Lawmakers are grappling with a $440 million dollar budget deficit, and The Advocate news organization and LSU have developed a simplistic website that allows the public the opportunity to weigh in on how to repair the state’s finances. LSU Mass Communications Professor Len Apcar says “solve-the-budget-dot-org could shed some light on what the masses would really like to see happen at the Capitol…:
Cut 6 (10) “we’ll find out”
He hopes a number of people respond between now and the end of the session.

Congressman Clay Higgins is asking Governor John Bel Edwards to intervene in the removal of Confederate monuments in New Orleans. The Liberty Place structure has already been removed. Higgins believes this is a cowardly move by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu…:
Cut 9 (10) “be known for”
Mayor Landrieu has said the monuments are the city’s property, not the state’s.

A memorial fund has been set up for the family of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Deputy who died while on-duty in a crash over the weekend. Deputy Justin Beard will be laid to rest on Thursday at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in West Monroe. Anyone who wants to help out his wife and three children can do so at any Ouachita Independent Bank location.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announces an initiative to get Louisianans to vacation right here in the Bayou State. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

LSU and a news organization have created a website which would let the public give an opinion on how Louisiana’s budget woes could be repaired. LSU’s Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs and The Advocate, together developed “solve-the-budget-dot-org.” LSU Mass Communications Professor Len Apcar says the poll has two sections..:
Cut 4 (10) “and spending cuts”
That’s solve-the-budget-dot-org.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser unveils a new initiative called Destination Louisiana to encourage Louisianans to vacation in their home state. Nungesser hopes residents will stay-cation in the Bayou State rather than jumping on a plane. He says there is so much beauty to see right here..:
Cut 13 (08) “in Louisiana”
Over the next six months, six different parishes will receive multi-platform coverage from the Louisiana Office of Tourism.

A first of its kind study finds childcare issues costs the state over a billion dollars a year in the economy. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A GOP dominated House panel advanced the state’s operating budget proposal including a change that would fully fund the TOPS scholarship program. Democrats objected. It heads to the full House.

Also headed to the lower chamber floor is a bill to set up statewide rules for ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft. Supporters say this would be better for consumers if rates didn’t vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Congressman Clay Higgins has sent a letter to Governor John Bel Edwards urging him to take action to keep Louisiana’s confederate monuments in place. The Liberty Place monument in New Orleans was already removed. Higgins says this is something that has to be done at the state level…:
Cut 7 (07) “there is none”
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu maintains the city has a right to control its own property.

A study by the LSU Public Policy Research Lab and the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children finds a lack of quality childcare costs employers and employees over a billion dollars a year. LPIC Executive Director Melanie Bronfin says Louisiana has cut funding to early child care programs 70-percent since 2008….:
Cut 10 (09) “their employer”
Bronfin says a way to solve these problems is to stop cutting money to pay for the Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credits.

LSU and a news organization have created a website which would let the public give an opinion on how Louisiana’s budget woes could be repaired. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Today Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to testify before a Senate Judiciary committee in support of his legislative agenda on criminal justice reform.

The House Appropriations Committee has voted to fully fund the TOPS scholarship program for the next fiscal year. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil amended the state’s spending plan to take 82-million dollars from the Department of Health’s budget to fund it.

Cut 14 (11) “percent”

New Orleans Representative Walt Leger raised concerns about how these cuts would impact LDH. He says the only areas of the health budget that can be cut are optional Medicaid programs that will greatly impact Louisiana residents.

Cut 16 (12) “on the streets”

The budget plan heads to the House floor.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of 26-year-old Deputy Justin Beard, who was killed in a crash Sunday morning. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says Beard was responding to a call on Highway 34 when he veered off the roadway.

Cut 5 (08) “this crash”

Beard leaves behind a wife and three young children.

Evangeline Parish is battling flooding that’s occurring as a result of a severe weather system. Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Liz Hill says although the water wasn’t as high as it was in the August flood, some people had to be rescued from their flooded homes.

Cut 10 (07) “higher ground”

Flooding impacted about 60 homes in Mamou, along with the schools, hospital, and city hall.

A rape victim finally gets justice 30 years later. Halen Doughty has the story…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The House appropriations committee advanced the state’s re-worked operating budget bill today by a vote of 17-5. Among the amendments included in the plan was one that would take $82 million dollars from the state Department of Health in order to fully fund the TOPS scholarship program. Republicans voted yes, Democrats voted no. The measure now heads to the full House.

Rising waters are a concern today in Evangeline Parish, as flooding from that weekend storm system hit at least two towns hard. Director of the Evangeline Office of Emergency Preparedness, Liz Hill says Mamou was hit hard, but the town of Basille on the Acadia Parish line was also affected:
Cut 9 (08) “right now”
She says parts of the hospital in Mamou were flooded, as well as the Elementary and High School.

A wet roadway following rain Sunday may have been a factor in a crash that claimed the life of an on-duty Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s deputy. State Police believe 26-year-old Deputy Justin Beard lost control of his patrol car and slammed into an embankment. Trooper Michael Reichardt says Beard was a deputy at OPSO for over three years and leaves behind a wife and three young children…:
Cut 6 (08) “to anybody”
They say Beard was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

An 83-year-old Larose man has been found guilty of sexual battery of a 7-year-old that occurred over 30 years ago. Lafourche Assistant District Attorney Kristine Russell says a victim came forward to report the incidents with Warren Danos that occurred between 1984 and 1986…:
Cut 11 (09) “he raped her”
Russell says Danos is set to be sentenced in June on a count of sexual battery.

It’s a sad day in Ouachita Parish, as the community mourns the loss of 26-year-old Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Beard. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says Beard was responding to a burglar alarm early Sunday morning on Highway 34 when he was involved in a crash…:
Cut 5 (08) “this crash”
Reichardt says the roads were wet from rain, and Beard was not wearing his seatbelt.

Civil rights activists say protests can be expected if the DOJ chooses not to file charges against the Baton Rouge cops involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The text of the spending bill to fund the federal government was unveiled by Congress this morning, and the proposal only includes $400 million dollars in disaster funding. That’s far short of the $2 billion request by Governor John Bel Edwards for Louisiana’s recovery.

Meeting now is the House Appropriations Committee where lawmakers are expected to advance a spending plan for the next fiscal year today. Chairman Cameron Henry of Metairie says it’s his intention to fully fund the TOPS scholarship program…:
Cut 15 (11) “the process”
One of the amendments is a proposal to cut the Department of Health by $155 million dollars to help fund TOPS.

It’s been 100 days for President Donald Trump in office, and he still has the support of Louisiana’s congressional delegation, business leaders, and officials from the oil and gas industry. But ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says Mr. Trump hasn’t done much yet:
Cut 12 (11) “reason not to”
He says it’s not surprising that policy changes haven’t been made yet as the federal process is a slow one.

Baton Rouge Mayor President Sharon Weston-Broome says speculation that a decision could be made this week from the Department of Justice on the Alton Sterling shooting by cops is just that. No matter what happens, they are urging the public to react in a peaceful manner.

The number of high school seniors in Louisiana who have applied for federal aid to go towards college tuition is the highest in the state’s history, and with two months before the deadline, is on pace to top the the final FAFSA counts of previous completed cycles. According to the state Department of Education.

A measure is being heard in the House Way and Means Committee that would place a flat corporate income tax from 1 to 2 percent on the profits a business makes. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says he has received positive feedback on his measure…:
Cut 5 (10) “fiscal note”
Business groups like LABI are not supportive, because corporate loopholes will be closed. But Havard says companies or businesses will not have to pay this tax, if they don’t make a profit.

Civil rights activists say protests can be expected if the DOJ chooses not to file charges against the Baton Rouge cops involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

President Donald Trump has now been in office 100 days, so has this time impacted Louisiana? ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says not many policy changes have been made, but the federal process is slow:
CUT 13 (10) “to take time”

Taking a look at what’s slated to happen at the capitol today, the House Appropriations Committee is expected to approve a spending plan for the next fiscal year. Chairman Cameron Henry of Metairie says they plan to hold back about 2 percent of the revenue forecast by the Revenue Estimating Conference to leave room for error and prevent midyear cuts:
Cut 14 (09) “have shortfalls”
He says a big priority for most lawmakers is to find the $81 million needed to fund the TOPS scholarship program.

Over in the House Way and Means Committee, a measure growing in popularity will be discussed that would place a flat corporate income tax from 1 to 2 percent on the profits a business makes. Business groups like LABI are not supportive, saying corporate loopholes will be closed. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says companies or businesses will not have to pay this tax if they don’t make a profit…:
Cut 6 (09) “your profit”