Governor John Bel Edwards will on Sunday meet with US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to talk about Medicaid expansion. Governor’s office spokesman Richard Carbo says the governor wants to ensure that the people who finally have health coverage are able to keep their insurance…:
CUT 7 (06) “Mr. Price”
He says over 402,000 working people in Louisiana have gotten coverage since Medicaid expansion.

A Gallup report finds Louisiana has some of the most enthusiastic employees in the country. According to the survey, 36-percent of Bayou State workers are engaged. It also found people are more engaged when they are self employed. LSU Assistant Professor in the Rucks Department of Management Jeremy Beus (bus) says this makes sense for Louisiana where there are many small businesses.
cut 4 (05) “own freedom”
Alabama leads in engagement at 37-percent.

The Shreveport Aquarium is letting the good times roll in a very different way this weekend, as they’ll attempt to break a Guinness World Record. Aquarium spokesperson Jake Wood says they’re inviting people to help break the record for the longest wave line just before the Krewe of Gemini parade…:
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To get more information about the record attempt and sign up to volunteer, visit ShreveportAquarium.com.

The big Mardi Gras weekend has arrived and cities and towns across the state will be celebrating carnival. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Fat Tuesday is not just popular in New Orleans and Lafayette, central and north Louisiana party too…:
Cut 25 (10) “celebrations”

On Sunday Governor John Bel Edwards will meet with US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to discuss Medicaid expansion. His Communications Director Richard Carbo says Edwards will have a chance to tell Price about the impact Medicaid expansion has had on the Bayou State.:
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The meeting comes amid ongoing discussions at the nation’s capital about repealing the Affordable Care Act.

A Baton Rouge man pleaded guilty today to a 2010 home invasion and murder of a single mother and injuring of her then 9-year-old in the Beauregard Town home. 27-year-old Aramis Jackson pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of 42-year-old Alexandra Engler, and attempted first degree murder of Ariana Engler. He was sentenced to life in prison on the first charge, and 50 years confined to hard labor on the second. Jackson was facing a trial in 5 months and a possible death sentence if convicted.

Today the Board of Regents is looking at proposed changes to TOPS…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

It’s Carnival time, and cities and towns across the state will be celebrating Mardi Gras over the next four days. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Fat Tuesday parties throughout Louisiana have really grown over the years.
25 (11) “Louisiana”
More than a million people get down in The Big Easy for Mardi Gras with the biggest parades, Endymion and Bacchus, rolling on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Under the governor’s spending plan for next fiscal year, TOPS is once again only funded at 70-percent, and officials say it will take 80 million additional dollars to fully fund it. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo has concerns about how this underfunding will affect students.

Cut 4 (10) “differently”

The Board of Regents meets today to discuss potential changes to the scholarship program.

It’s a big weekend for many Louisianans, including Governor John Bel Edwards. But the governor won’t be at a parade, he’ll be in Washington fighting for more flood recovery dollars. His communications director Richard Carbo says Edwards is requesting an additional $2 billion in federal assistance.

Cut 15 (10) “on their feet”

Grambling State University has won the support of the University of Louisiana System Board to reinstate their undergraduate nursing program. University President Rick Gallot says they still need approval from the Board of Regents and the state Board of Nursing, and from there they can hire a program director.

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The program was closed in 2015 when the passage rate fell below 80-percent.

Mardi Gras festivities are getting underway around the state. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the celebrations aren’t limited to just Cajun Country, as he was recently the Grand Marshall for the first ever parade in Ball.

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Nungesser will also serve as Grand Marshall for a parade in Covington on Fat Tuesday.

While many Louisianans will be celebrating Mardi Gras this weekend, Governor John Bel Edwards is heading to Washington to discuss more federal assistance for flood and tornado recovery. The governor’s Communications Director Richard Carbo says they will meet with the acting FEMA Administrator today on the twisters.
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He says they will also be asking for another $2 billion dollars for flood relief from the president himself.

Would a flat grant be an option that would help make the TOPS program more affordable?…:
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That’s Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo who will discuss TOPS recommendations to present to the legislature when the Board of Regents meets today. Under the governor’s budget proposal for next fiscal year, TOPS is only funded at its current level: 70%.

It’s about that time to let the good times roll. Mardi Gras celebrations are taking place throughout the state today. But nothing compares to the party happening in The Big Easy. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says revelers go non-stop through Fat Tuesday…:
Cut 9 (09) “Mardi Gras”

Grambling State University officials are working to have the undergraduate nursing program reinstated by 2018….:
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Under the governor’s budget proposal for next fiscal year unveiled Thursday, TOPS is funded at its current level: 70%. The Board of Regents is meeting today to discuss possible changes that could be made to the program to make it more sustainable. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says one option would be requiring students to take 30 credit hours a semester rather than 24…:
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If approved by the legislature, the changes to the program would impact the incoming class of 2018.

The U.S. Justice Department and attorneys in New Orleans and Lafayette announced Thursday that an oil company will have to pay $9.5 million dollars in penalties over allegations of falsely reporting safety inspections and violating the Clean Water Act in the Gulf of Mexico. Wood Group will pay $7 million for the false reports, and $1.8 million for discharging oil into the gulf in a November 2012 explosion that killed three people.

It’s Carnival time, and cities and towns across the state will be celebrating Mardi Gras over the next four days. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Fat Tuesday parties throughout Louisiana have really grown over the last few years…:
Cut 8 (11) “Louisiana”
More than a million people get down in The Big Easy for Mardi Gras with the biggest parades, Endymion and Bacchus, rolling on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Grambling State University is one step closer to reinstating their undergraduate nursing program. It closed in December of 2015, and the school has been working to get a new program instated. Grambling President Rick Gallot says they have the support of the UL-System Board, but the work is far from over…:
Cut 10 (11) “Board of Nursing”
He says once approved they can hire a program director and move forward.

Today the Board of Regents will look at proposed changes to TOPS, as the program is only funded at 70-percent under the governor’s spending plan for next fiscal year…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Southern University is one step closer to going ahead with a plan to launch a medical marijuana operation. Ag Center leaders announced Thursday that they are offering a five-year contract to a single vendor to get things rolling. Southern officials say first it’ll be important to educate the public to remove any negative stereotypes the community may have on how the drug will be used.

The big Mardi Gras weekend has arrived and cities and tows across the state will be celebrating carnival. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Fat Tuesday is not just popular in New Orleans and Lafayette, central and north Louisiana party too. He was recently the Grand Marshall of the first parade ever in the Rapides Parish town of Ball…:
Cut 7 (10) “celebrations”
CNN reports that more than a million people visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras every year.

While many Louisianans will be celebrating Carnival this weekend, Governor John Bel Edwards is heading to Washington. Communications Director Richard Carbo says another $2 billion is needed for Louisiana to have a full and robust recovery from the Great Flood of 2016…:
Cut 15 (10) “on their feet”
He says the Governor has planned meetings with the Louisiana delegation, the FEMA Administrator and the president himself.

TOPS is not fully funded under the governor’s spending plan for next fiscal year and officials say it will take more than 80 million additional dollars to cover it. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo has concerns about how students will react to TOPS once again being funded at only 70-percent…:
Cut 4 (10) “differently”
The Board of Regents meets today to discuss possible changes to TOPS.

Governor John Bel Edwards is heading to Washington to lobby for more federal disaster assistance for flood and tornado victims. Communications Director Richard Carbo says this will give the governor a chance to discuss his request for an additional $2 billion in federal flood recovery aid…:
Cut 14 (07) “on Monday”
He says today they will meet with FEMA today to discuss what is needed to help people recover from the recent tornadoes.

The big Mardi Gras weekend is here and celebrations are in full swing in every corner of the state. Emelie Gunn has more..:
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The founder of Facebook, billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, made a stop in Baton Rouge on Thursday to feast at a local BBQ joint. Zuckerberg announced at the start of the year that he planned to visit every state to meet locals and yesterday’s stop was apparently one of many in Louisiana.