Another special session is back on after a failed attempt in February to solve the fiscal cliff. Michael Farrar has more.
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New Orleans will host the Super Bowl in 2024 for a record tying 11th time. NFL owners made the decision after hearing a presentation from Saints owner Gayle Benson.

LSU legendary football player Billy Cannon will be laid to rest today. A public vistiation begins at noon at the Maravich Center on the LSU campus.

An LSU Pennington Biomedical Research study finds improved blood pressure and blood sugar in individuals who eat all of their meals in a six-hour period and finish by mid-afternoon. Researchers found their fasting diet improved insulin sensitivity, but co-author of the report, Doctor Eric Ravussin says this type of dietary plan may not work for everyone, specifically those who engage in strenuous early morning activity.
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Canadian tech giant C-G-I announces it will hire over 400 more workers in Lafayette by 2023, bringing C-G-I’s total employment to 900. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the jobs will be located at UL Lafayette’s Research Park facility….
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Today is the first full day of the special session that’s been called to address the fiscal cliff and Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras says Governor John Bel Edwards’ scare tactics will not lead to new taxes….
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Over a billion dollars in temporary taxes are set to expire June 30th, Governor Edwards hopes legislators will approve legislation to replace about 650-million dollars in expiring taxes.

Meanwhile, Governor Edwards has a big economic development announcement involving a global technology firm in Lafayette…
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C-G-I solves complex business and I-T challenges for clients.

A new study out of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows health benefits for people who only eat early in the day….
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Saints Owner Gayle Benson goes before the NFL owners today, asking them to approve New Orleans has a Super Bowl host site in 2024.

The National Hurricane Center says a sub-tropical or tropical depression could form this weekend over the eastern or central Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters say we could see heavy rain from the Central to the Eastern Gulf Coast through the Memorial Day weekend.

In a video message, Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras calls it “political theater” Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards’ decision to begin the special session by delivering a speech on the UL Lafayette campus. Barras also blames the governor for resisting bipartisan efforts and being responsible for legislative gridlock…
cut 11 (12) “….new taxes”
Barras also says the governor’s decision to veto a budget approved by lawmakers can make it difficult to pass another budget, plus raise revenue to stave off cuts during a two-week special sesion which begins its first full day today. Yesterday, Edwards asked legislators to stay away from divisive partianship.

We’ll find out today if New Orleans will host the Super Bowl in 2024. A vote by the NFL owners will take place this morning in Atlanta.

A pilot study from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows a noticeable, positive drop in blood pressure and blood sugar when restricting your eating to early in the day. The study had participants restrict eating to 6 hours a day, starting in the morning. Associate Executive Director for Clinical research Dr. Eric Ravussin has a suggestion if you’re interested in trying out fasting.
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Researchers say eating late at night is bad for the metabolism.

When you go on vacation, do you still check in on work. A study from Accountemps finds that 56-percent of Americans do. Spokesperson Carrie Lewis says their study found millennials are more prone to being tethered to their phone, while only 39-percent of 55 and older respondents stay plugged in….
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State legislators are seeking a solution to avoid going over the fiscal cliff, which would result in big cuts in state government. Jeremy Alford of La-Politics-dot-com says there is some consensus around a plan to renew a portion of a temporary one-cent sales tax that’s set to expire June 30th….
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The special session on taxes must conclude June 4th.

An LSU Pennington Biomedical Research pilot study finds that by restricting your eating to six hours a day and finishing meals by mid-afternoon, it can help drop your blood pressure. Clinical research Doctor Eric Ravussin says fasting helps cut back on the unhealthy habit of snacking….
cut 8 (10) “…designed for”

G-C-I, a tech company in Lafayette, is adding 400 new jobs in a planned expansion. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…reporting”

Lafayette’s Antoine Duplantis had three hits and drove in two runs as LSU defeated Mississippi State 8-5 to advance to play top ranked Florida today in the SEC Tournament.

The sixth special session since Governor John Bel Edwards took office is underway. Edwards opened the session on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus, as public colleges are at risk of budget cuts, unless legislators approve 648-million dollars in taxes. Edwards hopes the legislature can come together on a plan…
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UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross expects any tax plan that comes out of the special session to only be a temporary solution…
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The special session comes to an end June 4th, but there are already concerns whether two weeks is enough time to pass a budget and revenue raising measures in two weeks.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean, which is expected to impact the Gulf Coast during Memorial Day weekend. National Weather Service Slidell Meteorologist Danielle Manning says Louisiana could dodge the worst of it.
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Forecasters give the system a medium chance of developing into at least a tropical storm when it reaches the Gulf of Mexico later this week.

For the second time this year, the Monroe Police Department lost an officer while on duty. Twenty-six-year-old Ayrian Williams died last night in a car crash while responding to a call. Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo…
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In January, Officer Chris Beaudoin was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash. Williams joined Monroe P-D last November after graduating from LSU and then serving as a Southern University Police officer. She’s a native of New Orleans.

Another special session to solve the fiscal cliff started today. Governor John Bel Edwards says this is the last chance for lawmakers to approve revenue raising measures to avoid deep cuts when temporary taxes expire on June 30th…
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Instead of giving the opening address to a session with a speech in front of lawmakers at the State Capitol, the Democratic Governor spoke on the campus of University of Louisiana at Lafayette. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Edwards is hoping to draw attention to the importance of higher ed….
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The special session must end June 4th.

The National Hurricane Center says an area of disturbed weather has a medium chance of development once it reaches the Gulf of Mexico…
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A 26-year-old Monroe Police Officer was killed in a single vehicle wreck last night. Police Chief Eugene Ellis says 26-year-old Ayrian Williams was in her patrol vehicle…
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Williams was an LSU grad who worked as a Southern University Police Officer before taking a job with Monroe P-D just over six months ago

The sixth special session since Governor John Bel Edwards took office is underway. Don Molino reports the governor is optimistic this one will be successful…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Don Molino”

A February special session to address the fiscal cliff did not accomplish anything, so will this one be more successful. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross….
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A 26-year-old Monroe Police Officer died in a single-vehicle crash last night. Ayrian Williams was an LSU grad and New Orleans native who worked at the Southern Campus Police Department before taking a job with Monroe P-D last November. Police Chief Eugene Ellis says Officer Williams had a great reputation and had the talent to work anywhere.
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Williams is the second Monroe officer to die in the line of duty this year.

If you are heading to beach this Memorial Day weekend, you might want to keep an eye on the Gulf as forecasters are predicting a tropical weather system could impact the Gulf coast this weekend, anywhere from Louisiana to Florida. Danielle Manning with the National Weather Service in Slidell….
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Governor John Bel Edwards began the sixth special session of his term from Acadiana, where he spoke on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. Instead of a traditional speech inside the House chambers, Edwards made his case on a college campus for lawmakers to approve tax bills in this special session that would generate 648-million dollars in revenue to stave off cuts across state government. Edwards says he would like to see legislators remove certain sales tax exemptions…
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UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross expects any tax plan that comes out of the special session to only be a temporary solution…
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The National Hurricane Center says an area of disturbed weather has a medium chance of development once it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

For the second time this year, the Monroe Police Department lost an officer while on duty. Twenty-six-year-old Ayrian Williams died last night in a car crash while responding to a call. Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo…
cut 8 (08) “…Monroe police department”
In January, Officer Chris Beaudoin was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash.

The sixth special session since Governor John Bel Edwards took office is underway. Edwards opened the session on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. Public colleges are at risk of significant budget cuts, unless legislators approve 648 million dollars in taxes. Edwards hopes the legislature can come together on a plan…
cut 12 (12) “….deserve”
The special session must end June 4th, as of now the budget cuts are set to go into effect July 1st.

Forecasters are monitoring an area of low pressure in the northwest Caribbean Sea that’s expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days. Danielle Manning with the National Weather Service in Slidell says there’s a medium chance the system will develop into a tropical depression….
cut 4 (10) “…five days”
If you are heading to the beach this weekend for the Memorial Day holiday, it could be a wet one.

A school safety bill by St. Landry Parish Congressman Clay Higgins has cleared the House and heads to the Senate. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 2 (29) I’m Matt Doyle”

A Monroe police officer was killed last night in a single vehice wreck. Authorities say 26-year-old Ayrian Williams was heading to another call when her vehicle hit a tree in a resident’s front lawn. Wiliams joined the force last year and she’s the second Monroe police officer this year who died in the line of duty.

A 26-year-old Monroe Police Officer died in a traffic accident yesterday. Ayrian Williams was an LSU grad and New Orleans native who worked at the Southern Campus Police Department before taking a job with Monroe in November of 2017. Police Chief Eugene Ellis says the officer had a great reputation in the department after just half a year on the force, and had the talent to work anywhere, but chose to make Monroe her home.

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The Louisiana Federation of Teachers released a survey of its members that shows 61-percent of them support a statewide walkout or strike, because of low teacher pay. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says average teacher salaries in Louisiana have been below the Southern average since the 2012-13 school year…

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Governor Edwards speaks today at UL Lafayette breaking special session tradition of opening the proceedings by talking in the House chamber. The Governor is calling on the legislature to replace expiring sales taxes to avoid 638 million dollars in budget cuts. University of Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Edwards is hoping to draw attention to the importance to higher ed.

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This will be the 9^th special session since governor Edwards took office in 2016, when temporary sales taxes that are set to expire in July were raised to address the last fiscal cliff. Cross says the Governor will most likely have to settle for a compromise built around renewing half of the one penny sales tax that is set to expire.

And a low pressure system that could ruin Memorial Day beach vacations across the gulf coast is starting to get the attention of the National Hurricane Center. The system has been named Invest 90L. Current forecasts show it staying east of Louisiana.