Governor Bobby Jindal will be announcing his presidential plans on June 24th according to a top adviser. The Governor is set to announce his decision in New Orleans according to Timmy Teepel who will possibly be Jindal’s campaign manager for the likely bid. A presidential exploratory committee was launched by the Republican hopeful earlier this month.

The state House approves legislation that puts spending controls on the TOPS scholarship program. The Senate bill locks in the amount of the award at the 2015-2016 level. Instead of an automatic increase when tuition goes up, TOPS payments would need legislative approval to be increased. Amite Representative John Bel Edwards supports Senator Jack Donahue’s bill…:
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The Senate has approved the legislation but they must vote again on technical changes made on the House side.

The Senate Finance Committee approves a bill that would increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes 64 cents which is 32 cents higher than what the House agreed to. The panel also agreed to increase the tax on cigars and vaping products which the bill’s author, Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie, supports. House Ways and Means Chairman Joel Robideaux has said the lower chamber may not go along with a proposal to increase the cigarette tax further.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is now offering an electronic version of hunting and fishing licenses for purchase. Scott Carwile has more…:
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