Baton Rouge news

• Roads closed in Tangipahoa Parish due to severe weather

  10-03-2016 20:46
  
  TANGIPAHOA - Tangipahoa Parish's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness closed several roads due to high water and they may also have high water signs posted.The Governor has declared a state of emergency for the entire state Thursday night, as flash floods, thunderstorms, and heavy rain pass through the state.The List of road closures include:Graham RoadStraughan Nursery RoadSchool RoadSpring RoadEasley RoadMixon RoadFriendship RoadOld Uneedus RoadGlatas RoadEast Lewist
  
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• Roads closed, homes evacuated in Tangipahoa Parish due to severe weather

  10-03-2016 20:46
  
  TANGIPAHOA - Tangipahoa Parish's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness closed several roads due to high water and they may also have high water signs posted.The Governor has declared a state of emergency for the entire state Thursday night, as flash floods, thunderstorms, and heavy rain pass through the state. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office said that emergency crews have been making water rescues throughout the night and the calls were still rolling in at 3 a.m.
  
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• There was nothing 'special' about Louisiana's legislative session: JR Ball

  10-03-2016 19:06
  
  The special session of the Louisiana Legislature is over, ending in a sales-tax-increasing flurry and some much ado over what turned out to be nothing. Thank the heavens for sine die.
  
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• Louisiana Senate accuses House of playing games in final minutes of special session

  10-03-2016 18:54
  
  "I want to apologize to you for what happened here tonight," Alario said. "That's not the way to conduct the people's business."
  
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• CATS to offer Shamrock Shuttle for St. Patrick's Day parade

  10-03-2016 18:40
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Capital Area Transit System will offer its Shamrock Shuttle for people going to the St. Patrick’s Day parade this weekend.The shuttle will depart from the I-110 Overpass Area downtown where riders can park their cars for free. It will operate from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and take riders to a drop off point near the parade route by City Park.The shuttle will cost $4 round trip and will be on sale the day of the parade. Only cash will be accepted and exact chang
  
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• Carson to endorse Trump Friday in FL

  10-03-2016 18:34
  
  WASHINGTON - Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is expected to endorse his former rival Donald Trump at a news conference Friday morning.That's according to two people with knowledge of the upcoming endorsement who spoke anonymously because it's not been made public ahead of the formal announcement.One of the people say Carson was torn between Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, but opted to support Trump because of a rumor circulated ahead of the Iowa caucuses by the Cruz campaign that Carson
  
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• Ascension Parish pumping stations ready for duty

  10-03-2016 18:28
  
  GONZALES - Public schools in Ascension Parish are already cancelled, and the parish has its pumps up and running as they are trying to keep the water from rising.Three different pumping stations in Ascension Parish are responsible for keeping floodwaters from sinking residents and their property. Each pump is capable of processing over 400,000 gallons of water every minute, according to the Office of Emergency Preparedness.Over the next few days, it is likely that hundreds of thousands of gallon
  
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• Apple planning product launch on March 21

  10-03-2016 16:54
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - Apple has announced its next product launch event will be on March 21.
      
  The tech giant provided no details, in keeping with its usual effort to build anticipation before it announces new products. An invitation sent to reporters said only "Let us loop you in." Apple's headquarters is located on Infinite Loop Road in Cupertino, California.
      
  Analysts and tech blogs are anticipating a new, 4-inch iPhone, a smaller iPad Pr
  
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• Low-lying areas packing up before possible flooding

  10-03-2016 16:38
  
  MAUREPAS - Some people in low-lying areas in Livingston Parish spent Thursday prepping for heavy rains as dark clouds loomed overhead.Just five months ago, flood waters stuck around for days in the Maurepas area in Chinquapin Landing near the Amite River. For James Dodson, it's a race to pack up before the water gets inside his home."I knew living out here you would get water sooner or later. It just so happens that we get it more often than not now you know," he said.Many people on the waterfro
  
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• Over 33,000 La. Walmart workers to get pay raises

  10-03-2016 16:07
  
  NEW ORLEANS - More than 33,000 Walmart associates in Louisiana will receive a pay raise by their Mar. 10 paycheck. The increases are a part of the company’s two-year $2.7 billion investment in higher pay, better training and education opportunities for its workers.The Mar. 10 paycheck for eligible Louisiana associates will include a share of more than $5.4 million of bonuses.
  “This new pay structure is already improving the lives of Walmart associates,”  Ga
  
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• Louisiana budget shortfall could still top $50 million

  10-03-2016 16:06
  
  BATON ROUGE - Tax bills were rushed through in such frenzy in the final minutes of the special legislative session that the governor, lawmakers and their financial advisers were still trying Thursday to sift through the implications.This year's budget could be out of balance anywhere from $30 million to more than $50 million. But that figure remained unclear as the Legislature's fiscal analysts tallied up estimates of how much the sales tax increases passed in the session's closing minutes would
  
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• Schools in several parishes closed Friday

  10-03-2016 15:17
  
  With several roads closed due to heavy rainfall and storms still rolling through, multiple parishes have announced their public schools will be closed on Friday.St. Helena, Livingston, Ascension, St. James, East Feliciana, West Feliciana and Tangipahoa parishes have announced they'll remain closed due to flooding.Private schools and day care centers closing Friday are: Christian Life AcademyDenham Springs Christian Academy
  MLK Christian Academy
   Democracy Prep
  Amite Christian Academy
  Ea
  
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• 5 qualify for run to fill state Rep. Ronnie Edwards' seat

  10-03-2016 15:15
  
  BATON ROUGE - Five candidates have qualified to run for the state House seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Ronnie Edwards.
      
  According to the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, the candidates are: consultant and adjunct college instructor Tyra Banks Sterling, attorney Edmond Jordan, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Vereta T. Lee, attorney Victor Woods Jr. and Albert White, whose occupation was not immediately available.
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• Man charged in connection with deadly 2014 shooting on Citadel Drive

  10-03-2016 15:10
  
  BATON ROUGE - Police reported the arrest of a man accused in a deadly shooting and killing that happened on Citadel Drive in December of 2014.21-year-old Christopher Thornton, who was already in jail for an unrelated incident prior to his arrest, now faces charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery.The arrest comes after BRPD detectives were able to collect evidence and gather witness testimony that connected Thornton the murder of 22-year-old Christian Allen on Dec. 18 of 2014 in
  
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• LSU TE DeSean Smith tweets he's not academically ineligible

  10-03-2016 15:09
  
  Says injury has kept him out.
  
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• Sandbags available, waterways closed to recreational boat traffic in Livingston Parish

  10-03-2016 14:59
  
  LIVINGSTON PARISH - Parish officials in Livingston say all waterways will be closed to recreational traffic starting Thursday at 3 p.m. until further as water levels are on the rise due to heavy rainfall.Sandbags will be available to parish residents at the following locations:Fire District 1 - Station #2
  32401 Hwy 43
  Albany
  Fire District 2 - Station #1
  32280 Terry St.
  SpringfieldFire District 2 – Station #2 (Killian)
  31447 Hwy 22
  SpringfieldFire District 2 - Station #3 (Lizard Creek)
  
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• Death toll raised to 3 in Louisiana bad weather

  10-03-2016 14:38
  
  BATON ROUGE - State officials say a total of three people have died in Louisiana in connection with severe weather hitting the state. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the updated death toll Thursday.
      
  Officials late Wednesday evening said a 63-year-old man died when a car was swept off a flooded road.    
  Edwards did not give details of the updated death toll. But Mike Steele, a spokesman for the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and
  
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• High water leads to road closures in Ascension Parish

  10-03-2016 14:33
  
  DONALDSONVILLE - Ascension Parish sheriff's deputies say several roads are already closed due to high water that has risen as heavy rainfall began Thursday afternoon.The current closures are located in West Ascension Parish and are as follows:St. Patrick Street at Williams Street
  Iberville Street at St. Vincent Street
  Clay Street at Church Stree
  Calhoun Street at Lee Street
  East Ascension roads:
  Holton Road
  John West at Highway 931 Deputies said the following roads have high water but a
  
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• Area universities announce closures as severe storms move into BR

  10-03-2016 14:15
  
  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Community College and Southern University have announced closures as severe weather impacts the southeastern part of the state.LSU has announced all classes starting at 3 p.m. are canceled, and the university will close at 3:30 p.m Thursday. The university says Campus Transit and LSU Dining Halls will maintain their regular hours of operation, but all other campus offices will be closed. The LSU Ag Center offices will remain open, ac
  
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• Ascension Schools cancel Friday classes

  10-03-2016 14:10
  
  GONZALES – School leaders in Ascension Parish announced that all after school activities scheduled for Thursday and classes Friday will be canceled.The schoolboard’s decision to cancel activities follows Jay Dardenne’s announcement that state offices in 36 parishes will close early Thursday and remain closed Friday.This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WBRZ News 2 online and on Facebook and Twitter for more updates as new information becomes available.Permalink|
  
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• Ascension Schools cancel after school activities, await decision on classes

  10-03-2016 14:10
  
  GONZALES – School leaders in Ascension Parish announced that all after school activities scheduled for Thursday have been canceled.A spokesperson for the Ascension Parish School board said that officials will make a decision about whether to cancel school Friday in the next few hours.The schoolboard’s decision to cancel activities follows Jay Dardenne’s announcement that state offices in 36 parishes will close early Thursday and remain closed Friday.This is
  
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• LSU's Anthony Jennings given release to transfer

  10-03-2016 14:07
  
  BATON ROUGE - LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings has given his release and will transfer to another school to finish his collegiate football career, according to head coach Les Miles on Thursday.LSU expects Jennings to remain at the school until he graduates over the summer after spending three years with the Tigers. He posted a 9-4 record at the starting quarterback position, and started in LSU’s bowl win over Iowa in the 2014 Outback Bowl.“Anthony did a lot of really good thi
  
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• US appeals court: N. Carolina can print 'Choose Life' plates

  10-03-2016 13:50
  
  RALEIGH, N.C. - A federal appeals court says North Carolina can issue specialty vehicle license plates that express anti-abortion sentiment while refusing to also produce tags expressing pro-abortion rights views.The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that North Carolina can issue "Choose Life" license plates. The General Assembly in 2011 passed legislation allowing the anti-abortion expression while rejecting requests to also issue vehicle tags saying "Respect Choice" or similar a
  
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• What happened? Lawmakers sifting through what passed, failed

  10-03-2016 13:27
  
  BATON ROUGE - Tax bills were rushed through in such frenzy in the final minutes of the special legislative session that the governor, lawmakers and their financial advisers are still trying to sift through the implications.
      
  This year's budget could be out of balance anywhere from $30 million to $50 million. But that figure remained unclear Thursday.
      
  The Edwards administration and lawmakers are negotiating with the chemical industry,
  
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• Google provides 1st peek at next Android operating system

  10-03-2016 13:25
  
  SAN FRANCISCO - Google is previewing the next version of its Android operating system two months ahead of schedule in an effort to get the upgraded software on more mobile devices.
  The new rendition initially is being recommended only for mobile app makers and will only work on a few smartphones and tablets.
  Google usually hasn't released test versions of Android until its annual developers' conference. The event begins May 18 this year.
  The upgraded software, known as "Android N" for now, offer
  
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• State offices closed in many parishes following severe weather

  10-03-2016 13:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - Due to severe weather impacting the region, state government offices in many parishes closed at 1 p.m. Thursday, according to Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne.The offices will remain closed through Friday, Mar. 11. The list of parishes affected due the closure include:Ascension
  East Baton Rouge
  East Feliciana
  Iberville
  Lafourche
  Livingston
  Orleans
  Plaquemines
  Pointe Coupee
  St. Bernard
  St. Helena
  St. James
  St. John the Baptist
  St. Tammany
  Tangipahoa
  Terrebonne
  Wa
  
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• Governor proclaims State of Emergency, state offices closed in many parishes following severe weather

  10-03-2016 13:08
  
  BATON ROUGE - Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for the state, Thursday evening.This proclamation is necessary in order to make resources ready and able to assist citizens affected by severe weather.The Governor and Lieutenant Governor will travel to Puachita, Caddo, and Bossier parishes Friday to evaluate storm damage and the state's response.Due to severe weather impacting the region, state government offices in many parishes closed at 1 p.m. Thursday, according
  
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• New privacy rules expected for Internet providers

  10-03-2016 13:01
  
  NEW YORK - The federal government is proposing new privacy rules that would make Internet providers like cable and phone companies ask your permission in some instances before using and sharing your data.The Federal Communications Commission will vote on the proposal at its meeting on March 31. That would kick off months of meetings and comments before any final rules are adopted.The rules are likely to face criticism and possible lawsuits from Internet service providers.The FCC also wants rules
  
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• Obama: GOP contest 'a circus' and 'a crackup'

  10-03-2016 12:50
  
  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says Donald Trump's positions aren't different from those of the other Republican presidential candidates - he's just more provocative in talking about them.Obama weighed in on the 2016 presidential campaign during a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Obama says Trump's positions on immigration and other issues aren't that different from those of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz or Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.Obama calls the GOP primary a "circus" an
  
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• National Guard help north Louisiana evacuations

  10-03-2016 12:44
  
  BOSSIER CITY - The Louisiana National Guard is assisting local authorities in north Louisiana with high water rescues, which became necessary after the region was inundated with heavy rain.
      
  Guard spokesman Rebekah Malone says guardsmen have evacuated 361 people from homes in Bossier, Ouachita and Morehouse parishes since Wednesday morning.
      
  Malone said the Guard is using trucks that can travel though water 20 to 30 inches deep.
  &
  
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• Traffic gridlocked as storms pass through Baton Rouge

  10-03-2016 12:43
  
  BATON ROUGE - As severe weather passes over Baton Rouge, drivers traveling on the interstates can expect to have serious traffic delays.DOTD officials say a stalled tractor trailer is blocking the left lane on I-10 west on the Mississippi River Bridge. Congestion from that incident has backed up traffic to College Drive.The right lane on I-12 West was blocked near Essen Lane due to a vehicle recovery. DOTD says all lanes are open on I-12 at that location, but congestion remains at Airli
  
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• US secretary says Louisiana black bear off threatened list

  10-03-2016 12:17
  
  BATON ROUGE - U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell says the bear that inspired teddy bears is coming off the list of threatened species. She said partnerships with private landowners helped bring back the kind of forests the bear needs.
  She spoke Thursday at the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge, which is at the heart of the Louisiana black bear's domain. Reporters elsewhere were able to listen in by telephone.
  Some of the people who've been working for decades to bring back the subspecies s
  
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• States re-establish national identity theft task force

  10-03-2016 12:03
  
  BATON ROUGE - Secretaries of State from more than a dozen states are re-establishing the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Task Force on Business Identity Theft, an initiative dedicated to tackling the spread of identity-related fraud.The original task force ended its work in 2012. Last month, NASS Business Services Committee recommended re-establishing the task force after hearing reports about a wave of identity theft crimes against businesses.North Carolina Secretary of Stat
  
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• Governor addresses severe weather response

  10-03-2016 11:58
  
  BATON ROUGE - Governor John Bel Edwards received an update Thursday on the state's efforts to deal with widespread flooding in North Louisiana and the preparations underway for severe weather along the I-10 corridor.Gov. John Bel Edwards is holding a UCG mtg at GOHSEP concerning the current flood crisis. #lawx @LouisianaGov pic.twitter.com/o3AZ73uZXw— Louisiana GOHSEP (@GOHSEP) March 10, 2016Edwards met with GOHSEP leaders at the state's emergency operations center within State Police
  
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• Judge seals interrogation recordings of couple accused of killing sex offender

  10-03-2016 11:45
  
  BATON ROUGE - A judge sealed recordings of detectives' interrogations of two high-profile murder suspects.The judge agreed with the pair's defense attorneys Thursday morning at a hearing that was scheduled after the WBRZ Investigative Unit filed a public records request asking the court to release the interviews. Following the public record request, attorneys for Jace Crehan and Brittany Monk filed their court documents seeking the sealing of records related to the case.Crehan and Monk are accus
  
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• 1 dead, 2 injured following head-on crash on I-55 near Hammond

  10-03-2016 11:30
  
  HAMMOND - State Police say a man was killed and two were injured in a head-on crash on I-55 south of I-12 near Hammond Wednesday night.The crash happened around 6:30 p.m. 24-year-old Eduardo Munoz-lachino, of Tickfaw, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Tangipahoa Parish Coroner.Munoz-lachino was driving a pickup truck southbound when he entered into the median and crossed into the northbound lanes. His truck hit the front of an SUV driven by 63-year-old Walter Shockley, of Springfield, and
  
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• More rain and flooding to come Friday

  10-03-2016 11:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - Authorities are asking residents throughout the state to be prepared for more heavy rain on Friday.
  Drivers should avoid flooded areas, or areas known to flood easily.Several parishes have canceled school and closed their offices for Friday. Southern University, Southeastern Louisiana University, BRCC, and River Parishes Community Colleges are closed Friday because of the weather.There is a 100% chance of rain on Friday, and will most likely last through early Saturday morning. One
  
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• Safety priority when considering closing school

  10-03-2016 11:01
  
  WEST BATON ROUGE - Several school systems and universities across the area have canceled class Friday. Ascension, Livingston, Saint Helena, Tangipahoa, East Feliciana and Saint James Parish public schools are all closed.East Baton Rouge Parish is closed, but the closure was already scheduled as a workshop day for teachers. BRCC, Southeastern and Southern have canceled class Friday, too.The decision to cancel relies heavily on the safety of students and staff that have to travel to a specific loc
  
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• Red Cross sets up shelter at Bossier Civic Center

  10-03-2016 09:53
  
  BATON ROUGE - Dozens of people have taken up shelter at the Bossier Civic Center in northwest Louisiana, where heavy rain has forced evacuations and caused flash flooding for more than a day.
      
  The Red Cross set up the shelter for people who left their homes in the Bossier City area.
      
  Colleen Morgan, shelter manager, says about 50 people are in the shelter now and more are on the way from the area south of Bossier City, where several s
  
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• 3,500 homes in north Bossier City evacuated

  10-03-2016 07:16
  
  BOSSIER CITY- Officials in north Louisiana have evacuated 3,500 homes in Bossier City as a precaution as Red Chute Bayou approaches the top of its levee.
      
  National Weather Service Meteorologist Jason Hansford says the bayou may top the levee or be breached.
      
  Hansford say heavy rain continued across much of north Louisiana on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning with another 3 inches.
      
  He says a wea
  
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• March 10, 2016 Morning News Pop

  10-03-2016 07:04
  
  Here are today's top stories:Man drowns, car stranded in flood water in Bienville Parish New app for smartphones allows citizens to request city services Special session ends: A breakdown of what passed in final hours Updates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• Orleans Parish deputies find, re-arrest escaped inmate

  10-03-2016 05:07
  
  NEW ORLEANS- An inmate who escaped authorities by walking away from a municipal court security line has been found and arrested again.
      
  The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office says authorities found 38-year-old Lionel Trumble at a New Orleans residence Wednesday morning with the help of the U.S. Marshals. Officials say Trumble still had leg shackles on his ankles.
      
  Trumble was arrested on charges of simple escape and criminal damage to pr
  
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• New Orleans, Baton Rouge could get over a foot of rain through Saturday

  10-03-2016 01:14
  
  A flash flood watch is in effect for southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi from 6 a.m. Thursday through noon Saturday.
  
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• Louisiana budget gap only partially filled; state $800M short in next cycle

  10-03-2016 01:08
  
  It's likely another special session on the state's financial crisis will be needed, since lawmakers didn't raise enough money to fill the financial hole.
  
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• Louisiana budget gap only partially filled; state $500M short in next cycle

  10-03-2016 01:08
  
  It's likely another special session on the state's financial crisis will be needed, since lawmakers didn't raise enough money to fill the financial hole.
  
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