The Louisiana House has approved several spending bills including a 38-billion dollar budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. With the legislative session reaching the halfway point it’s unclear whether legislators will fund the governor’s request for 500-million dollars for a new Mississippi River bridge. John Bel Edwards says a 500-million dollar commitment will show the federal government the state is serious about building this bridge…
cut 8 (10) “….our state”
Louisiana has excess cash now, but in 2025, the state will see a reduction in revenues when a temporary state sales tax expires. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue was asked if he took that into account when crafting next fiscal year’s budget…
cut 6 (11) “….all things considered”

The “Buckle Up in Your Truck” highway safety campaign begins tomorrow and runs for the next week. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says law enforcement agencies will focus on making sure pick-up truck drivers and their passengers are buckled up….
Cut 10 (11) “…your seatbelt”
Lambert says they are targeting pick-up trucks because these vehicles are more likely to roll over in a crash and passengers are less likely to buckle up.

Pelicans fever is spreading across the state as the NBA team will host Game 3 of its playoff series with the Suns tonight. The series is tied at one game apiece and Rel Meyers, co-founder of The Pels 12 fan group, says fans are meeting up to support the team and local businesses as well…
cut 13 (11) “….local economy”
Tonight’s game in the Smoothie King Center tips off at 8:30.