The House Appropriations Committee approves a proposed spending plan for next fiscal year that fully funds TOPS. The panel moved money away from other state agencies to fully fund the popular scholarship program. While speaking to the Baton Rouge Press Club, Governor John Bel Edwards expressed concerns about cutting funding to various agencies that have already seen their budgets slashed…
cut 13 (08) “…dollar amounts”
The budget bill still has a long way to go in the legislative process.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison says robbery appears to be the motive in the shooting death of Thomas Rolfe. He’s the Tulane grad, who was in New Orleans for the weekend to plan a spot for his wedding. Rolfe’s body was found a few blocks from where surveillance video spotted the 25-year-old purchasing water. Harrison says there were marks on Rolfe’s hands that suggests there was a struggle.

Carinsurance.com shows Louisiana is the third most dangerous state for teen drivers. The study also found Louisiana teens are driving drunk at a rate of 9-percent, and 49-percent are texting and driving. Highway Safety Advocate Jim Champagne says law enforcement needs to be tougher on teen drivers…
cut 8 (10) “…our teens”

23-million dollars of rehabilition work on the Jimmie Davis Bridge has been put on hold because the state could not come to an agreement on how much it should cost to move the cliff swallows living there. cliff swallows is a protected species of bird. State department of transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett…
cut 10 (12) “…painting issue”
Mallett says the 23-million dollars is still allocated for the project, even though there is no word on when work will begin on the bridge.