New Orleans officials on Wednesday abandoned their pursuit of a $125 million loan to shore up the city’s budget, and appeared to fend off - at least for now - the potential state takeover of city finances.

But the moves left questions about how the city would rectify a $160 million deficit and make payroll moving forward, as the City Council and Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration appeared to be on separate pages about how to proceed.

A state Fiscal Review Committee that was due on Wednesday to consider recommending that a state agent take over New Orleans’ finances canceled its meeting, after city leaders withdrew their request for permission to sell $125 million in short-term revenue bonds, essentially government payday loans. The State Bond Commission, which was due to consider tha

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