Today is the third day of the special session to address the state’s $957 million deficit. Head of the Council for a Better Louisiana Barry Erwin says this session may only provide short-term solutions for this fiscal year, which ends June 30. Erwin says the budget has been in trouble for several years and lawmakers should have addressed it sooner.
CUT 4 (08) “started happening”
Erwin says legislators know some money will be coming in from BP and the rainy day fund, but it may not be enough.
Parents may not be able to count on the TOPS scholarship in the future.
The state funded scholarship program has run into funding troubles as part of the budget crisis. Certified financial planner Anne Osestriecher says people should prepare for having to pay their own tuition…:
cut 30 (05) “can have”
She encourages parents to research scholarships as many go unclaimed every year because students don’t apply for them.
Former Saints safety Darren Sharper faces charges for allegedly drugging and raping multiple women. Sharper has received a new plea hearing set for Thursday. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Sharper already plead guilty in other jurisdictions. He says the agreement Sharper accepted isn’t likely to be accepted by the two female Louisiana judges he’s in front of now, US District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo and state District Judge Karen Herman.
The new trial date is set for May 16th.
A reward is being offered for information about a birdhouse stolen from a residence in Lafourche Parish. Sergeant Brennan Matherne says a surveillance video shows an unknown female exiting a vehicle from the passenger’s side, walking onto the victim’s property and removing the birdhouse.Matherne says regardless of the severity of the crime, he hope this shows the public that if anything is stolen from your property, you should let authorities know…: