Lawmakers return to the capitol today to begin the regular session, just days after the special session failed to find a resolution for a one-billion-dollar budget shortfall. LAPolitics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says the backbiting and harsh words slung around between legislators will have an impact. Alford says they need to work together to consider over 1,000 bills for this session…
cut 6 (07) “…Medicaid services”
Teacher tenure will also be discussed in the regular session. Currently, teachers must be rated “highly efficient” for five of six years to qualify. The bill would lower the requirement to “effective: proficient”. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says only 20 percent of teachers in a given year qualify for “highly efficient” status. He says his bill makes the requirements for tenure more reasonable.
Cut 11 (09) “you did.”

LSU president F. King Alexander is standing behind his decision to institute a zero tolerance policy on hazing in the Greek system. In the wake of the death of Maxwell Gruver the school commissioned a group to come up with a plan. Alexander says the restrictions on alcohol are to protect students he says the Greek system is a valuable asset for the university
Cut 3 (11) “graduation rate.”

New Orleans police say they arrested a 20-year-old man who allegedly threatened to shoot several people at UNO. The threat forced the university to cancel classes up until 5 PM today. The suspect has been identified as Nicholas Heard and he lives on campus. He allegedly made threats against UNO to two other students.