A bill that puts new cost controls on TOPS heads to the governor’s desk. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry says the taxpayer funded scholarship program costs the state nearly 300-million dollars…
cut 16 (08) “…the future”
Under the measure, the legislature would pay the full amount of TOPS scholarships next school year, but that might not be the case in future years, if tuition rises.

A new website has been created for those working poor who will be eligible for Medicaid now that the state is expanding the government financed health insurance program. The site is healthy-dot-la-dot-gov.
cut 10 (09) “….your providers”
That’s Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Doctor Rebekah Gee, who estimates 375-thousand people will get insurance from the expansion.

A proposal to raise the age of adult prosecution by one year to 18-year-olds heads to the House after it received strong support on the Senate floor. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell, says 17-year-old offenders of minor crimes would have a better chance at succeeding at life, if they went through the juvenile court system instead of the adult…
cut 12 (11) “…adult facility”
The measure has the support of Governor Edwards.

A Slidell man faces numerous charges after authorities say he intentionally struck a school crossing guard with his vehicle. Slidell Police say 33-year-old Francis Gras got into a verbal alteraction with the crossing guard and then witnesses say Gras placed his vehicle in reverese, squealed his tires, then accelerated forward, intentionally striking the crossing guard, who is expected to make a full recovery.

Governor John Bel Edwards is touring the state with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, Dr. Rebekah Gee to raise awareness about Medicaid expansion. Don Molino has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

11 people have been arrested in St. Landry Parish for allegedly being involved in a check fraud cashing scheme that’s resulted in total losses to businesses amounting to upwards of over $30,000. The sheriff’s office says the check ring still has numerous suspects at large with more checks coming in weekly. The added this is happening throughout Acadiana.

The DEQ says the air quality in Louisiana is better than it’s been in decades, but environmental groups don’t think that’s the case. DEQ senior scientist Vivian Aucoin says agencies have done a good job enforcing higher air quality standards at industrial facilities…:
CUT 5 (11) “cleaner”
But Director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Anne Rolfes, says they work with the EPA to get air quality readings in areas near plants, and that information shows the air is not any cleaner…:
CUT 7 (08) “screening levels”
May is Air Quality Awareness month.

A measure that would increase the state’s minimum wage has stalled for now in the Senate, as it wad scheduled to be heard in committee Monday, but that didn’t happen. Governor John Bel Edwards is still trying to talk lawmakers into voting for the bill that would make the minimum wage $8.50 an hour.

Legislation that could result in TOPS students no longer having their entire tuition paid heads to the governor for his signature. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Approved by the senate Monday is a bill by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell that would let some 17-year-old offenders be tried in juvenile court instead of as adults. He says these teens are not adults and don’t belong in adult court..:
CUT 13 (08) “a child”
The bill, which is supported by Governor Edwards, heads to the House for more discussion.

Governor John Bel Edwards and DHH Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee begin a statewide tour to educate the public on the Medicaid expansion which begins June 1st. Edwards says he wants to make sure that the people of Louisiana have all the information they need when it comes to Medicaid expansion before enrollment begins…:
Cut 9 (08) “July 1″
He says they’ll be answering questions about who will be eligible to enroll for the government health insurance which has a new name: Healthy Louisiana.

Two employees were fired and three others resigned from the Pointe Coupee Parish detention center. The Sheriff’s Office says one employee was arrested for malfeasance amid allegations he was exchanging inappropriate texts and pictures with a female inmate. They say another fired employee knew and inmate had a phone and didn’t take it away.

Fired LSU band Director Roy King has filed a lawsuit against the university over his dismissal, saying he was wrongfully terminated.

Governor John Bel Edwards kicks off his statewide tour to discuss Medicaid expansion. Over the next month, Edwards and DHH Secretary, Dr. Rebekah Gee, will visit cities to raise awareness and answer questions about who will be eligible to enroll for the government health insurance on June 1st. Edwards also announced that the state’s health program has a new name…:
Cut 8 (11) “of Louisiana”
State health officials say the expanded Medicaid program will be able to cover an estimated 350,000 working poor individuals.

Two bills that Edwards supports are advancing, one that seeks to curb the cost of the TOPS scholarship program – which received final legislative approval. It would likely mean students would have to pay part of their own tuition. The Senate approved the Raise the Age bill Monday which would allow 17-year-olds to be tried in the juvenile court system instead of as adults. The measure now heads to the House.

May is Air Quality Awareness month, and the Department of Environmental Quality says Louisiana’s air quality is better than it’s been since the start of the Industrial Revolution. DEQ senior scientist Vivian Aucoin…:
cut 4 (08) “quality standards”
Louisiana Bucket Brigade Director, Anne Rolfes, doesn’t think Louisiana’s air is any cleaner. She says the state does a poor job of monitoring the air in areas where it’s the worst…:
Cut 6 (08) “closely enough”
The DEQ encourages everyone to do their part in helping to keep the air clean, including industry and the public.

In the Concordia Parish town of Monterey, officials say the case of the remains of a missing person that were found last week is now a homicide investigation. The remains have not been identified yet according to authorities, but 35-year-old Hart Tiffee has been named a person of interest in the case.

LSU has picked up top ranked quarterback Lowell Narcisse out of St. James High School. The 38th ranked player in the nation announced on Twitter he was choosing the Tigers over Auburn, where h’d previously committed. Narcisse, who is rated as the top dual-threat QB in the country and listed as one of the best players overall by ESPN, said he’s decided to play for his home state.

The New Orleans Saints announced Monday they’ve signed 19 rookie free agents following the NFL draft. The group consists mostly of offensive line and defensive backfield players.

The Louisiana Supreme Court decided not to hear the appeal of the estranged heirs of Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, over whether or not he is competent to handle his own affairs. Benson is trying to remove his estranged family from being able to receive shares of the franchises, and they aren’t happy about it. The disagreement is being hashed out in federal court in New Orleans.

The LSU baseball team fell several spots to No. 13 in the Baseball America Poll, and No. 27 in Collegiate Baseball, following 2 losses in a three game series against Ole Miss.

Once the rain got out of the way, the Zurich Classic finally wrapped up with Brian Stuard walking away with his first PGA Tour victory. Stuard beat Jamie Lovemark on the second extra hole to win the tournament which had to be shortened to 54 holes because of weather delays.

On the diamond today, Southern hosts McNeese State.

Longtime Franklinton High School football coach Shane Smith joins the SLU football coaching staff. Smith, who led the Demons to seven district championships and a Class 4A title in 2010, will serve as an assistant on the Lions offensive staff.

UL-Lafayette says it’s extended the deadline for football season ticket holders to May 10th.

Fired LSU band Director Roy King has filed a lawsuit against the university over his dismissal, alleging he was let go in part because he openly objected to the way a donation made to the school was used. His lawyer contends all along that King was terminated as the result of a witch hunt over bad blood between her client and the School of Music. LSU says it stands by its decision to fire King.

The legislature has approved as bill that curbs the cost of TOPS, likely meaning recipients will have to pay a portion of their tuition. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry says the measure freezes the scholarship and it doesn’t go up, even if tuition rises…:
cut 14 (10) “afford to”
The measure passed on a 74-20 vote and heads to the governor’s desk, where he is expected to sign it.

Slidell Police say a man allegedly hit a school crossing guard with his vehicle on purpose causing her to sustain minor injuries. They say witnesses report around 8:15 Monday morning near Abney Elementary School, 33-year-old Francis Gras got into an argument with the victim when he wouldn’t follow her instructions, then backed up and hit the guard intentionally. Gras faces several charges including hit and run, aggravated battery, reckless operation and possession of marijuana.

The Senate approves legislation that would send 17-year-old non-violent offenders through the juvenile court system, instead of adult court. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says 17-year-olds who are convicted of crimes would be better off if they didn’t go to adult jail…:
cut 11 (08) “hardened criminal”
The measure, which is supported by Governor Edwards, was approved on a 33-4 vote and heads to the House.

The Louisiana Supreme Court decided not to hear the appeal of the estranged heirs of Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, over whether or not he is competent to handle his own affairs. Benson is trying to remove his estranged family from being able to receive shares of the franchises, and they aren’t happy about it. The disagreement is being hashed out in federal court in New Orleans.

Legislation is heading to the governor’s desk that curbs the cost of the TOPS scholarship program, but it will likely mean recipients will have to pay a portion of their tuition. The taxpayer funded scholarship program costs the state nearly 300-million dollars and Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry says the legislature must do something to rein in its costs…

Cut 16  (08)  “the future”

The measure passed on a 74-20 vote and heads to the governor’s desk\

Louisiana’s high school graduation rate is at an all-time high, as 78-percent of the Class of 2015 received their diplomas. State Education Superintendent John White, says that’s almost a 3-percent increase over the previous year, which is the second largest annual gain in 10 years. He believes more students are graduating, because educators raised the bar.

CUT 9 (09) “high expectation”

Officials in St. Tammany announce the start of a program that would let drug addicts turn in their drugs to police and get help instead of being arrested. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

A school crossing guard is recovering after he was intentionally struck by a vehicle this morning. 33-year-old Francis Gras engaged in an altercation with the crossing guard at Abney Elementary. When the guard told Gras he would call the police, Gras put his vehicle in reverse, squealed the tires, the accelerated forward, striking the crossing guard. The guard is expected to make a full recovery, and Gras is being held at the Slidell City Jail.

Louisiana Senate has approved legislation that would send 17-year-old non-violent offenders through the juvenile court system, instead of adult court. The measure was approved on a 33-4 vote. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says 17-year-olds who are convicted crimes would be better off if they didn’t go to an adult jail…
jp 1 and cut 30 (08) “…hardened criminal”
The bill, which is supported by Governor Edwards, heads to the House for more discussion.

One of the governor’s main bills for the session, raising the minimum wage is having a difficult time gaining approval in the Senate…
cut 1 (07) “…that bill”
The measure barely got past the Senate Labor committee, but it’s been stuck in the Senate Finance committee, because it will result in pay raises for the state’s lowest paid workers.

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James was unable to get enough votes from the House Commerce Committee to advance a measure that would allow law enforcement to unlock a homicide victims’ phone, if they were able to get a court order. James called the bill the “Brittney Mills Act.” She was murdered over a year ago and her case is still unsolved. Shreveport representative Thomas Carmody voted against it after hearing concerns this legislation could risk consumer protection…
cut 20 (12) “…is doable”
James might bring the bill up for another vote.

The full house has given final legislative passage to a bill is that would lock the value of the TOPS scholarship at its current price and it would not go up automatically, even if tuition rises. That means TOPS students would be forced to pay a portion of their tuition, if it goes up. Governor Edwards is expected to sign it.

Louisiana’s high school graduation rate has reached an all-time high. Don Molino reports…
voicer 1 (31) “…reporting”

Roy King, the former director of the LSU Golden Band from Tiger Land, has filed a lawsuit seeking monetary damages from LSU for his recent dismissal by the university. LSU has not commented on King’s firing, but his attorney says it came at the end of a witch hunt conducted by jealous colleagues.

Officials across the Northshore announce the start of “Operation Angel” – a program whereby a person addicted to drugs can walk into a police station and ask for help instead of being charged with a crime. Covington Police Chief Tim Lentz says it’s time law enforcement changes the way they do business…:
CUT 12 (08) “not a crime”
He says the only requirement of Operation Angel is that an addict ask for help and want to change their life.

Cleco utility customers can expect a $475 credit on their bills beginning in July, as a result of the Pineville-based company’s sale to foreign investors. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says the Louisiana Public Service Commission created this credit as a part of their transaction…:
CUT 6 (06) “from Cleco”
Cahill says the credit will be applied until it runs out.