The Joint Legislative Committee on the budget today approved a 20% pay raise for state troopers. The original request from Col Mike Edmonson was for a 30% increase but the measure was amended down to 20% reducing the cost from about $14 million to about $10 million. Opelousas Senator Elbert Guillory…:
CUT 2 (06) “Louisiana”
The vote from the House side was 24-5 and the Senate side 13-3.

Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says the EPA has agreed to delay the open tray burn of the M6 propellant at Camp Minden for at least 90 days. He says they also have now said they would support any decision on an alternative method to get rid of the explosives…:
CUT 1 (09) “that’s progress”
The propellant was found improperly stored at Camp Minden back in 2012.

The four announced candidates for governor are meeting at this hour and discussing how to solve the state’s transportation issues. Scott Carwile has a preview…:
CUT 3 (29) “reporting”

State Police say a hostage situation in Evangeline Parish turned deadly with the suspect being shot and killed by police. They say the unidentified man took his girlfriend hostage in a trailer park in Pine Prairie. Authorities say shots were fired at police from the home and they responded with deadly force. The woman, who also has not been identified, was not injured in the incident.