Many Americans will be on the road for the 4th of July holiday but that also means thieves will be on the prowl. Emelie Gunn has more on how to protect your home over the long weekend…
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Governor John Bel Edwards is not going to veto the TOPS legislation that nearly funds all fall tuition, but cuts more than half for spring. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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As many Americans are traveling over the holiday weekend, thieves are on the lookout for those leaving their homes. State Farm saw 1,420 theft claims in Louisiana in 2015. State Farm spokesperson Roszell Gadson says July is the third highest month for home theft claims. He says it’s very important that your home is prepared during the 4th of July weekend if you’re going to be hitting the road.
Gadson says wait until you’ve returned home from vacation to post pictures or chat about your trip on social media because you never know who is watching your posts. He says another way to be proactive is to ask your neighbor for a helping hand…
Gadson says installing an alarm system is always a good idea no matter what time of year. He says it’s smart to install timers for when you’re away on vacation.
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People and pets will be spending a lot of time outside this hot Fourth of July weekend, and the LSU Veterinary School advises people to protect their fur babies from heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be fatal. Associate professor and veterinarian Dr. Kirk Ryan says the number one danger is leaving pets in a hot car, but he says they can also get overheated when exercising outside.
Leaving an animal outside without enough water can not only hurt that pet, but it can also land a pet owned in jail because animal neglect is a crime. Ryan says there are steps pet parents can take to make sure their animals stay as cool as possible.
Forecasters say the heat index in Louisiana this weekend could reach 110 in some places. Ryan says people should monitor for signs of heat exhaustion in their pets and take necessary action if they think their animal is overheating.
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State Treasurer John Kennedy has announced that Louisiana has received $2.4 million for residents who are owed money from a settlement after the 2008 housing bubble burst. Kennedy says if your home was foreclosed during the financial crisis, you can go to LaTreasury.com to see if you have any unclaimed money.
Kennedy says most of the money belongs to people in Jefferson, East Baton Rouge, Orleans, St. Tammany and Caddo parishes. But he says they have money for people all around the state. He says the average amount owed is $300.
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Governor John Bel Edwards said he would not veto language in the appropriations bill that would “front load” the TOPS scholarship program. The governor added that a student’s tuition would be mostly funded in the fall, but they’d have to cover more than half in the spring. Higher Education Commissioner Dr. Joe Rallo says they support the governor…:
But those who oppose say this would place a massive burden on students in the spring. Edwards did criticize the legislation calling it a disingenuous budgeting gimmick by the Louisiana Legislature. Rallo says Edwards had a different plan in mind…:
Edwards says students should be prepared for cuts to TOPS in the fall, and an even bigger cut in the spring. But he said he believes vetoing the legislation would cause chaos just weeks before the next semester begins. Rallo says they respect the governor’s opinion…:
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A Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for solicitation of prostitution. State Trooper Scott Moreau says the investigation into 48-year-old Stacy Bender revealed he had an inappropriate relationship.
The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office says Bender was a deputy for over 17 years and has been terminated. Moreau says Bender is facing a total of 12 charges, and the investigation is ongoing.
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