Governor John Bel Edwards says TOPS students will not get a tuition bill this semester, despite money issues with the taxpayer funded scholarship. Edwards says if the state is unable to pay a TOPS recipient’s tuition, colleges will absorb those costs…
cut 14 (06) “current semester”
Edwards says next school year could be a different story, if the state doesn’t raise enough revenue to help pay for this program and keep it where pays a recipients full tuition.

In a special televised address Governor John Bel Edwards said there is a possibility there will be no LSU football next fall unless legislators resolve the state’s budget deficit. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this kind of scare tactic is common among government officials who seek to raise taxes.
CUT 7 (05) “everywhere”
The state’s budget deficit is $940 million for this fiscal year.

The Governor’s Executive Budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year will be presented to lawmakers this afternoon. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says if lawmakers want to spend only the money that they think is coming in to Louisiana in FY-17, it doesn’t look good.
CUT 4 (10) “a reality”
The adopted economic forecast projects the deficit for the next fiscal year at around $2 billion dollars.

Baton Rouge police say two of their officers were shot and a suspect was also shot during a shootout that occurred this morning. A police spokesperson says the officers are in stable condition, while the suspect was in surgery. The incident started when the officers responded to a call about damaged property. The suspect then drove off in a vehicle, but got out of his car two miles later and according to authorities started to shooting at police.