends can do to convince you, the reverse is also true. You have now reached a stalemate.
Politics aside, these friends are shouting at you and disrespecting your wishes.
For your own sake, it may be time to step back and cultivate friends who are more tolerant than these folks appear to be.
***
To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.