Governor John Bel Edwards says there is no easy way to address the $940 million dollar current year shortfall, or the $2 billion dollar deficit for the budget year that begins July 1st. Last night Edwards told House and Senate members that some tax increases will be needed…:
Cut 13 (10) “so massive”
But Republican lawmakers have already said they are not on board with raising taxes. The special session must end March 9th.

Teachers unions are working together to prevent cuts to public school funding. Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux says that’s why they joined forces with the Louisiana Federation of Teachers…:
CUT 9 (05) “our children”
She says the unions also want to make sure that the accountability and evaluation systems are in place for both students and teachers in Louisiana.

The Zika virus may be cause for caution but not alarm. State health officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry with DHH says when people are infected with the virus, the illness usually doesn’t last very long…:
CUT 11 (05) “five days”
Two Louisiana residents who recently traveled to the Caribbean, were recently diagnosed with the Zika virus, after complaining about a minor illness.

During testimony lawmakers learned under a worst case scenario that students must achieve at least a 28 on their ACT in order to receive the TOPS scholarship. Senate Education Chairman Blade Morrish says if the legislature elects to make dramatic changes to TOPS, they will likely not take effect immediately. He says that would be unfair to students who are already counting on the program….:
Cut 6 (10) “in high school”
Morrish has proposed bill to cap TOPS in the past, and he plans to propose bills on the TOPS issue in the upcoming regular session.

The special legislative session got underway Sunday and Governor John Bel Edwards told lawmakers it will take more than just cutting to repair the state’s budget and plug the $940 million dollar current year deficit. He says he doesn’t want partisan politics to get in the way of doing what’s right for the state…:
CUT 14 (12) (applause)
Many GOP lawmakers have already expressed reservations about raising taxes. Republican Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson wants to use this time to look at ways to reduce spending….:
Cut 16 (08) “uninformed“
The special session must conclude by March 9th.

The budget crisis in Louisiana has called into question the future of the TOPS scholarship program. Halen Doughty reports…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Louisiana’s two largest public school teacher unions, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Educators, announced they are teaming up in an effort to prevent cuts to public school funding. LAE President Debbie Meaux believes they can achieve powerful results by working together…:
CUT 7 (06) “of Louisiana”

Governor John Bel Edwards urges lawmakers to work with his administration on solving this fiscal year’s 940-million dollar budget deficit. Jeff Palermo has more…:

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Ruston Daily Leader is reporting that the historic Wyly Tower of Learning at Louisiana Tech will be demolished due to infrastructural challenges, and replaced with a five story University Center. If all goes according to plan, the new project will begin before the summer of 2017.

Louisiana’s budget problems have raised concerns about the future of TOPS. The highly popular program has run into issues, as the state may not have enough money to fully pay a recipients scholarship. Senate Education Chairman Blade Morrish says the legislature will look at options to control TOPS spending during the regular legislative session…:
cut 4 (07) “on TOPS”
Governor John Bel Edwards has said that to restore TOPS and other government programs next year, lawmakers must agree to raise taxes.

The Zika virus may be cause for caution but not alarm. That’s according to state health director, Doctor Frank Welch, who says The Zika virus is transmitted by a certain kind of mosquito that is not active in Louisiana at this time. He says the mosquito borne disease is not harmful to most who get it…:
Cut 10 (07) “they’re sick”
People travelling to the Caribbean, where the disease is prevalent, should also take extra precautions.

Governor John Bel Edwards tells lawmakers that the state can’t cut its way out of its fiscal problems. That’s how a three and a half week long special session got underway last night as Edwards told House and Senate members that some tax increases will be needed to address a 940-million dollar budget deficit this fiscal year…:
Cut 13 (10) “so massive”
Republican West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth is optimistic the GOP legislature can work with the Democratic Edwards administration on a solution to fixing the state’s budget problems…:
Cut 15 (10) “I believe”
The special session must conclude by March 9th.

A state health director says Louisiana residents should use caution when it comes to the Zika Virus, but not be alarmed. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Baton Rouge Police say a man who is suspected of shooting two officers has died. They say 22-year-old Calvin Smith was being treated at the same hospital as the two cops he allegedly shot. Authorities say BRPD was responding to a domestic disturbance when they encountered the suspect who fled before turning a rifle and shooting at the cops. The officers, who suffered non life threatening injuries, returned fire and struck Smith. The investigation is ongoing.

Two Baton Rouge police officers are in stable condition and a suspect who shot at him is also hospitalized. That’s according to Baton Rouge police spokesperson, Corporal Don Coppola, who says the incident happened this morning after officers responded to a call about damaged property.

The governor’s executive budget for the fiscal year that begins July first will be presented to lawmakers this afternoon. Michelle Southern has the story…
voicer 1 (29) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

Governor John Bel Edwards says TOPS students won’t get a tuition bill this semester, even with the money troubles the popular taxpayer funded program faces. Edwards says not enough money was appropriated for the TOPS program this year. He says they’re around 28-million dollars short and it will be up to each individual college to pick up the rest of the costs.
cut 15 (04) “tuition bill”
Edwards says while TOPS students will have their scholarships fully paid for this year, next school year could be a different story.

For the second straight year, Lawrence and Varrie Player of Benton has been recognized as the state’s longest known married couple. The Players have been married for 81 years and Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says this couple is a model for Louisiana families…
cut 13 (11) “….self”
Several couples who have been married for 70-plus years were honored at the governor’s mansion yesterday.

Governor John Bel Edwards says TOPS students will not get a tuition bill this semester, despite money issues with the taxpayer funded scholarship. Edwards says if the state is unable to pay a TOPS recipient’s tuition, colleges will absorb those costs…
cut 14 (06) “current semester”
Edwards says next school year could be a different story, if the state doesn’t raise enough revenue to help pay for this program and keep it where pays a recipients full tuition.

In a special televised address Governor John Bel Edwards said there is a possibility there will be no LSU football next fall unless legislators resolve the state’s budget deficit. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this kind of scare tactic is common among government officials who seek to raise taxes.
CUT 7 (05) “everywhere”
The state’s budget deficit is $940 million for this fiscal year.

The Governor’s Executive Budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year will be presented to lawmakers this afternoon. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says if lawmakers want to spend only the money that they think is coming in to Louisiana in FY-17, it doesn’t look good.
CUT 4 (10) “a reality”
The adopted economic forecast projects the deficit for the next fiscal year at around $2 billion dollars.

Baton Rouge police say two of their officers were shot and a suspect was also shot during a shootout that occurred this morning. A police spokesperson says the officers are in stable condition, while the suspect was in surgery. The incident started when the officers responded to a call about damaged property. The suspect then drove off in a vehicle, but got out of his car two miles later and according to authorities started to shooting at police.

Governor John Bel Edwards told the Jim Engster show that TOPS students will not have to pay a poriton of their tuition, if the state doesn’t have enough money to pay for the scholarship program. Edwards says individual colleges will absorb those costs. But the governor says next school year is a different story, if the state doesn’t raise revenue to help pay for this government program…
cut 16 (05) “…funded next year”
He says as it stands now, TOPS is only funded at 25-percent next fiscal year.

The Governor’s Executive Budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year will be presented to lawmakers this afternoon. The adopted economic forecast projects the next deficit is around $2 billion dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they don’t plan to sugarcoat the facts..:
CUT 3 (09) “doomsday scenario”
Tomorrow lawmakers will begin a special session that will deal with the state’s immediate crisis, a 940-million dollar shortfall for this fiscal year.

Two Baton Rouge police officers were shot this morning and authorities say the suspect is in surgery after receiving a gunshot wound as well. Baton Rouge police spokesperson Sergeant Don Coppola says the officers responded to a call about damage to property. When officers arrived, a suspect fled in a car, eventually driving off the road. Coppola says the suspect got out of his car with some sort of rifle and started shooting at the officers and the police returned fire. The officers are in stable condition.

The governor has also told Louisiana that unless some taxes are raised, the budget cuts to colleges could be so severe that it could lead to no college football next fall. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says that would be a doomsday scenario, but other governors, used similar tactics like this to raise revenue…
cut 8 (08) “….kidney machines”
A special legislative session to address the state’s budget begins tomorrow.