News for Monday 012813

By Dave Graichen

Governor Jindal's plan to eliminate income taxes in favor of higher  sales taxes could put an unfair burden on elderly and retired people. So  says Frank Jobert (jo-BEAR), executive director of the Louisiana Retired  State Employees Association. He says for over 100-thousand people, it  would paying higher taxes, because consumer goods will cost more.  Jobert says retired state employees drawing public pensions do not pay  personal state income taxes. He says they and thousands of others, who  live on limited fixed incomes, would be adversely affected by the  Governor's plan.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has voted in favor of  separate brackets for the football playoffs. One bracket will contain  public schools, the other will consist of schools that select their own

admission, like private schools.  The separate playoffs will go into effect this fall and it will likely

mean there will be seven different champions in high school football  next season, five public schools and two so-called select schools. But, it appears  the state legislature may have a say over the decision. Lafayette Senator Page Cortez says  he's heard from his constituents that separate playoffs for

football is a bad idea. He says the state legislature has approved  legislation in the past for the L-H-S-A-A to follow and  a bill could be introduced in the  upcoming legislative session that will address this controversy.

Super Bowl week kicks off today in New Orleans as thousands of  people from around the world will be here to take part in all the  events surrounding the biggest professional sporting event in  America. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says this is a major week for tourism in Louisiana.  Dardenne says this is a chance for people to come away from  Louisiana with a good impression of our state and experience true southern hospitality...and a good time.

State police report 40-year Christopher Travis from Grayson died Saturday when he lost control of his logging truck, left the roadway and struck a tree. The impact caused a load of logs to shift forward and crush the cab. Travis was not wearing his seatbelt and was pronounced dead the investigation into the LaSalle Parish crash continues.

About 500 U-S soldiers in Afghanistan will receive King Cakes this week  thanks to a non-profit group based out of Slidell. "Operation We Care"  sends care packages to servicemen and women throughout the year, but  before Mardi Gras, instead of toiletries they ship king cakes. Operation  We Care President Brenda Odgen says the soldiers are very appreciative.  Ogden says you can go to operation-we-care-dot-com to find out how to  donate to their cause.

Two St. Mary Parish sheriff’s deputies are still in stable condition after they were shot Saturday morning in a shooting that left two others dead. 48 year old Wilbert Thibodeaux is being held in the Iberia Parish Jail on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of arson in the incident. Thibodeaux is also accused in the fatal shootings of a Chitimacha police officer and a mobile home resident.