Three criminal justice reform bills supported by Governor Bel Edwards were approved by a Senate committee today and the legislation now heads to the Senate floor. Edwards says the measures attempt to reduce the state’s incarceration, which is considered the largest in the nation. The governor says 95-percent of inmates in Louisiana will one day be released from prison, but many go right back in…
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Edwards says savings from lowering the incarceration rate can be used to on anti-recidivism courses.

Also at the capitol today, The House Governmental Affairs committee approved a bill that would make it easier to recall elected officials in larger voting districts. That same panel also approved the calling of a constitutional convention to make changes to Louisiana’s constitution where it deals with money issues.

There was speculation the U.S. Department of Justice would issue its decision in the Alton Sterling case today, but there’s been nothing from the DOJ. Civil rights charges could be brought against the Baton Rouge police officers involved in Sterling’s death. Former US Attorney Don Cazayoux says it’s probably been an extensive investigation.
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Cazayoux was a guest on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster
The number of high school seniors in Louisiana applying for federal student aid is at an all time high. Assistant Superintendent for the Office of Student Opportunity Ken Bradford says this is great news because if every student filled out a FAFSA form, millions of dollars would be available for them to go to college…:
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The national average for FAFSA completion is 55-percent. With two months before the deadline, Louisiana is already at 51%.