Seven days are left in the special legislative session and lawmakers still are at odds over the best way to address the 940 million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year. Jeremy Alford of La-politics-dot-com says there have been repeated delays on many tax votes, but there should be some movement this afternoon…

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Alford says the governor is worried that if lawmakers can’t come up with a solution, another special session will be needed.

The full House convenes at 1pm this afternoon. The lower chamber was waiting to see what the Senate would do with cuts before voting on tax measures. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur, a Democrat from Ville Platte, says everyone will know a lot more after today. He says it’s helped that Governor John Bel Edwards has been meeting with many lawmakers on these issues which is something they’re not used to…:

Cut 15 (10) “make it all happen” 

Lawmakers have started filing bills for the regular session to change the TOPS scholarship program. Jennings Senator and Senate Education Chairman Blade Morrish says he has filed about a dozen TOPS-related bills, one of which would raise the requirements to qualify for the scholarship.

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Morrish says legislators have looked at raising the GPA requirement for TOPS from a 2.5 to a 2.75 and the ACT score from a 20 to a 21.

A man accused of being a member of the Gremlins street gang turned himself in to police late Wednesday, according to Abbeville Chief Tony Hardy. He says 22-year-old Cody Guidry of Abbeville is one of 17 people indicted in connection with a lengthy multi-agency investigation into gang activity in Louisiana. The gang is accused of operating in Acadia, Lafayette, Vermilion and St. Martin parishes. Five of the suspected members are still at large. Hardy says these men face many charges related to criminal street gang violations…:

CUT 4 (04)  “to racketeering”

The Senate Finance Committee is slated to meet this morning at 10:30 and chairman Eric LaFleur says a vote is set to happen on the House approved bill that contains about $100 million dollars in budget cuts. After several days of holding off on any tax votes, the lower chamber convenes at 1pm this afternoon and measures to increase taxes are on the agenda. Senator LaFleur says there is nothing worse than being in a political office and having to vote on either a tax increase, or cutting spending in areas that are important to the people…:
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Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says it seems like the House and Senate have been playing a game of chicken…:
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The special legislative session called to fix the state’s $940 million dollar budget deficit must end on Wednesday.

2 days before Louisiana’s Presidential primary, a GOP debate takes place tonight in Detroit and Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and John Kasich are set to square off on Fox at 8pm. ULM Political Science professor Joshua Stockley says Louisiana will be a critical state for the candidates, especially for Republicans…:
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Trump is holding a planned rally in New Orleans tomorrow, while Cruz will be in Metairie.

A man accused of being a member of the Gremlins street gang turned himself in to police late Wednesday, Abbeville Chief Tony Hardy said. 22-year-old Cody Guidry of Abbeville is one of 17 people indicted in connection with a lengthy multi-agency investigation into gang activity near Abbeville and three other parishes in South Central Louisiana. They face charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and criminal street gang violation. Five of the suspected gang members are still at large.

With only seven days left in the special legislative session, lawmakers are still working to solve the state’s 950 million dollar deficit. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Former Saints star Darren Sharper has reportedly reached a new plea deal on charges he drugged and raped women, according to court filings. His lawyers originally had their client plead guilty in a “global deal” for 9 years in prison, but that was rejected by a federal judge and the new agreement could mean Sharper will be in jail longer and possibly testify against two co-defendants, the documents say. Exact details were not disclosed. A hearing is set for March 17.

One day before Louisiana’s presidential primary, GOP candidates Ted Cruz and Donald Trump are slated to make appearences in the Bayou State. Marco Rubio cancelled a planned appearence Friday ahead of the March 5th election day. ULM Political Science professor Joshua Stockley says Democrats in Louisiana will probably support Hilary Clinton, but Trump is not a slam dunk…:
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Stockley says Louisiana doesn’t have enough suburban areas to give Rubio the kind of support he’s been drawing in other parts of the country.

It looks like the devestating effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on wetlands are nearly gone. LSU Chemistry Professor Edward Overton says the 2010 BP spill was a huge environmental disaster, but it has been slowly mending itself ever since…:
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He says he’s surprised it only took five years to see this level of improvement.

It looks like we’ll finally be seeing some real action today at the Capitol as lawmakers grapple with the current $940 million dollar budget deficit. The House has refused to take up tax bills until the Senate released the spending cuts bill out of committee. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur, a Democrat from Ville Platte, says the budget cuts bill will pass out of his committee Thursday. He says once that happens, more decisions can be made on the state’s deficit…:
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The tax measures are on the House floor agenda today which convenes at 1pm. The special session must end Wednesday.

Scientists say the damage caused by the BP oil spill has drastically diminished since 2010. LSU Chemistry Professor Edward Overton says biologists studying the spill’s impacts in Louisiana’s wetlands have seen how the composition has changed…:
cut 4 (10) “2015”

The presidential primary is heating up in the wake of Super Tuesday. Louisiana’s primary is Saturday, and it could be a vital state for the candidates. Halen Doughty reports…:
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Organizers of a triathlon originally scheduled to be held on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, has been cancelled amid threatening statements. The race dubbed, “Escape from Angola” included a package where participants could sleep in the prison’s old death row overnight. The backlash on social media and even national media is what caused FrenchJunkie Racing to cancel the March 20th event, saying they are not equipped to handle such an onslaught.

There are seven days left in the special legislative session and lawmakers still are at odds over the best way to address the 940 million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year. Jeremy Alford of lapolitics.com says the governor is worried that if lawmakers can’t come up with a solution, another special session will be needed…:
cut 11 (09) “history”
The Senate says they will pass the bill on budget cuts out of committee today. The House is finally expected to take up tax bills this afternoon.

Louisiana’s presidential primary is Saturday March 5, so what kind of impact will Bayou State voters have on who receives the Republican and Democratic nomination? ULM Political Science professor Joshua Stockley says Louisiana will be a critical state for the candidates, especially for Republicans…:
CUT 7 (08) “Marco Rubio”
Scientists say the damage from the BP oil spill has significantly diminished since 2010. Emelie Gunn has more…:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The second Marksville deputy accused in the shooting death of a 6 year old boy in Avoyelles Parish has been freed from jail on a $1 million dollars bond. Authorities say say Derrick Stafford will wear an electronic bracelet at his home while awaiting trial.

Former US Representative Joseph Cao (Gow) has entered the race for the US Senate seat that will vacated by David Vitter. Eight well-known candidates are now in the race. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says fundraising may be the defining factor in this race because so many candidates are competing for limited funds in the state.

CUT 6 (07) “dropping out”

Cross says some of the candidates may have to self-fund.

The special legislative session must end next Wednesday and lawmakers are still at odds over the best way to address the 940-million dollar deficit for this fiscal year. The full House is expected to take up bills Thursday when they convene at 1pm.

Former Saints safety Darren Sharper has reached a new plea deal in his federal drug and rape case. The agreement comes two weeks after U.S. District Judge Triche Milazzo rejected a prior plea deal. Sharper’s sentencing was set for Thursday but will take place June 16. A hearing for the new plea agreement will be March 17.

One person was killed and three others were injured in a two-vehicle crash last night near the Roanoke community in Jefferson Davis parish. Sgt. James Anderson with Louisiana State Police says none of the adults involved in the accident were wearing seat belts. Anderson says the crash was the result of 24-year-old Kayla Laborde failing to stop at a stop sign.

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25-year-old Kevin Daigle of Elton was pronounced dead at a Lafayette hospital. A two-year-old in one of the vehicles was restrained and received moderate injuries.

Louisiana’s iconic black bear, the original teddy bear, will be removed from the endangered species list next week, according to Louisiana Gannett. The ceremony to formally remove the bear from the list will be held at the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge. During the 1950s the Louisiana black bear population was fewer than 100, but that number has grown to upwards of 1000 bears.