Governor John Bel Edwards is continuing his pledge to end the regular legislative session early, so a special session can begin to take up revenue raising measures that he says are needed to avoid going over the fiscal cliff. Testifying in the Senate Finance Committee, Edwards again urged early dismissal.
Cut 3 (:12) “that’s responsible”
But chairman of the House Republican Legislative delegation, Lance Harris, says we’ll have a better idea on how much money the state has available to spend when the Revenue Estimating Conference meets Thursday…
cut 6 (09) “…..from there”
Harris says the House Appropriations Committee plans on approving a spending plan for next fiscal year next week.

Triple-A says the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is holding steady at $2.44. Fuel analyst Don Redman anticipates gas prices will only increase slightly once the summer driving season begins….
cut 15 (09) “…the summer”
Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg says the cheapest gas in the nation can be found in Baton Rouge.

Authorities in the capital city are seeking a man who fatally shot an 18-year-old, who was allegedly breaking into vehicles at an apartment complex Sunday morning. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says there is surveillance video of the shooting…
cut 8 (07) “…from it”
Brice Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene.

And the search continues today for a missing four-year-old boy in Claiborne Parish. Authorities say Junior Phillips wandered away from home last Thursday while outside with the mother’s boyfriend.