At this hour the Revenue Estimating Conference is meeting and they’ll determine the size of the midyear budget shortfall. Governor John Bel Edwards says the size of the deficit will determine if a special session is needed…:
Cut 13 (12) “extremely painful”
But Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says if the deficit is not too large, he believes the governor can make the necessary budget cuts on his own…:
Cut 15 (11) “as well”

Later today, Governor Edwards along with a delegation from Louisiana that includes State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson will travel to Italy to discuss human trafficking with the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy, which has a shelter in Louisiana for juvenile victims of human trafficking.

In the past week, Louisiana has seen an increase in the number of flu cases. That’s according to Medical Director state of the Immunization Program Dr. Frank Welch who says four out of every 100 people who visit the doctor have the flu. He says if you got a flu shot, you should be protected…:
cut 4 (10) “this year”
Welch says it’s rare, but if you do contract the flu virus after getting a shot, it’s usually a very mild case.

A 44-year-old north Louisiana man is behind bars facing a murder charge after Shreveport police say he was responsible for the death of an 11-month-old boy. Corporal Marcus Hines says Frederick Clark was initally charged with second-degree curelty to a juvenile…
cut 10 (10) “…the child off”
That child, Mar’sharrd Ross, passed away earlier this week and the charges against Clark were upgraded to second-degree murder.