Governor John Bel Edwards says the special legislative session aimed at solving a 940-million dollar budget deficit this fiscal year is heading in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. House republicans are hesitant to raise taxes to fill the budget hole, but Edwards says there’s been no evidence they can reduce the deficit without raising revenues..:
CUT 9 (10) “that is not happening”
Edwards says an 18 month sunset on the one-cent sales tax increase is not realistic.

State Police arrests a second officer assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration task force suspected of stealing and selling drugs seized in raids. Karl Newman, a deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, was booked on counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and abuse of office. State police spokesperson, Maj. Doug Cain…:
CUT 6 (07) “the north shore”
Cain says this investigation is very much not over.

One of the items in the supplemental spending bill that the full House approved this week includes a mid-year cut to the state Department of Education which amounts to $52 million dollars, according to the Council for a better Louisiana. CABL President Barry Erwin says this would take away 85% of the DOE’s remaining cash on hand for the current fiscal year…:
CUT 15 (10) “where they’re going”
He says hopefully the Senate can recognize how short sighted these proposed cuts to education are and will fix it.

Thursday on the Jim Engster Show, Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell of North Louisiana announces he’s making preparations to run for the US Senate.