The Landry Administration has presented state lawmakers with a proposed 44-billion dollar budget. Commissioner of Administration Taylor Barras says the amount of state spending is about the same for next fiscal year as it is this year. He says they didn’t want to increase spending with a temporary sales tax expiring in July 2025…
cut 3 (10) “…as we possibly could”
Barras says the proposed budget has more dollars for State Police as the governor wants to add more troopers and form a specific troop to work with the New Orleans Police Department in fighting crime.

Thousands of people from around the world will flock to the Bayou State to let the good times roll this Mardi Gras weekend. And Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says New Orleans isn’t the only city that does it big…
Cut 6 (12) “..north Louisiana.”

It’s Super Bowl Weekend and according to the American Gaming Association, 68 million people are expected to place a bet on the big game. And Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says AGA is predicting more than $23 billion will be legally wagered in the US.
Cut 12 (11) “…huge weekend”
As for the Pelican State, Johns says it’s hard to predict how much will be wagered on Super Bowl 58.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is looking for independent short filmmakers to submit entries for the 13th annual PBS Short Film Festival. Entries can be fiction or non-fiction and L-P-B spokesperson Colleen Spillane says a committee at LPB will judge the entries and decide what to enter into the PBS Short Film Festival.
Cut 5 (11) “…quite frank.”
Filmmakers are encouraged to visit lpb.org/filmfest for information.