New Orleans Representative Walt Leger proposes to use Gulf oil spill money for possible long-term financing for Louisiana colleges. The state is expected to receive billions of dollars from BP to pay for economic damage caused by the spill and legislators have already dedicated the first $1 billion of that money. Leger’s proposal would target money above that. He says his proposal would fund higher education moving forward…

cut 5 (08) “funding in place”

The state Board of Regents have thrown their support behind Leger’s proposal.

Louisiana private employers have added 26-thousand jobs over the year based on February employment numbers, according to he Louisiana Workforce Commission. Executive Director Curt Eysink says says the state’s unemployment rate rose in the second half of 2014 as the state saw a large increase in people looking for jobs…

cut 14 (05) “finding work”

The unemployment rate for February was six-point-seven percent but it’s the second straight month it has declined.

The state department of agriculture and forestry will put out traps to track the invasive asian bug called the Emerald Ash Borer. Commissioner Mike Strain says the beetle, which is difficult to eradicate, is often transported into an area by infested firewood…

cut 11 (07) “you buy it”

The beetle was discovered recently in Webster Parish and it kills ash trees. Strain says the traps will be placed in high risk areas along the interstate, welcome centers and the Mississippi River delta.

An 8th grade student from Buckeye High School in Deville has started an online petition to change the uniform policy in Rapides Parish. Currently they are essentially only allowed to wear navy or khaki bottoms and white collared shirts. 14-year-old Brandon Richardson feels the current dress code is far too restrictive…

cut 7 (05) “still exists”

School leaders assert the current policy exists so that students can be easily identified on field trips.