The LSU Alumni Association’s Tiger Advocates is sponsoring a march today on the State Capitol to protest the state’s proposed $600 million budget cut to higher education. Eric Gill reports…
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Senate president John Alario is denying any wrongdoing despite a media report that says federal investigators are looking into how he spent campaign contributions. Michelle Southern reports…:
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The full Senate approves a bill that’s designed to control the cost of the TOPS scholarship program. Scott Carwile reports…:
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The LSU Alumni Association’s Tiger Advocates is sponsoring a march today on the State Capitol to protest the state’s proposed $600 million budget cut to higher education. Stacey Messina, Association Director of Marketing and Communications, says if these cuts take place, it’s the students that are impacted most…
LSU officials say these proposed cuts could result in the closing of satellite campuses and drastic losses of academic programs and faculty on the main campus. The march will begin at AZ Young Park at the Pentagon Barracks and proceed to the steps of the State Capitol at 1PM. Messina says anyone who supports LSU is invited to participate…
She says Senator Dan Claitor and Representative John Bel Edwards will speak at the event, as well as students expressing their concerns about the proposed cuts. Messina says students are very well aware of the gravity of the situation…
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Senate president John Alario is denying any wrongdoing despite a media report that says federal investigators are looking into how he spent campaign contributions. Apparently the FBI is looking into his campaign records after media reports suggested Alario misreported as much as $20,000. But Alario says this is news to him…:
CUT 7 (06) “want to cooperate”
According to reports Alario didn’t disclose the proper amount he spent for LSU tickets and a fundraiser at a New Orleans golf course. Alario says they have filed all of the reports required and followed all state laws, but they did make a couple of mistakes…:
Cut 8 (07) “not a criminal intent”
Alario says when this is all said he done he is confident that everything will be okay…:
Cut 9 (04) “experience at times”
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The full Senate approves a bill that’s designed to control the cost of the TOPS scholarship program. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue’s legislation would provide each TOPS recipient with a set amount and it will not automatically go up with the cost of tuition. He says this is about ensuring the future of the program for our kids…:
Cut 10 (04) “be able to afford it”
The bill now heads to the House for further debate. Governor Bobby Jindal has already said he opposes the measure. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says he’s gotten a lot of letters from students and others who are against messing with TOPS…:
Each student would get a base amount and under the proposal the rate would be locked in at the 2015-16 level. The amount would not automatically go up even if tuition goes up, without legislative approval. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says on its current track, the TOPS program is not sustainable…:
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State Police say a Lake Charles woman led cops on a wild 24 minute long chase Wednesday on I-10. Sgt. James Anderson says a trooper near Welsh encountered the driver who made eye contact with him then began to speed up and pass vehicles on the shoulder for an unknown reason…:
Anderson says the driver, later identified as 28-year-old Shannon Laycock, refused to stop and continued to drive recklessly at a high rate of speed. Troopers deployed spike strips and the vehicle was successfully stopped on I-10 near Duson in Acadia Parish. She faces many charges…:
(Laycock was arrested for reckless operation of a motor vehicle, aggravated flight from an officer, speeding, driving on the shoulder, 2 counts of aggravated battery (for striking police vehicles with the vehicle she was driving), and resisting arrest. )
Cut 14 (08) “resisting arrest”
Anderson says Laycock was booked into the Acadia Parish Jail and she will face additional charges in Jefferson Davis Parish. He says the woman resisted arrest after hitting cop cars with her vehicle…:
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Tonight is the first round of the NFL draft and there are two players from LSU that could hear their name called, but both are dealing with off the field issues. One of them is offensive tackle La’el Collins, who Baton Rouge police want to question about the murder of a pregnant woman. NFL Draft analyst Mike Detillier still believes Collins is a sure fire first rounder
Cornerback Jalen Collins, no relation to La’el, also has a chance to be selected in the first round, but it’s been reported Jalen failed multiple drug tests at LSU. Detillier says Collins could be a late 1st first round pick or early second round selection as some teams are not scared off by failed drug tests…
Tonight is the first round of the draft and the draft will continue with rounds two and three on Friday and then rounds four through seven will be Saturday. The Saints have nine draft picks, including two in the first round. General Manager Mickey Loomis says its unrealistic to think that all nine players they will select, will be future starters
There’s a lot of talk from all of the teams about selecting players with high character. Loomis says they won’t write a player off, just because of a couple of red flags…