Governor John Bel Edwards has offered several options to the state legislature to address the state’s budget crisis. House Majority Leader, Republican Lance Harris of Alexandria, says Republicans will work on their own plan to deal with the fiscal mess in the coming weeks. He says with regards to raising the sales tax by a cent, everything needs to be on the table and it’s too early to form an opinion on the issue…:
CUT 4 (09) “on that”
Harris says he appreciates the governor being so candid about the budget numbers.

A 16-year-old boy walking along train tracks in Slidell Wednesday morning apparently didn’t hear an oncoming train that struck and killed him because he was wearing headphones. Slidell police say James Pulsifer was hit by a Norfolk freight train, and the conductor tried to stop and sounded the horn, to no avail.

The current, sharp drop in the price of oil is having an adverse effect on the state’s budget. The price of crude closed at $26.55 a barrel Wednesday, the lowest level since 2003. Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moeller says diminishing mineral revenues are doing a real number on the budget…:
CUT 6 (11) “dropped again”

A New Orleans woman has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of her 3-year-old grandson, according to cops. 43-year-old Deonca Kennedy first told NOPD that the gun was under her pillow and went off hitting the child in the chest. She then refused to cooperate. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says cops should’ve done more testing before arresting this traumatized woman.
CUT 9 (08) “have waited”
Kennedy has been charged with negligent homicide and second degree cruelty to a juvenile.