There’s two days left in the special session and legislative leaders say they are close to agreeing on a plan to close a 304-million dollar budget deficit. The proposal calls for the use of 99-million dollars in rainy day money and the Senate agreeing to a House bill that would give the legislature more flexibility to take money away from statutory dedications in future years.

If you want better roads, the state needs an extra $700 million dollars a year. That’s according to DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson. Speaking before the Baton Rouge Press Club, Wilson says Louisiana hasn’t adjusted its transportation revenue stream in nearly 30 years…:
CUT 4 (11) “due to inflation”
He says one way to increase revenue is to raise the gasoline tax.

Covington Representative Paul Hollis is working on legislation to recall politicians when the public becomes dissatisified with them….
cut 11 (10) “…it’s impossible”
Hollis says it’s his plan to bring a bill to the legislature in the regular seassion that would require signatures from a certain percentage voters who participated in the election of that official, instead of 33-percent of the number of registered voters.

56-year-old Vickie Williams-Tillman is being called a hero for jumping on the back of a suspect who was fighting with a Baton Rouge police officer over the weekend. Officer Billy Amie says Williams-Tillman is a true hero, but her actions shouldn’t have been needed…
cut 9 (07) ‘…the world”
Authorities say the man who was attacking the officer is 28-year-old Thomas Bennett.

The parent company that owns Burger King says it’s buying Louisiana-based Popeyes for $1.8 billion dollars. Restaurant Brands has been taking over well-known fast-food chains they feel would do well expanding, and the purchase of Popeyes seems to fit that trend. The chicken chain has more than 2,600 locations globally.

One of the major issues Louisianians harp on is the condition of the state’s roads and bridges, and the severe traffic problems. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says they need an extra $700 million dollars and simply raising the gas tax a few pennies wouldn’t be enough. He says for every penny on the gas tax, DOTD gets about $30 million:
Cut 6 (11) “manage expectations”
Wilson says he is confident there will be a bill proposed in the regular session that looks at ways to increase funding for the state’s transportation needs.

A 30-day ban on crabbing is in effect throughout the state, so what does this mean for Louisiana’s seafood industry? Chalin Delaune (Shal-in Duh-lawn) with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board says there’s always been a closed season, but it’s typically just for two weeks while deserted traps are removed from the waters. He hopes this longer closure will revitalize Louisianans’ love for blue crabs…:
Cut 13 (08) “for em”
He says the blue crab population needs a boost and this ban should help.

The Baton Rouge Police Department recognized the woman who assisted one of their officers during an altercation with a criminal. 56-year-old Vickie Williams-Tillman jumped on the suspect, 28-year-old Thomas Bennett, because she knew Officer Billy Amie needed help…:
Cut 8 (08) “took action”
Amie said he’s very thankful for his hero’s help. The suspect involved faces a host of charges.

If Louisianans want better roads and bridges, DOTD will need an additional $700 million a year. That’s according to Secretary Shawn Wilson, who says one of the recommendations on the table is to raise the gas tax. He says currently the average Louisianan only pays $108 a year in gas taxes…:
Cut 5 (11) “always make”
He says Louisiana hasn’t adjusted its transportation revenue stream in nearly 30 years.

A lawmaker from Covington says he plans to bring a bill for the regular session that would make it easier to recall a politician. Representative Paul Hollis feels instead of 33% of a jurisdiction’s signatures required, it should be based on how many people voted. Secretary of State Tom Schedler is open to altering the formula for removing corrupt leaders from office…:
Cut 12 (09) “hasn’t been any”

A 56-year-old woman is being hailed as a hero after jumping on a man who was attacking a Baton Rouge police officer….:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said the All-Star weekend in New Orleans was huge for the city. He says the event generated millions of dollars for The Big Easy, and pointed out that it’s incredible they were able to host such a major sporting occasion even as parades rolled and tornado disaster recovery underway in New Orleans East. An estimated 300,000 people flocked to New Orleans this weekend.

Could lawmakers be getting closer to agreeing on a deal that would close the state’s $304 million dollar budget deficit? The special session must end tomorrow at midnight, but both House and Senate leaders have said they are almost there, though nobody likes it. At issue is how much to use of the state’s Rainy Day Fund. A plan is on the table that would use between $90-99 million in the savings account; and cuts to agencies range between about $80-90 million.

State Representative Paul Hollis has a plan to make it easier to recall a politician, and he plans to bring it up in the regular session. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (26) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

If you want transportation projects to kick off in Louisiana, the state needs and extra $700 million dollars. That’s according to DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson. Speaking before the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday, Wilson says Louisiana hasn’t adjusted its transportation revenue stream in nearly 30 years…:
CUT 4 (11) “due to inflation”
He says one of the ways recommended to come up with the money is to raise the gas tax, but lawmakers seem to have an appetite to invest in roads, but none to raise taxes.

A 30-day ban on crabbing is in effect throughout the state, so what does this mean for Louisiana’s seafood industry? LDWF is hoping to raise the blue crab population. Chalin Delaune (Shal-in Duh-lawn) with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board says there are other options out there…:
CUT 15 (05) “pretty strong”
He says crabbers may not be happy about this, but it will be good for the industry in the long run.

DOTD needs an additional $700 million annual investment for the state’s transportation needs, according to Secretary Shawn Wilson.:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Covington Representative Paul Hollis plans to propose a bill for the regular session that would make it easier to remove a politician from office. He says it currently takes signatures from 33-percent of a jurisdiction’s registered voters…:
Cut 10 (08) “in that election”
There’s currently an effort to recall Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni after a sexting scandal with 17-year-old boy.

The 56-year-old woman who tackled a man who was attacking a Baton Rouge Police officer on Sunday morning has been deemed a hero. Vickie Williams-Tillman was driving when she saw 28-year-old Thomas Bennett and a police officer in a physical altercation. She says she’s just so happy that she was able to help Officer Billy Amie..:
Cut 7 (09) “needed help”
Williams Tillman jumped on the attacker’s back until more cops arrived to help. Amie says he’s extremely grateful for his hero.

US Senator Bill Cassidy announces he’ll host five town hall meetings in South Louisiana to discuss flood relief for local residents, beginning today. They’ll take place in Livingston, Jefferson, Assumption, Lafourche and St. Martin Parishes.

State legislators can’t take a break from budget negotiations. They only have until midnight on Wednesday to figure out how to close a 304-million dollar midyear deficit. Baton Rouge Republican Representative Rick Edmonds does not support the Senate’s bill that uses 99-million dollars from the rainy day fund…
cut 13 (10) “….last resort”

Governor John Bel Edwards calls the use of 99-million dollars in rainy day money an acceptable compromise.

State Police is looking into a report by the Advocate newspaper that shows four state troopers made unnecessary stops to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas while driving to a law enforcement conference in San Diego. L-S-P Superintendent, Colonel Mike Edmonson, says he’ll make sure this kind of behavior doesn’t happen again….
cut 8 (09) “…for it”

Do you feel politically stressed? A report from the American Psychological Association finds, no matter what party you are, anxiety over political matters is at an all time high. Michelle Many (Main-eee) with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans finds the principle factor in this deals with social relationships:
Cut 9 (11) “on the individual”

She says they mostly see that this is due to constant social and other media viewing, and the best way to calm do is to avoid that type of activity.

The search is ongoing for three escaped Avoyelles Parish inmates. Sheriff Doug Anderson says 31-year-old Blake Reine, 23-year-old Joseph James, and 22-year-old Andre Steward escaped from a detention center near Bunkie on Saturday night.
Cut 3 (11) “from there”

The House Democratic Caucus says they support the Senate’s plan to use 99-million dollars in rainy day money to address the state’s 304-million dollar midyear shortfall. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds is the chairman of that caucus….
cut 12 (09) “…just can’t
House Republicans are pushing a plan to use 75 million dollars in rainy day money.

Alleged misuse of State Police funds for a trip to a training conference in San Diego has led to an internal investigation…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

If Louisianans want better roads and bridges, the Department of Transportation will need an additional $700 million a year. That’s according to DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson, who says Louisiana is one of only five states that hasn’t adjusted its transportation revenue stream in nearly 30 years. He says that’s why Louisiana’s roads are the 8th worst in the nation.
Cut 28 (11) “due to inflation”
Wilson says there is an appetite at the capitol to build new roads, but not to pay for them. There’s been talk of raising the gas tax by a few pennies, but Wilson says it wouldn’t be enough to cover the needs around the state…
Cut 29 (11) “manage expectations”
Funding for roads will be discussed during the regular session in April.