To start the special session, Governor Edwards told lawmakers they need to use the state’s savings account to help close the $304 million dollar budget deficit. There’s concern by some about draining the rainy fund down to zero, but Edwards says that won’t happen thanks to BP settlement dollars..:
Cut 11 (09) “budget stabilization fund ”
He says he’s open to discussing further cuts that Republicans want to see, but won’t support budget gimmicks.

Two legislators have filed a resolution two remove state Senator Troy Brown from office. The Napoleonville lawmaker was recently convicted on two domestic abuse charges. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says we shouldn’t be tolerant of civil servants who disregard the citizens they represent…:
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Brown has said he’d fight any effort to expel him.

Now for three straight Valentine’s Days a couple from Bossier Parish has been named the state’s longest known married couple by the Louisiana Family Forum. President Gene Mills says 103-year-old Lawrence Player and 97-year-old Varrie Player of Benton have been married 82 years:
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He says Will Henry and Virginia Teasley of Bienville Parish are this year’s runners up, married for 80 years.

LSU quarterback Brandon Harris has decided to transfer and said Coach Orgeron is letting him choose any school. Tiger Rag associate editor James Moran says the junior probably doesn’t want to sit on the bench and watch Danny Etling be the signal caller…:
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Harris played in just four games during the 2016 season, passing for 139 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Governor John Bel Edwards told the state legislature at the start of the special session that it’s important to use the rainy day fund to close the $304 million dollar budget shortfall. But there have been several Republican lawmakers who have advocated for more cuts to the budget. Edwards says he’s open to hearing other options…:
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The special session must end on midnight next Wednesday.

One Covington lawmaker has an idea on the budget troubles as he’s launched a website that lets people secretly report what they feel is wasteful spending in state government. Representative John Schroder says he wants to see what citizens would report anonymously..:
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The site is StopLouisianaWaste.com.

Two state Senators file a resolution to expel Napoleonville Senator Troy Brown after being convicted of two separate domestic abuse charges. Halen Doughty has more…:
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The Lafayette Police Department is investigating an apparent murder suicide. They say officers responded last night to find 27-year-old Katrina Broussard of Lake Charles dead in an apartment, then later located the victim’s boyfriend, 29-year-old Oris Briggs of Abbeville, dead in his vehicle of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They believe the two had been involved in a domestic altercation.

Governor Edwards kicked-off the special session by explaining to legislators why it’s important to use rainy day dollars to address a 304-million dollar budget deficit. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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A new website seeks to reduce wasteful spending in state government. Covington Representative John Schroder launched StopLouisianaWaste.com…:
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Schroder stresses that people can post to the website anonymously.

Two state Senators file a resolution to expel Senator Troy Brown from the Upper Chamber due to two domestic violence convictions. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor expects the first hearing will occur within two or three days..:
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It will take 26 out of 39 votes to expel the senator.

For the third straight year, a couple from Bossier Parish is named the longest known married couple in the state. Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says 103-year-old Lawrence Player and 97-year-old Varrie Player have been married for 82 years…:
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Every year for Valentine’s Day the Louisiana Family Forum honors the top ten longest known married couples in the state.

On the opening night of the special session, Governor John Bel Edwards laid out his reasons on why the state legislature should use 119-million dollars from the rainy day fund to address a 304-million dollar shortfall. Edwards says without using it, cuts will likely have to be made to higher education, public schools and social services like foster care..:
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He says he’s open to discussing further cuts that Republicans want to see, but won’t support budget gimmicks.

A resolution has been filed for the special session that seeks to expel Napleonville Senator Troy Brown from the legislature, because of two recent domestic abuse convictions. One of them is Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt…:
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She filed the resolution along with State Senator Dan Claitor.

A Benton couple has once again been honored as Louisiana’s longest known married couple. Don Molino has more…:
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LSU quarterback Brandon Harris has decided to leave the Tigers and transfer so that he can play for another school. The junior said he’s been granted full release from head coach Ed Orgeron.

State Lawmakers are back in Baton Rouge as a special session to repair a $304 million dollar budget hole gets underway at 6:30. ULM political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says the big question is whether the legislature will agree to use the rainy day fund…:
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It will take a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate for the legislature to use the rainy day fund. Governor John Bel Edwards is proposing to use 119-million dollars from the state’s savings account. But Republican Monroe Representative Jay Morris supports cutting the budget deeper than what the governor recommended …
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The special session must end by midnight on February 22nd.

A resolution has been filed for the special session that seeks to expel Napleonville Senator Troy Brown from the legislature, because of two recent domestic abuse convictions. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt filed the measure along with Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor. Hewitt says anytime an elected official breaks the law, it erodes the public’s trust in all elected leaders.
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It will take 26 out of 39 votes to expel the senator. Brown issued a statement last month saying expulsion is the political equivalent to execution. He went on to say that only 8 states have ever expelled a Senator, and it was always over more serious matters.

And Covington Representative John Schroeder says you can now report wasteful state spending to a website called Stop-Louisiana-waste-dot-com. Schroeder says he will personally view and investigate every entry.

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…:
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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…
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It will take approval from the state department of ag before it’s used in Louisiana.

Tonight state lawmakers will convene for a special session to attempt to resolve a $304 million midyear budget deficit. ULM political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says one of the biggest battles will be whether or not to tap into the rainy day fund. He says if they don’t, tough decisions will have to be made..:
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The special session must end by midnight on February 22.

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved a product called kaput that is capable of killing wild hogs. But it can also poison other animals so it’s not available yet in Louisiana….
cut 14 (06) “….in this state”
That’s state wildlife veterinarian, Doctor Jim LaCour, who says the toxic pellets needs approval from the state department of ag.

It’s been 6 months since The Great Flood of 2016, so how far have affected Louisiana communities come? Michelle Southern gets a progress update…:
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Republican U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says after meeting Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, he says there is no doubt he is immensely qualified to sit on the bench.

And quarterback Brandon Harris is tired of sitting on the bench. He announced that he’s transferring from LSU. The former Parkway star says he’ll be able to transfer to any school.