Student body leaders called on the state legislature to fully fund TOPS. Under the governor’s current budget proposal, the scholarship program is only 70% covered. Northwestern State University student president John Pearce testified before the House Appropriations Committee and says he’s heard a lot of concerns from students…:
Cut 10 (07) “extremely worried”
This year TOPS students had to pay over half of their spring tuition for the first time ever.

DCFS says sex trafficking cases reported in Louisiana rose by 25-percent last year. Child Welfare Consultant Walter Fahr says of that number, 45-were juvenile victims….:
Cut 13 (09) “urban areas”
The report identified 447 victims statewide. Fahr says the report is beneficial because it helps to determine sex trafficking hot spots.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state should not get involved in the city of New Orleans’ decision to remove confederate monuments. He made the remarks on his monthly call-in radio show…:
Cut 7 (10) “have weighed in”
Two different bills have been filed seeking to protect confederate monuments around the state. New Orleans is attempting to hire a contractor to take down Civil War era structures.

DOTD reports that work continued through the night on I-10 in West Baton Rouge Parish where a fiery and deadly crash involving 18-wheelers shut down the roadway for about 6 hours Wednesday. State Police say the wreck involved 5 vehicles, including the big rigs, and 7 people. One person was killed and the others sustained minor to moderate injuries.