Last night the House finally approved a $26 billion dollar budget, but there’s still a $600 million dollar hole in expenses for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. The plan on the table currently contains deep cuts to TOPS and partnership hospitals. LSU economist Jim Richardson, who also serves as the chairman of the task force for long term budget reform, says to raise that much money, lawmakers will likely have to alter personal income taxes…:
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Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s confident lawmakers will make the tough choices needed over the next two weeks in the special session to balance the state’s operating budget.

Tropical Storm Colin continues to gain speed and strength as it heads to Florida, which forecasters say could cause serious flooding along much of the state’s gulf coast. The system should have no impact on Louisiana weather.

Looking back on this final day of the session, it’s been and up and down for the governor. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says one of the many things Governor Edwards is dealing with right now is pressure to veto a bill that gives patients the ability to see a physical therapist without a doctor’s referral…:
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The regular session must end by 6 today, and the special session will begin at 6:30.

Another bill on the governor’s desk would force pet stores to display licensing information on the animals it sells. Alicia Haefele with the Louisiana SPCA says the aim is to stop puppy mills from selling sick puppies who have been living in unsanitary conditions….:
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Haefele says these regulations do not apply to animals up for adoptions from shelters.

The 2016 regular legislative session must conclude by 6pm tonight. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says even though key items of Governor Edwards agenda did not pass, he did have a victories including the bill that would increase the age to 18 for which a person can be tried as an adult…:
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He says the budget lawmakers passed last night is closer to the one Edwards first proposed. The special session begins at 6:30.

The number of Louisiana homes at risk for storm surge damage has increased since last year, according to CoreLogic. Hazard risk scientist for CoreLogic, Tom Jeffery says that’s because new construction is booming along the coast and he doesn’t see that slowing down anytime soon…:
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Legislation to require pet stores to keep records of animals and with licensing information awaits the Governor’s signature Emelie Gunn has more…:
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The community continues to mourn the death of a Winnsboro Police Department officer who died in a car crash while he was on-duty over the weekend, according to officials. They say Sergeant Derrick Mingo, who is also a former employee of the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office, was on his way to help another officer dealing with a drunk driver, when he left a roadway and crashed into a tree. State Police say he was not wearing a seat belt.

State lawmakers have approved a 26-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year that does not fully fund the TOPS scholarship program and hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey voted against it, because health care and higher ed are underfunded…:
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Because of a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall, the budget also contains cuts to public schools, universities, prisons and child welfare programs.

A man from Texas is behind bars in Louisiana on many charges in both states related to a high speed chase and the attempted murder of police officers. State Police says they were notified by Texas authorities that a man driving a stolen vehicle was about to cross into Louisiana on I-10 and cops were in pursuit. 29-year-old David Mitchel of Baytown Texas allegedly tried to run intentionally run over two different officers attempting to evade the suspect. He was eventually stopped and taken to the Calcaiseu Parish jail.

A bill that puts tighter regulations on pet stores that sell live animals is headed to Governor Edwards desk to be signed into law. Alicia Haefele with the Louisiana SPCA says, under the measure, pet stores would be required to keep records on their dogs and cats for at least two years…:
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She says they are trying to stop puppy mills from operating and selling sick puppies to pet stores.

The mugshot of the day goes to a 30-year-old Baton Rouge woman who allegedly ran stop signs while roaring down a road drunk at speeds reaching more than 100 miles per hour. Police in the capitol city say Courtney Queen was spotted ignoring numerous stop signs and sped away as officers tried to pull her over. Queen eventually crashed and was booked into parish prison on many charges including DWI, speeding, running a stop sign, reckless operation, careless driving, driving with an expired license and hit and run.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s confident lawmakers will make the tough choices needed over the next two weeks in the special session to balance the state’s operating budget. The regular session must end by 6 today, and the special session will begin at 6:30. The legislature approved a $26 billion dollar budget, but there’s still a $600 million dollar hole in expenses for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

Halen Doughty has a quick review of the regular session from political analyst Clancy Dubos…:
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An amendment added to a bill that would prohibit a woman from getting an abortion just because the fetus is abnormal, essentially nullifies the measure. It states that the ban would only apply if a woman was 20 weeks along or more, but under Louisiana law no abortion can be performed after 20 weeks. The bill is set to be signed by Governor John Bel Edwards.

As tropical storm Colin churns in the Gulf toward Florida, experts have released a new study showing Louisiana homes are more at risk than ever for storm surge. According to CoreLogic, last year there were just over 760-thousand homes at risk in Louisiana, and that number has grown to over 800-thousand. Senior hazard risk scientist for CoreLogic, Tom Jeffery…:
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He attributes the increase in risk to new construction and the growing desire people have to live along the Gulf Coast.

Today is the final day of the regular session, but lawmakers may only have an opportunity to grab a bag of chips before they’ll come back 30 minutes later for the special session which begins at 6:30. In the 26 billion dollar budget which received final legislative approval last night, the TOPS program is only funded about halfway. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry…:

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The senate approved the budget on a 35-2 vote, but the vote was much closer in the House, 63 “yeas” and 38 “nays”.

Other takeaways from this session include the trouble Governor Edwards has had pushing key items in his legislative agenda such as equal pay and increasing the minimum wage…:

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That’s political analyst Clancy Dubos.

The number of Louisiana homes at risk of storm surge damage has gone up by over 40-thousand since last year, according to CoreLogic. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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A bill that would require pet stores to keep records of breeders’ names, addresses, and licensing information is on the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Alicia Haefele (Hafe-Lee) with Louisiana SPCA says the regulations outlined in this bill ensure pet stores are held to certain standards…:
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State lawmakers have approved a 26-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year that does not fully fund the TOPS scholarship program and hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the spending plan is not perfect, but they can address gaps in the budget in a special session that begins tonight…:
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Because of a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall, the budget also contains cuts to public schools, universities, prisons and child welfare programs.

The National Hurricane Center reports the tropical depression in the southern central Gulf of Mexico has now quickly formed into a tropical storm called Colin and is moving north at 12 mph with 40 mph winds. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Gulf Coast from Georgia and northeast Florida.

The number of Louisiana homes at risk for storm surge damage has increased since last year, according to CoreLogic. Senior hazard risk scientist for CoreLogic, Tom Jeffery says that has a lot to do with new homes being built along the coast…:
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According to CoreLogic, last year there were just over 760-thousand hones at risk in Louisiana, and that number has grown to over 800-thousand.

Police in Baton Rouge have arrested a man they say led them on a high-speed chase in a stolen Mustang that reached over 130 miles per hour, with his 7 year old niece in the back seat. They say 30-year-old Hollis Tate was identified as the suspect in the robbery, but when cops tried to pull him over he sped off and raced down Florida Blvd at 132 miles per hour. Tate faces many charges.

A bill to increase the age for an individual being charged for a crime from 17 to 18 moves closer to final legislative passage. Michelle Southern has more…
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Legislation that would require pet stores to keep records of breeders’ names, addresses, and licensing information heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. The Louisiana SPCA says these regulations will help ensure pet stores are held to certain standards. She says pet stores will be required to keep the records of their dogs and cats for at least two years.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking into three suspected murders all within 24 hours of each other in the town of Natalbany. Police say 24-year-old Charleston Mitchell and 31-year-old Randy Darnell Bickham were found shot to death in a vehicle early Thursday morning, and the body of 18-year-old Marcus Lightfoot was found Friday morning. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they are urging anyone with any information to come forward…
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22-year-old Ernest Felton, the first shooter arrested in the deadly shooting of two Southern students, has had his charge upgraded to second degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says Felton was originally charged with attempted second-degree murder. Mckneely says police are looking for the brother of the other shooter involved, 25-year-old Brandon Henderson…
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