Governor John Bel Edwards addressed a joint session of the legislature this morning, calling on lawmakers to find the political courage to raise enough revenue during this special session to reduce cuts to state programs. Edwards says they cannot wait any longer to resolve the fiscal crisis…:
CUT 6 (12) “afford to wait”
Legislators have until midnight on June 23 to try and raise enough revenue to close a $600 million budget shortfall.

A West Monroe native and former astronaut is charged with murder following a crash that claimed the lives of two children in Alabama, according to authorities. They say 49-year-old James Halsell Jr. of Huntsville is suspected of being impaired and speeding when he collided with a vehicle with an 11-year-old and 13-year-old inside. The sisters were pronounced dead.

Several lawmakers are in a foul mood after failing to approve a construction budget. Ways and Means Chairman Neil Abramson says Senate changes to the spending plan made the bill unworkable and he didn’t bring it up for a vote in the regular session. Franklin Representative Sam Jones asked Abramson why not send the bill to a conference committee to resolve the issues…:
CUT 3 (12) “out of here”
The construction budget funds road projects, repairs to public buildings and improvement to state parks.

The LSU baseball team is hoping to get it together in the elimination game today today after a rough match-up last night against Rice in which the Tigers fell 10-6. They’ll face off again at 4pm to determine who will advance to the best of three NCAA Super Regionals.

The second special session of 2016 is underway and lawmakers are looking at their options to raise enough revenue to reduce cuts to state programs, like TOPS and hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured. Personal and corporate income taxes are an option for raising revenue, but Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says he is not okay with raising anymore taxes…:
cut 4 (09) “do that”
Senate President John Alario believes the legislature needs to raise about $450 million to ensure that TOPS, higher ed and safety net hospitals are adequately funded…:
Cut 6 (09) “the budget”
Governor John Bel Edwards is set to address a joint session of the legislature at this hour.

Natchitoches has unveiled plans for a Riverfront Improvement Project. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The University of New Orleans will soon have a new digital animation lab on campus. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart led the effort to secure a $94-thousand grant for the school’s new Innovation Lab. He says increased demand in this field is due to the growing need for animation in television, movies and other multimedia projects…:
Cut 13 (03) “like that”

This morning at 10am, Governor John Bel Edwards will be addressing a join session of the state legislature. This will kickoff the special session that was called to address a $600 million dollar revenue shortfall. Legislators have to pass a $4 billion construction budget that would pay for road work and improvements to public buildings and state parks. He isn’t happy the House failed to negotiate the construction spending plan during the regular session…:
Cut 9 (09) “the bill”
He says the budget passed in the regular session is in bad shape and revenues must be raised.

Plans have been unveiled for a Riverfront Improvement Project in Natchitoches. Mayor Lee Posey says says they hope to have everything ready in time for the Festival of Lights in November of 2017. He says there are lots of events on the riverbank, so this is a worthwhile project…:
Cut 16 (06) “really excited”

The University of New Orleans will soon have a new digital animation lab on campus. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart led the effort to secure a $94-thousand grant for the school’s new Innovation Lab. He says the lab will be equipped with computers, a 3D printer, motion capture equipment, and the software students need to complete all kinds of digital media projects..:
cut 12 (10) “digital cameras”

Its win or go home for the LSU Baseball team today after losing to Rice 10-6 last night to force a winner take all matchup in the Baton Rouge Regional. Coach Paul Mainieri says they just didn’t have it yesterday…:
CUT 1 (09) “different story”
First pitch is 4pm.

The second special session is underway, and Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on legislators to fix the state’s budget problems. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Senate President John Alario says he is not opposed to altering state income tax rates or removing exemptions, if it means all of the state’s priorities will be funded…:
CUT 7 (06) “it accomplished”
Lawmakers have also proposed reducing or eliminating some corporate tax exemptions.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says they are investigating the drowning death of a three year old in Terrytown. It’s reported it happened in a hot tub at an apartment complex.

The University of New Orleans will soon have a new digital animation lab on campus. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart led the effort to secure a $94-thousand grant for the school’s new Innovation Lab, which will be open to all students working on digital media projects. Rinehart says the department is working toward creating a new media and animation degree…:
cut 11 (05) “digital animation”
Rinehart says the lab should be open to students by the 2017 spring semester.

The lineup has been unveiled for this year’s Voodoo Fest and features The Weekend, Arcade Fire and Tool. The VOODOO Music and Arts Experience will run Halloween weekend, October 28th thru October 30th.

Lawmakers are looking at their options to raise revenue to fill the budget holes, as the second special session of 2016 is currently underway. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Governor Edwards is set to address a joint session of the state legislature at 10 this morning. Edwards says revenues need to be raised the budget that was passed in the regular session is in bad shape…:
Cut 8 (11) “172 million”

Plans have been unveiled for a Riverfront Improvement Project in Natchitoches. Mayor Lee Posey says the project will update some infrastructure along the river and improve handicap accessibility…:
cut 14 (11) “about this”
Posey says they hope to have everything ready by the beginning of next year so it can hopefully be done in time for the Festival of Lights in November of 2017.

A Baton Rouge man is behind bars for allegedly strangling his wife to death following an argument. The Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Donald Germany contacted family members and confessed to the crime.

The Governor has signed the Louisiana Family Caregiver Act into law, which supporters say will provide critical help for families across the state. Advocacy Director for AARP Louisiana, Andrew Muhl says this will assist the more than 660-thousand family members who help out an aging relative…:
CUT 6 (08) “more independently”
Muhl says this measure requires hospitals to offer caregivers instruction and demonstrations of medical tasks.

The special session to address the $600 million dollar budget shortfall begins today at 6:30. LSU economist Jim Richardson also serves as the chairman of the task force for long term budget reform. He says changes to income taxes will likely need to be made which would impact everyone…:
CUT 5 (08) “notice it”
The regular session must end today by 6pm.

A trooper was injured in a fatal St. Charles Parish crash that involved two suspected drunk drivers and a man who stopped on the Bonne Carre spillway to urinate into Lake Ponchartrain. State Police trooper Melissa Matey says Louis Hernandez pulled his truck over to pee, and at that time a man suspected of being impaired, 42-year-old Joel Ybarra, crashed into the stopped vehicle
CUT 12 (06) “not belted”
Ybarra is charged with vehicular homicide. Another drunk driver who hit the respnoding trooper is also charged in this incident.

Citizens in Franklin Parish continue 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.

A second special session for 2016 begins tonight at 6:30 pm, and lawmakers will look at changes to income taxes as they try to close a $600 million shortfall for next fiscal year. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A trooper was injured in a fatal St. Charles Parish crash that involved two suspected drunk drivers and a man who stopped on the Bonne Carre spillway to urinate into Lake Ponchartrain. State Police say it was Louis Hernandez who pulled his truck over to pee, and at that time a man suspected of being impaired, 42-year-old Joel Ybarra, crashed into the stopped vehicle killing the truck’s occupant. A trooper responding to the scene had his unit hit by another impaired driver who was also charged in the incident.

A small Tensas parish town is one step closer to having clean water after being plagued by murky brown tap water for the better part of a decade. The town of St. Joseph has agreed to appoint a fiscal administrator so audits on the town can be cleared up and work can begin to repair the town’s water system. The governor’s Communications Director, Richard Carbo says getting a fiscal administrator is a step in the right direction….:
CUT 9 (05) “St. Joe”
Carbo says they’re making progress, but at this point it’s still not clear when clean water will flow from the taps in St. Joseph.

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…:
CUT 3 (11) “do constitutionally”
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…:
CUT 9 (09) “his allies”
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….:
cut 12 (09) “potential owner”
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…:
CUT 8 (12) “change as well”
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…:
CUT 14 (12) “those areas”

Legislation to require pet stores to keep records of animals and with licensing information awaits the Governor’s signature Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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.