Governor John Bel Edwards is presenting his plan to lawmakers today on ways he proposes to close a $304 million dollar budget shortfall. It includes using $119.6 million dollars from the Rainy Day Fund, across the board cuts, and minimized cuts to higher ed and partner hospitals. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says there is also talk of increasing certain fees to raise more revenue this year…:
Cut 6 (09) “some aren’t”
What the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget decides today will determine whether lawmakers go into a special session next month.

The Westwego police cop that was killed last week in Jefferson Parish is being laid to rest today. Officer Michael Louvierre was shot in the head January 20th as he was stopping to assist a woman who was also killed. A GoFundMe account for Louviere’s family has topped the $55,000 mark.

What would a 20% tax on Mexican imports to pay for a wall along the southern border mean for Louisiana? President Donald Trump says he’s considering the plan. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says this would not be good for our economy and it’s also likely Mexico will impose a tax on products shipped from the US…:
CUT 14 (07) “natural gas here”
He says trade wars are one of the key reasons we entered the Great Depression in the 1930s.

High school principals currently meeting at the LHSAA convention in Baton Rouge to vote on a plan that would reduce the number of state football championships from nine to seven. Iowa (Eye-oh-way) prinicpal Mike Oakley says the proposal will also reduce the number of title games in basketball, baseball and softball..:
Cut 16 (17) “strain on em”