Governor John Bel Edwards will speak today at the Board of Regents monthly meeting. Higher education officials said the board will be approving the 2016-17 budgets Wednesday for the institutions based on what was passed in the Legislature. We still don’t know if Edwards will veto a line in the state budget bill that funds the TOPS program for the fall, but covers only about 45% of tuition in the spring.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson says it appears the trooper in the viral “body slamming” video used a common police tactic which was appropriate…:
CUT 3 (23) “I’m Halen Doughty”

US Senator Bill Cassidy has filed legislation that seeks to help prepare for potential health emergencies, like outbreaks of Ebola and Zika. The proposal would wave some red-tape regulations and authorize funding if a public health emergency is declared. Cassidy, a doctor, says this could help contain outbreaks…:
CUT 7 (10) “potential epidemic”
The bill would also authorize about $1.5 billion to control the outbreak when a health emergency is declared.

Athletic Departments from throughout the state are reacting to the death of coaching legend Pat Summitt, who passed after a difficult battle with dementia at the age of 64. LSU coach Nikki Fargas played and was an assistant for Summitt and said she wouldn’t be where she is today if it weren’t for her Tennessee coach. New Orleans native and former Vols quarterback Peyton Manning said he was always impressed with the positive impact Summitt had on her players — who had a 100% graduation rate under her leadership.