 BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer Economists say Louisiana's revenue outlook “is just a little bit stronger than expected,” so state lawmakers will have an extra lump of cash to use in the upcoming budget. “We’ll take anything we can get,” Sen. Glen Womack, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said of the updated projections. “However there’s a gumbo of things that’s still out — needing money.” The state House approved a package of spending bills and sent those to the Senate last week. Now, the Senate will have more money to spend as part of the package being negotiated by the two chambers. Read about where the extra funds may be allocated.
Speaking of extra money, included in the budget bill working its way through Congress is a provision that could increase the amount of money Louisiana receives from offshore oil and gas production — revenue that must be used for coastal protection and restoration. Estimates show Louisiana could see up to around $50 million extra per year over a decade. Read about the long process to make this happen.
Melvin Lee “Kip” Holden guided East Baton Rouge Parish for 12 years as mayor-president, and also represented Baton Rouge at the state capitol as a legislator for nearly two decades. On Wednesday, people came to pay their respects to the longtime public servant as he lay in state at City Hall. Read about what people said about the man "who'd rather just be called 'Kip.'" | 
