The state’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2018, which begins next July, is up to one-point-five billion dollars. Most of the shortfall is due to the loss of temporary taxes. But rising costs and inflationary expenses also make up the budget gap. Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin questions why inflationary costs are included in the fiscal cliff deficit…:
Cut 13 (07) “scares everybody”
Fannin made his comments during today’s joint legislative budget committee. Barry Dusse, with the governor’s budget office, responded that inflationary dollars are added to the budget deficit projection, because state law requires them to do so…
Cut 14 (07) “look like”
Legislators and the governor have yet to reach an agreement on how to handle the fiscal cliff.
First Lady Donna Edwards is teaming up with the Department of Children and Family Services to launch a new program supporting foster parents. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

It’s been a wet couple of weeks and State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s not showing any signs of stopping. He says the wet pattern is caused by summer fronts crossing Louisiana and stalling along the coast….:
Cut 3 (10) “a few days”
He says expect the wet pattern to continue through the weekend.