Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s confident lawmakers will make the tough choices needed over the next two weeks in the special session to balance the state’s operating budget. The regular session must end by 6 today, and the special session will begin at 6:30. The legislature approved a $26 billion dollar budget, but there’s still a $600 million dollar hole in expenses for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

Halen Doughty has a quick review of the regular session from political analyst Clancy Dubos…:
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An amendment added to a bill that would prohibit a woman from getting an abortion just because the fetus is abnormal, essentially nullifies the measure. It states that the ban would only apply if a woman was 20 weeks along or more, but under Louisiana law no abortion can be performed after 20 weeks. The bill is set to be signed by Governor John Bel Edwards.

As tropical storm Colin churns in the Gulf toward Florida, experts have released a new study showing Louisiana homes are more at risk than ever for storm surge. According to CoreLogic, last year there were just over 760-thousand homes at risk in Louisiana, and that number has grown to over 800-thousand. Senior hazard risk scientist for CoreLogic, Tom Jeffery…:
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He attributes the increase in risk to new construction and the growing desire people have to live along the Gulf Coast.