State leaders heard grim budget news today, which likely means a special sesssion next month. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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And earlier this afternoon Governor Edwards released a statement regarding the bad budget news. Edwards says a special session will prevent deep budget cuts in the areas of higher education and health care. The governor says he’ll develop a plan with legislative leaders that solves this budget crisis in a responsible way.

Governor John Bel Edwards leaves today for a weeklong trip to Italy where he’ll meet with experts on how to combat human trafficking and he’s also hoping to visit with the Pope. The governor says he will pay out of pocket for himself and his wife to travel to Rome…
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State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson and a couple of lawmakers will accompy the governor on the trip.

Three more horses at the New Orleans Fair Grounds have tested positive for the equine herpes virus and so the entire race track is under a quarantine. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says nine horses have been put in isolation and an infectius disease specialist from Kentucky has been called in to contain the spread of the virus…
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He says horses in barns not exposed can keep racing.