Constant state funding cuts to higher education are concerning LSU President and Chancellor F. King Alexander. He feels if the trend keeps up, Louisiana will become the second state in the nation that doesn’t pay public colleges and universities. Dr. Alexander says there is no consistent source of cash to address the problem of the more than one billion dollars in deferred maintenance on campuses…:
CUT 6 (08) “backlog”
He says he hopes the matter will addressed by the next governor.

A fund has been set up by Southern University athletics and the Southern University System Foundation to help the family of injured Jaguars football player Devon Gales with medical expenses. Gales suffered a severe spinal injury in the third quarter of Saturday’s game at Georgia. You can find the link to the fund’s website at gojagsssports.com. Gales’ parents weren’t at the game, but they are with him at the hospital after being flown in on the University of Georgia’s dime.

The US Department of Veterans’ Affairs announces it has awarded a lease for a permanent Veterans Clinic in Lake Charles. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

ESPN’s Ed Werder is reporting that Saints quarterback Drew Brees will again test his injured rotator cuff today by throwing passes. This will be the first time Number 9 is giving his passing shoulder another try since Friday when the team determined he wasn’t ready to play against Carolina. The Saints take on the Cowboys in the Mercedes Benz Superdome this weekend.