The House passed a budget that maintains higher ed spending, and funds TOPS at 80 percent, but slashes healthcare. Jeff Palermo has more.
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Also at the capitol, the Senate Education committee rejected a House approved measure that attempted to end what is known as lunch shaming. State Representative Patricia Smith’s legislation would prohibit public schools from penalizing students or embarassing them if their parents have failed to pay for school lunches.

The state House approves legislation supporters say will help the Cajun Navy and other volunteer groups have a greater impact during a disaster. Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges says her family was helped by volunteers after the 2016 flood. She says the legislation gives the Cajun Navy access to state equipment and training…
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The meaure heads to the Senate for its consideration.

Governor John Bel Edwards is working to find ways to equip every school with a school resource officer. He says the vast majority of schools already have them but not all. Edwards made the comments during his monthly radio show, “ask the governor.” Where he said he’s saddened by the situation today’s schools are in.
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The House narrowly passed a budget that would fund TOPS at 80% and maintain higher ed funding, but would implement deep cuts in healthcare funding, potentially ending public-private partnership hospitals that care for the poor. House Appropriations Chairman Republican Cameron Henry says the state cannot afford to maintain its current healthcare spending.

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But House Democratic Chairman Robert Johnson went after legislators who voted yay on the proposed budget in an impassioned speech.

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The proposed spending plan goes to the Senate Finance Committee who will meet Sunday. It’s possible the Senate may not even vote on a budget, and wait on a special session.

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris says the budget is the best they could do with the funds they have available.

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House Democrats nearly unanimously voted against the budget. New Orleans Representative Garry Carter says if passed, the spending plan would kill people.

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And Governor John Bel Edwards has announced that if the spending plan reaches his desk, he will not sign it

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Reports indicate that legislators are now planning on beginning a special session mid-May.

The full House has approved a budget for next fiscal year that would fund TOPS at 80-percent. State colleges would receive the same amount of dollars as they do this fiscal year. But the Edwards administration says the funding for th estate’s partner hospitals is woefully inadequate. The measure still needs Senate approval.

An NFL legend is putting his name, and voice behind a new distracted driving campaign. Matt Doyle has more.
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The State Fire Marshal has arrested a Richland Parish volunteer firefighter in connection with a mobile home fire that injured his medically disabled wife. Kenneth Fulford was booked into parish prison on multiple offenses. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it’s unfortunate one of their own was charged///
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The victim’s service dog was killed.

The state House approves legislation that supporters say will help the Cajun Navy and other volunteer groups have a greater impact during a disaster. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry, the former head of State Police, is skeptical about bringing volunteers into a disaster situation.
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The bill, which has the support of the Cajun Navy and state emergency planners, now moves to the Senate.

Governor John Bel Edwards is working to find ways to equip every school with a school resource officer. He says the vast majority of schools already have them but not all. Edwards made the comments during his monthly radio show, “ask the governor.”

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The governor adds each officer should have uniformed training.

The State Fire Marshal arrested a volunteer firefighter in Richland Parish in connection with a mobile home fire that injured his medically disabled wife. Kenneth Fulford was booked into parish prison on multiple offenses. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue said that Fulford faces charges related to his wife’s injuries…

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More charges against Fulford maybe pending.

Hall of Fame Quarterback Brett Favre is in a new PSA addressing dangerous behavior behind the wheel. Property Casualty Insurance Vice President of State Government Relations Joe Woods worked with Favre to bring the PSA to life. He says his organization is pushing to increase penalties for drivers who use their phone while driving, but laws alone won’t save lives.

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Distracted driving was responsible for over 700 Louisiana deaths in 2016.

And it sounds like an outrageous scene from a movie comedy but a woman in Monroe was not laughing when she came home to find a naked stranger bathing in her tub while eating food including some Cheerios cereal from the home’s kitchen. Twenty-nine year old Evelyn Washington faces property damage and burglary charges. Police say the arrested woman claims that an unknown man told her to break into the home.

Governor John Bel Edwards wants to see a trained officer in every Louisiana school as the state looks at improving school safety in the wake of Florida school shooting…..
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During his monthly call-in show, Edwards once again says he opposes allowing teachers to arm themselves.

The State Fire Marshal has arrested a volunteer firefighter in Richland Parish in connection with a mobile home fire that injured his medically disabled wife. Kenneth Fulford was booked into parish prison on multiple offenses. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue.
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The victim’s service dog was killed in the blaze.

Legislation allowing volunteer groups like the Cajun Navy to have the opportunity to use state equipment and coordinates their efforts with state emergency planners has been approved by the House. Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges says the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness helped her draft the legislation…
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The measure moves to the Senate.

NFL legend Brett Favre is feaured in a new P-S-A urging Louisiana drivers to put the phone down while driving as part of an effort by Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Companies and Property Casualty Insurance Association of America to combat distracted driving….
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A recent study says distracted driving was responsible more than 50-percent of vehicle fatalities in 2016.

Governor John Bel Edwards is working to find ways to equip every school with a school resource officer. He says the vast majority of schools already have them but not all. Edwards made the comments during his monthly radio show, “ask the governor.” Where he said he’s saddened by the situation today’s schools are in.

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The state House approves legislation that supporters say will help the Cajun Navy and other volunteer groups have a greater impact during a disaster. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry, the former head of State Police, is skeptical about bringing volunteers into a disaster situation.

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The bill now moves to the Senate.

The State Fire Marshal has made an arrest in Richland Parish in connection with a mobile home fire that injured his medically disabled wife. Kenneth Fulford was booked into parish prison on multiple offenses. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it’s unfortunate one of their own was charged, but that’s the way it is.

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More charges maybe pending.

Brett Favre is stepping up to be the voice of a distracted driving campaign in Louisiana. The Hall of Fame Quarterback will be featured in a new PSA speaking out against dangerous behavior behind the wheel that was responsible for the deaths of more than 700 Louisianans in 2016. Favre is using his NFL experience to make an impact.

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The full House is debating a proposed spending plan for next fiscal year that fully funds TOPS, but calls for a cut in state funding to public colleges and a significant reduction in dollars for health care. House Republican Delegation Chairman Lance Harris says fully funding TOPS is important….
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Harris says today’s discussion on the budget is one step in the process.

The state House approves legislation that supporters say will help the Cajun Navy and other volunteer groups have a greater impact during a disaster. Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges says her family was helped by volunteers after the 2016 flood. She says the legislation gives the Cajun Navy access to state equipment and training…
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The meaure heads to the House floor.

The State Fire Marshal’s office arrests a Richland Parish volunteer firefighter, who allegedly set his home on fire, injuring his 53-year-old medically disabled wife. Jim Shannon has more.
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