Governor John Bel Edwards has formed a task force to come up with budget reform recommendations, as the state grapples with a $600 million dollar shortfall. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin is on the task force and says it’s key that any revenue raising measure that could be passed in a second special session doesn’t further hurt the state economy…:
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He says options are extremely limited now that the sales tax has already been raised.

More than 6 inches of rain fell in southwestern Louisiana before dawn Sunday, forcing the closure of Interstate 49 in the morning. More than 9,000 people in the state were without power at one point yesterday as the line of storms moved east, according to Entergy. The weather brought the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to an early close on Saturday, but many loyal braved the flooded track on Sunday. And today there are still severe thunderstorm and flash watches posted throughout the state as more rain moves in.

Today ULM students, alumni, and faculty are gathering on campus to email their state legislators about their concerns for the future of higher ed. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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Lt. Governor Bill Nungesser is touring the state to promote tourism as part of National Tourism Week. Nungesser says he’ll be in in West Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and St. Francisville today and then head to the northern part of the state later in the week. He says this is an important route…:
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