State lawmakers have approved a 26-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year that does not fully fund the TOPS scholarship program and hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the spending plan is not perfect, but they can address gaps in the budget in a special session that begins tonight…:
cut 4 (04) “is a priority”
Because of a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall, the budget also contains cuts to public schools, universities, prisons and child welfare programs.

The National Hurricane Center reports the tropical depression in the southern central Gulf of Mexico has now quickly formed into a tropical storm called Colin and is moving north at 12 mph with 40 mph winds. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Gulf Coast from Georgia and northeast Florida.

The number of Louisiana homes at risk for storm surge damage has increased since last year, according to CoreLogic. Senior hazard risk scientist for CoreLogic, Tom Jeffery says that has a lot to do with new homes being built along the coast…:
Cut 13 (07) “about everywhere”
According to CoreLogic, last year there were just over 760-thousand hones at risk in Louisiana, and that number has grown to over 800-thousand.

Police in Baton Rouge have arrested a man they say led them on a high-speed chase in a stolen Mustang that reached over 130 miles per hour, with his 7 year old niece in the back seat. They say 30-year-old Hollis Tate was identified as the suspect in the robbery, but when cops tried to pull him over he sped off and raced down Florida Blvd at 132 miles per hour. Tate faces many charges.