BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer In the final days of the Louisiana legislative session, controversial and closely-watched bills are barreling towards their final votes. Here's the biggest news from yesterday: A bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth passed the Senate and is likely headed to Gov. John Bel Edwards' desk. Here's what the bill would do, why it was intensely controversial, and the latest on whether Edwards plans to veto it. After weeks of sometimes heated debate, the House and the Senate appear to have struck a deal on the budget — and that means millions of extra dollars on infrastructure, local projects and hospitals. Here's the deal and what it means for Louisiana. Any third grader who isn't reading at grade level could be halted from advancing to third grade, now that a new bill has passed. It's a major step in a massive push to address widespread reading problems that many blame for Louisiana's low academic peformance. There was a three-hour delay, then three innings of stranded runners, and then wham — Dylan Crews hammered the ball over the fence, lighting up the dugout and firing up the crowd. Here's how LSU won a convincing victory against Oregon State to take another step to the College World Series. Growers of tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables beware: There's a deadly new kind of bacteria on the loose, and they are bad news. Here's a rundown from an LSU plant specialist on what the bacteria are, what to look for, and how to keep it away from your plants. | 