A now-banned new component in synthetic marijuana known as Mojo and Spice is believed to be responsible for sending more teenagers to the hospital in Louisiana. Michelle Southern reports.

cut 2 (32) “reporting”

The search continues for two people authorities say were aboard a small plane that went down last night in Lake Pontchartrain. Coast Guard officials say they found a debris field in the lake near the position of the last radar contact with the missing plane but cannot confirm that debris belongs to the plane. The flight was reportedly a student instructor flight.

Both candidates in the US Senate runoff are working to show voters they can get things done in Washington. Senator Mary Landrieu called for a vote on the Keystone XL Pipeline in the current lame-duck session and soon after Republican House leaders announced lawmakers would vote today on a similar bill sponsored by Bill Cassidy. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says while these moves probably don’t mean much to voters, they certainly don’t hurt…

cut 9 (14) “things”

Cassidy has been promised a seat on the Senate Energy Committee if elected.

Three constitutional amendments approved by voters last week leaves higher education more vulnerable to budget cuts. Jan Moller, head of the Louisiana Budget Project, says there are concerns the state is facing a revenue shortfall and cuts will need to be made…

cut 15 (06) “budget cycle”

He says less state funding for higher ed, means higher tuition costs.