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. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey voted against it, because health care and higher ed are underfunded…:
Cut 6 (06) “less than 50-percent”
Because of a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall, the budget also contains cuts to public schools, universities, prisons and child welfare programs.

A man from Texas is behind bars in Louisiana on many charges in both states related to a high speed chase and the attempted murder of police officers. State Police says they were notified by Texas authorities that a man driving a stolen vehicle was about to cross into Louisiana on I-10 and cops were in pursuit. 29-year-old David Mitchel of Baytown Texas allegedly tried to run intentionally run over two different officers attempting to evade the suspect. He was eventually stopped and taken to the Calcaiseu Parish jail.

A bill that puts tighter regulations on pet stores that sell live animals is headed to Governor Edwards desk to be signed into law. Alicia Haefele with the Louisiana SPCA says, under the measure, pet stores would be required to keep records on their dogs and cats for at least two years…:
cut 11 (10) “its owner”
She says they are trying to stop puppy mills from operating and selling sick puppies to pet stores.

The mugshot of the day goes to a 30-year-old Baton Rouge woman who allegedly ran stop signs while roaring down a road drunk at speeds reaching more than 100 miles per hour. Police in the capitol city say Courtney Queen was spotted ignoring numerous stop signs and sped away as officers tried to pull her over. Queen eventually crashed and was booked into parish prison on many charges including DWI, speeding, running a stop sign, reckless operation, careless driving, driving with an expired license and hit and run.