As Louisiana deals with a $600 million dollar shortfall, Governor John Bel Edwards is asking a group of individuals to present ideas on ways to fix this crisis. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin is on the task force and says they will be looking at corporate and personal income taxes to see if enough revenue can be raised by removing some exemptions and deductions…:
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Their deadline is May 15th.

ULM students are getting together today to collectively email lawmakers expressing concerns about the future of higher education in the face of possible budget cuts. The governor’s proposed budget calls for a 183-million dollar cut to TOPS, and this is an opportunity for people to make their voice heard. ULM Online Program Coordinator Katherine Dawson is asking people to use their hashtags today…:
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She hopes hundreds of emails will make a difference.

Most of southeast Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until 7pm today. Forecasters say rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches with isolated 6+ are possible, especially south of I-10. This wet weather is hitting already saturated soils which could lead to quick flooding.

A teenager from Rapides Parish was killed in a high speed crash in Rapides Parish. State Police say troopers responded around 12:15 am Sunday and determined that 18-year-old Guillermo Maldonado-Ramos was speeding when he exited the road and smashed into a culvert. He was pronounced dead.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is traveling the state this week to get the word out about National Tourism Week. He says in 2015 nearly 29-million people visited the state, which was a record, but…:
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He says he’ll be in in West Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and St. Francisville today and then head to the northern part of the state later in the week.

Governor John Bel Edwards has formed a task force to come up with budget reform recommendations, as the state grapples with a $600 million dollar shortfall. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin is on the task force and says it’s key that any revenue raising measure that could be passed in a second special session doesn’t further hurt the state economy…:
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He says options are extremely limited now that the sales tax has already been raised.

More than 6 inches of rain fell in southwestern Louisiana before dawn Sunday, forcing the closure of Interstate 49 in the morning. More than 9,000 people in the state were without power at one point yesterday as the line of storms moved east, according to Entergy. The weather brought the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to an early close on Saturday, but many loyal braved the flooded track on Sunday. And today there are still severe thunderstorm and flash watches posted throughout the state as more rain moves in.

Today ULM students, alumni, and faculty are gathering on campus to email their state legislators about their concerns for the future of higher ed. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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Lt. Governor Bill Nungesser is touring the state to promote tourism as part of National Tourism Week. Nungesser says he’ll be in in West Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and St. Francisville today and then head to the northern part of the state later in the week. He says this is an important route…:
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Governor John Bel Edwards wants a list of budget reform recommendations in two weeks from a special task force. Some of the proposals will likely be utilized in a June special session in June to address a 600-million dollar shortfall. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin is on the task force and says, with the sales tax already increased, they are left with limited options to fill the budget gap…:
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Many parishes spanning southwest to north Louisiana are under a severe thunderstorm watch, even after a massive deluge early Sunday flooded houses and cut off roads in those areas. The National Weather Service says radar indicated more than 6 inches of rain feel in parts of Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis Parish, and most of Acadiana over 5 inches. Southeast Louisiana is looking at flash flood watches through 7 tonight where weekend already rain forced The Zuric Classic and Jazzfest to shutdown.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is traveling the state to highlight different areas in Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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State Police say a victim trapped in a car after it crashed in Denham Springs Sunday afternoon has been rescued. They say a driver and a passenger were involved in the crash. Reports indicate the emergency crews spent more than four hours getting the person out of the car.

A giant sink hole on Canal Street in New Orleans is causing massive traffic problems. The hole came out of nowhere at around 3 o’clock yesterday in between Harrah’s and Canal Place. The sink hole is located near an underground tunnel that was built during the 1960s. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the repair could take anywhere between 3 to 6 months to fix. He says engineers are working to reroute traffic in the meantime.

A Grand Isle man was arrested for trying to purchase a child for sexual purposes .State Police trooper Jesse Lagrange who says 30-year-old Wade Perkins asked someone to locate a 6 to 8-year-old child so Perkins could pay for a sexual encounter. He says Perkins is a registered sex offender in Michigan for criminal sexual conduct. Lagrange says more charges are expected to be filed against Perkins.

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A Sheriff’s Deputy with Bossier Parish left his job with the Medium-Security Facility to play professional minor league baseball.  26-year-old Randy Zeigler was a pitcher for LSU and caught the eye of a Chicago White Sox scout. Zeigler says he’s going to be playing for the Lincoln Nebraska Saltdogs.

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Zeigler says he was just messing around with a radar gun, when he discovered he was throwing at the same speed he was three years ago.

Massive thunderstorms are moving across the state and have already caused damage to public and private property. Golf-ball sized hail was reported in Morehouse and Union Parishes. Nearly 26-hundred Entergy customers were left without power for a while. Monroe Meteorologist Don Wheeler says the storms are expected to continue into Sunday and Monroe is likely to see about three to four inches of rain.

The Saints used both of its draft picks Friday night to select former Ohio State players. Michael Thomas was selected as the 16th pick in the second round. Thomas was the Buckeyes leading receiver for the last two seasons. The Black and Gold also picked former Ohio State safety Vonn Bell. The Atlanta Falcons took former LSU Tiger linebacker and New Orleans native Deion Jones.

State Police says a Grand Isle man was arrested for attempting to buy a child for sex.  Trooper Jesse Lagrange says 30-year-old Wade Perkins asked a friend to find a 6 to 8-year-old child so Perkins could pay for a sexual encounter. Lagrange says that person then called the police.

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Lagrange says when Perkins met up with an undercover trooper, he was arrested for attempt and conspiracy to commit first-degree rape.

Police have arrested a suspect in the murder of a Texas woman whose body was found in the water off of I-10 near the Whiskey Bay exit. Iberville Parish detectives arrested the victim’s husband 28-year-old Jonathan Allee is charged with second degree murder. Sheriff Brett Stassi says 29-year-old Elizabeth Ferrell’s cause of death was strangulation and they believe she was killed somewhere else before her body was dumped.

Thunderstorms traveled through the northern part of the state dropping golf-ball sized hail. The hail caused damage to public and private property and caused a number of downed power lines and trees. Monroe Meteorologist Don Wheeler says 15-hundred lightning strikes were generated during the storm. More severe weather is expected throughout the weekend. Three to four inches of rain is expected through early Sunday. The thunderstorms left thousands of Entergy customers without electricity in Ouachita Parish.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are investigating the number of animal deaths that have recently occurred at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Curator Sam Winslow says they asked for the USDA and the American Zoo Association to send in investigators to assess the situation after 18 animals died within the last year…
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Winslow says the 2-year-old Malayan tiger that died earlier in the month likely suffered from gastric dilation.

A sink hole on Canal Street in New Orleans is expected to cause serious traffic problems over the weekend. The hole is is between Harrahs and Canal Place. Mayor Mitch Landrieu expects it to take anywhere between three and six months to fix the massive sink hole. Landrieu says engineers are working on a plan to re-route traffic.

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests two people in connection with the double homicide investigation in a small Louisiana town. Michelle Southern reports…:
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The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a a tornado warning for parts of Northwestern and north central Louisiana. This includes Jackson, Bienville, Natchitoches, Winn and Red River Parish. Winds are blowing 50 miles per hour and tornadic thunderstorms are expected in rural areas of these parishes.

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests two people in connection with the double homicide investigation in a small Louisiana town. Michelle Southern reports…:

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Iberville Parish Deputies have arrested a man in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in Whiskey Bay last weekend. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the woman’s husband, 28-year-old Jonathan Allee has been arrested in connection with the death of his wife, 28-year-old Elizabeth Ferrell, who was strangled to death. Allee is charged with second-degree murder.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany has filed legislation that would require a radar detection site to be built near Baton Rouge. There are detection sites near Slidell and Lake Charles, but none near Baton Rouge. Boustany says a new site will close the gap in radar coverage in Louisiana. He says he is looking into how much the radar site will cost, but he wanted to get the legislation introduced first.

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There are also Doppler radars near Fort Polk and Shreveport.

Officials with the US Department of Agriculture are investigating the series of recent deaths at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Curator Sam Winslow says the 2-year-old Malayan tiger that died earlier in the month likely suffered from gastric dilation. He says her death was something you unfortunately can’t do anything about.

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18 animals at the zoo have died in the last year.

Officials with the USDA are investigating the series of recent deaths at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Emelie Gunn has more…

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Former St. Tammany and Washington Parish District Attorney Walter Reed took the stand in his own defense at his federal corruption trial. Reed is accused of misusing campaign money, plus filing false tax returns and other alleged crimes. Reed, who said he was always in campaign mode, talked about some of his expenditures with his campaign funds and admitted to some wrongdoings.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany introduces legislation that he believes will help lead to better detection of tornadoes in south Louisiana. Boustany has a bill that would require a Doppler weather radar site to be built near Baton Rouge. Boustany says a new radar detection site will ensure that Louisiana is better covered by weather radar to give citizens as much warning as possible to seek shelter or evacuate.

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There are detection sites near Slidell and Lake Charles, but none near Baton Rouge.

A Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Deputy has left his job to play professional minor league baseball after he discovered he can throw a 91 mile-per-hour-fast ball.  26-year-old Randy Zeigler says he was just messing around with a radar gun, when he discovered he was throwing at the same speed he was three years ago. He says he’s excited to play baseball, but he’ll miss being a deputy in his hometown.

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