Despite passing several bills that raise taxes, including a penny increase to the state’s sales tax, the state is looking at a 30-million dollar shortfall for this fiscal year and as large as an 800-million dollar shortfall for next fiscal year. Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras…
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Governor Edwards says there’s a chance we could need another special session.

The governor has declared a state of emergency for 16 parishes as an enormous storm is terrorizing north Louisiana. US Representative Ralph Abraham says hes seen over a hundred homes flooded and one person lost their life so far. He says they are getting an unbelievable amount of rain….
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Abraham says he’s talked with FEMA about federal aid for flood victims.

Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and one of his top lieutenants have been indicted on civil rights violations for their alleged involvement in the beatings of five jail inmates. The indictment claims Ackal directed officers to beat the inmates in the jail’s chapel in 2011. Eight former employees of the sheriff’s office have already pleaded guilty to related federal charges.

Today the Louisiana black bear is formally removed from the endangered species list. Halen Doughty has the story…
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Heavy rainfall is likely to continue for the rest of the week throughout the state. Emelie Gunn has more on what we can expect…:
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House Speaker Taylor Barras says he’s just as disappointed as the governor that the special session ended with a $30 million dollar shortfall still around for this fiscal year, and $800 million for next. But Barras says raising taxes on people and businesses is not easy…:
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Senate President John Alario said it was the worst closing to a session he’s ever seen.

A man from Shreveport is behind bars cops say is accused of being responsible for the death of an 18 month old child. They say a hospital reported the toddler, Kayden Stanley, died from what appeared to be injuries sustained from the intentional use of force. Shreveport PD say the investigation and evidence led to the arrest of the boyfriend of the child’s mother, 22-year-old Jonathan Turk. He is charged with second degree murder.

After many years of effort by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana Black Bear will be officially removed from the endangered species list today. Former LDWF Secretary Robert Barham says Louisiana now has at least two independent populations of the black bear that are viable enough to sustain themselves, which is why they are no longer endangered…:
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Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards is not happy with the state legislature as the special session still ended ended with a $30 million dollar hole this budget year, and $800 million for next. He says another special session is possible in mid-June, but he wishes it was settled now…:
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Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras says he’s disappointed too, but it’s not easy to vote on higher taxes on individuals and businesses.

Heavy rain is expected to move into central and southeast Louisiana over the next few days with totals by Saturday morning averaging 6-10 inches. State Climatologist Barry Keim says our biggest risk with this weather is flash flooding…:
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He says the worst of this to come is expected more in the southeastern part of the state.

The teddy bear will be officially removed from the endangered species list today . Robert Barham was the Secretary of LDWF who oversaw efforts to grow the black bear population…:
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He says at one time there were less than 100 black bears.

Louisiana uses the most demeaning language on social media than any other state in a study done by rental finder website Abodo. Spokesman Sam Radbil says they analyzed for negative language against a person’s race, gender, sexual orientation and weight…:
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He says New Orleans also had the third highest use of anti-black slurs.

Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for several parishes in north Louisiana which continue to deal with flooding. The National Weather Service at Shreveport forecasts more rain for the region until at least Saturday. LDWF and the National Guard continue search and rescue. It’s reported that an elderly man drowned Wednesday trying to cross a flooded road in Bienville Parish.

Lawmakers failed to solve the state’s fiscal crisis as there’s still a deficit of 30-million dollars for this fiscal year and a 800-million dollar shortfall for next fiscal year. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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Entergy last reported that about 7700 people were without power, with the bulk of those in Jefferson and Calcasieu parishes. The storm that is about to hit central and southeast Louisiana, prompted Governor John Bel Edwards to issue a state of emergency for several parishes in north Louisiana as they deal with flooding and, in some cases, mandatory evacuations. The National Guard and LDWF are conducting search and rescue missions.

The black bear will be formally removed from the endangered species list today during a news conference in Tensas parish. Robert Barham, former Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries who oversaw efforts to grow the black bear population, says the animal was once on the brink of extinction…:
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Barham says Louisiana now has at least two independent populations of the black bear that are viable enough to sustain themselves, which is why they are no longer endangered.

Louisiana uses the most “derogatory and prejudiced language” on social media, according to a study by the rental listing website Abodo. Spokesman Sam Radbil says they analyzed tweets that contained at least one derogatory word…:
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He says one in 87 tweets in Louisiana were considered derogatory, putting us at No .1.

Despite a flurry of votes in the final minutes of the special session, including a bill that increases the state’s four-cent sales tax by a penny, Louisiana is still facing a 30-million dollar deficit for this fiscal year and a shortfall that could be as much as 800-million dollars next fiscal year. Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards says lawmakers could have done a better job…:
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Edwards says another special session is possible in mid-June.

Entergy reports about 5400 people statewide are without power this morning, including 3,000 in East Baton Rouge Parish. Heavy rainfall will continue to pound Louisiana into Saturday morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the northern part of the state was hit with thunderstorms and floods, but now the system should shift down into central and southern Louisiana today and Friday:
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Today the original teddy bear, Louisiana’s black bear, will be formally removed from the endangered species list during a press conference at the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge. Halen Doughty has the story…:
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The special session to address the state’s 940-million budget deficit for this fiscal year has finally come to a close. Lawmakers have been working for several weeks on a combination of budget cuts and revenue raising measures. Jeff Palermo reports from the Capitol…

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Cleco has asked state regulators for another hearing on the utility company’s proposed sale to a foreign investment group for almost $5 billion. Public Service Commission chairman Clyde Holloway says he is not in favor of another hearing.

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Cleco’s attorney says the commission’s vote was flawed because it wrongly decided on the merits of the transaction. Holloway says the commission and an administrative law judge has already heard enough testimony from the company.

Numerous homes in north Louisiana are under water as the result of a colossal storm that has dumped nearly a foot of rain. Bill Davis, with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, says as flood waters rose during the night, they began evacuating people….

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Ouachita parish is also getting hit hard by the storm. Glenn Springfield with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says evacuations have been underway throughout the parish since last night.

Lawmakers are going down to the wire on agreeing to a plan that would stave off big cuts to higher education and healthcare. The special session called to address a 940-million dollar deficit this fiscal year and a 2-billion dollar deficit next fiscal year must end at 6pm. House Speaker Taylor Barras gave this pep talk to legislators earlier today.

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The negotiations have been taking place all day behind closed doors. There are three primary bills that legislators are trying to agree on. One of the bills is an increase to the four-cent sales tax. Another bill makes cuts to the current budget, and Jeremy Alford, with la-politic-dot-com, says the other proposal would take away a four-cent state sales tax exemption.

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Governor John Bel Edwards is set to hold a press conference shortly after the 6pm end to the special session.

Edwards has signed a bill into law that increases the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 22-cents. Beginning April 1^st the tax on a pack of cigarettes will be $1.08, which will generate 11-million dollars in revenue for the state this fiscal year. Consultant with the Invest in a Healthy Louisiana Campaign Randy Hayden says the legislature should’ve increased the tax on all tobacco products not just cigarettes. He says millions of dollars have been left on the table.

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Hayden says there was no possibility that the legislature could over tax cigarettes during this session. He says when states increase the cigarette tax they are increasing revenue, while decreasing health care costs in the future.

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Lawmakers have agreed to increase the alcohol tax as well.