It appears the budget face-off is cooling. First the Senate Finance committee laid out its plans for addressing the state’s 900-million dollar budget deficit. Chairman Eric LaFleur says through a combination of tax increases and budget cuts, they can close the deficit, if the House agrees to pass more tax bills that will generate an additional 83-million dollars…:
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Shortly after the Senate Finance panel met, the House began approving bills to increase revenue, including a measure that would raise the state’s cigarette tax by another 22-cents, to a $1.08 a pack.

An accused member of the Gremlins street gang has turned himself in to police. Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy says 22-year-old Cody Guidry is one of 17 people indicted in connection with a lengthy multi-agency investigation into gang activity near Abbeville and three surrounding parishes…
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Five suspected members of the gang are still at large.

Lawmakers are filing bills for the regular session that will make changes to the TOPS scholarship program. Halen Doughty has more…:
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Former president Bill Clinton is campaigning for his wife in Baton Rouge tonight. He’ll be meeting with supporters of Hillary Clinton ahead of Louisiana’s presidential primary election Saturday. on Friday, Bill Clinton will be in New Orleans. Marco Rubio had planned a rally in Baton Rouge, but cancelled it. Ted Cruz will be in Metairie tomorrow and Donald Trump in New Orleans.