The sixth special session since Governor John Bel Edwards took office is underway. Edwards opened the session on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. Public colleges are at risk of significant budget cuts, unless legislators approve 648 million dollars in taxes. Edwards hopes the legislature can come together on a plan…
cut 12 (12) “….deserve”
The special session must end June 4th, as of now the budget cuts are set to go into effect July 1st.

Forecasters are monitoring an area of low pressure in the northwest Caribbean Sea that’s expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days. Danielle Manning with the National Weather Service in Slidell says there’s a medium chance the system will develop into a tropical depression….
cut 4 (10) “…five days”
If you are heading to the beach this weekend for the Memorial Day holiday, it could be a wet one.

A school safety bill by St. Landry Parish Congressman Clay Higgins has cleared the House and heads to the Senate. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 2 (29) I’m Matt Doyle”

A Monroe police officer was killed last night in a single vehice wreck. Authorities say 26-year-old Ayrian Williams was heading to another call when her vehicle hit a tree in a resident’s front lawn. Wiliams joined the force last year and she’s the second Monroe police officer this year who died in the line of duty.

A survey by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers shows a clear majority would support a statewide strike for better pay. Michael Farrar has more.
Voicer 3 (31) “I’m Michael Farrar”

A Monroe police officer was killed last night in a single vehice wreck. The officer was reportedly heading to another call when the vehicle hit a tree in a resident’s front law. The deceased officer has been identified as Ayrian Wiliams and more details will be released at a press conference later today.

State lawmakers begin a special session today to discuss ways revenue can be raised to cover up a 648-million dollar budget deficit that’s leaving higher education, TOPS and state agencies under funded. Governor John Bel Edwards says one possible solution that could soften cuts would be to renew a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax….
cut 5 (08) “…nothing else”
Edwards also supports the elimination of some sales tax breaks for businesses.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says overnight facilities at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park near St. Martinville reopened this week after they were damaged in the 2016 August flood. Nungesser says Chemin A Haut State Park near Bastrop also had flood damage that year and renovated cabins will open Friday….
cut 15 (08) “….to enjoy”

A Louisiana Federation of Teachers survey indicates that 61 percent of union members support a statewide walkout or strike in order to spark pay raises. LFT president Larry Carter says they’re ready to send a message…
Cut 16 (09) “organized resistance”
59-percent said they would support a mass demonstration at the State Capitol.

The U-S House has approved CongressmanClay Higgins’ School Resource Officer Assessment Act which directs the federal government to compile data on the number of school resource officers assigned to public schools. Higgins is optimistic of Senate approval…
cut 12 (10) “…support”
Higgins says the first step in improving school safety, is to know what assets are on the ground and identify additional resources.

State lawmakers return to the capitol today for their sixth special session in three years. Legislators will be asked to approve tax measures to replace expiring sales taxes that have created a 648-million dollar budget gap. A week ago, the Edwards administration sent a warning letter to Medicaid patients in nursing homes that they could lose their benefits, because of a lack of state funding. House Republican Caucus Chairman Lance Harris….
cut 7 (09) “…cover that”
One possible solution to the fiscal cliff is the renewing of a portion of a temporary one-cent sales tax. The Legislative Black Caucus opposed that idea in the February special session. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James on their current position…
cut 8 (08) “….are funded”

Another special session begins today, giving lawmakers two weeks to solve the 648 million dollar budget shortfall. Don Molino has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Don Molino“

The National Hurricane Center says there’s a 40-percent chance of a tropical depression or storm forming late this week in the central or eastern Gulf of Mexico. If this system approaches Louisiana, it could bring us heavy rains for the weekend, especially along the coast.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers released a survey of its members that shows 61-percent of them support a statewide walkout or strike, because of low teacher pay. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says average teacher salaries in Louisiana have been below the Southern average since the 2012-13 school year….
cut 18 (06) “….low pay”
59-percent of the respondents said they would support a small state income tax increase to fund raises.

With summer getting underway, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is looking at ways to improve our state parks system. Nungesser says he’s seeking private investment to enhance what state parks can offer…
cut 14 (11) “…new attractions”

The special session kicks off today, giving legislators two weeks to come to an agreement on how to handle a 648 million dollar budget shortfall that threatens to potentially devastate healthcare and higher education. A special session in February failed, and a budget with 648 million in cuts was vetoed, but Governor John Bel Edwards says this session will be different.
Cut 4 (12) “do better”
The Democratic governor has said he can support a proposal to keep up to a half penny of an expiring one-cent sales tax. House Republican Caucus Chairman Lance Harris says if Republicans agree to renew any of the expiring sales taxes, it would most likely be that expiring penny…
cut 6 (06) “…are filed”

A school safety bill by St. Landry Parish Congressman Clay Higgins has cleared the House and heads to the Senate. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) I’m Matt Doyle”

Authorities say a Monroe police officer was killed last night in a single vehicle crash. When more information comes available we will pass it a long.

LSU made it official today that former Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow is transferring in. Burrow spent the past three seasons at Ohio State as a back-up. He graduated, which allows him to play this fall, with two years of eligibility left. Matt Moscona, with ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, says history shows LSU has had some success with transfer quarterbacks, Zach Mettenberger and Danny Etling, are two examples…
Cut 18 (20) “against Miami”
With Burrow on board. That gives LSU four quarterbacks competing for the starting spot. No word on if the other three will leave.

LSU says legendary football player Billy Cannon died peacefully Sunday at his home in St. Francisville. Cannon led LSU to a national championship in 1958 and won the school’s only Heisman Trophy in 1959. Tiger Rag President Jim Engster asked Cannon about winning college football’s most prestigous award…
cut 3 (10) …we did”
Cannon had a fall from grace in the 1980s when he was convicted on counterfeiting charges and served two and a half years in prison. But when he got out of prison, he became the lead dentist at the State Penintentiary in Angola was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

New Orleans has a good shot at landing a Super Bowl in 2024. Saints Owner Gayle Benson will make a presentation to the NFL owners on Wednesday. Under the league’s new bidding process, New Orleans is the only city presenting a bid and the NFL can either accept it or reject it.

A bill that would prohibit Louisiana drivers from handling their phone while behind the wheel did not make it out of the regular legislative session. It received approval from the House, but the Senate did not agree with state Representative Mike Huval’s bill. The Republican from Breaux Bridge plans to try again next year….
cut 11 (10) “….in attentive”
Tomorrow, lawmakers return to the State Capitol for a special session on taxes.

The National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a tropical disturbance in the Carribbean Sea that will move into the Gulf of Mexico this week. Danielle Manning is with the National Weather Service in Slidell says there’s a low chance for development and it’s rare to see a named storm before June 1st, the start of hurricane season….
cut 14 (05) “…since 1851”
LSU says legendary football player Billy Cannon died peacefully Sunday at his home in St. Francisville. Cannon led LSU to a national championship in 1958 and won the school’s only Heisman Trophy in 1959. Tiger Rag President Jim Engster asked Cannon about winning college football’s most prestigous award…
cut 3 (10) …we did”
Cannon had a fall from grace in the 1980s when he was convicted on counterfeiting charges and served two and a half years in prison. But when he got out of prison, he became the lead dentist at the State Penintentiary in Angola was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

New Orleans has a good shot at landing a Super Bowl in 2024. Saints Owner Gayle Benson will make a presentation to the NFL owners on Wednesday. Under the league’s new bidding process, New Orleans is the only city presenting a bid and the NFL can either accept it or reject it.

There were several bills in the regular session seeking to place restrictions on gun ownership, but none of them passed. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says for any gun control legislation to gain traction, one organiziation in particular will have to get behind it….
cut 15 (11) “…lives”
Thibodaux native and former Baton Rouge resident Cynthia Tisdale was one of 10 people killed in Friday’s school shooting in Texas.

Louisiana lawmakers did NOT enact legislation to prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones while driving in the just completed legislative session. The House supported the proposal, but Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says the Senate is not ready to enact the safety measure…
cut 10 (07) “…you’re driving”
Huval says he’ll bring the bill back next year.

LSU is mourning the death of Billy Cannon, the school’s only Heisman Trophy winner died Sunday at age of 80. Cannon won the Heisman in 1959, the year before the Tigers went undefeated to win a national championship. In a 2015 interview with Tiger Rag President Jim Engster, Cannon was so confident they would win the SEC, he bought a bunch of tickets for his family and friends before the season started…
cut 5 (09) “…be there”

Saints Owner Gayle Benson will make an official bid on Wednesday at the NFL owners meeting for New Orleans to host a Super Bowl in 2024.
cut 7 (09) “…Bowl better”
That’s Jay Cicero, president of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, who says New Orleans is the only city that’s been asked to present a bid for that year as part of the league’s new bidding process.