Lawmakers will have 11 days of a special session to agree how to close the state’s more than $300 million dollar budget shortfall. Governor John Bel Edwards says he will call the special session. He says he wants to hear from both the legislature and lawmakers on how the state should spend its money…:
CUT 5 (09) “will be considered”
The governor says he will NOT recommend cuts to K-through-12 education, prisons and social services, but he also won’t ask legislators to raise taxes.

The Westwego cop that was shot dead in Jefferson Parish last week is being laid to rest at this hour. Many people are lined up for the visitation of Officer Michael Louviere who was killed while assisting a motorists a week ago. He is described by friends as a loving father and husband who dedicated his life to serving his country and his community.

Could online dating in Louisiana be dangerous? The website HighSpeedInternet.com finds our state is the third most risky for going on a date with someone you met on the internet. Study author Kaz Weida says it’s in part due to Louisiana’s high crime rate…:
CUT 7 (08) “a crime”
She says Louisiana also ranks poorly in STDs.

A Mandeville father is behind bars for allegedly shaking his one-month-old baby so hard, the infant is fighting for his life in ICU. Mandeville Police Chief Gerald Sticker says the grandmother discovered the baby’s condition and rushed to the hospital…:
cut 11 (08) “difficulty breathing”
Sticker identifies the teenage father as Stephen Michael Dufresne of Mandeville and he’s been charged with 2nd degree cruelty to a juvenile.

Governor John Bel Edwards announces plans for a special session to begin on February 13th to fix a 304-million dollar budget deficit. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A report released by High-Speed-Internet.com finds Louisiana is the third most dangerous state for online dating. Researcher for the website, Kaz Weida, says the Bayou State received a high ranking because of its high rate of adults with STDs…:
Cut 6 (10) “sex with”

A one-month-old infant is in critical condition and an 18-year-old father under arrest amid allegations he shook the baby violently, according to the Mandeville Police Department. Chief Gerald Sticker says they got a call from the hospital reporting the baby’s condition – so deputies began asking questions…:
Cut 9 (09) “the infant’s brain”
Sticker identifies the teenage father as Stephen Michael Dufresne of Mandeville and he’s been charged with 2nd degree cruelty to a juvenile.

Headliners at this years Jazzfest will include Usher, Maroon 5, Tom Petty, Pit Bull, Kings of Leon, Alabama Shakes, Snoop Dog, and Stevie Wonder. It all happens at the New Orleans Fairgrounds the last weekend in April and first weekend in May.

A special session will in fact take place next month so lawmakers can get together and decide how to close a $304 million dollar budget shortfall. Governor John Bel Edwards says he will not ask legislators to raise taxes, but he will recommend using 119-million dollars in money from the state’s rainy day fund in an effort to soften the cuts…:
cut 4 (09) “of Louisiana”
Edwards says he’ll present a budget slashing plan to the legislature by February sixth.

An LSU economist says it would not be good for Louisiana if President Donald Trump carries out a plan under consideration to tax Mexican imports 20% in order to build a wall. Dr Loren Scott says citizens would shoulder the burden because Mexico would likely up the price of their exports…:
CUT 13 (10) “from Mexico”

More than 2-thousand Louisianans are in Washington D.C. for the annual March for Life. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival lineup for 2017 has been announced. Returning to the Fair Grounds Race Course this year will be Stevie Wonder and Tom Petty, with other headliners including Maroon 5, Snoop Dogg, Pitbull and Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. Jazzfest will be held April 28-30 and May 4-7.

Governor John Bel Edwards announces he will call a special session so legislators can make what he calls “painful” cuts to address a 304-million dollar shortfall. Edwards says the special session would start February 13th…
cut 3 (12) “…so much”
Edwards says he will not ask legislators to raise taxes.

Over 2-thousand Louisianans are in Washington D.C. today for the 44th annual March for Life. Executive Director for Louisiana Right to Life Ben Clapper says the majority of Louisiana residents in attendence are under 22-years-old.
Cut 08 (10) “among us.”

President Donald Trump is considering a 20-percent tax on Mexican imports to fund a wall. LSU Econominist Loren Scott says that would be bad for the economy because Mexico is the U.S. number 2 trading partner, following Canada. He also says it’s likely Mexico could impose a tax on products shipped from America.
Cut 14 (07) “gas here.”

A U-Haul report finds Louisiana’s population could’ve grown in 2016. The Bayou State came in at number 8 in the U-Haul growth report, as more trucks came into the state than left. But U-Haul North Louisiana president Warren Iles says that doesn’t necessarily mean the population is growing at the same rate trucks are arriving. He says the August flood could’ve impacted the numbers.
cut 11 (10) “bringing in items”

Governor John Bel Edwards is presenting his plan to lawmakers today on ways he proposes to close a $304 million dollar budget shortfall. It includes using $119.6 million dollars from the Rainy Day Fund, across the board cuts, and minimized cuts to higher ed and partner hospitals. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says there is also talk of increasing certain fees to raise more revenue this year…:
Cut 6 (09) “some aren’t”
What the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget decides today will determine whether lawmakers go into a special session next month.

The Westwego police cop that was killed last week in Jefferson Parish is being laid to rest today. Officer Michael Louvierre was shot in the head January 20th as he was stopping to assist a woman who was also killed. A GoFundMe account for Louviere’s family has topped the $55,000 mark.

What would a 20% tax on Mexican imports to pay for a wall along the southern border mean for Louisiana? President Donald Trump says he’s considering the plan. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says this would not be good for our economy and it’s also likely Mexico will impose a tax on products shipped from the US…:
CUT 14 (07) “natural gas here”
He says trade wars are one of the key reasons we entered the Great Depression in the 1930s.

High school principals currently meeting at the LHSAA convention in Baton Rouge to vote on a plan that would reduce the number of state football championships from nine to seven. Iowa (Eye-oh-way) prinicpal Mike Oakley says the proposal will also reduce the number of title games in basketball, baseball and softball..:
Cut 16 (17) “strain on em”

President Donald Trump’s idea to impose a 20-percent tax on Mexican imports to pay for the border wall could have implications for the Bayou State. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A group that opposes legalized abortion will are in Washington D.c. today for the annual March for Life; including over 2000 people from Louisiana. There will be similar marches locally like in Shreveport where 5,000 people are expected. Louisiana Right to Life Ben Clapper says this event has been going on more than 44 years..:
Cut 9 (10) “or unborn”

We’ll learn more today about whether lawmakers will go into a special session to address a $304 million dollar budget shortfall. Governor John Bel Edwards will go before the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget to address the gap. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says if a special session is needed, it’ll likely happen mid-February…:
CUT 5 (11) “million dollar deficit”
The meeting is taking place at this hour.

According to the number of U-Haul trucks coming into the state compared to the number going out, the company believes Louisiana’s population grew last year. U-Haul North Louisiana president Warren Iles says the state came in number 8 on their recent growth report. But he says even if the population isn’t growing, another sector is…:
cut 12 (08) “last year”
He says Baton Rouge had a net gain in the number of U-Hauls arriving rather than departing, so did Lake Charles and Denham Springs.

A special session to re-balance the state’s budget could become more of a reality today. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford anticipates the Edwards administration will present three options to the joint legislative budget on fixing a 304-million dollar shortfall…:
cut 4 (12) “special session”
He says whether or not a special session will happen will be based on what the committee decides today.

State leaders are voicing frustration over the process of getting federal flood aid for victims of the 2016 March and August devastating events. Congress has set aside $1.6 billion dollars in flood recovery, and Governor John Bel Edwards Chief of Staff Ben Nevers says the state is hampered by the rules the federal government has implemented. It could be April or May before the first round of federal dollars gets into the hands of flood victims.

More than 2-thousand Louisianans are in Washington D.C. for the annual March for Life. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A report from U-Haul finds that Louisiana’s population might have grown during 2016. The Bayou State came in at number eight in U-Haul’s growth report, based on the number of trucks going in and out. U-Haul North Louisiana president Warren Iles…:
Cut 10 (11) “U-Haul trucks”

Today the possibility of another legislative special session could become a reality. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Over 2-thousand Louisiana residents are in Washington D.C. along with hundreds of thousands of Americans for today’s annual March for Life. Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life Ben Clapper says there is a renewed sense of hope under a Trump administration…:
CUT 7 (08) “in America”‘

President Donald Trump is considering a 20-percent tax on Mexican imports to pay for a wall along the southern border, so what does that mean for Louisiana? LSU economist Loren Scott says if the tax is imposed, Mexico will likely up the price of their exports to the US, which means American consumers will foot the bill…:
Cut 13 (10) “from Mexico”
Scott says that would be bad news for the economy because Mexico is America’s number two trading partner behind Canada.

The 2017 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival lineup will be announced today. This year Jazzfest runs April 28 to April 30, and from May 4 to May 7th.

Former Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham defends his spending decisions as a legislative audit alleges he misused BP money while in office. Barham says the department was put in charge of bringing seafood back into the market

Cut 13 (10) “a fish”
the audit says samples were not properly tested, but Barham says the samples were taken properly and frozen.

A Go Fund me page has been set for the Westwego police officer who was fatally shot in Marrero. Michael Louviere’s childhood friend, Reese d’Aquin says the goal is to raise 300-thousand dollars to help Louviere’s family.

Cut 7 (11) “leaves behind”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ chief of staff Ben Nevers told state lawmakers today that federal regulations are preventing Louisiana from recovering from two historic floods. Nevers says they’re moving as quickly as possible to get flood aid to the people that need it, but red tape is slowing things down. It could be April or May before the first round of federal dollars gets into the hands of flood victims.

LSU basketball suffered its worst loss at home since 1963 and it appears Johnny Jones’ days as the head coach of the Tigers is over. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Former Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham told lawmakers a state audit questioning how he spent Gulf oil spill money is the worst Monday morning quarterbacking he’s seen. Barham says allegations of extensive financial problems with the agency he once led couldn’t be further from the truth…
cut 14 (11) “…safety program”
Auditors say money intended for fish testing was used on unnecessary items.

The historic loss the LSU men’s basketball team suffered last night against Florida might be all she wrote for Tigers Coach Johnny Jones. That’s according to Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham. But Worsham doesn’t think Athletic Director Joe Alleva will fire Jones mid-season like he did with Les Miles…:
cut 4 (11) “and coaches”
Worsham says Jones has two years on his contract this season concludes.

A close friend of the fallen Westwego police officer is raising money for his family on a Go Fund Me Page. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

In football recruiting….LSU has been able to get the country’s number one rated inside linebacker to flip from Oklahoma to the Fighting Tigers. Jacob Phillips of Nashville, Tennessee says he’ll sign with LSU on Wednesday. But the state’s top rated running back, Travis Etienne of Jennings, says he’ll sign at Clemson and play at the real “Death Valley.”