Under the governor’s spending plan for next fiscal year, TOPS is once again only funded at 70-percent, and officials say it will take 80 million additional dollars to fully fund it. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo has concerns about how this underfunding will affect students.

Cut 4 (10) “differently”

The Board of Regents meets today to discuss potential changes to the scholarship program.

It’s a big weekend for many Louisianans, including Governor John Bel Edwards. But the governor won’t be at a parade, he’ll be in Washington fighting for more flood recovery dollars. His communications director Richard Carbo says Edwards is requesting an additional $2 billion in federal assistance.

Cut 15 (10) “on their feet”

Grambling State University has won the support of the University of Louisiana System Board to reinstate their undergraduate nursing program. University President Rick Gallot says they still need approval from the Board of Regents and the state Board of Nursing, and from there they can hire a program director.

Cut 11 (11) “fall of 2018”

The program was closed in 2015 when the passage rate fell below 80-percent.

Mardi Gras festivities are getting underway around the state. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the celebrations aren’t limited to just Cajun Country, as he was recently the Grand Marshall for the first ever parade in Ball.

Cut 7 (10) “celebrations”

Nungesser will also serve as Grand Marshall for a parade in Covington on Fat Tuesday.