Governor John Bel Edwards outlined some of his priorities to lawmakers of both the House and Senate as the 2016 regular legislative session got underway today. He says he’d like to see a moderate increase to the state’s current minimum wage of $7.25, because that amount is not a living wage in 2016…:
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Edwards also wants equal pay for women, 17 year olds included in juvenile justice system and restoration of the Transportation Trust Fund. He also said he wants to establish passenger rail along I-10 and I-20.

At the start of the speech, Edwards spoke of the devastating and ongoing historic flooding throughout every corner of the state. The president has declared disaster areas in 7 parishes in north Louisiana, and Edwards says they are working to add more parishes.

The Louisiana National Guard says they’ve rescued over 42-hundred citizens and 350 pets as they assist in flood fighting efforts in 33 parishes. Guard spokesperson Colonel Pete Schneider says they’ve been working around the clock since March 9th on a variety of operations…:
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Many rivers keep rising today and C.S. Ross, a National Weather Service forecaster, says even when the water finally recedes, there will still be major issues…:
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Jerry Amato, co-owner and chef at the iconic Mother’s restaurant in New Orleans, has died at the age of 65. Louisiana Restaurant Association president Stan Harris says diners love the quality and price of the made from scratch food at Mother’s, which contributes to creating this widespread demand…:
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Amato died of cancer.