Governor John Bel Edwards will address Louisiana citizens tonight to discuss the state’s historic budget deficit. This comes ahead of the special legislative session that begins Sunday, where lawmakers will have to come up with a plan to combat an 870-million dollar budget deficit. UL Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says this kind of speech is extremely rare…:
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The address will be aired at 6:30 pm on major television and radio stations.

The wife of former New Orleans Pelicans coach Monty Williams died after being involved in a crash in Oklahoma City. Authorities say a woman crossed the center line of a road and struck the vehicle driven by 44-year-old Ingrid Williams. The driver of the other car was killed, and Williams succumbed to her injuries Wednesday evening. Monty Williams was the Pelicans head coach for five seasons, and currently serves as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He an Ingrid Williams have five children.

Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump will host a rally tonight at the Baton Rouge River Center. Emelie Gunn has more on why Trump is making an appearance in the Bayou State…:
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Authorities say a man in Jefferson Parish was killed and another injured after an ambulance on a mechanic’s rack fell on top of them. The incident happened Wednesday evening at a hospital in Marrero. The investigation is ongoing.

Governor John Bel Edwards is delivering a historic statewide address tomorrow. Emelie Gunn has a preview…:
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Edwards Administration economist Manfred Dix says the lagging oil industry is only partly to blame for these budget woes as other sectors of our economy are also struggling…:
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The special legislative session to address the budget begins Sunday.

A measure filed for the upcoming special session which beings Sunday would raise the state cigarette tax by 22 cents a pack. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says he’ll push a higher cigarette tax, but it is still important to make cuts in the budget while increasing revenue…:
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The measure would make the cigarette tax $1.08 per pack.

A man from Tennessee was busted on I-10 near Henderson today with over 200 pounds of marijuana in his truck, according to State Police. They say 59-year-old Michael Willis was pulled over for a traffic violation and began acting strange. Troopers smelled the drugs and located about 202 pounds of pot. He was booked at the St. Martin Parish Jail.

The lenten season begins today and it’s a busy time of the year for the seafood industry. Crawfish fisherman Sherbin Collette of Henderson says the mudbugs coming out of the Atchafalya Basin are outstanding this year, because the conditions have been just right to produce quality and quantity…
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Governor John Bel Edwards will give a televised public address tomorrow to detail the massive budget shortfall Louisiana is facing in the upcoming special session. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says Louisiana governors don’t historically speak to voters statewide, but Edwards wants to establish an agenda…:
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The address will air Thursday at 6:30 pm on all major television and radio stations. The projected current year shortfall is now $870 million dollars.

Bills for that  special session are already being filed. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman is bringing a measure that would raise the state cigarette tax to $1.08 per pack, up 22 cents…:
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It’s Ash Wednesday and many churches are now offering “drive by” ash services to cater to their busy congregation. LSU Religious Studies professor Michael Pasquier says some people may criticize mobile ashing, but it’s a practical move…:
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The 40 days of Lent begin today.

Former LSU Tigers star Odell Beckham Jr. will appear as himself tonight on CBS’s “Code Black.” The show airs at 9pm.

This year could be one of the best for crawfish in Louisiana. Halen Doughty reports…:
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The already bleak budget situation in the state looks to be much worse. The Revenue Estimating Conference met this morning and said the mid-year deficit is up from $750 million to $870 million. The gap for next fiscal year has swelled past two billion dollars. Low oil prices are to blame for the less than anticipated revenues, but that’s not the only issue. The legislature’s chief economist Greg Albrecht says corporate taxes are weak…:
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In a rare move, Governor John Bel Edwards calls a statewide televised address tomorrow at 6pm to outline the budget situation to the public.

Drive up ashes for people on this Ash Wednesday are becoming increasingly popular in our fast paced lives. LSU Religious Studies professor Michael Pasquier (Pas-Kay) says that these mobile ash distribution sites are in response to buys lifestyles…:
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State lawmakers have started filing bills for the special session to address the state’s current budget crisis. Halen Doughty reports…:
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The LSU men’s basketball team looks to stay in first place in the Southeastern Conference when it visits 20th ranked South Carolina. Tip-off is at 6pm.

Louisiana’s budget problems are getting worse. The Revenue Estimating Conference has revised the deficit for this fiscal year from 750-million to 892-million dollars. The legislature’s chief economist Greg Albrecht says Louisiana’s lagging economy is impacting state tax collections…:
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The budget deficit for next fiscal year has swelled past two billion dollars.

Meanwhile Governor John Bel Edwards has called a historic statewide televised address Thursday to the people of Louisiana that will focus on the budget crisis. It will air beginning at 6:30 pm and will also be carried by Louisiana Radio Network. Edwards said in a written statement that the problem is so severe that it’s important for him to outline the issue directly to the public.

State lawmakers have started filing bills for the special session, and one of the first measures proposed would increase the state tax on a pack of cigarettes another 22-cents to $1.08 per pack. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says this tax will generate more state revenue, and could result in healthier outcomes for citizens…:
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If the proposed bill passes, the tax will go into effect on April 1.

Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson announces he’s running for the 4th Congressional District seat being left open by Congressman John Fleming. Political analyst Elliott Stonecipher says even though the author of the failed “religious freedom” bill got name recognition from the proposal’s controversy, this is still anyone’s race. Stonecipher says voters in the 4th District aren’t used to having so many candidates to choose from…:
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Fleming is a candidate in this year’s US Senate race.

The state’s budget picture is worse than originally thought as the Revenue Estimating Conference this morning projects there will be an $892 million dollar mid-yer shortfall. Lawmakers must fill the hole by July 1st. A special session to address the budget begins Sunday.

Now that the Mardi Gras season is over, today, Ash Wednesday, begins the Lenten season as Christians across Louisiana prepare for Easter. Masses will be held across the state today to allow people to receive their ashes.

And begins the 40 days of lent. Many choose to give up meat and take advantage of Louisiana’s seafood, and there’s good news for crawfish lovers. Farmers say this could be one of the best years for mudbugs ever — thanks to El Nino. Wild crawfish farmer Sherbin Collette of Henderson says more people are harvesting to make a living since the oil industry is losing jobs
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He says warm weather and high waters contribute to the size and juiciness of the crawfish.

The data compiling website Roadsnacks released a list of the most boring cities in Louisiana, and Central came in at number one. Rounding out the top five were Mandeville, Franklin, Springhill and Minden. Roadsnacks spokesman Nick James says they classified boring places as those where the population was older, married or had kids. He says they did this research scientifically without polling and seem to get positive results…:
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You can see the full list at roadsnacks.net.

Governor John Bel Edwards will have a televised statewide address to residents of Louisiana about the state’s budget situation tomorrow night at 6:30. The state found out today that the budget deficit for this fiscal year has grown from $750 to $892 million. The Revenue Estimating Conference met this morning.