There’s a lot of uncertainity surrounding TOPS based on the governor’s proposed budget that calls for a 62-percent cut in state funding for the scholarship program. Under current rules, if no more money is allocated to TOPS then only students with an ACT of 27 or higher would be eligible. Higher Ed Commissioner Joseph Rallo hopes this will not deter college students from going to school….
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House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry believes the state can allocate more money for TOPS without raising revenues.

Debate takes place this morning in a House committee that will make it more difficult for a local government to remove a confederate monument. Former state senator Elbert Guillory, who is an african american, supports the legislation…
cut 6 (06) “…aside”

The Louisiana House approves a measure that would double the fine for not wearing a seatbelt. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger’s measure increases the fine from 25-to 50 dollars and believes this increase could help with compliance…
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The measure passed on a 62-34 vote and now moves to the Senate.

Louisiana has broken a record for a fourth consecutive year for the number of tourists that visited the state. In 2015, Louisiana welcomed almost 29-million visitors, who spent over 11-billion dollars. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the state needs to do whatever it can to keep those numbers going up…
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Nungesser credits the people at the department of tourism, who do a great job bringing people to the state.