The National Federation of Independent Business says Small Business Optimism only rose by one-tenth of a point for July, showing no significant enthusiasm for expansion. State Director Dawn Starns links this feeling to the uncertainty small business owners now face with all the recent tax changes Louisiana has seen during the legislative session. She says business owners are now going into maintenance mode…:
CUT 6 (08) “doors open”
She is hopeful things will look up when we near the election in the fall and believes lawmakers will address this in the April legislative session.

State Police is asking for the public’s help in locating the person they believe is responsible for causing a crash that closed down I-10 In Baton Rouge for over 12 hours on Friday. They say the driver was in a stolen vehicle when he allegedly hit an 18-wheeler that overturned, then fled the scene. The person of interest is described as having long blond and brown hair. He has tattoos covering both arms and legs.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announces that TOPS students will have to pay a small portion of their scholarship for the fall semester. Dardenne says when the second special session ended, lawmakers said TOPS students would be fully covered in the fall semester, but…:
CUT 1 (07) “spring semester”
Dardenne says they hope lawmakers will be able to allocate more money next year so future TOPS students are not hit with a bill for tuition.

State Treasurer John Kennedy is warning that a new scam is targeting people by pretending a national organization has their unclaimed property. He says potential victims are getting letters that ask them to buy a stamp in order to claim an award for unclaimed property. The authority to return unclaimed property is with the state treasurers office, not this organization says Kennedy. Anyone who gets this letter should contact his office.