The state senate has approved a budget cut bill that calls for the use of 99-million dollars in rainy day money to help fill a 304-million dollar budget deficit. It takes a two-thirds vote to use rainy day money and Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur says the votes are not there to use the 119-million dollars Governor John Bel Edwards prefers…
cut 14 (10) “…the 119”
There are some lawmakers who do not want to use any rainy day dollars.

A 30-day closed season for crabbing begins today. Jeff Marx with wildlife and fisheries says the crab population is down in Louisiana, and they hope this ban will help it rebound…:
Cut 10 (11) “very high”

The search is ongoing for three escaped Avoyelles Parish inmates. Sheriff Doug Anderson says 31-year-old Blake Reine, 23-year-old Joseph James, and 22-year-old Andre Steward escaped from a detention center near Bunkie on Saturday night.
Cut 3 (11) “from there”
Anderson says they are also trying to determine if someone helped them escape.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has expanded it’s Louisiana Legacy Scholarship. Vice President for Enrollment Management Doctor DeWayne Bowie (BOO-ee) says the scholarship will now cover out of state fees for any student who had a parent that graduated from any state university. Bowie says they want to show these students what their school has to offer…
cut 9 (07) “….worldwide”
The Louisiana Legacy Scholarship has an annual value of 13-thousand dollars.