BY DEANNA B. NARVESON | Staff writer Louisiana’s DOGE: A task force facing criticism for meeting outside of public view is partnering with state auditors to help find waste in government spending, Gov. Jeff Landry announced Wednesday. The Fiscal Responsibility Program, created by the governor in December, will work with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor in its mission to eliminate unnecessary spending. Landry appears to be modeling the Fiscal Responsibility Program on the federal Department of Government Efficiency created by President Donald Trump and headed by business owner Elon Musk. Read the full story. Other options: Though officials’ discussions over the past couple of weeks have framed the city-parish’s financial options as choosing between police or the libraries, and the mayor’s plan or massive job cuts, some East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council members remain open to exploring alternative solutions to address the city's woes as it grapples with a $52 million deficit. Read the latest. Baton Rouge area parades: Haven't made it out to a Mardi Gras parade yet? No worries — there are eight more chances in the Baton Rouge area before the season wraps up. Temperatures look to be mild for all the celebrations, but there may be raindrops to dodge on Fat Tuesday. Check out the list here. | 