It’s expected Governor Edwards will issue today the call for a budget re-balancing special session to begin on February 13th. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says Republican lawmakers will likely propose large cuts to the state health department after a recent audit found the state agency has mismanaged millions of dollars…:
cut 12 (09) “be accomplished”
The legislature must close a $304 million dollar mid-year gap.

Meanwhile the governor announced Thursday that his chief of staff, Ben Nevers, is retiring after a year with the administration. The 70-year-old former state lawmaker from Bogalusa will be replaced by one-time homeland security secretary, Mark Cooper. Nevers leaves at the end of the month, following the special session.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office will be featured on A&E’s “Live PD” in the coming weeks. Spokesperson Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau says given the tensions rising between law enforcement and the public, they hope this show will give people a better idea of what cops deal with…:
Cut 3 (11) “to embrace it” (2x)
Seuzeneau says “Live PD” is similar to the long-running TV show Cops, except this is live with an 8 minute delay.

A man and a woman have been arrested in St. Charles Parish for possession of drugs after cops say narcotics were found in their second grader’s book sack at school. The home of 25-year-old Christina Cherry and Kevin Richardson was searched and the two were booked on numerous charges. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office believes the child took the drugs wrapped up in a Kleenex without realizing what was inside when he put it in his school bag.