Governor John Bel Edwards is at this hour presenting to lawmakers his worse-case budget proposal for next fiscal year. It will reflect cuts to fill the the one-billion-dollar gap created by a one cent sales tax that is expiring on June 30th, if lawmakers can’t come to an agreement on alternatives. Political Analysts Clancy Dubos says if GOP leaders and the governor can’t agree on how to settle this, it could be bad for both…:
Cut 5 (11) “blame everybody”
Reports say healthcare and education will be the hardest hit, with the possibility of a 100-percent cut in funding to TOPS.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says multiple injuries have been reported after a school bus crash early this morning. They say the bus had about 20 students on board headed to Central Middle School in Gonzales. Two students were sent to the hospital, and so was the bus driver. The cause of the crash is being investigated.

A 9.7 million dollar grant was awarded to a UL Lafayette consortium to study the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale oil deposit that stretches across central Louisiana into the Florida parishes. UL-Lafayette Professor Mehdi Mokhtari (med-e mowk-tari) says unlocking the shale could be a big boost to the bayou state’s economy..:
Cut 12 (09) “the state”
A study from the 80s indicated that Louisiana could be sitting on nearly seven billion barrels of crude oil.

Emerge Louisiana chooses 25 Democratic women that will train on how to run for political office. Executive Director Melanie Oubre…:
Cut 13 (12) “legislative races”
She says the women will get 70 hours of in depth education over six months.