Two special sessions later, Louisiana’s budget is still not in good shape. Barry Erwin with the Council for a Better Louisiana says he’s optimistic that in the 2017 fiscal session lawmakers can start looking at long term budget reform. He says otherwise they will still be dealing with midyear cuts…:
Cut 13 (11) “fiscal cliff”
He says with next year’s fiscal session, lawmakers will have more time to get the job done.

State Police say a 1-year-old child who was not properly restrained, died in a St. Landry Parish crash. They say 24-year-old Bendel Williams of Carencro ran off the right side of the roadway around 6:30am Sunday, struck an embankment and overturned. Investigators determined 1-year-old Jamaika Johnson was only buckled in with a shoulder/lap belt and suffered fatal injuries. Officials say charges against Williams, who is in the hospital, are pending.

Sea levels are expected to rise higher than previously thought in Louisiana, which is changing the plan when it comes to rebuilding the coast. Director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Restoration Program David Muth is optimistic they can reduce the amount of land Louisiana loses every year and that’s through sediment diversions…:
Cut 9 (10) “way out”
Muth says he’s not surprised that the prediction of reversing coastal land loss in a few decades isn’t possible anymore.

Residents in the Monroe area are wondering when the state will build a new bridge over the Ouachita River the way they are the Red River in Shreveport. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says the money isn’t there right now and
Monroe-West Monroe already has three bridges essentially within two miles of each other…:
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The second special session is over, but ULM political science professor John Sutherlin says Governor John Bel Edwards won’t be taking a breather anytime soon…:
Cut 10 (07) “to cut”
The governor will have to make at least $300 million dollars in cuts to the state budget for next fiscal year.

Two men in Lafayette are under arrest in connection with the burned bodies that were located in separate vehicles in Acadiana last week. Officials say 31-year-old Joshua Willis and 21-year-old Joseph Sylvester face charges including two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of 23-year-old Ashley Metz and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Walter Hill. The motive in the cases is not being released at this time.

Several people, including a police officer and ambulance medics, were injured after a suspected drunk driver plowed through the group helping to clear another wreck in I-10 in Baton Rouge early Sunday. Cops say 26-year-old William Smith faces several charges.

The state’s goal of one day adding land to Louisiana’s coast will not happen as hoped. Emelie Gunn tells us why…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Plans are in the works for Shreveport-Bossier to get a new bridge over the Red River, and Monroe residents want to know when the state will pay for a new bridge over the Ouachita. Walt Caldwell, a Ouachita parish police juror, says a new bridge in Monroe would cost around $300 million, and there isn’t enough money in the state capital outlay budget to cover the cost…:
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The cost for the new Shreveport bridge is projected between $80 and $100 million.

Governor John Bel Edwards made it through three grueling legislative sessions, but ULM political science professor John Sutherlin says his work is far from over. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Health officials have posted beach advisories along the Gulf Coast as many people put the finishing touches on their 4th of July Holiday plans. They advise folks planning to head the ocean in Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas to not get into the water at certain locations due to high levels of a harmful bacteria. You can get Louisiana water advisories online at dhh.louisiana.gov.

Louisiana’s major goal of stopping wetland erosion and rebuilding the coast has come to a halt. Director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Restoration Program David Muth says that’s because sea levels are expected to rise higher than previously predicted. But he says that doesn’t mean they’ll stop trying to solve coastal land loss..:
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Muth says the state is using funding from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to build barrier islands, marshes and dredging to limit coastal land loss.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has identified the Prairieville man who died after a boating accident on the Blood River. They say the victim, 59-year-old Larry Andre Jr, and his wife crashed into a bulkhead and trees, and alcohol may have played a factor. Mr. Andre was ejected and suffered serious head trauma before going into the water. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The wife suffered minor injuries.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says he will look into the case of Schaquana Spears, the Baton Rouge mother accused of beating her kids after they allegedly robbed a house…:
CUT 2 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Manufacturing facilities who receive a huge local property tax break would now have to prove they are creating and retaining jobs under an executive order by Governor John Bel Edwards. The industry says the rule changes could put major projects on hold or prevent other businesses from coming to Louisiana. But the governor says the program is not doing a service to local governments if the plants aren’t retaining or creating jobs.

The LSU Board of Supervisors gives the school’s ag center the green light to begin the process of growing medical marijuana. LSU Ag Center Chancellor Doctor Bill Richardson says the weed won’t be grown in a field outside…:
Cut 13 (12) “….drug environment“
The AgCenter plans to get a third-party investor involved to help pay for start-up costs.

The LSU board also voted Friday to implement a $177 hike in fees starting in the fall. LSU President F. King Alexander says the increases are a result of continued cuts to higher education. He added he does not like the amendment approved by the legislature that would fund TOPS in the fall, but not the spring. He says this would create series problems for students who need financial aid…:
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Governor Edwards could line-item veto the TOPS language.

A suspect wanted in a 2014 double murder case out of East Feliciana Parish has been returned to Louisiana after being located in Germany. State Police arrested one of the two people accused, 31-year-old Dulce Maria Funez, wanted for the murders of Eddy Earl Hall and Connie Hall of Ethel. State Police are still trying to locate the second suspect, 33-year-old Armando Reyes Diaz.

State agencies are not in agreement over how to handle the nationally known case of a Baton Rouge mother accused of abusing her children after they allegedly robbed a neighbor’s home. Schaquana Spears is facing two counts of child cruelty, and DCFS says discipline is a healthy part of parenting, but it’s abuse when the child is cut or bruised. Attorney General Jeff Landry says his office is looking into the case…:
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He says the worry is that DCFS will take the children away from their mother.

A last minute amended added to the state’s budget bill saying TOPS will be fully funded in the fall, but only 60% funded in the spring, is not being well received by LSU President F King Alexander…:
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It’s possible the governor will do a line item veto on the amendment, which would put TOPS back at 70% funded for both semesters.

There have been developments in the two cases of the officers who were shot in Louisiana. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newel Normand says the suspect in the murder of Deputy David Michel Jr. was sending text messages the prior day planning to commit other crimes. He added that witnesses say Jerman Neveaux shot Michel twice in the back as the deputy tried to crawl away.

In the shooting and injuring of two Ouachita Parish deputies, two 17 year olds were arrested with accessory after the fact for allegedly trying to lead cops away from the suspected gunman by giving false information. Ricky Wade Jr. is facing three charges of attempted first degree murder.

LSU President F King Alexander does NOT like the idea of fully funding TOPS this semester, but not next…:
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Governor John Bel Edwards believes the legislature accomplished a lot when it comes to funding important state services but came up short in certain areas. He says state funding for K-12 education will be reduced by 24 million dollars…:
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The Baton Rouge Police Department finds the child of the murdered pregnant woman, Lyntell Washington of Baton Rouge, was fathered by the suspect in the case, Robert Marks. Cops say the investigation is ongoing and the details aren’t being released.

The LSU Board of Supervisers says it will grow the plants needed to cultivate cannabis oil for patients in need, under the state’s medical marijuana law. LSU Ag Center Chancellor Doctor Bill Richardson says the research possibilities here are endless…:
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Nobody got all of the numbers right in the Megamillions drawing Friday night, so the jackpot grows to an estimated $390 million for Tuesday’s drawing. It’s the biggest prize offered in the game since March 18, 2014, when two tickets shared a $414 million jackpot.

Lawmakers added an amendment to the budget bill that means TOPS students would get all of their tuition paid in the fall semester, but they would have to pay about 60% of it in the spring. Upporters believe that more money will come in before then. But LSU President F King Alexander says the state is gambling with our students.

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It’s possible the governor will do a line item veto on the amendment, which would put TOPS back at 70% funded for both semesters.

Governor John Bel Edwards saw some wins in the second special session. Edwards says legislators provided adequate funding for the public-private hospitals that proved care for the poor and uninsured…

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Edwards also says higher education will not face any cuts, which is good news for students.

A Shreveport woman is wanted by police for making false accusations that a father molested his 5-month-old daughter. Lt. Bill Davis with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Carrie Rivers was a babysitter for the family of the infant and when her services were no longer needed, she made up this story to make the parents mad. He says this allegation created major problems.

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Davis says authorities believe Rivers is still in the northwest Louisiana area.

Two more individuals have been arrested in connection with the shooting of two Ouachita Parish sheriff deputies. Authorities have charged two 17-year-old with accessory after the fact after the teens allegedly tried to keep the police away from the suspected gunman, Ricky Wade Junior. The two boys called police claiming to be Wade wanting to turn himself in and gave dispatchers false addresses to lead them away from the real suspect.

LSU President F King Alexander does NOT like the idea of front loading the TOPS scholarship program because it still isn’t fully funded. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The man who fatally shot Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Deputy David Michel was released from the hospital today. Police say Jerman Neveaux admitted the gun her used to kill Michel was stolen. Authorities say text messages Neveaux sent just 15 minutes before the shooting indicate that he was looking to buy more stolen weapons.

Governor John Bel Edwards is not happy that the TOPS scholarship program will receive cuts. Edwards says he offered a plan to fully fund TOPS, but the scholarship program will only be funded at 70-percent. He says this is the first time TOPS has ever received a cut.

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Edwards says while the budget is honest and disciplined, he isn’t completely satisfied with the final product.

The Baton Rouge mother who was arrested for whipping her children after they robbed a house, Schaquana Spears, is facing two counts of child cruelty, and Attorney General Jeff Landry is concerned the department of children and family services will take her kids away. He says he is thankful his mother did not spare the rod to teach him a valuable lesson.

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Landry says his office will look into Spears’ case.