Lawmakers failed to raise enough revenue in the special session to fully fund the TOPS scholarship program. However, an amendment was added that means TOPS students would get all of their tuition paid in the fall semester, but they would have to pay about 60% in the spring. LSU President F King Alexander doesn’t think this is fair to students or their parents.
It’s possible the governor will do a line item veto on the amendment.
Governor John Bel Edwards believes the legislature accomplished a lot when it comes to funding important state services but came up short in certain areas. Based on the taxes raised during the two special sessions, Edwards says higher education will not face any cuts, which is good news for students.
Edwards is disappointed that public schools will see a cut in funding.
An Abbeville man will spend the rest of his life in prison for fatally shooting a Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s deputy. District Attorney Keith Stutes says 22-year-old Quintylan Richard entered a plea of guilty on the two-year anniversary when he shot Deputy Allen Bares. Stutes says Richard did show some remorse for his crime. He says in the courtroom Richard apologized to the family and Bares’ wife.
Bares was 51-years-old and spent 12 years as a deputy with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s office.
Two more arrests have been made in the shooting of two Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Deputies. 17-year-olds Rodricus Shaw and Dominque Dean both called police claiming to be alleged shooter Rickie Wade Jr. wanting to turn himself in and then gave dispatchers false addresses. They could both be charged with accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder.