State officials say the budget deficit for the current fiscal year is $304 million, which means more cuts are likely coming to higher education. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says if lawmakers decide not to use the rainy day fund to close some of the gaps, it could be detrimental to higher education.

Cut 10 (09) “to manage”

Rallo predicts even with the rainy day fund, higher ed would take a $66 million hit.

Governor John Bel Edwards received the blessing of Pope Francis on the state’s plan to combat human trafficking in Louisiana. Edwards met with the Pope while in Rome to learn best practices for ending this modern day slavery. He’s hopeful the new policies implemented in Louisiana will be successful.

Cut 15 “replicated elsewhere”

Edwards says we have to do much better to end sex trafficking in Louisiana.

KALB is reporting that officials believe the three people killed in a fiery Vernon Parish crash were soldiers at Fort Polk. Because of the nature of the crash, DNA analysis will be needed to confirm the victims’ identities. Police say Tuesday morning they responded to a crash on LA 1146, which is considered a dangerous road by some locals. The vehicle reportedly veered off the road and hit several trees, which caused the Chevy Malibu to burst into flames, trapping the occupants inside.

The Festival International de Louisiane has new corporate sponsors, which means the annual music festival in Lafayette will go on as planned. But Executive Director Scott Feehan says their work isn’t over yet. He says now they’ll start collecting donations from individuals and small businesses.

Cut 5 (09) “focus on”

The April festival is free to the public and funded entirely through donations.