The question of how much of the state’s rainy day fund to use to help plug the $304 million dollar budget deficit remains on this final day of the special session. The House and Senate are still at odds and Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com remarks on what happens if lawmakers are still at a stalemate when the session ends at midnight…:
CUT 15 (10) “on their own”
Governor Edwards is slated to speak once the session adjourns.

Smokers who work for the state could be facing a $50 monthly surcharge on their health insurance under a plan by the Office of Group Benefits. OGB chief executive officer Tommy Teague says this is common in the private sector and could produce about $7.5 million dollars.:
Cut 9 (10) “increases”
Teague hopes these benefits will be in place by January 1st 2018.

The Powerball jackpot has jumped up to 403 million dollars. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A sentimental bull riding movie called “Cowboy and Indiana” is going to be filmed in northeast Louisiana. R-Squared Productions says Executive Producer Rodney Ray says it’s all taking place in Monroe..:
CUT 12 (10) “to our community”
You can get involved in production at www.r2films.net.