The state’s budget picture is worse than originally thought as the Revenue Estimating Conference this morning projects there will be an $892 million dollar mid-yer shortfall. Lawmakers must fill the hole by July 1st. A special session to address the budget begins Sunday.

Now that the Mardi Gras season is over, today, Ash Wednesday, begins the Lenten season as Christians across Louisiana prepare for Easter. Masses will be held across the state today to allow people to receive their ashes.

And begins the 40 days of lent. Many choose to give up meat and take advantage of Louisiana’s seafood, and there’s good news for crawfish lovers. Farmers say this could be one of the best years for mudbugs ever — thanks to El Nino. Wild crawfish farmer Sherbin Collette of Henderson says more people are harvesting to make a living since the oil industry is losing jobs
CUT 9 (06) “can’t make it”
He says warm weather and high waters contribute to the size and juiciness of the crawfish.

The data compiling website Roadsnacks released a list of the most boring cities in Louisiana, and Central came in at number one. Rounding out the top five were Mandeville, Franklin, Springhill and Minden. Roadsnacks spokesman Nick James says they classified boring places as those where the population was older, married or had kids. He says they did this research scientifically without polling and seem to get positive results…:
cut 11 (10) “the head”
You can see the full list at roadsnacks.net.

Governor John Bel Edwards will have a televised statewide address to residents of Louisiana about the state’s budget situation tomorrow night at 6:30. The state found out today that the budget deficit for this fiscal year has grown from $750 to $892 million. The Revenue Estimating Conference met this morning.