Governor John Bel Edwards addressed a joint session of the legislature this morning, calling on lawmakers to find the political courage to raise enough revenue during this special session to reduce cuts to state programs. Edwards says they cannot wait any longer to resolve the fiscal crisis…:
CUT 6 (12) “afford to wait”
Legislators have until midnight on June 23 to try and raise enough revenue to close a $600 million budget shortfall.

A West Monroe native and former astronaut is charged with murder following a crash that claimed the lives of two children in Alabama, according to authorities. They say 49-year-old James Halsell Jr. of Huntsville is suspected of being impaired and speeding when he collided with a vehicle with an 11-year-old and 13-year-old inside. The sisters were pronounced dead.

Several lawmakers are in a foul mood after failing to approve a construction budget. Ways and Means Chairman Neil Abramson says Senate changes to the spending plan made the bill unworkable and he didn’t bring it up for a vote in the regular session. Franklin Representative Sam Jones asked Abramson why not send the bill to a conference committee to resolve the issues…:
CUT 3 (12) “out of here”
The construction budget funds road projects, repairs to public buildings and improvement to state parks.

The LSU baseball team is hoping to get it together in the elimination game today today after a rough match-up last night against Rice in which the Tigers fell 10-6. They’ll face off again at 4pm to determine who will advance to the best of three NCAA Super Regionals.

A second special session is underway that’s been called to address a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall. Governor John Bel Edwards is asking legislators to raise revenues so the state can fully fund the TOPS program and hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured. Edwards is optimstic legislators can raise the necessary cash…
cut 10 (05) “…the future”
The governor’s call for the special session would allow legislators to reduce tax breaks for businesses and individuals, change individual income tax brackets and limit the itemized deductions taxpayers claim on their state returns.

But House Republican leaders, like Metairie Representative Cameron Henry, is skeptical on whether some of these proposals will actually generate the revenue that’s promised…
cut 5 (08) “…at this point”
The special session must end Thursday May 23rd at midnight.

UNO is in the process of building a new digital animation lab on campus. It’s big news because the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the number of jobs for multimedia arists and animators is growing substantially. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart says increased demand is due to the growing need for animation in TV, movies and other multimedia projects…
cut 13 (03) “…like that”
Rinheart says the school has secured a 94-thousand dollar grant to help make the animation lab a reality.

Natchitoches has unveiled plans to improve its riverfront. Mayor Lee Posey says they want to improve handicap accessibility, install new bathrooms, double the size of the stage on the river and add new landscaping. He says the project will cost four-million dollars and the city and private agencies will split the costs…
cut 15 (10) “…electrical department”
Posey says the improved riverfront area should be ready by the Festival of Lights in 2017.

The second special session of 2016 is underway and lawmakers are looking at their options to raise enough revenue to reduce cuts to state programs, like TOPS and hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured. Personal and corporate income taxes are an option for raising revenue, but Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says he is not okay with raising anymore taxes…:
cut 4 (09) “do that”
Senate President John Alario believes the legislature needs to raise about $450 million to ensure that TOPS, higher ed and safety net hospitals are adequately funded…:
Cut 6 (09) “the budget”
Governor John Bel Edwards is set to address a joint session of the legislature at this hour.

Natchitoches has unveiled plans for a Riverfront Improvement Project. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The University of New Orleans will soon have a new digital animation lab on campus. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart led the effort to secure a $94-thousand grant for the school’s new Innovation Lab. He says increased demand in this field is due to the growing need for animation in television, movies and other multimedia projects…:
Cut 13 (03) “like that”

This morning at 10am, Governor John Bel Edwards will be addressing a join session of the state legislature. This will kickoff the special session that was called to address a $600 million dollar revenue shortfall. Legislators have to pass a $4 billion construction budget that would pay for road work and improvements to public buildings and state parks. He isn’t happy the House failed to negotiate the construction spending plan during the regular session…:
Cut 9 (09) “the bill”
He says the budget passed in the regular session is in bad shape and revenues must be raised.

Plans have been unveiled for a Riverfront Improvement Project in Natchitoches. Mayor Lee Posey says says they hope to have everything ready in time for the Festival of Lights in November of 2017. He says there are lots of events on the riverbank, so this is a worthwhile project…:
Cut 16 (06) “really excited”

The University of New Orleans will soon have a new digital animation lab on campus. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart led the effort to secure a $94-thousand grant for the school’s new Innovation Lab. He says the lab will be equipped with computers, a 3D printer, motion capture equipment, and the software students need to complete all kinds of digital media projects..:
cut 12 (10) “digital cameras”

Its win or go home for the LSU Baseball team today after losing to Rice 10-6 last night to force a winner take all matchup in the Baton Rouge Regional. Coach Paul Mainieri says they just didn’t have it yesterday…:
CUT 1 (09) “different story”
First pitch is 4pm.

The second special session is underway, and Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on legislators to fix the state’s budget problems. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Senate President John Alario says he is not opposed to altering state income tax rates or removing exemptions, if it means all of the state’s priorities will be funded…:
CUT 7 (06) “it accomplished”
Lawmakers have also proposed reducing or eliminating some corporate tax exemptions.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says they are investigating the drowning death of a three year old in Terrytown. It’s reported it happened in a hot tub at an apartment complex.

The University of New Orleans will soon have a new digital animation lab on campus. UNO fine arts instructor Jeff Rinehart led the effort to secure a $94-thousand grant for the school’s new Innovation Lab, which will be open to all students working on digital media projects. Rinehart says the department is working toward creating a new media and animation degree…:
cut 11 (05) “digital animation”
Rinehart says the lab should be open to students by the 2017 spring semester.

The lineup has been unveiled for this year’s Voodoo Fest and features The Weekend, Arcade Fire and Tool. The VOODOO Music and Arts Experience will run Halloween weekend, October 28th thru October 30th.

Lawmakers are looking at their options to raise revenue to fill the budget holes, as the second special session of 2016 is currently underway. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Governor Edwards is set to address a joint session of the state legislature at 10 this morning. Edwards says revenues need to be raised the budget that was passed in the regular session is in bad shape…:
Cut 8 (11) “172 million”

Plans have been unveiled for a Riverfront Improvement Project in Natchitoches. Mayor Lee Posey says the project will update some infrastructure along the river and improve handicap accessibility…:
cut 14 (11) “about this”
Posey says they hope to have everything ready by the beginning of next year so it can hopefully be done in time for the Festival of Lights in November of 2017.

A Baton Rouge man is behind bars for allegedly strangling his wife to death following an argument. The Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Donald Germany contacted family members and confessed to the crime.

The 2016 regular session has ended with lawmakers failing to approve a construction budget for next fiscal year. House leaders didn’t like the changes made to the spending measure by the Senate. The stalemate over the construction budget bill will have to be resolved in the special session.

Governor Edwards has signed the Louisiana Family Caregiver Act into law, which requires hospitals to offer caregivers instruction and demonstration of medical tasks. Andrew Muhl, with AARP Louisiana, says this legislation will save the state money by reducing costly hospital readmissions, as family caregivers will be able to perform the tasks patients need…
cut 8 (10) “….be required”
Twenty-two states have similar legislation.

The special session to also address a $600 million dollar budget shortfall is underway. LSU economist Jim Richardson also serves as the chairman of the task force for long term budget reform. He says one option to raise revenue is to change the income tax brackets, which would impact everyone…
CUT 5 (08) “notice it”
The special session must end by midnight on Thursday, June 23rd.

The court has appointed a fiscal administrator for St. Joseph, which is needed to stabilize the Tensas Parish town’s finances. The governor’s director of communications, Richard Carbo, says this is an important step towards bringing clear, clean drinking water for its citizens…
cut 11 (10) “….projects underway”
Once the town’s finances are in order, St. Joseph will be eligible to access eight million dollars in state funding to repair the drinking water system.

One session comes to an end and another one begins at the State Capitol. Halen Doughty spoke with political analyst Clancy Dubos on what passed and what didn’t in the regular session…
voicer 5 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

State lawmakers also approved a 26-billion dollar spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. But with the state facing a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall, several areas of the budget are underfunded, like TOPS, public education, universities and hospitals.

A special session designed to raise revenues to close a 600-million dollar budget deficit begins at 6:30. A key bill to watch is House Bill 11, which would limit federal itemized deductions on income taxes. LSU economist Doctor Jim Richardson says this would mostly impact higher income taxpayers…
cut 4 (11) “…income brackets”

The Governor has signed the Louisiana Family Caregiver Act into law, which supporters say will provide critical help for families. Advocacy Director for AARP Louisiana, Andrew Muhl says this will assist the more than 660-thousand family members who help out an aging relative…:
CUT 6 (08) “more independently”
Muhl says this measure requires hospitals to offer caregivers instruction and demonstrations of medical tasks.

Lawmakers will begin a special session tonight at 6:30 pm to attempt to raise $600 million to close the budget deficit for next fiscal year. LSU economist Jim Richardson, also serves as the chairman of the task force for long term budget reform and says to raise that much money, lawmakers will likely have to alter personal income taxes….
cut 3 (11) “…do constituutionally”
Governor John Bel Edwards will address a joint session of the legislature at 10 AM tomorrow.

The Louisiana Family Caregiver Act has been signed into law. Advocacy director of the AARP Louisiana, Andrew Muhl, says the measure requires hospitals to offer caregivers instruction and demontrations of medical tasks…
cut 7 (07) “…post hospital stay”
Muhl says this measure should reduce costly hosptial readmissions as family caregivers will be to perform the tasks the patients need.

A fiscal administrator has been appointed for St. Joseph, which the governor’s office says is a significant step towards bringing clear drinking water to the Tensas Parish town. The governor’s communications director Richard Carbo it’s been a priority for John Bel Edwards since he took office…
cut 10 (07) “….finish line”
A fiscal administator is needed to get the town’s finances in order, so they can receive state funding to fix their drinking water system, which is currently producing brown looking water.

Authorities say a man who was urinating along Interstate 10 in St. Charles Parish started a chain of events that led a Houma man being killed and two others injured including a State Trooper. Trooper Melissa Matey says charges are pending against Louis Hernandez of Meridian, Mississippi…
cut 14 (05) “….emergency purpose”
A 42-year-old from Little Rock was critically injured and the unidentified trooper suffered minor injuries.

A second special session for 2016 begins tonight at 6:30 PM and lawmakers will look at changes to income taxes as they try to close a 600-million dollar shortfall for next fiscal year. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (29) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

Legislators are also finishing up their work on the regular session, which must end by 6:00 tonight. A bill making it out of both chambers today would create electronic driver’s licenses. It would allow drivers to open an app on their phone and show their driver’s license to law enforcement.

Governor Edwards has signed the Louisiana Family Caregiver Act into law, which requires hospitals to offer caregivers instruction and demonstration of medical tasks. Andrew Muhl, with AARP Louisiana, says this legislation will save the state money by reducing costly hospital readmissions, as family caregivers will be able to perform the tasks patients need…
cut 8 (10) “….be required”
Twenty-two states have similar legislation.

A State Trooper is recovering after his patrol car was struck by an alleged drunk driver. Trooper Melissa Matey says it happened early Sunday morning in St. Charles Parish on the Bonne Carre Spillway…
cut 13 (06) “…reckless operation”
Matey says the Trooper was on the scene of a fatal wreck that involved another suspected drunk driver.