Governor John Bel Edwards was hopeful that legislators would find a way to come up with nearly one-billion-dollars to cover the loss of a one-cent sales tax on June 30^th. Today, he was sadly disappointed as both the House and Senate informed him they were at a stalemate and agreed to finalize the special session two days early. The Governor in a press conference was already hinting at another special session…

(CUT 26) (11) “the 4^th.”

Metairie Republican Representative Cameron Henry says the Governor called this special session without much forethought. Henry says to put the blame for this failure on the Democratic Party…

(CUT 28) (11) “black caucus.”

The Corps of Engineers is recommending opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway just outside of New Orleans this Thursday as Mississippi River levels are expected to steadily rise after several weeks of intense rains in the Midwest. Colonel Michael Clancy says the Mississippi is getting close to topping the New Orleans levee system.

Cut 15 (08) “designed for”

The river is currently at 14 feet. Once it reaches 15 feet, recreation and work near the levees will be restricted.

Another cold front will bring back cooler temperatures to Louisiana this week. Pierre C. Shadeaux, Louisiana’s rodent weather forecaster predicted an early end to winter back on ground hog day, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says the nutria’s prediction was premature.

Cut 12 (10) “of year.”

Temperatures will rebound somewhat by this coming weekend.

After over two weeks of bickering, name calling and passing the buck, The Louisiana legislature on both sides informed the Governor they were going home without a plan in place to raise taxes to bridge a one billion dollar budget deficit. New Orleans Democratic Representative Walt Leger says he is truly disappointed they couldn’t find a way to end the stalemate…

(CUT 29) (06) “consequences are.”

Governor Edwards has said if no compromise was found, TOPS education funding, health care and several other services would be drastically cut. Baton Rouge Democratic Representative Denise Marcelle said all this session did was cost a lot money…

(CUT 30) (09) “political games.”

The one-cent sales tax will fall off the books the end of June, causing the shortfall.

Now that it’s over, Metairie Republican Representative Cameron Henry says the Governor called this special session without much forethought and blames Edwards’ own party on not getting the budget gap fixed.

(CUT 28) (11) “black caucus.”

Political analyst Clancy Dubos says the same partisan divides that tanked the February Special Session will still exist going forward.

(CUT 27) (11) “of uncertainty.”

Once the regular session starts next Monday March 12^th, no tax bills will be able to be discussed. Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to speak on the failure of the special session later today.

The special session came to an end with legislators unable to come to an agreement on how to generate revenues to address a looming one-billion dollar shortfall. The special session must end by midnight Wednesday night, but Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland says it’s disappointing they couldn’t come to an agreement on a plan to address the fiscal cliff…

cut 5 (05) “…the public”

This is the 15th day of the special session and each state cost Louisiana 50 to 60-thousand dollars a day.

The rising Mississippi River has led to a recommendation by the U-S Army Corps of Engineers to open the Bonnet Carre Spillway to take the pressure off the New Orleans levee system. The spillway diverts river water into Lake Ponchartrain and Colonel Michael Clancy says it could see an extended tour of duty….

cut 14 (10) “….longer”

Cameron Parish authorities have new information on the severed head found in a ditch alongside Highway 27. Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray”.

Rayne Police say they plan on arresting several suspects involved in the shooting of an 11-year-old girl. The child was shot in the leg and was treated and released at a local hospital. Authorities say the girl was an innocent bystander in a gunfight involving multiple people on Sunday afternoon.

There’s a lot finger pointing going as the special session to address a billion dollar shortfall is close to collapsing. Democrats are crying foul on promises made and promises broken. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds is the chairman of the Democratic Caucus…
cut 4 (11) “…things changed”
But Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras says the governor was unwilling to pass any spending reduction measures and was insistent on just tax increases to replace the expiring sales taxes.

Parts of Louisiana could see some strong thunderstorms as a cold front invades the bayou. State Climatologist Barry Keim says expect the weather to take a turn this afternoon.
Cut 10 (08) “high winds.”
The strong storms will not reach south Louisiana until late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

The Corps of Engineers is recommending opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway just outside of New Orleans this Thursday as Mississippi River levels are expected to steadily rise after several weeks of intense rains in the Midwest. Colonel Michael Clancy says if the spillway is not opened, New Orleans could get swamped.
Cut 13 (10) “unnecessary risk”
The Bonnet Carre is expected to be operated at half capacity.

Cameron Sheriff Ron Johnson says investigators have determined a severed head found last week along Highway 27 is that of a woman between the ages of 25 and 40 years old. They also say there was no apparent trauma to the skull. It appears there was a lot of dental work that had been performed and Johnson hopes it will be easy for forensics at the LSU FACES lab to identify the victim through dental records…
Cut 8 (06) “this point.”

The curtain has all but fallen on the 2018 First extraordinary legislative session with nothing happening. Jim Shannon has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

______________________________________

Cameron Parish authorities have new information on the severed head found in a ditch alongside Highway 27.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray”.

_________________________________________________

The special session is all but over as far as lawmakers are concerned. Time limitations have eaten up any real possibility of banging out a deal to plug the nearly billion dollar budget hole that opens up July 1st. Republican Jack McFarland of Jonesboro…

Cut 3 (:11) “going on.”

Democrats are crying foul on promises made and promises broken. Representative Gene Reynolds is the chairman of the Democratic Caucus.

Cut 4  (11) “things changed.” 

Republican Representative Jack McFarland was noticeably disturbed by the way things played out but more concerned about the damage going forward in the upcoming regular session..

Cut 5  (05 ) “the public.”

Reynolds says he plans on taking a different approach when the regular session rolls around because the old one isn’t working.

Cut 6 (10)  “plan together.”

__________________________________________________

The Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office has released the preliminary findings in connection with a partly decomposed severed head found south of Hackberry on Highway 27 last week. Sheriff Ron Johnson says they know it’s a 25-40 year old female with dark colored hair, with no trauma to the skull. They believe it wasn’t in the marshy area very long…

Cut 7 (09)  “the head.”

It appears there was a lot of dental work that had been performed and Johnson hopes it will be easy for forensics at the LSU FACES lab to identify the victim through dental records…

Cut 8 (06) “this point.”

Johnson says they know it’s more than likely not a missing persons case from Cameron Parish. He says they need more information before moving forward…

Cut 9 (09) “are released.”

_________________________________________________________

Parts of Louisiana could see some strong thunderstorms as a cold front invades the bayou. State Climatologist Barry Keim says expect the weather to take a turn this afternoon.

Cut 10 (08) “high winds.”

A half inch to two inches of rainfall is expected, which is raising concerns in north Louisiana after record breaking rain totals across north Louisiana for February. Along with some nasty storm systems, Keim says temperatures will plummet.

Cut 11 (12) “south Louisiana.”

Pierre C. Shadeaux, Louisiana’s rodent weather forecaster predicted an early end to winter back on ground hogs day, but Keim says the nutria’s prediction was premature.

Cut 12 (10) “of year.”

_________________________________________________________

The Corps of Engineers is recommending opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway just outside of New Orleans this Thursday as Mississippi River levels are expected to steadily rise after several weeks of intense rains in the Midwest. Colonel Michael Clancy says if the spillway is not opened, New Orleans could get swamped.

Cut 13 (10) “unnecessary risk”

The Bonnet Carre is expected to be operated at half capacity.

The spillway diverts river water into Lake Ponchartrain, and Clancy says it could see an extended tour of duty.

Cut 14 (10) “for longer”

The river was expected to rise more slowly, and later in the month, but has swelled rapidly. Clancy says the Mississippi is getting close to topping the New Orleans levee system.

Cut 15 (08) “designed for”

It’s possible the special session will conclude tonight without a resolution to the one-billion dollar shortfall that will hit the state on July 1st. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Reynolds says the House could never get on the same page on how to increase revenues to make up the loss of a billion dollars in temporary sales taxes that will expire at the end of June…
cut 6 (10) “…plan together”
It’s possible another special session will occur before June 30th to address the fiscal cliff.

High temperatures are in the 70s today, but a strong cold front will bring our high temperatures back in the 60s. Low temperatures will be in the 30s Wednesday and Thursday for north Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 12 (10) “…time of air”

Cameron Parish authorities have new information on the severed head found in a ditch alongside Highway 27. Kelley Ray has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray”.

A man wanted for second-degree murder out of Iberia Parish has been arrested in Houston. Authorities say the U-S Marshal’s Violent Offender Task Force apprehended Akeam Daniels. He’s accused of fatally shooting 29-year-old Courtland Hall, who was dating the mother of his child. The incident resulted in an Ambert Alert involving their two month old child, but the infant was found unharmed.

The curtain has all but fallen on the special session with nothing happening. Jim Shannon has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

In a statement, Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras blames the governor for failing to reach a compromise. Barras says Edwards’ solution was to raise 994-million dollars in taxes, instead of using a combination of spending reform measures and tax increases. The governor plans to have a press conference 30 minutes after the House adjourns later today.

The Cameron Parish Sheriff’s office released more information today on the severed head that was found on Highway 27, south of Hackberry. Initial forensics testing has determined it’ s a woman between the ages of 25 and 40 years old. The victim also had extensive dental work done. Sheriff Ron Johnson says they hope the LSU FACES lab can provide more clues…
cut 9 (09) “…are released”
The severed head was found by a road crew last week.

Temperatures are in the mid to upper 70s today, but a strong cold front will move through today bringing a marginal risk for severe weather. State Climatologist Barry Keim says once the cold front moves through, cooler air will move in….
cut 11 (12) “….south Louisiana”
The next chance for rain after today is Saturday.

The special session is all but over as far as lawmakers are concerned. Time limitations have eaten up any real possibility of banging out a deal to plug the nearly billion dollar budget hole that opens up July 1st. Representative Jack McFarland of Jonesboro
cut 3 (11) “….going on”
Democrats are crying foul on promises made and promises broken. Mindent Representative Gene Reynolds is the chairman of the Democratic Caucus….
cut 4 (11) “…things changed”
It is possible that legislators can vote to end the session tonight. The governor has called a press conference 30 minutes after the House adjourns.

The Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office has released the preliminary findings in connection with a severed head found south of Hackberry on Highway 27 last week. Sheriff Ron Johnson says they know it’s a 25-50 year old female with dark colored hair, with no trauma to the skull. They believe it wasn’t in the marshy area very long…
Cut 7 (09) “the head.”
It appears there was a lot of dental work that had been performed and Johnson hopes it will be easy at the LSU FACES lab to identify the victim through dental records.

Site Selection magazine ranks Louisiana eighth on a per capita basis, among states with the most new and expanded facilities in 2017. It’s the ninth consecutive year Louisiana has landed in the top 10.