There’s another election coming up and early voting for the April election begins Saturday morning. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s concerned about the the future of TOPS. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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Many Louisiana residents probably do not know this, but there is an coming up. And early voting for the April 9th Municipal Election begins Saturday morning. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says there are 41 parishes statewide holding elections…:
The early voting period runs through Saturday April 2nd, but polls are closed Easter Sunday. Schedler says items on the ballot include local tax renewals, or runoffs if there were municipal elections in March to fill city council or mayoral seats…:
Schedler says there was a 30 percent turnout in the March Presidential primary, and this ballot will not generate as much buzz, but people still need to know it’s important to vote…:
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The Louisiana Attorney General’s office is warning flood victims or those donating to charities that there are fraudulent people looking to make a quick buck. Spokesperson Ruth Wisher says educate yourself before you donate to a charity or hire a contractor. She says never donate to a charity that asks for cash or wire transfers and doesn’t provide proof your contribution is tax deductible.
Wisher says they’re encouraging flood victims looking for home repair to get at least itemized, detailed bids from licensed contractors. She says if they are unlicensed that should be viewed as a red flag.
Wisher says FEMA will never call asking for financial account information and they always carry identification badges. She says don’t hesitate to call the Attorney General’s Office to ensure a contractor or charity is legitimate.
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A few years ago, Louisiana was ranked in the top ten nationally in tuberculosis rates, but the state Department of Health and Hospitals announces Louisiana’s case rate has fallen 43-percent since 2010. DHH Tuberculosis controller Michael Lacassagne says the potentially fatal bacterial infections can be both prevented and cured with proper treatment and the state has taken steps to do that
Lacassagne attributes the decrease to a new blood testing procedure to improve the diagnosis and a new therapy to prevent the progression of the tuberculosis. He says to keep the number down, they focus on high risk populations, like those with HIV or born outside of the country…
Lacassagne says Louisiana is the first state to adopt a statewide blood test for the detection of tuberculosis.
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Governor John Bel Edwards says changes to the TOPS scholarship program as we know it are likely coming, because of a 750-million dollar shortfall for next fiscal year’s budget. Edwards says because lawmakers are not able to raise additional revenues in this regular session, some tough cuts are needed…
Edwards says the cost of the TOPS scholarship program is 300-million dollars this fiscal year and the price tag is expected to rise as colleges and universities hike tuition costs. The governor says in these tough budget times, many government services and programs will unfortunately suffer…
If no legislation comes out of this session that changes the TOPS program, Edwards says there are policies already in place spelling out who would receive the scholarship, if the state can’t afford the program under the current eligibility requirements…
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