Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards will meet with Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras today to continue negotiations centered on the looming fiscal cliff. The governor has said he wants to stabilize the budget with a revenue neutral tax plan, but Barras wants to reduce state spending. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat doesn’t see either side budging much…:
Cut 12 (10) “spending cuts”
Edwards set a January 19th deadline to come up with an agreement in principle.

The recent arctic blast put a stop to crawfish farming, but the strawberry crop was spared a brunt of the damage. But Ponchatoula strawberry farmer Dale Carona, like mudbugs, berry harvest has been delayed as well…:
Cut 15 (08) “ten days”
The strawberry crop is a 15 million dollar a year industry for the state.

A new Baton Rouge police chief will have his share of challenges after he’s sworn in today. Jeff Palermo Ray has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

State Police say an officer with the Monroe Police Department has died following a Sunday wreck. They say 26-year-old Chris Beaudion was involved in a single-vehicle crash while on duty in the early morning hours. Investigators believe the officer was in his patrol unit when he traveled into the opposite lane of traffic and hit a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ouachita Parish Coroner’s Office, and his body was sent for an autopsy.