The budget committee met today and voted in favor of a 20% pay increase for state troopers. The original request from Col Mike Edmonson was for a 30% raise. Much of the pushback came from lawmakers who argued the request came as somewhat of a surprise and the process was too rushed. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue told Edmonson the state simply can not afford to speed through making a decision on so much money…:
CUT 5 (11) “affect is”
The increase passed from the House side on a 24-5 vote and the Senate side 13-3. Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson says supporting a pay hike for troopers is the right thing to do…
CUT 4 (11) “a pay grid”

Minden Representative Gene Reynolds is pleased with the EPA’s decision to delay the open tray burn of M6 propellant by at least 90 days. He says the 15 million pounds of explosives at Camp Minden is on Louisiana soil so they have the right to decide an alternative method for getting rid of it like incineration. But time is of the essence…:
CUT 8 (07) “to a certain point”
The propellant was found improperly stored at Camp Minden back in 2012.

And the Louisiana Lottery says the $1 million dollar Powerball Prize winner in Pearl River has come forward to claim his ticket.