Legislation that would give public colleges the authority to raise tuition and fees without legislative approval advanced out of the House Education Committee today. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says this legislation is needed because state funding for universities has been on the decline since 2008..:
CUT 6 (08) “some point”
Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson says he’d rather see state funding for higher education increase rather than tuition and fees, but so far a funding source involving state dollars has yet to emerge…:
CUT 9 (07) “do something”
The measure now heads to the House floor.

We heard sad news from the Capitol this morning. While on a trip to visit with lawmakers, Caddo District Attorney Charles Scott died at a Baton rouge hotel in his sleep last night. He was 67.

According to Federal Labor Statistics, Louisiana’s workforce grew while the unemployment rate dropped for a third month in a row. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

There is good news about the St. Charles Parish Deputy who was working a school crossing last week when he was gunned down by a crazed man. Corporal Burt Hazeltine was shot three times but he was released from the hospital and is recovering at home.