Governor John Bel Edwards has issued the call for a special session to address a 304-million dollar budget shortfall for this fiscal year. It will begin Monday night on February 13th and it must conclude by midnight February 22nd. The governor is proposing to use rainy day dollars and cuts to various areas of state government, including the department of health and he’s asking legislators to minimize cuts to higher education.

There’s a shortage of paramedics around the country, and it’s being felt in the Bayou State too. Justin Cox with Acadian Ambulance says they are short 30 paramedics, which puts a serious strain on others. Cox says turnover for paramedics is high, because it’s a demanding job..:
cut 12 (08) “and mentally”
He says they are offering a 15-thousand dollar signing bonus for new hires.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office will be featured on A&E’s “Live PD” in the coming weeks.Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau says given the tensions rising between law enforcement and the public, 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 TV show Cops, except this is live with an 8 minute delay.

It’s Super Bowl weekend and the big event is happening in Houston, but when will New Orleans host the game for an 11th time. Jay Cicero, with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says the NFL knows the Big Easy as a lot to offer…
cut 11 (10) “…hotels”
Cicero says they hope to host the Super Bowl again in 2023 and they’ll find out in May if they are one of the cities that can bid.