A special session to address the state’s budget crisis begins Sunday, and state lawmakers have already started filing bills. One of the first proposed bills would increase the state tax on a pack of cigarettes another 22-cents per pack. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says he’ll push for the tax increase but it is still important to make cuts to the current budget.

CUT 5 (06) “across the state.”

Governor John Bel Edwards will address the people of Louisiana about the state’s budget deficit on Thursday. The address will air at 6:30 pm on all major television and radio stations. ULM Political Science professor Joshua Stockley says this kind of public address from a governor is rare.

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Drive up ashes are becoming increasingly popular for people on Ash Wednesday. LSU Religious Studies professor Michael Pasquier says that some churches may have to accept that the members of the congregation have busy schedules.

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Louisiana’s budget problems are still getting worse. The deficit for this fiscal year has increased from 750 million dollars to 870 million dollars, according to the Revenue Estimating Conference. The legislature’s chef economist Greg Albrect says the state’s tax collections are being impacted by the lagging economy.

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Governor John Bel Edwards will give a special televised address to the people of Louisiana tomorrow night. Emelie Gunn has more on what the governor will say…

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Louisiana’s budget problems are getting worse. A special session that starts on Sunday and attempt to come up with a rebalanced budget that takes into account the huge shortfall. The administration’s chief economist Manfred Dix says the oil industry is not the only sector of our economy that’s struggling

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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. Last year lawmakers increased the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 50-cents. If the proposed bill passes, the tax will go into effect on April 1. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says the state needs the additional money from the tax this year as Louisiana faces a huge deficit.

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Drive up ashes for people on this Ash Wednesday are becoming increasingly popular in our fast paced lives. LSU Religious Studies professor Michael Pasquier says, even though some people may be critical of the mobile ashing, this is something more churches are considering to cater to their members’ schedules…

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Governor John Bel Edwards will publicly address Louisiana residents about the state’s historic budget deficit. The Thursday night address will air at 6:30 on television and radio stations. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says the governor is making an effort to restore the fiscal foundation of the state, without making major cuts to higher education and health care.

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Louisiana’s budget problems are getting worse. The Revenue Estimating Conference has revised the deficit for this fiscal year from 750-million to 870-million dollars. Low oil prices are to blame for the decline in revenue, but that’s not the only issue. The legislature’s chief economist Greg Albrecht says corporate tax collections are also weak…

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One of the first proposed bills for the special legislative session would raise the state tax on a pack of cigarettes to $1.08, an increase of 22-cents per pack. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says this tax will generate more state revenue and could save money on long-term healthcare if the tax encourages people to quit smoking.

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Busy people looking to get their ashes on this Ash Wednesday now have a much faster option. Mobile ash distribution sites are becoming increasingly popular. LSU Religious Studies professor Michael Pasquier says that these drive up ashes are a response to fast-paced lifestyles…

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Louisiana’s budget problems are getting worse. The Revenue Estimating Conference has revised the deficit for this fiscal year from 750-million to 870-million dollars. The legislature’s chief economist Greg Albrecht says Louisiana’s lagging economy is impacting state tax collections…:
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The budget deficit for next fiscal year has swelled past two billion dollars.

It’s Ash Wednesday and many Christians will receive a cross on their forehead made of Ashes to mark the beginning of Lent. But instead of attending a service more churches are giving busy individuals the opportunity to receive their ashes in the parking lot….
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That’s LSU Religious Studies professor Michael Pasquier.

State lawmakers have started filing bills for the special session to address Louisiana’s current budget crisis. Halen Doughty reports…
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Governor John Bel Edwards will deliver a prepared speech tomorrow night that will be carried on TV and radio stations. ULM Political science professor Joshua Stockley says the governor will use this forum to tell voters difficult decisions will have to be made to solve the state’s budget problems…
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The governor’s address will take place at 6:30 tomorrow night.

Governor John Bel Edwards is delivering a historic statewide address tomorrow. Emelie Gunn has a preview…:
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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…:
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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…:
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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…
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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…:
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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…:
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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…:
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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…:
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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…:
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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…:
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State lawmakers have started filing bills for the special session to address the state’s current budget crisis. Halen Doughty reports…:
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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.