<strong><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">When did the state begin asking us to voluntarily report and pay sales tax on items bought from out-of-state retailers that don’t collect sales tax?</span></strong>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">State law has required residents to self-report and pay the tax — known as the consumer use tax — since 1934.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">“The purpose of the use tax is not only to raise revenue, but also to prevent retailers located out-of-state from having an unfair competitive advantage against in-state retailers who have to charge the sales tax. …,” reads the state Revenue Department’s website.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">“Items that are subject to sales tax include computers and other electronic equipment, canned software, books, audio and video tapes, compact discs, records, clothing, appliances, furniture and other home furnishings, sporting goods, jewelry, and etc.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Out-of-state retailers include those online, along with TV shopping networks and mail-order catalogs. The tax, assessed in lieu of local sales taxes, stands at 9 percent. Four percent of that goes to local governments.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The Legislative Fiscal Office has said Louisiana collected $1.7 million in consumer use taxes from individuals in fiscal year 2015 and $307 million from corporations.</span>

<a href="http://revenue.louisiana.gov" target="_blank"><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">http://revenue.louisiana.gov</span></a>

<hr /><h3><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">CPSO has no plans to use CrimeReports</span></h3>

<strong><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The Lake Charles Police Department uses the website CrimeReports. Does the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office have plans to use it?</span></strong>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kim Myers said the agency has no plans to use CrimeReports but is “in the preliminary stages of exploring a similar website.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">According to data available Tuesday on CrimeReports, Lake Charles police have in the last 15 days reported 71 violent crimes, 158 property crimes and 47 crimes affecting quality of life.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The breakdown:</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Violent</span>

<ul><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Assault — 60.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Robbery — 10.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Assault with deadly weapon — 1.</span></li></ul>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Property</span>

<ul><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Breaking and entering — 78.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Theft — 52.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Property crime — 19.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Vehicle theft — 9.</span></li></ul>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Quality of life</span>

<ul><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Drugs — 44.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Liquor — 2.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Disorder — 1.</span></li></ul>

<a href="http://www.crimereports.com" target="_blank"><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">www.crimereports.com</span></a>

<hr /><h3><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Trump, 70, born in June 1946</span></h3>

<strong><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Could you tell me the age of Donald Trump?</span></strong>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The president, born on June 14, 1946, is 70 years old, making him the oldest man ever elected to the office of chief executive.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">The ages of recent presidents at inauguration:</span>

<ul><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Barack Obama — 47.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">George W. Bush — 54.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Bill Clinton — 46.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">George H.W. Bush — 64.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Ronald Reagan — 69.</span></li><li><span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Jimmy Carter — 52.</span></li></ul>

<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov" target="_blank">www.whitehouse.gov</a>