Governor John Bel Edwards has said he wants an agreement by January 19th with House Republican lawmakers on a plan to close a one-billion dollar budget deficit for next fiscal eyar. Edwards said at the Baton Rouge Press Club today he’s willing to extend the deadline….
cut 14 (08) “…logistical reasons”
Edwards is proposing a special session in February to change state tax laws to fix the looming deficit.

State Police say an officer with the Monroe Police Department died in a crash on Sunday. Trooper Michale Reichardt says 26-year-old Officer Christopher Beaudion (Boo-Dwan) was in his unit shortly before 3am yesterday on South 2nd near Winnsboro Rod in Monroe…:
CUT 8 (05) “and struck a tree”
Beaudion joined the M-P-D in August of 2016 and leaves behind a wife and two children. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Louisiana is recovering from a week of hard freezes that shut down production in some of our most popular industries. Fish in particular took the week off, burrowing deep into the mud and away from anglers hooks. Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Alex Perret says it’s best to wait for the cold to pass:
Cut 10 (11) “front comes”
If the water remains below 40 degrees for more than a day, Perret says you should probably anticipate a tougher day of fishing.

It’s officially king cake season and this year’s compressed schedule means this 300-year-old tradition is kicking into overdrive. Haydel’s Bakery’s Dave Haydel says it’s a short season so they are keeping busy…:
Cut 4 (09) “so short” (2x)
Carnival season wraps up Tuesday, February 13th.