 BY VICKI FERSTEL | Staff writer State Senate shelves tax cuts: The state Senate on Sunday put a hold on proposals to reduce individual income and sales taxes in Louisiana. The House had approved the tax cuts on May 7. But that was before publicity about an analysis by state budget economists showing the potential huge cost: a $142 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2027 and a $590 million shortfall in fiscal year 2028. Staff writer Tyler Bridges notes the measures would have reduced the state sales tax from 5% to 4.75%, dropped the individual income tax rate from 3% to 2.75% and doubled the standard deduction for people over 65. Here's his story. Meanwhile, staff writer Meghan Friedmann reports on a sizable budget cut to the LA GATOR program, which provides funds to eligible families for tuition and other private school or homeschool expenses.
Stunning loss: After posting a 3-0 lead in the first inning, it looked like No. 1 LSU could take down No. 4 Little Rock and advance to the super regionals Sunday at Alex Box Stadium. Staff writer Koki Riley notes LSU surrendered six runs on four hits in the second and third innings, four runs in the eighth and were held to one run for the rest of the night. The result: a 10-4 loss to Little Rock, forcing a deciding seventh game today between the Tigers and Trojans. Click here for the details.
Shock jock? A racehorse jockey fled from State Police on Saturday as they were conducting post-race checks of the jockeys at Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino near Lake Charles. State Police say that's when Ricardo Hernandez-Perez, of Vinton, bolted from the stables, removing a battery-operated shocking device from his clothes and tossing it into one of the horse stalls. From the stalls to the parish jail, according to this report from staff writer Aidan McCahill. | 
