08:30 Newscast, May 2nd, 2017

Lawmakers are grappling with a $440 million dollar budget deficit, and The Advocate news organization and LSU have developed a simplistic website that allows the public the opportunity to weigh in on how to repair the state’s finances. LSU Mass Communications Professor Len Apcar says “solve-the-budget-dot-org could shed some light on what the masses would really like to see happen at the Capitol…:
Cut 6 (10) “we’ll find out”
He hopes a number of people respond between now and the end of the session.

Congressman Clay Higgins is asking Governor John Bel Edwards to intervene in the removal of Confederate monuments in New Orleans. The Liberty Place structure has already been removed. Higgins believes this is a cowardly move by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu…:
Cut 9 (10) “be known for”
Mayor Landrieu has said the monuments are the city’s property, not the state’s.

A memorial fund has been set up for the family of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Deputy who died while on-duty in a crash over the weekend. Deputy Justin Beard will be laid to rest on Thursday at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in West Monroe. Anyone who wants to help out his wife and three children can do so at any Ouachita Independent Bank location.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announces an initiative to get Louisianans to vacation right here in the Bayou State. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”