Governor John Bel Edwards announces enrollment for the state’s expanded Medicaid program will begin June 1st. Edwards told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee that expanding Medicaid will benefit the state greatly by cutting healthcare costs and improving health outcomes. He says the expansion will also save the state much-needed dollars in critical budget times…:
CUT 3 (06) “million dollars”
He says over 300-thousand Louisiana residents will be eligible for enrollment.

If there isn’t enough money to fund the TOPS scholarship program, there’s a measure that could get a vote on the Senate floor this afternoon that would line out a contingency plan. Currently, if the scholarship program is underfunded, TOPS students with lower ACT scores and without financial need, lose their scholarships. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish seeks to change it, so all TOPS students receive at least some scholarship money…:
Cut 13 (04) “totally”
TOPS is expected to cost the state 300-million dollars next fiscal year.

Nicholls State launches a lecture series tonight that’s designed to encourage females to pursue a career as a chef. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Fire investigators are still working to determine how a blaze started in a Ville Platte home that claimed the life of a 106 year old man. They say Edwards “Knotoe” Thomas Jr, one of Louisiana’s longest-living citizens and retired police officer, was alone at the home he shared with family members when the tragic fatal fire started in the attic.