TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
Louisiana and Mississippi residents, whose federal student loans are forgiven through certain repayment plans, could see the steepest tax increases in the country.
Aubri Juhasz of the Gulf States Newsroom explains why:
SOT:
“Borrowers on income-driven repayment plans can have their remaining balance canceled after 20, 25 or 30 years. That forgiven debt had been exempt from federal income tax. But Congress let that exemption expire at the end of last year. Now, those borrowers must count forgiven debt as INCOME. An analysis this month from PROTECT BORROWERS, an advocacy group, finds federal tax bills in Louisiana and Mississippi could more than triple, the biggest jumps in the country. Largely because of lower incomes and, in Louisiana, larger balances. The group estimates a typical family of four in either state could pay more than $7,000 in additional federal taxes and lost tax credits. Protect Borrowers is calling on Congress and state lawmakers to stop taxing canceled student loans.”
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INTRO:
In Texas, Democratic Railroad Commission candidate Jon Rosenthal says Texas needs stronger oversight of natural gas facilities to prevent power disruptions during extreme winter weather.
Rosenthal is a state representative and mechanical engineer with oil and gas industry experience.
He says the state adopted new weatherization requirements after the deadly winter storm in February of 2021.
But Rosenthal says more needs to be done to ensure natural gas supplies remain reliable:
SOT:
“I think we should be working with industry to put in reliability plans, make sure their stuff will be reliable, and then do the trust but verify bit to ensure that they implement the stuff that that they should do to make sure that we can still deliver energy to our state if we have a massive freeze.”
TAG:
Rosenthal added that stronger oversight of weatherization requirements could help keep natural gas flowing during extreme cold.He is challenging Republican activist Bo French, who declined an invitation to talk about his run for office.
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INTRO:
In Arkansas, when early voting gets underway on Monday, one of the three proposed constitutional amendments would allow taxpayer money to help private businesses.
The amendment would allow for the creation of “Economic Development Districts,” or EDD’s.
An EDD is an area of land with special privileges, including borrowing public money at higher rates or pay less in taxes.
As Little Rock Public Radio reports, Cities or counties would still need to vote to creates these special districts.
Such votes would only happen if voters approve Amendment 3 on the November 3rd election ballot.
Kristin Higgins, with the University of Arkansas Public Policy Center, says many details would only be worked out by lawmakers at a later time:
SOT:
“This is a big-picture proposal. And the legislature would come in later and pass all the nitty gritty details.”
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INTRO:
The policy nonprofit “Leaders For a Better Louisiana” is not taking a position on Amendment 4 on the November 3rd Louisiana ballot.
It would ban a two-term governor from running for a third term after sitting out for four years:
SOT:
“We think voters are pretty familiar with the issues around term limits. They can make a decision pretty easily based on what their gut instincts are, and as opposed to us making a recommendation.”
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The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
- Sunny skies and a high near 90 today:
- Tomorrow: It will begin feeling a little more fall with a high only reaching 75 degrees, with wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour.
- For the weekend: more clear skies with a Saturday high of 70, then 74 Sunday and 78 Monday.
- A strong cold front will usher in very dry air on Friday through the weekend with relative humidity between 25 to 40 percent and winds gusting out of the north up to 30 mph at times.
- A Fire Weather Watch is in effect with the threat of rapid start and spread of wildfires.
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