A special session that’s been called to close a 304-million dollar budget deficit begins tonight at the State Capitol. Governor John Bel Edwards is recommending legislators use 119-million dollars from the rainy day fund to help close the gap, but some republican lawmakers propose more cuts. ULM political science professor Doctor Joshua Stockley says the governor has a good chance at winning this battle…
cut 4 (12) “…being underfunded”

State senators Dan Claitor and Sharon Hewitt will file a resolution tonight that will seek to expel Napoleonville Democrat Troy Brown from the senate. He’s plead guilty recently to two separate charges of domestic violence. Hewitt says she takes no pleasure in doing this. It will take 26 of the 39 senators to agree to the punishment.

A school bus overturned in St. Helena Parish this morning, sending dozens of children to area hospitals. State Trooper Dustin Dwight says the bus was travelling on LA 43 about to make a left hand turn near Greensburg when it was hit by another vehicle…:
Cut 9 (10) “left turn”
Dwight says the kids’ injuries range from minor to moderate.

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved a product called Kaput that could be used to lessen the state’s large wild hog population. But state veterinarian Jim LaCour says there’s a major concern that other non-target animals, especially the Louisiana Black Bear could it eat it and die. LaCour says the bears were recently removed from the federal Endangered Species List…
cut 13 (07) “…especially”
It will take approval from the state department of ag before it’s used in Louisiana.