After day two of the special legislative session, about $60 million dollars in cuts have been made to help with the estimated more than $940 million hole in the budget that ends June 30th. $38 million was approved by the Joint Legislative committee on the Budget Monday, adding to reductions already made by Governor John Bel Edwards.

TOPS has been called into question because of the state’s budget issues, and financial experts are urging parents to prepare in case the scholarship program isn’t funded moving forward. Certified financial planner Anne Osestriecher says students may also need to consider what they can do to help finance their education…:
Cut 6 (04) “always loans”
Osestriecher says community college and part-time jobs for students are things parents should think about as well.

Nola.com is reporting that a judge in New Orleans set a May 16th trial date for former Saints player Darren Sharper who is facing drug and rape conspiracy charges.

President Obama is expected to nominate a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, but Louisiana’s Republican Senators think we should wait. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state Republican Party is trying to raise money to run a commercial that includes soundbites from Governor John Bel Edwards saying on the campaign trail that he wasn’t going to raise taxes. Louisiana Democratic Party executive director Stephen Handwerk says this is a dirty tactic and the GOP is trying to make cuts that aren’t possible…:
CUT 17 (03) “the bone”