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 that will not automatically go up with the cost of tuition. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says he’s gotten a lot of letters from students and others who are against messing with TOPS…

cut 11 (06) “cap on it”

Governor Bobby Jindal has already said he opposes the measure. The bill now heads to the House for further debate.

Senate president John Alario denies any wrongdoing in spite of a media report that says federal investigators are looking into how he spent campaign contributions. 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.

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…

cut 13 (09) “spike strips”

Anderson says the driver, later identified as 28-year-old Shannon Laycock, faces several charges including aggravated flight from an officer and resisting arrest.

A march, sponsored by the LSU Alumni Association’s Tiger Advocates, is planned on the State Capitol today to protest the state’s proposed $600 million budget cut to higher education. Stacey Messina, Association Director of Marketing and Communications, says says anyone who supports LSU is invited to participate…

cut 5 (07) “to attend”

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.