In the first of a series of questions to Louisiana’s four major gubernatorial candidates, Louisiana Radio Network asked each candidate if they were Governor today, how would they handle the $1.6 billion dollar budget shortfall. Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says he’d curtail tax exemptions and refundable credits, cap the film tax credit program and raise the cigarette tax. But Dardenne says if he were Governor there wouldn’t be this giant deficit…:

cut 5 (11) “economy strong”

Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary election is October 24.

The state House approved a 24-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year on a 65-37 vote. As it stands now, the budget reduces funding for LSU’s medical schools in New Orleans and Shreveport and the state’s public-private hospital partnerships are also underfunded. House Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin says some agencies will also face cuts…

cut 15 (08) “highest priority”

The budget plan now heads to the Senate.

The Metropolitan Crime Commission has asked the state Attorney General’s office to investigate the sentence of Shelley Dufresene, the Destrehan High School teacher who had sex with one of her students. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the MCC President should know better than to call for this investigation….

cut 8 (10) “local district attorney”

Dufresene admitted to the act in exchange for no jail time and not having to register as a sex offender.

As motorists begin hitting the road for the Memorial Day weekend, Gasbuddy-dot-com says you’ll like the price you see at the pump. Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski says while gas prices have gone up about 21-cents a gallon in the past month, prices are still almost a dollar less than we paid a year ago. Laskoski says the price hike was not totally unexpected…

cut 12 (06) “driving season”

The current average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Louisiana is $2.45 a gallon.