A K-12 online public charter schools is now offering high school students the chance to receive a free two year associate’s degree when they graduate. Emelie Gunn has more…
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Couples with minor children will not be able to get an expedited divorce, as the House rejects a proposal by Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson. Halen Doughty has more…
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After the governor’s proposed commercial activity tax was tabled for the session, Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s time for GOP leaders to propose their own plan. Jeff Palermo has more…
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University View, a public online charter K-12 school, is expanding to offer high school students the chance to receive a free two year Associate’s Degree when they graduate from high school. UView Superintendent Dr. Lonnie Luce says most college courses will be available online but some classes in the technical field are face to face at a community college campus.
Luce says the Early College Program allows graduates to save two years of costs towards a college degree or be prepared to enter a technical field at a higher pay rate. He says now that UView is a K-14 public school, the number of students increased to 2,300.
The program will start during the fall semester of 2017. Luce says families interested in the early college program can attend an information session online or in person by visiting University-view-dot-academy (universityview.academy). He says enrollment for the program is now open.
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A measure that would prohibit the use of tobacco products anywhere on a public or private school campus is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee today. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says in the 90’s, Louisiana made it illegal to smoke in schools, but this legislation will expand on that law.
Hoffman says there will be some exceptions to the bill, like churches or other non-educational buildings. But the West Monroe legislator says measure also includes e-cigarettes and similar devices…
Hoffman says the proposed law allows you to bring cigarettes or tobacco on a school campus, but you would not able to smoke or chew tobacco. He says the use of smoking cessation products on the property would be allowed under the measure.
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The House rejects a bill to shorten the waiting period for a divorce for parents with minor children. The proposal by Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson would reduce the waiting period from one year to six months. But Livingston Representative Sherman Mack says families need ample time to make sure they’re making the right decision.
The bill sought to undo an extended waiting period that was put on the books for couples with children, as lawmakers believed given ample time, couples could resolve their problems. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds also opposed the bill. He says he stands against divorce, period.
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But Jefferson is disappointed his legislation failed on a 52-44 vote. He says the longer waiting period isn’t fair to couples who just want the stress of the divorce to be finalized in a speedy fashion.
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Governor John Bel Edwards remains hopeful lawmakers can pass a budget plan to address the loss of one-point-three billion dollars in temporary taxes that expire next year. Edwards spoke with reporters shortly after his proposed Commercial Activity Tax on businesses was tabled for the legislative session. Edwards says there are still multiple tax bills waiting to be discussed.
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But Edwards says since the GOP dominated House Ways and Means committee didn’t like his plan, House Republican leaders should unveil their own proposal.
But Chairman of the House Republican Legislative Delegation Lance Harris of Alexandria says the legislative process is their plan and that starts with the proposed budget for next fiscal year.
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Harris says legislators will continue to look at various bills. Other ideas on the table include changing how sales taxes are collected and altering income tax brackets. He anticipates the GOP can support some of those ideas.