It’s expected Governor John Bel Edwards will call a special session to address a budget shortfall that’s been projected to be at 313-million dollars. Edwards says a special session is needed to avoid major cuts to health care and higher education. We asked House Speaker Taylor Barras if there was an appeitte to raise taxes again to address the shortfall…
cut 5 (06) “…the gaps”
The special session is expected to take place next month.

State Senator Troy Brown of Ascension Parish said today that he will not resign even though he was convicted for a second time this week on a domestic abuse charge. There has been talk among senators to seek Brown’s expulsion from the upper camber. But in Brown’s statement, he believes that would be an excessive punishment and that only eight states have ever expelled a senator.

Governor John Bel Edwards travels to Rome to discuss ways to combat human trafficking with the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Thousands of long-distance runners are in Baton Rouge this weekend for the Louisiana Marathon….
cut 15 (07) “…our race”
That’s the marathon’s marketing director Danny Bourgeois, who says the Louisiana Marathon begins Sunday at 7 AM near the State Capitol. There’s a 5 K race and a marathon for kids tomorrow.

A special session is likely next next month, now that the Revenue Estimating Conference has determined the state’s budget shortfall is 313-million dollars. The deficit is the result of lagging tax collections. Economists say the state has been losing jobs monthly since August 2015. House Speaker Taylor Barras says unfortunately, state agencies are in for another round of painful cuts, because the revenue picture is not getting better….
cut 6 (05) “…as a result”
Barras says they also intend to use money from the rainy day fund to also close the budget gap.

State Senator Troy Brown issues a statement that says he will not resign as a result of his recent domestic abuse convictions. There has been talk among senate members about expelling Brown. The lawmaker from Ascension Parish believes that would be a severe punishment, but he’ll respect their wishes.

Long distance runners from across the state and around the state have converged on Baton Rouge for this weekend’s Louisiana marathon. Spokesperson Danny Bourgeois says the course takes runners through downtown, along the Mississippi River, through the LSU campus and historic neighborhoods…
cut 14 (10) “…laught”
Bourgeois says the race is a qualifer from the prestigous Boston Marathon.

Racing will continue at the New Orleans Fair Grounds this weekend, even though the entire track is under a quarantine in an effort to stop the spread of an equine herpes virus. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says horses in barns not exposed can keep racing, while exposed horses under quarantine are monitored for at least two weeks…
cut 11 (04) “…with these horses”
A two-year-old thoroughbred gelding was humanely eutanized right after Christmas, because of the virus.

State leaders heard grim budget news today, which likely means a special sesssion next month. Jeff Palermo has the story…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

And earlier this afternoon Governor Edwards released a statement regarding the bad budget news. Edwards says a special session will prevent deep budget cuts in the areas of higher education and health care. The governor says he’ll develop a plan with legislative leaders that solves this budget crisis in a responsible way.

Governor John Bel Edwards leaves today for a weeklong trip to Italy where he’ll meet with experts on how to combat human trafficking and he’s also hoping to visit with the Pope. The governor says he will pay out of pocket for himself and his wife to travel to Rome…
cut 9 (07) “….are going”
State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson and a couple of lawmakers will accompy the governor on the trip.

Three more horses at the New Orleans Fair Grounds have tested positive for the equine herpes virus and so the entire race track is under a quarantine. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says nine horses have been put in isolation and an infectius disease specialist from Kentucky has been called in to contain the spread of the virus…
cut 12 (10) “….to horses”
He says horses in barns not exposed can keep racing.

A special session looks like it might happen again this year as the Revenue Estimating Conference projects the mid year deficit to be about $313 million dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says lawmakers have to give input so any cuts can be spread around..:
CUT 4 (10) “fiscal year”
The governor says these projections highlight the need for comprehensive tax reform in the upcoming session.

Meanwhile Edwards is headed to Italy where the topic will be the human trafficking epidemic. He’ll be joined by State. Police COl Mike Edmonson, some lawmakers and the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy who want to open a shelter for victims of sex trade…:
CUT 7 (10) “human trafficking”
They will meet with the pope on Wednesday.

Almost 10,000 people are expected to be in Baton Rouge this weekend for the biggest running event of the year in the state: The Louisiana Marathon. That’s according to spokesman Danny Bourgeois. He says over the last 5 years, they’ve seen runners attend from here and beyond.:
Cut 13 (06) “very exciting”
The Quarter Marathon & 5K takes place Saturday morning, then the big event and half marathon begin early Sunday.

A group of south Lafourche businessmen and former LSU and Tarpon football players announce they will hold a special day to honor Tiger coach Ed Orgeron on February 17th; so his home town can celebrate him being named the new leader of the Bayou Bengals. They event will be held at the Larose Civic Center. During the event, Coach O’s jersey from the 1977 State Champion SLHS football team will be retired.

State legislators will likely be called into a special session next month to deal with a budget deficit. The Revenue Estimating Conference has determined the midyear shortfall is around 313-million dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says legislative input will be needed to address a budget gap of that magnitude…:
Cut 3 (04) “as possible”
Governor Edwards can make cuts to the budget, but state law only allows in certain areas.

The governor will be in Rome over the next few days with State Police Col Mike Edmonson and others where the topic will be the human trafficking epidemic. Louisiana has been recognized as the leading state in the fight against the crime. Edwards says Rome is leading the way putting an end to this illegal trade of humans, and they hope to learn new ways to assist victims…:
Cut 8 (09) “that lifestyle”
Edwards is also planning to meet with Pope Francis Wednesday.

Flu cases are on the rise as four out of every 100 people visiting the doctor in Louisiana is diagnosed with Influenza. Emelie Gunn has more.:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Revenue Estimating Conference is meeting at this hour to decide the size of the state’s midyear budget shortfall. So far a pretty picture is not being painted as lawmakers had hoped last month that tax collections would look better by now, but actually they look worse. Governor John Bel Edwards says whatever is determined today will decide whether another special session is needed. But But Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says there’s not an appetite at the Capitol to raise any more revenue, but they do have a plan…:
Cut 16 (08) “at this point”
Edwards estimates a shortfall greater than $300 million would require a special session to resolve.

4th District Congressman Mike Johnson has been invited by Congress to serve on another committee. Earlier this week Johnson was named to House Judiciary; today the US House of Representatives welcomed the Republican from Louisiana to the Natural Resources Committee.

The entire New Orleans Fair Grounds race track is under a quarantine in an effort to stop the spread of an equine herpes virus. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this quarantine has been implemented out of an abundance of caution…:
Cut 10 (08) “under control”
He says nine horses of the two-thousand at the track are in isolation and three of them recently tested positive for the equine herpes virus.

The crawfish harvest is looking decent for 2017, but not as good as last year. LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Specialist Mark Shirley says it depends how the weather goes in the coming months…:
CUT 25 (11) “little bit more”
He says even though we aren’t seeing as great of a crop as last year, we’re still on par with the long term average.

At this hour the Revenue Estimating Conference is meeting and they’ll determine the size of the midyear budget shortfall. Governor John Bel Edwards says the size of the deficit will determine if a special session is needed…:
Cut 13 (12) “extremely painful”
But Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says if the deficit is not too large, he believes the governor can make the necessary budget cuts on his own…:
Cut 15 (11) “as well”

Later today, Governor Edwards along with a delegation from Louisiana that includes State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson will travel to Italy to discuss human trafficking with the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy, which has a shelter in Louisiana for juvenile victims of human trafficking.

In the past week, Louisiana has seen an increase in the number of flu cases. That’s according to Medical Director state of the Immunization Program Dr. Frank Welch who says four out of every 100 people who visit the doctor have the flu. He says if you got a flu shot, you should be protected…:
cut 4 (10) “this year”
Welch says it’s rare, but if you do contract the flu virus after getting a shot, it’s usually a very mild case.

A 44-year-old north Louisiana man is behind bars facing a murder charge after Shreveport police say he was responsible for the death of an 11-month-old boy. Corporal Marcus Hines says Frederick Clark was initally charged with second-degree curelty to a juvenile…
cut 10 (10) “…the child off”
That child, Mar’sharrd Ross, passed away earlier this week and the charges against Clark were upgraded to second-degree murder.