A Senate bill that will likely result in future TOPS students having to pay a portion of their tuition clears the House Education Committee. The governor’s office opposes Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue’s legislation. Stafford Palmieri, Jindal’s Assistant Chief of Staff, says Louisiana has made the promise that TOPS students will have their tuition fully paid…:
CUT 6 (09) “tuition increase”
Under Donahue’s bill, the TOPS award will match 2016-17 tuition levels but the award will not automatically go up when tuition rises. Donahue says TOPS is unsustainable in its current form and this baseline will ensure its survival…:
CUT 7 (06) “their kids after”
The measure will now be debated on the House floor.

Legislation by Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater that would allow state colleges to raise fees for students passes the state House. Gonzales Representative Eddie Lambert wanted assurance from Broadwater that this measure would not affect tuition…:
CUT 10 (06) “TOPS, whatsoever”
Broadwater says a percentage of the revenues generated from additional fees would be set aside for needs based assistance.

A Senate committee has approved New Orleans Senator JP Morrell’s bill that would change a second-offense marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. It also allows a first-time offender to have their record expunged if they are not convicted for another marijuana violation within two years…
CUT 4 (10) Q” first offense only”
He says there’s still significant penalties for 3 or more convictions. the bill heads to the full Senate.

A Senate bill that will likely result in future TOPS students having to pay a portion of their tuition clears the House Education Committee. Governor Bobby Jindal opposes the legislation, but Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue says his bill will have cost controls for TOPS, so it can continue for years to come…
CUT 9 (09) Q; ‘to do that’

Legislation that looks to reduce the penalties for those convicted multiple times of marijuana possession makes progress in the state legislature. A Senate committee has approved New Orleans Senator JP Morrell’s bill that would change a second-offense from a felony to a misdemeanor. He says third or four offenses of possession would still be felonies, but with lower maximum sentences than current law…
CUT 3 (06) “20 times higher”
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It will likely take a year before the Louisiana Black Bear is taken off the threatened species list, but federal officials are now recommending that delisting. After public input, they could open the door for regulated hunting of the black bear, but State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says that’s not happening anytime soon…
cut 15 (11) “rifle”
Governor Bobby Jindal says it took over 20-years of collaborative research and recovery efforts to get to this point.

After about 3 hours of debate, the Lafayette City-Parish Council has rejected a smoking ban in bars. Supporters of the proposed ban–backed by the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living–expressed health concerns for employees and musicians in clubs. Some opponents argued that decision should be left to club and bar owners. The vote was 5-4.

The State Senate bill by Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue, that would likely result in future TOPS students having to pay a portion of their tuition, has cleared the House Education Committee. Stafford Palmieri, Governor Bobby Jindal’s Assistant Chief of Staff, says Louisiana has made the promise that TOPS students…
CUT 6 (09) “tuition increase”
The measure now heads to the House Floor.

A recent study by NOAA shows a strong connection between the Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil spill and a high number of dolphin deaths. Dr. Kathleen Colegrove is the study’s lead veterinary pathologist, and she says half of the mammals in Barateria Bay-which was heavily damaged–had the rare adrenal lesions.
CUT 11 (08) Q: ‘this lesion”
——————————-
A Senate committee has approved New Orleans Senator JP Morrell’s bill that would change a second-offense marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. It also allows a first-time offender to have their record expunged if they are not convicted for another marijuana violation within two years…
CUT 4 (10) Q” first offense only”
He says there’s still significant penalities for 3 or more convictions.

Governor Bobby Jindal says the state has spent more than 900-thousand dollars to help restoration of the black bear population. Deputy Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Steve Guertin, is glad the efforts to save the iconic “Teddy Bear” have paid off, since the feds now recommend its removal from the threatened species list…
cut 14 (10) “state of Louisiana”

NOAA announces results of a study which shows the Deepwater Horizon oil spill contributed to dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico…:
CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

A Loreauxville (Lora ville) teen-ager last lost his life after he was playing in rain water and accidently fell into a drainage pipe in New Iberia. Rescuers pulled the body of 15 year-old John Michael Steiner out of the pipe, and his family identified his body. He leaves behind 3 brothers and a sister.
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A bill for reducing penalties for possession of marijuana is making progress, as a Senate Committee approves the measure by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell. He says many district attorneys and sheriffs support his legislation, because there’s still significant penalties for those convicted three or more times…
CUT 5 (05) “more sense”
And Morrell adds it would save the state abou $16 million dollars.

The Louisiana Black Bear population has grown to a point that the federal government recommends its removal from the threatened species list. Governor Bobby Jindal says the process to restore the black bear population took over twenty years…
CUT 13 (11) Q: “key habitats”
The price tag was more than 900 thousand dollars.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announces results of a study which shows the Deepwater Horizon oil spill contributed to a high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Kathleen Colegrove is the study’s lead veterinary pathologist…:
CUT 10 (10) “other areas”
She says these studies point to the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons as being the most significant cause of the illnesses and deaths plaguing the Gulf’s dolphin population.

A bill by Baton Rouge Representative Blake Miguez that would allow elementary school students to be taught gun safety has passed the state House. However, Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton doesn’t think that young kids should be learning anything about guns. She says firearm safety education should be left up to parents if they so choose to teach their kids about guns…:
cut 14 (06) “or see a gun”
A 93-3 vote sends the measure to the Senate.

A Senate bill that will likely result in future TOPS students having to pay a portion of their tuition clears the House Education Committee despite Governor Jindal’s opposition. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

Federal Wildlife officials are recommending the Louisiana black bear be removed from the list of threatened species. The animal that inspired the teddy bear could once again be hunted in Sportsman’s Paradise if delisting takes place. The process could take less than a year if nobody opposes.

A Senate bill that will likely result in future TOPS students having to pay a portion of their tuition clears the House Education Committee. The governor’s office opposes Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue’s legislation. Stafford Palmieri, Jindal’s Assistant Chief of Staff, says Louisiana has made the promise that TOPS students will have their tuition fully paid…:
CUT 6 (09) “tuition increase”
Under Donahue’s bill, the TOPS award will match 2016-17 tuition levels but the award will not automatically go up when tuition rises. Donahue says TOPS is unsustainable in its current form and this baseline will ensure its survival…:
CUT 7 (06) “their kids after”
The measure will now be debated on the House floor.

After watching a House committee fail to approve legislation referred to as a religious liberty bill, Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order to enact the law, but on a smaller scale, only impacting the executive branch. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s not a surprise lawmakers didn’t pass the religious objections law…
cut 12 (10) “….he likes”
Opponents of the legislation that failed say the bill promotes discrimination against L-G-B-T couples.

There’s a huge travel weekend coming up in Memorial Day and gas prices seem to be steadily rising. AAA says the price jumped two cents last night on average statewide to $2.45.

Legislation that looks to reduce the penalties for those convicted multiple times of marijuana possession makes progress in the state legislature. A Senate committee has approved New Orleans Senator JP Morrell’s bill that would change a second-offense from a felony to a misdemeanor charge. He says third or four offenses would still be felonies, but with lower maximum sentences than current law…:
CUT 3 (06) “20 times higher”
The House has also approved its own legislation that will reduces penalties for multiple marijuana offenders.

In the House Education Committee today, a couple of bills that seek to control the cost of the TOPS scholarship program advanced to the full House. One bill would let colleges set their own tuition rates without legislative approve — a measure that’s tied to one that limits TOPS rewards. The Jindal administration issued a card in opposition to the spending restriction on TOPS legislation.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is making an important announcement at the Governor’s mansion this afternoon…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

A former Baton Rouge teacher Ashley Dowden has been sentenced to seven years probation for having sex with two male students. Dowden must also register as a sex offender. The 43-year-old admitted to having sex with two teenage boys as part of her plea deal.