Governor John Bel Edwards addressed a joint session of the legislature this morning, calling on lawmakers to find the political courage to raise enough revenue during this special session to reduce cuts to state programs. Edwards says they cannot wait any longer to resolve the fiscal crisis…:
CUT 6 (12) “afford to wait”
Legislators have until midnight on June 23 to try and raise enough revenue to close a $600 million budget shortfall.

A West Monroe native and former astronaut is charged with murder following a crash that claimed the lives of two children in Alabama, according to authorities. They say 49-year-old James Halsell Jr. of Huntsville is suspected of being impaired and speeding when he collided with a vehicle with an 11-year-old and 13-year-old inside. The sisters were pronounced dead.

Several lawmakers are in a foul mood after failing to approve a construction budget. Ways and Means Chairman Neil Abramson says Senate changes to the spending plan made the bill unworkable and he didn’t bring it up for a vote in the regular session. Franklin Representative Sam Jones asked Abramson why not send the bill to a conference committee to resolve the issues…:
CUT 3 (12) “out of here”
The construction budget funds road projects, repairs to public buildings and improvement to state parks.

The LSU baseball team is hoping to get it together in the elimination game today today after a rough match-up last night against Rice in which the Tigers fell 10-6. They’ll face off again at 4pm to determine who will advance to the best of three NCAA Super Regionals.