52 percent of the high school class of 2017 qualified for TOPS this year, a nearly 1,000 student increase over the class of 2016.  Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White says TOPS needs to be maintained, even with its large price tag.

Cut 10 (08) “better outcomes”

Governor John Bel Edwards punched back against lawmakers who criticized his decision to mail nursing home eviction warnings resulting from a potential Medicaid cut, and who are stalling on approving the 648 million dollars in revenue needed to fund healthcare and TOPS. Governor Edwards:

Cut 14 (15)  “that revenue”

Edwards says he now supports renewing a portion of the expiring penny sales tax to close the budget gap.

It will be easier to recall an elected official in Louisiana, if the Governor signs a bill into law that has cleared the legislature. A 31-1 senate vote sent HB 54 by Mandeville  Representative Paul Hollis to the governor’s desk.  The bill lowers the threshold on how many signatures are needed to have a recall election held.

Cut 3 (11) “and 1/3rd”

An off-duty Slidell police officer, Dennis Neyland, aided the release of a kidnapped 83-year-old woman in Downtown Baton Rouge on Wednesday afternoon. Baton Rouge Police spokesperson, Sergeant L’Jean McKneely  that after the victim withdrew a reported 800 dollars in cash from the ATM, she refused to follow Raymond’s commands to move the vehicle…

Cut 13 (08) “wasn’t okay”

The Baton Rouge Police arrived to arrest Raymond on armed robbery, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, and battery of a police officer..

Governor John Bel Edwards was at University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette. It’s a public-private partner hospital that sent warning notices to employees that they could be laid off after July 1st because of cuts in health care funding. Edwards says legislators need to pass revenue bills in a special session to avoid hospital closures…
cut 16 (12) “…million dollars”
Edwards says renewing a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax will help fill the budget hole.

An off-duty Slidell Police officer helped out an 83-year-old Baton Rouge woman, who was kidnapped…
cut 12 (08) “…money”
McKneely says officer Dennis Neyland saw the woman was in distress and ended up fighting off the suspect, 42-year-old Tamikia Raymond, who was arrested.

The state posted all time highs in the numbers of students who graduated high school in four years, and the number of students who qualified for TOPS. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The legislature has passed a bill that lowers the number of signatures needed for a recall vote of an elected official to occur. Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis says it’s still difficult, but now doable…
cut 4 (12) “…real time accountability”

Governor John Bel Edwards is pushing back against legislators who criticized his decision to mail eviction warnings to Medicaid patients who’s programs could be canceled under a House backed budget. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 2 (32) I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana public schools could soon be required to display “In God We Trust” in their building as a result of legislation that’s close to final legislative passage. The bill would also require schools to teach students about the slogan. It would go into effect with the 2019-2020 school year.

A bill strengthening laws against animal sexual abuse passed the House unanimously and heads back to the Senate for final passage. Conservative Christian groups oppose it, because they say it could undermine Louisiana’s unconstitutional anti-sodomy law. Lafayette Representative Jean-Paul Coussan weighed in, with commentary from Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey.
Cut 6 (08) “the state”

Louisiana’s four-year high school graduation rate has reached an all-time high of 78-percent. The rate has increased 11-percent over the last decade, but Superintendent of Education Johh White warns the percentage could drop next year, because of tougher academic requirements…
cut 9 (09) “….this requirpment”
The national high school graduation rate was 84-percent for the class of 2016.

Governor John Bel Edwards punched back against lawmakers who criticized his decision to mail nursing home eviction warnings resulting from a potential Medicaid cut, and who are stalling on approving the 648 million dollars in revenue needed to fund healthcare and TOPS. But Edwards says with a rebounding economy, they won’t need to renew all of the expiring taxes.

Cut 15 (12) “talking about”

Edwards says he now supports renewing a portion of the expiring penny sales tax to close the budget gap.

Louisiana high schools posted an all-time high of 78.1 percent of four year graduation for the class of 2017. 52 percent of students qualified for TOPS, and Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White says the program needs to be maintained.

Cut 10 (08) “better outcomes”

It will be easier to recall an elected official in Louisiana, if the Governor signs a bill into law that has cleared the legislature. A 31-1 senate vote sent HB 54 by Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis to the governor’s desk. Hollis says even with this change to our recall laws, Louisiana still has a high standard when it comes to the process of removing an elected official.

Cut 5  (12) “registered voters”

An off-duty Slidell police officer, Dennis Neyland, aided the release of a kidnapped 83-year-old woman in Downtown Baton Rouge on Wednesday afternoon. The officer rescued the woman after fighting with the suspect in the middle of a road near Laurel and 4th. Baton Rouge Police spokesperson, Sergeant L’Jean McKneely…

Cut 13 (08) “wasn’t okay”

Raymond is charged with armed robbery, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, and battery of a police officer.

Governor John Bel Edwards punched back against lawmakers who criticized his decision to mail nursing home eviction warnings resulting from a potential Medicaid cut, and who are stalling on approving the 648 million dollars in revenue needed to fund healthcare and TOPS…
Cut 14 (15) “that revenue”
Edwards says he supports renewing a portion of the expiring penny sales tax to close the budget gap.

While the legislature has struggled to fund state services, they are close to approving a bill that would ban bestiality. Lafayette Representative Jean-Paul Coussan says the legislation closes loopholes that allowed for those who abetted the abuse or profited from it to walk free…
cut 7 (08) “…current laws”

The state posted all time highs in the numbers of students who graduated high school in four years, and the number of students who qualified for TOPS. Matt Doyle.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

It will be easier to recall an elected official in Louisiana, if the Governor signs a bill into law that has cleared the legislature. A 31-1 senate vote sent HB 54 by Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis to the governor’s desk.  The bill lowers the threshold on how many signatures are needed to have a recall election held.

Cut 3 (11) “and 1/3rd”

37,000 letters warning Medicaid patients that their programs could be canceled go out today. Jeff Palermo gets reaction from Republican legislators.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bill strengthening laws against animal sexual abuse passed the House unanimously and heads back to the Senate for final passage. Conservative Christian groups oppose it, because they say it could undermine Louisiana’s unconstitutional anti-sodomy law. Lafayette Representative Jean-Paul Coussan weighed in, with commentary from Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey.

Cut 6 (08)  “the state”

Louisiana high schools posted an all-time high of 78.1 percent of four year graduation for the class of 2017. That’s an increase of eleven percent over the last ten years. Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White says it’s a 4,000 student increase over last year.

cut 8 (10) “thirty two”

37,000 letters go out today to recipients of four Medicaid programs that reads “Because of possible budget cuts, these programs may end as of July 1, 2018.” 20,000 of those recipients are nursing home residents who could be thrown out as a result. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says after multiple failed attempts to fund the programs, people need to start preparing for the worst.
Cut 4 (11) “be coming”
But many Republicans are balking at the release of those letters, saying they amount to a political stunt. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton, who voted for the House spending plan that included the Medicaid cuts, says the panic isn’t justified.
Cut 5 (08) “figure is”
Governor Edwards is in Lafayette today to tour a public-private hospital that has sent termination notices to employees because of state budget cuts.

Two bills that would make medical marijuana availbable to more diseases and disorders are close to final passage after receiving approval from the Senate. One bill would add intractable pain, PTSD and Parkinson’s to the already existing list diseases medical marijuana is eligible to treat, and the other would add autism patients. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills.
Cut 15 (07) “so critical”

A study for the Louisiana Chemical Association shows the industry is responsible for nearly 80-billion dollars in annual sales. But the industry is concerned about changes to a tax exemption program. Economist Doctor Loren Scott says I-TEP allows Lousiaina’s chemical industry compete with Texas…
cut 14 (09) “…sales tax system”

37,000 letters are being mailed out to recipients of four Medicaid programs that reads “Because of possible budget cuts, these programs may end as of July 1, 2018.” 20,000 of those recipients are nursing home residents who could be thrown out as a result. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny tried to douse some of the growing fires by letting the 37,000 letter recipients know that the Senate has no intention of passing a budget that cuts their programs.

Cut 8 (10)  “medical schools”

Western Global Airlines will invest three million dollars in a new facility in Shreveport, which could lead to 170 direct jobs. Louisiana Economic Development estimates that an additional 308 new jobs will be created by the facility run by the Florida based company. Secretary Don Pierson says the state will pitch in a million dollars in maintenance repair, because it’ll help put people back to work who lost their jobs when Continental Express Jet left the city.

Cut 11 (10) “the US”

Two medical marijuana bills passed the Senate with amendments and are headed to the House. One bill would add additional categories, such as PTSD to the already existing list diseases medical marijuana is eligible to treat, and the other would allow the treatment to be given to autism patients

Houma Senator Norby Chabert says allowing medical marijuana to be prescribed to more illnesses is a first step in combating the opioid crisis.

He closed with an impassioned plea to Senators who were on the fence.

Cut 17 (10)  “for it”

Governor John Bel Edwards will be holding a news conference this morning at 11 a.m. in Lafayette at the UHC Medical center. , the governor and other speakers will discuss the looming fiscal cliff and deep cuts to health care in the current budget bill passed by the House of Representatives, including the impact they will have on partner hospitals like UHC.