Governor John Bel Edwards is delivering a historic statewide address tomorrow. Emelie Gunn has a preview…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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…:
CUT 8 (07) “negative territory”
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…:
CUT 5 (06) “across the state”
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…
cut 1 (05) “in the season”

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…:
CUT 9 (11) “the reforms”
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…:
CUT 4 (05) “as possible”

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…:
CUT 14 (07) “are making”
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…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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…:
CUT 7 (08) “for the year”
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…:
CUT 12 (05) “congregations”

State lawmakers have started filing bills for the special session to address the state’s current budget crisis. Halen Doughty reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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…:
CUT 6 (10) “state recession”
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…:
CUT 3 (05) “as well”
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…:
CUT 15 (09) “a rush I think”
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
CUT 9 (06) “can’t make it”
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…:
cut 11 (10) “the head”
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.

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
CUT 9 (06) “can’t make it”
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…:
cut 11 (10) “the head”
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. It will also be carried on all of our radio stations. 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.

It’s ash Wednesday as thousands of Christians around the state will mark the start of the 40-day Lenten season by receiving crosses of ash on their forehead to symbolize penance. Churches around the state are holding services and some have set up mobile ash distribution sites so people can get their ashes without attending mass.

The Lenten season is also a busy time of the year for the seafood industry and Halen Doughty reports this could be one of the best for crawfish in Louisiana…
voicer 1 (30) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson is expected to formally announce he’s entering the race to represent Louisaina’s fourth congressional district. The republican gained name recognition for pushing a religious freedom bill in the legislature last year. Political analyst Elliot Stonecipher says Johnson will do well with voters in Bossier, but Caddo Parish is a different story…
cut 14 (09) “…from Caddo”
Stonecipher expects a lot of candidates to get in this race.

The website Roadsnacks has released its top ten most boring cities in Louisiana and Central, which is located in East Baton Rouge Parish, is number one. Roadsnacks spokesperson Nick James says they looked at city population to come up with their list…
cut 10 (10) “….older folks”
Rounding out the top ten were cities like Slidell, Zachary, Oakdale, Covington and Denham Springs.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany introduces legislation designed to make sure President Barack Obama’s proposed 10-dollar tax on a barrel of oil never passes Congress. Boustany says this tax would create another level of problems for the state’s struggling oil and gas industry…
cut 6 (10) “…good idea”
The President is pushing the oil tax as a way to fund a 21st century clean transportation system.

Fishermen that harvest wild crawfish out of the Atchafalaya Basin like what they are seeking this season. Sherbin Collette says the mudbugs are bigger because high waters flushed out many swamps that have not been fished in years….
cut 8 (06) “…about that”
Collette expects an agressive crawfish market as more people are getting into the industry, because of job losses in oil and gas.

Louisiana’s revenue forecasts will be revised today and that means the state’s budget crisis could get worse. If the data shows less revenue coming into the state than anticipated, then the state’s 750-million dollar shortfall for this fiscal year and 1-point-nine billion dollar deficit for next fiscal year could grow.

Central is the boringest city in Louisiana, according to a ranking complied by the website Road Snacks. Emelie Gunn has more on the factors that go into the ranking…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

State representative Mike Johnson from Bossier City is expected to formally announce he’s running for US Representative in Louisiana’s fourth congressional district. Political analyst Elliot Stonecipher says several people are expected to get in this race and it will all come down to money…
cut 13 (08) “….relatively wealthy’
Republican Trey Baucum, a Shreveport cardiologist announced his candidacy last week.

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…
cut 7 (07) “…in the basin”
Collette says high waters flushed out many swamps that have not been fished in years.

Louisiana’s budget situation could get even worse when the revenue estimating conference meets at the state capitol today. The state is already looking at a 750-million dollar shortfall for this fiscal year and a 1-point-nine billion dollar deficit next year and the shortfalls could grow because less than anticipated revenues are coming into the state’s coffers.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany files legislation that looks to block President Barack Obama’s proposed 10-dollar tax on a barrel of oil to help fund a new 21st century clean transportation system. Boustany says it’s not right that the president is trying to fund his environmental agenda on the backs of hard-working Louisiana families in the oil & gas sector…
cut 5 (09) “….at its worst”
Both of Louisiana’s Republcian US Senators say the President’s oil tax has no chance of passing.

We find out later today if the state’s budget situation is even worse than previously thought. The Revenue Estimating Conference meets to get a revised forecast on how much money the state is expected to collect in taxes. Governor John Bel Edwards has hinted that the 750-million dollar shortfall for this fiscal year could grow.

State representative Mike Johnson, a republican from Bossier City, is expected to announce his candidacy today in the 4th Congressional District race…
voicer 3 (31) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

Republican Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany introduces legislation that seeks to block President Obama’s proposed $10 tax on a barrel of oil to pay for a new 21st century clean transportation system. Boustany says a new tax on oil will hit an industry that has already struggled over the past year…
cut 4 (09) “…hurting now”
Other Republican Congressional members have also said Mr. Obama’s tax proposal is dead on arrival.

The party is all over as the carnival season came to a close at midnight last night and the Lenten season is underway. The New Orleans Police Department says they confiscated 30 guns near parade routes over the last 12 days.