Louisiana
Louisiana lawmakers advance Gov. Jeff Landry's tax cut bills
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers advanced bills to flatten the state’s income tax rate and repeal the corporate franchise tax in a special legislative session focused on a sweeping tax reform package championed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.
The session started earlier this week and the bills quickly cleared committees despite pushback from Democratic lawmakers and groups such as those representing the film industry, which are set to lose tax breaks. The state House of Representatives could vote on the bills early next week.
One of the bills would introduce a flat individual income tax rate of 3% while increasing deductions for the lower income brackets. The legislative fiscal office’s former chief economist Greg Albrecht described the proposed income tax plan as “modestly progressive” compared to the existing tax code in a study commissioned by a coalition of nonpartisan policy think tanks.
Democratic Rep. Matthew Willard, the state House Minority Leader, said on Thursday that the income tax cuts would do little to help lower-income households. Citing Albrecht’s study, he noted that people earning between $25,000 to $30,000 annually would only get back $224 as a result of the proposed reforms.
“Although this plan saves everybody money, the majority of people who truly benefit from it don’t need much financial help and the people who do need financial help are saving $200, $300 a year — but they need $1,000,” said Willard, a member of the House Ways and Means committee.
“If you look at the bigger picture, I mean really how you improve the lot of everybody, especially on the lower income brackets, is you get them a better job and I think you give them more opportunity,” said Richard Nelson, Secretary of the Department of Revenue and the architect of the governor’s tax reform proposals.
If approved, the flat income tax rate would leave the state with an estimated revenue hole of more than $1 billion, which Landry’s proposal calls for making up for primarily by expanding sales tax on dozens of services and digital goods such as streaming sites — likely a harder sell for the GOP-dominated Legislature moving forward.
___
Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96
BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) — Governor Landry has officially declared Louisiana under state of emergency.
The state emergency declaration covers Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes.
The declaration was issued Thursday following the impacts of Tropical Storm Arthur, which brough rainfall and strong storms to parts of the state on June 17 and 18.
Officials said the National Weather Service has confirmed three tornadoes tied to the storm system.
Officials also reported record or near-record rainfall totals in Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parishes over a 12-hour period.
The order allows the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to coordinate resources and provide assistance to local governments if needed.
Certain state purchasing and bidding requirements have been temporarily suspended to speed up emergency response efforts.
The declaration took effect immediately and will remain in place through July 18 unless it is lifted or extended.
State officials are urging residents to stay weather aware, avoid flooded roadways and follow guidance from local emergency managers.
Latest news
Louisiana
New ATV/UTV task force aimed at reducing the staggering deaths and injuries among young riders
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The North Louisiana Crime Lab released a June 2026 law enforcement bulletin warning of additional cases tied to cyclorphine, a synthetic opioid the lab says can be significantly more potent than fentanyl.
The bulletin, titled “Cyclorphine Update — Additional Cases & Footprint,” notes that drug evidence submissions testing positive for cyclorphine have been received from multiple parishes in North Louisiana.
What is cyclorphine?
According to the bulletin, cyclorphine is a synthetic opioid in the emerging orphine drug class. The lab said current toxicity data are limited, but laboratory studies indicate cyclorphine may be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl.
Reported effects
The crime lab said cyclorphine can produce effects similar to other narcotic analgesics, including:
- Central nervous system depression
- Lethargy or stupor
- Respiratory depression with slow, shallow breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
The bulletin said Narcan should be administered to someone suffering from cyclorphine toxicity, and that multiple doses may be needed.
What the bulletin says about trends
The crime lab said national data indicate cyclorphine will likely continue spreading through the region, including becoming more common in seized and submitted drug evidence.
Where cyclorphine has been detected
The bulletin includes a “detection timeline and counterfeit tablet types,” showing evidence submissions tied to specific parishes and dates, including:
- Caddo Parish (Feb. 19; April 14)
- Ouachita Parish (March 18; May 13)
- DeSoto Parish (March 25)
- Natchitoches Parish (May 14)
The lab also noted counterfeit pill types associated with these submissions, including tablets labeled “M30,” “M15,” “K56,” “1259,” and “M367.” Officials warned it may be impossible to know what a pill contains, even if it resembles a known tablet.
The North Louisiana Crime Lab said it will continue tracking trends and sharing updates as additional evidence is submitted.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
-
California3 minutes agoCalifornia lawmakers seek $32M to combat invasive pest found on grapevines sold at Costco
-
Colorado11 minutes agoColorado’s Deion Sanders With Controversial Big 12 Coach Ranking
-
Connecticut14 minutes agoSierra Club Connecticut, State Representatives Host Black Lungs Matter: Juneteenth Press Event – CleanTechnica
-
Delaware18 minutes agoFrom blueprint to breakthrough: Tackling affordable housing in Wilmington
-
Florida26 minutes agoWeather Aware Day declared for Friday as heat and strong storms threaten Central Florida
-
Georgia29 minutes agoDHS appears to axe plan to construct immigration detention megacenter in small Georgia town
-
Hawaii33 minutes agoAmbassadors of aloha: Food events aim to boost tourism with unique Hawaii-made products
-
Idaho41 minutes agoIdaho State Police arrest Dillon Thorpe on rape, child enticement charges in Elmore County
