Governor John Bel Edwards presented his proposed budget for the next fiscal year to lawmakers today, and it contains 792-million dollars in cuts to state spending. Under the administration’s plan, health care and the TOPS scholarship program would see big reductions in state funding. Edwards says only having a third of the money needed to pay for TOPS is another reason why they need a second special session…:
CUT 4 (07) “fund it”
The governor says a second special session could begin as early as June 7th.

Southern University will hold a candlelight vigil tonight for the two students that were shot and killed outside of a party near the LSU campus. Interim Athletic Director Roman Banks says the 19 year old girls, Annette January and Lashuntae Benton, were student athletes and good kids doing nothing wrong:
CUT 15 (04) “take place”
An arrest has been made in connection with the shooting, but nobody has been charged for the murders at this time.

The House Civil Law Committee is hearing testimony at this hour on the “Pastor Protection Act,” which would allow a clergy member or religious organization to deny participation in a same sex marriage. Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana believes this bill would expand to any organization with religious affiliations…:
Cut 13 (07) “to people”
But supporters say all this bill does is protects a person’s religious beliefs.

The defense attorney in the Will Smith case believes once all of the evidence comes out, his client will be innocent. Cardell Hayes has been charged with second degree murder in the fatal shooting of the former New Orleans Saints player, who was killed after a three-car fender bender turned violent in New Orleans. Hayes’ lawyer is John Fuller…:
CUT 1 (09) “on that night”
He hopes more details of the incident will come out in a preliminary hearing.