Today is the final day of the regular session, but lawmakers may only have an opportunity to grab a bag of chips before they’ll come back 30 minutes later for the special session which begins at 6:30. In the 26 billion dollar budget which received final legislative approval last night, the TOPS program is only funded about halfway. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry…:

CUT 5 (05) “$1800″

The senate approved the budget on a 35-2 vote, but the vote was much closer in the House, 63 “yeas” and 38 “nays”.

Other takeaways from this session include the trouble Governor Edwards has had pushing key items in his legislative agenda such as equal pay and increasing the minimum wage…:

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That’s political analyst Clancy Dubos.

The number of Louisiana homes at risk of storm surge damage has gone up by over 40-thousand since last year, according to CoreLogic. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bill that would require pet stores to keep records of breeders’ names, addresses, and licensing information is on the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Alicia Haefele (Hafe-Lee) with Louisiana SPCA says the regulations outlined in this bill ensure pet stores are held to certain standards…:
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State lawmakers have approved a 26-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year that does not fully fund the TOPS scholarship program and hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the spending plan is not perfect, but they can address gaps in the budget in a special session that begins tonight…:
cut 4 (04) “is a priority”
Because of a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall, the budget also contains cuts to public schools, universities, prisons and child welfare programs.

The National Hurricane Center reports the tropical depression in the southern central Gulf of Mexico has now quickly formed into a tropical storm called Colin and is moving north at 12 mph with 40 mph winds. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Gulf Coast from Georgia and northeast Florida.

The number of Louisiana homes at risk for storm surge damage has increased since last year, according to CoreLogic. Senior hazard risk scientist for CoreLogic, Tom Jeffery says that has a lot to do with new homes being built along the coast…:
Cut 13 (07) “about everywhere”
According to CoreLogic, last year there were just over 760-thousand hones at risk in Louisiana, and that number has grown to over 800-thousand.

Police in Baton Rouge have arrested a man they say led them on a high-speed chase in a stolen Mustang that reached over 130 miles per hour, with his 7 year old niece in the back seat. They say 30-year-old Hollis Tate was identified as the suspect in the robbery, but when cops tried to pull him over he sped off and raced down Florida Blvd at 132 miles per hour. Tate faces many charges.

A bill to increase the age for an individual being charged for a crime from 17 to 18 moves closer to final legislative passage. Michelle Southern has more…
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Legislation that would require pet stores to keep records of breeders’ names, addresses, and licensing information heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. The Louisiana SPCA says these regulations will help ensure pet stores are held to certain standards. She says pet stores will be required to keep the records of their dogs and cats for at least two years.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking into three suspected murders all within 24 hours of each other in the town of Natalbany. Police say 24-year-old Charleston Mitchell and 31-year-old Randy Darnell Bickham were found shot to death in a vehicle early Thursday morning, and the body of 18-year-old Marcus Lightfoot was found Friday morning. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they are urging anyone with any information to come forward…
cut 16 (10) “that way”

22-year-old Ernest Felton, the first shooter arrested in the deadly shooting of two Southern students, has had his charge upgraded to second degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says Felton was originally charged with attempted second-degree murder. Mckneely says police are looking for the brother of the other shooter involved, 25-year-old Brandon Henderson…
cut 10 (11) “that area”

Voters could soon decide if universities in the state get to set their own tuition. Jeff Palermo has more…
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There is a flash flood watch for southeast Louisiana until Sunday. The National Weather Service says we can expect to see heavy rain throughout the weekend, as a result of a strong low pressure system moving through Texas pulling in gulf moisture.

The LSU Tigers defeated Utah Valley 7 to 1 after a long day at the ball park. The Tigers were supposed to take the field at 2 p.m. but a rain delay pushed them back until 8:30.

A measure that would charge 17-year-olds as juveniles moves closer to final legislative passage. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says 17-year-olds are now allowed to join the army, buy lottery tickets, or buy cigarettes because we know they are more immature and more susceptible to change than adults. He says in many ways they are still children.
cut 12 (08) “to children”

The first shooter arrested in the shooting deaths of two Southern students in April, has now been charged with second-degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says 22-year-old Ernest Felton was originally charged with attempted second-degree murder, but ballistics analysis and autopsy results led to the upgraded charge. He says Felton has also been charged with obstruction.
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Flash flood watches are now in effect for southeast Louisiana until Sunday. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says we can expect some heavy rain throughout the weekend.

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Jones says there’s a strong low pressure system moving through Texas and that’s pulling up gulf moisture.

Legislation to charge 17-year-olds as juveniles nears final legislative passage. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says putting 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system creates safer communities and more successful children.

Cut 11 (10) “avoid reoffending”

Raising the age is a big part of Governor Edwards’ legislative plan.

Voters could soon decide if universities should have the authority to set their own tuition as a result of a proposed constitutional amendment that is nearing final legislative passage. Right now, the legislature has to approve a tuition hike if it goes above a certain percentage. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says the proposed change to the constitution gives institutions the power to lower and increase tuition depending on the market…
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The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating three suspected murders that happened within 24 hours in Natalbany. Police say 24-year-old Charleston Mitchell and 31-year-old Randy Darnell Bickham were found shot to death in a car early Thursday morning, and the body of 18-year-old Marcus Lightfoot was found Friday morning close to the scene of the double murder. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they are still trying to determine if the incidents are related.
cut 14 (08) “rule em out”

Much of south Louisiana is under a flash flood watch though Saturday night. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says there’s a strong low pressure system moving through Texas that’s pulling up gulf moisture. He says the heavy rain will move through Louisiana in waves. He says flash flooding will be a big concern, particularly in the western part of the state.

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Flash flood watches for many parishes continue until Saturday night.

A bill to charge 17-year-olds as juveniles nears final legislative passage. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says including 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system makes for safer communities and more successful children.

Cut 11 (10) “avoid reoffending”

Raising the age is a key part of Governor Edwards’ legislative agenda.

Louisiana voters could decide this fall if universities should have the authority to set their own tuition as a result of a proposed constitutional amendment that is close to receiving final legislative passage. Currently, the legislature must approve a tuition hike if it goes above a certain percentage. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says the proposed change to the constitution gives schools the power to lower and increase tuition depending on the market…

CUT 6 (07) “they want”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating three suspected murders that occurred within 24 hours in the rural town of Natalbany. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says other agencies, including Hammond Police and State Police, are assisting in the investigation. He says they are asking anyone with any information to come forward, as police are offering a reward for any information that elads to an arrest.

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A bill to increase the age for an individual being charged for a crime from 17 to 18 moves closer to final legislative passage. Michelle Southern has more…

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State Representatives have rejected the changes the Senate made to the proposed budget for next fiscal year. The spending plan will now go into a conference committee where representatives from both chambers will try to come to a compromise before the regular session ends on Monday.

The first shooter arrested in the fatal shooting of two Southern students in April, has had his charge upgraded to second-degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says more arrests could be made as police are attempting to find the brother of the other shooter involved, 25-year-old Brandon Henderson.

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The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating three suspected murders that occurred within 24 hours in Natalbany. Following a double homicide early Thursday morning, the body of 18-year-old Marcus Lightfoot was found early Friday morning a block or so away from the scene of the double homicide. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says the Sheriff’s Office is offering an award for information about both of these cases.

cut 15 (12) “these homicides”