Lawmakers have been meeting behind closed doors today working to determine how much of the Rainy Day Fund should be used to help offset the state’s 304 million dollar budget deficit. Gov. Edwards says without the use 119 million dollars of the fund the state will face extreme cuts to higher education, public schools, and social services. But Republicans lawmakers are hesitant to tap into that savings.

The woman who accidentally uploaded a nude video to the Webster Parish Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Instagram account is taking legal action. Michelle Southern has more…
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Two Florida residents have been arrested on multiple counts of fraud and theft after repeatedly swiping several access cards to purchase large amounts of gift cards at Lowe’s in Baton Rouge. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says a retired police officer was at the store and noticed this common practice of fraud so he immediately contacted the authorities.
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Offers.com analyzed different ways couples in the Bayou State celebrate their love this Valentines Day. Kerry Sherin with the website says unlike the rest of the U.S., Louisiana women wanted daisies over roses this holiday. She says we also have different taste in candy…
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She also says more Louisianans are staying in tonight rather than making reservations.

This morning the Edwards Administration met behind closed doors with leaders at the Capitol to negotiate the use of the rainy day fund as a way to close the $304 million dollar budget gap.

The Baton Rouge judge who is accused of making a racist statement to an African-American woman at a popular restaurant has released a statement. Judge Mike Erwin said media reports about what happened are not consistent with the facts. The EBR Sheriff’s Office released a report indicating no witnesses heard Erwin make the remarks. The woman is taking legal action.

A bad storm system is moving into Louisiana from Texas, and State Climatologist Barry Keim says central and south Louisiana could be in for more severe weather. He says this event doesn’t look quite as severe as what we saw last week, but as we saw then, things can change quickly…:
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He says once the storms pass tonight, the weather will cool off tomorrow.

The former Executive Director of the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau is taking legal action after she was terminated Monday. The firing comes after 61-year-old Lynn Dorsey accidentally posted a risque video to the CVB’s Instagram account. Dorsey’s attorney, Lydia Rhodes, says they plan to go to court and make a case for a breach of contract…:
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She says they also don’t agree with the distinction of the board that this incident is any kind of scandal.

StopLouisianaWaste.com is a new website aimed to reduce wasteful spending in state government. Covington Rep. John Schroder says given the budget problems, legislators need to make sure they’re spending taxpayer money wisely.

And there are multiple reports that say former Saints special teams coordinator Greg McMahon has joined LSU’s staff as a special teams analyst and could become the special teams coordinator next month when the NCAA allows teams to have 10 full-time assistants.

On the second day of the special session, the Governor and leaders from both the House and Senate met behind closed doors to negotiate how much money, if any, should be used out of the rainy day fund to plug into the $304 million dollar budget gap. This afternoon, a Senate committee will consider the savings account legislation.

Severe weather is a possibility today in south and central Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…:
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The Webster Parish tourism executive director who is accused of broadcasting a 30 minute long private video meant for her husband instead of to her work Instagram account has been fired. Lynn Dorsey was voted to be removed by the board on a 3-2 vote. Her attorney says legal action is possible because Dorsey did have a contract.

A Covington lawmaker has an idea on the budget troubles as he’s launched a website that lets people secretly report what they feel is wasteful spending in state government. Representative John Schroder says he wants to see what citizens would report anonymously..:
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The site is StopLouisianaWaste.com.

Governor Edwards kicked-off the special session by explaining to legislators why he feels it’s important to use rainy day dollars to address a 304-million dollar budget deficit….:
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South and central Louisiana will face the possibility of more severe weather this afternoon and into tonight. State climatologist Barry Keim says the radar shows a strong line of storms moving in from Texas…:
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Couples around the country and across the Bayou State celebrate their love this Valentine’s Day in a variety of ways. Offers.com analyzed gift related keywords to determine the most popular Valentine’s Day items. Spokeswoman Kerry Sherin on what’s at the top of Louisianans’ wish lists…:
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Sherin says drop earrings and white gold chains for men rounded out the top five gifts.

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. Brown has said he plans to fight any effort to remove him from office.

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.

StopLouisianaWaste.com is a new website aimed to reduce wasteful spending in state government. Covington Rep. John Schroder says given the budget problems, legislators need to make sure they’re spending taxpayer money wisely. He says he will personally investigate each incident and provide the information to the proper agency.
Cut 14 (06) “anonymously.”

 
For the third year in a row, the Bossier Parish couple Lawrence and Varrie Player are the longest married couple in the state, as they celebrate 82 years together. Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says Will Henry and Virginia Teasley of Bienville Parish are the runners up, at 80 years of marriage. He says to honor the couple, they delivered a king cake to Virginia in hospice care.
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Every year the Louisiana Family Forum honors the top ten longest married couples in the state.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for much of southwest Louisiana. The watch is in effect until 3:00 this afternoon. There is also the chance for severe weather in the area bringing in heavy winds, rain and hail.

And LSU has announced its spring football game on April 22nd will kick off at 7 p.m.

To start the special session, Governor Edwards told lawmakers they need to use the state’s savings account to help close the $304 million dollar budget deficit. There’s concern by some about draining the rainy fund down to zero, but Edwards says that won’t happen thanks to BP settlement dollars..:
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He says he’s open to discussing further cuts that Republicans want to see, but won’t support budget gimmicks.

Two legislators have filed a resolution two remove state Senator Troy Brown from office. The Napoleonville lawmaker was recently convicted on two domestic abuse charges. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says we shouldn’t be tolerant of civil servants who disregard the citizens they represent…:
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Brown has said he’d fight any effort to expel him.

Now for three straight Valentine’s Days a couple from Bossier Parish has been named the state’s longest known married couple by the Louisiana Family Forum. President Gene Mills says 103-year-old Lawrence Player and 97-year-old Varrie Player of Benton have been married 82 years:
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He says Will Henry and Virginia Teasley of Bienville Parish are this year’s runners up, married for 80 years.

LSU quarterback Brandon Harris has decided to transfer and said Coach Orgeron is letting him choose any school. Tiger Rag associate editor James Moran says the junior probably doesn’t want to sit on the bench and watch Danny Etling be the signal caller…:
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Harris played in just four games during the 2016 season, passing for 139 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Governor John Bel Edwards told the state legislature at the start of the special session that it’s important to use the rainy day fund to close the $304 million dollar budget shortfall. But there have been several Republican lawmakers who have advocated for more cuts to the budget. Edwards says he’s open to hearing other options…:
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The special session must end on midnight next Wednesday.

One Covington lawmaker has an idea on the budget troubles as he’s launched a website that lets people secretly report what they feel is wasteful spending in state government. Representative John Schroder says he wants to see what citizens would report anonymously..:
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The site is StopLouisianaWaste.com.

Two state Senators file a resolution to expel Napoleonville Senator Troy Brown after being convicted of two separate domestic abuse charges. Halen Doughty has more…:
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The Lafayette Police Department is investigating an apparent murder suicide. They say officers responded last night to find 27-year-old Katrina Broussard of Lake Charles dead in an apartment, then later located the victim’s boyfriend, 29-year-old Oris Briggs of Abbeville, dead in his vehicle of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They believe the two had been involved in a domestic altercation.

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..:
Cut 10 (06) “public service”
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.

State Lawmakers are back in Baton Rouge 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. Governor John Bel Edwards is proposing to use 119-million dollars from the state’s savings account. But Republican Monroe Representative Jay Morris supports cutting the budget deeper than what the governor recommended …
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The special session must end by midnight on February 22nd.

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. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt filed the measure along with Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor. Hewitt says anytime an elected official breaks the law, it erodes the public’s trust in all elected leaders.
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It will take 26 out of 39 votes to expel the senator. Brown issued a statement last month saying expulsion is the political equivalent to execution. He went on to say that only 8 states have ever expelled a Senator, and it was always over more serious matters.

And Covington Representative John Schroeder says you can now report wasteful state spending to a website called Stop-Louisiana-waste-dot-com. Schroeder says he will personally view and investigate every entry.