The Revenue Estimating Conference has pegged Louisiana’s budget shortfall at 70-million dollars, despite 300 million dollars in taxes being approved by lawmakers in the special session. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says that means painful cuts will be needed in the areas of higher education and health care, but the shortfall for next year is not as bad as previously predicted….
cut 13 (10) “…good news”
Lawmakers are expected to begin holding hearings on next fiscal year’s budget next week.

Interstate 10 at the Louisiana-Texas line remains closed as a result of flood waters from the Sabine River, which is covering the interstate on the Texas side. Louisiana State Troopers are encouraging residents to use either I-20 or US 190 as alternative routes to get into the Lone Star state.

Flooding is having an impact on the state’s strawberry crop. Areas in Livingston and Tangiaphoa Parish received over a foot of rain last week. But LSU AgCenter’s Whitney Wallace says the crop is NOT a total loss…
cut 11 (11) “….local farmers”
Some strawberry farmers say they’ve never had a whole field go under water until this year.

President Barack Obama nominated a new Supreme Court justice, Merrick Garland, but not all agree with this decision. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 1 (31) “…reporting”