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In-person early voting for the April 24, Municipal General Election for judge of the Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit continues this week in Madison Parish.

Quick hits: Louisiana news briefs to start your week

Early voting for April 24 runoff begins Saturday

Senate committee votes to lower top Louisiana income tax rate, eliminate federal tax break

(The Center Square) – A Louisiana Senate committee voted Tuesday to amend the state constitution to lower the maximum allowable personal income tax rate and give lawmakers the ability to eliminate

Edwards delivers State of the State, urges focus on 'true tax reform'

(The Center Square) – When Gov.

People line up to vote Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans.

Gerald Herbert / AP

Bret Allain (left), R-Franklin, chair of the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, stands with Senate President Page Cortez on Monday, April 12, 2021, during opening day of the Louisiana legislative session in Baton Rouge, La.

Gerald Herbert / AP

Opinion: Thirty percent of excess deaths not Covid caused
By Wyatt Emmerich, Reads
From the start of the Covid epidemic, I felt like “excess deaths” was the key statistic to follow.
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The Louisiana National Guard, participating in the annual Disaster Response Exercise (DRX), train during a simulated category four hurricane event to test and stress the decision-making process and measure battle readiness in the event of a real-world natural disaster at the Joint Operations Center at Camp Beauregard, Pineville, Louisiana, April 8, 2021. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Thea James)

LA Guard participates in annual disaster response training
By Sgt. Anna M. Churco, 241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Reads
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard
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The Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La. Nagel Photography | Shutterstock.com

Louisiana Legislature prepares to enter tax-heavy session
By David Jacobs | The Center Square, Reads
(The Center Square) – "Tax reform" means different things to different people, but a lot of people across the political spectrum seem to think Louisiana needs it.
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Ochsner BR Phamacy Director Heather Maturin unpacks the vials of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be used at Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, La., on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Bill Feig / AP

Louisiana health department distributes COVID-19 doses to 486 providers
By David Jacobs | The Center Square, Reads
(The Center Square) – The Louisiana Department of Health announced Monday that 486 providers across the state will get shares of Louisiana’s allocation of COVID-19 vaccines this week.
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National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week begins Sunday

Sunday begins 'Public Safety Telecommunicator Week'
By Staff Reports, Reads
Each year, during the second week of April, the telecommunications personnel in the public sa
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Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards Melinda Deslatte / AP

Edwards' legislative agenda includes mandatory kindergarten, teacher raises, higher minimum wage
By David Jacobs | The Center Square, Reads
(The Center Square) – Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his agenda Thursday for the legislative session that starts Monday, including his support for making kindergarten mandatory for every Louisiana student.
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Dr. Joe Kanter with the Louisiana Department of Health speaks at a news conference Nov. 13, 2020. David Jacobs / The Center Square

Louisiana launches COVID-19 vaccine hotline
By David Jacobs | The Center Square, Reads
(The Center Square) – Louisiana has launched a COVID-19 vaccine hotline for residents who have questions about the vaccines or would like help scheduling a vaccination appointment.

The number is 1-855-453-0774, and the hotline’s hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
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The Louisiana House of Representatives in the state capitol in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. travelview | Shutterstock.com

Louisiana quick hits: news briefs for your weekend
By David Jacobs | The Center Square, Reads
Public defender: Death penalty defense costs between $7M and $8M per year

Defending people who are facing the death penalty cost more than $7.7 million last year, State Public Defender Rémy Starns told the Louisiana House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.
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Shutterstock

Louisiana task force recommends raising unemployment trust fund balance to $750M
By David Jacobs | The Center Square, Reads
(The Center Square) – A Louisiana task force voted Thursday to recommend using federal stimulus money to raise the balance of the fund that pays for unemployment benefits to $750 million.
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