Governor Edwards kicked-off the special session by explaining to legislators why it’s important to use rainy day dollars to address a 304-million dollar budget deficit. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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A new website seeks to reduce wasteful spending in state government. Covington Representative John Schroder launched StopLouisianaWaste.com…:
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Schroder stresses that people can post to the website anonymously.

Two state Senators file a resolution to expel Senator Troy Brown from the Upper Chamber due to two domestic violence convictions. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor expects the first hearing will occur within two or three days..:
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It will take 26 out of 39 votes to expel the senator.

For the third straight year, a couple from Bossier Parish is named the longest known married couple in the state. Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says 103-year-old Lawrence Player and 97-year-old Varrie Player have been married for 82 years…:
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Every year for Valentine’s Day the Louisiana Family Forum honors the top ten longest known married couples in the state.

On the opening night of the special session, Governor John Bel Edwards laid out his reasons on why the state legislature should use 119-million dollars from the rainy day fund to address a 304-million dollar shortfall. Edwards says without using it, cuts will likely have to be made to higher education, public schools and social services like foster care..:
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He says he’s open to discussing further cuts that Republicans want to see, but won’t support budget gimmicks.

A resolution has been filed for the special session that seeks to expel Napleonville Senator Troy Brown from the legislature, because of two recent domestic abuse convictions. One of them is Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt…:
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She filed the resolution along with State Senator Dan Claitor.

A Benton couple has once again been honored as Louisiana’s longest known married couple. Don Molino has more…:
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LSU quarterback Brandon Harris has decided to leave the Tigers and transfer so that he can play for another school. The junior said he’s been granted full release from head coach Ed Orgeron.

Lawmakers are back in Baton Rouge today as a special session to repair a $304 million dollar budget hole gets underway at 6:30. ULM political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says the big question is whether the legislature will agree to use the rainy day fund…:
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It will take a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate for the legislature to use the rainy day fund. The special session must end by midnight on February 22nd.

Phillips 66 says the fire at the Paradis Pipeline Station in St. Charles Parish is finally out. Company spokesperson Dennis Nuss says the blaze was extinguished this morning…:
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A missing worker from Thursday’s blast is presumed dead. He’s been identified as Josh Helms.

Authorities worked a crash involving a school bus in St. Helena Parish this morning that sent 11 children to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries. State Police Trooper Dustin Dwight says the bus was hit by an oncoming truck, and it overturned when loaded with kids…:
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He says the driver of the bus was also injured. The driver of the at-fault truck was cited for careless operation and passing in a no passing zone.

A new website has launched that seeks to help Louisianans find jobs in the restaurant industry. Wendy Waren with the Louisiana Restaurant Association says they are excited to connect employers with their ProStart program, which helps people without restaurant experience get the training they need to embark on this career path:
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The site is LouisianaHospitalityJobs.com.

The third special session begins tonight, on the eve of the anniversary of the first one called by Governor John Bel Edwards. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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A school bus overturned in St. Helena Parish this morning, sending dozens of children to area hospitals. State Trooper Dustin Dwight says the bus was travelling on LA 43 about to make a left hand turn near Greensburg when it was hit by another vehicle…:
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He says the kids’ injuries range from minor to moderate.

A poison that would kill wild hogs could soon be making its way to Louisiana. The population of the feral animal here is nearly 700,000, and they are become a major nuisance in many areas of the state. Jim LaCour is a veterinarian with LDWF. He says the Environmental Protection Agency has approved a product called Kaput…:
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He says more tests are needed before they’ll use Kaput here because the major concern is that other non-target animals could eat it and die.

Officials in St. Charles Parish say the fire at a Phillips 66 pipeline in Paradis is finally out after burning for four days; and the body of the missing worker is slated to be recovered. They say the man is presumed dead at the scene of the blaze; and once the area is completely safe to enter they will begin an investigation.

Tonight state lawmakers will convene for another special session to attempt to resolve a $304 million midyear budget deficit. ULM political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says one of the biggest battles will be whether or not to tap into the rainy day fund. He says if they don’t, tough decisions will have to be made..:
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The special session begins tonight at 6:30 p.m. and must end by midnight on February 22.

A new website has launched that seeks to help Louisianans find jobs in the service industry. Wendy Waren with the Louisiana Restaurant Association says LouisianaHospitalityJobs.com is designed to meet the needs of the state’s ever-expanding hospitality sector…:
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That site again is LouisianaHospitalityJobs.com.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco on actress Annette Bening being cast to portray her in FX’s American Crime Story about Hurricane Katrina.
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38 children were on a bus in St. Helena Parish that crashed and overturned, sending 11 kids and the driver to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries, according to officials. They say the bus was making a legal turn when the vehicle was struck by a pickup trying to pass in a no-passing zone. The driver of the truck was cited for that and careless operation.

Should state senator Troy Brown be expelled from the Senate due to his two convictions related to domestic violence? State Senator Dan Claitor says he plans to bring a resolution to remove Brown from office as the special session gets underway tonight at 6:30. Brown has said he would fight any efforts to oust him with his attorney.

Lawmakers head back to the capitol for no more than 10 days to figure out what to do about the state’s $304 million dollar shortfall. The governor’s office wants to tap into the rainy day fund, but some lawmakers like Monroe Representative Jay Morris believe making cuts are the better option. He points to a specific Department of Health program on physical fitness and sports…:
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The special session must conclude business by midnight February 22nd.

The Great Flood of 2016 happened 6 months ago, and communities are still in recovery mode, but say progress has been made. Today St. Amant High students are back on their home campus after platooning with Dutchtown since August. Ascension Parish Public Schools Superintendent David Alexander says it was incredible to see how well everyone impacted handled the circumstances…:
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According to FEMA, more than 4,000 manufactured housing units, or MHUs, are spread across East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension Parishes.

It’s reported that emergency crews are working a crash involving a school bus in St. Helena Parish that sent 11 children to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries. They said the wreck caused the bus to overturn while 40 children were on board. This is a developing story.

A special session to address the state’s $304 million dollar budget deficit begins tonight, and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they’ll push lawmakers to use money from the Rainy Day Fund. But he does know that could face push back…:
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Monroe Representative Jay Morris is in favor of cutting the budget deeper than what the governor proposes…:
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A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate is required before money can be taken out of the Rainy Day Fund.

President Donald Trump Saturday approved a federal disaster declaration for Orleans and Livingston parishes, following last week’s tornado outbreak. Governor Edwards thanked the president for his quick assistance.

It’s hard to believe, but the Great Flood that hit South Louisiana in 2016 happened six months ago. So how are things doing now? In Lafayette Parish, hundreds of homes took on water in the town of Youngsville. Mayor Ken Ritter says he’s frustrated at the recovery effort because many of their residents don’t qualify for flood aid due to their income begin above moderate…:
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In Livingston Parish, officials feel it might be 3-5 years before they get back to a pre-flood state.

Annette Bening, left, will portray former Governor Kathleen Blanco in the miniseries Katrina: American Crime Story which will air next year. Blanco says anticipates one of the story lines will be how the White House did not immediately bring the resources needed to help the thousands that were impacted….:
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The script is based off a book by Doug Brinkley, The Great Deluge.

A 10-day special session begins tonight as Governor John Bel Edwards is asking lawmakers to use a combination of cuts and money from the rainy day fund to close a 304-million dollar midyear budget deficit. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says it’s their recommendation that legislators approve the use of 119-million dollars in rainy day dollars…:
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Republican House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry proposes to cut more than what the governor recommends, because the state faces another significant deficit next fiscal year…:
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The special session must conclude business by midnight February 22nd.

6 months ago, the worst disaster to strike the United States in over 4 years hit Louisiana; “The Great Flood of 2016.” So where do things stand now? Livingston Parish President Layton Ricks says many residents are back in their homes, but…:
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St. Amant High Students return to their home campus today after being displaced since August.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco on actress Annette Bening being cast to portray her in FX’s American Crime Story about Hurricane Katrina.
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