If lawmakers reach an agreement on a budget today, TOPS is expected to be fully funded. Jeff Palermo has the latest
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Today Former-FBI Director James Comey is expected to testify before a US Senate committee. Halen Doughty spoke with Louisiana’s junior US Senator…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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The 2017 legislative session ends today. Emelie Gunn looks at what they accomplished…
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Budget negotiations continue at the Capitol, but the House and Senate say they plan to fully fund TOPS next fiscal year. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says education leaders are still holding their breath until the session ends this evening. He says funding TOPS gives students some certainty, but its possible scholarship recipients will pay some money towards tuition costs.
TOPS was decoupled from tuition increases during last year’s legislative session. Rallo says all of the uncertainty surrounding TOPS and higher ed funding in Louisiana could impact enrollment numbers. He says other states like Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama are trying to recruit Louisiana students.
Lawmakers from both chambers are meeting behind closed doors trying to reach a compromise on the budget, as the House proposed withholding two percent of the revenue forecast in case of shortfalls. Rallo says that would mean a $19 million cut to higher ed.
The legislature must agree to a budget plan by 6 p.m. today.
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Former-FBI Director James Comey is slated to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee today on his role in the investigation into possible Russian hacking in the presidential election. US Senator John Kennedy says he’s anxious to hear what Comey has to say. He says he was surprised the former FBI director agreed to testify at all.
Cut 7 (09) “in the first place”
President Donald Trump fired Comey last month, amid the investigation that alleges Russia hacked into Democratic Party emails, which may have helped Mr. Trump win the election. Kennedy says we have to get to the bottom of what Russia did during the election.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russian has never been involved in hacking at the state level and that no one can influence elections. But Kennedy says that’s not true at all.
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The 2017 regular session comes to a close today and Capitol observers say not much was accomplished. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says the state has been dealing with budget deficits for the last decade and this was supposed to be the year to address the problem.
Erwin says a special session is imminent as the state is facing a looming fiscal cliff as 1.3 billion dollars in temporary taxes are set to expire next year. He says the most significant legislation to come out of this session was the reduction of sentences for some non-violent criminals and the expansion of parole and probation opportunities.
Erwin says it’s very hard to get anything accomplished in an environment like this with the GOP dominated House and the Democratic governor disagreeing with most everything. But he says one good thing that came out of this session is the passage of a resolution that forms a taskforce to examine the TOPS Scholarship program.
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Three Jennings men have been arrested for allegedly shooting alligators from the bed of a pickup truck. Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says 24-year-old Rhett Guidry, 19-year-old Dodie Bouley, and 23-year-old Kyle Thibodaux were cited for illegally hunting gators, among other things.
Cut 13 (10) “citations as well”
The men were also cited for taking frogs using illegal methods, as they were shooting the frogs as well. Einck says one of the men posted a video of the incident on Facebook. He says LDWF agents were informed about the post and made contact with the suspects.
Einck says all three men face up to $2,500 in fines, as well as a $751 restitution fee for the replacement value of the alligators. He says they could also face jail time if convicted.
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Former LSU assistant and current Mississippi State Head Coach Andy Cannizaro says his team knows what it will take to beat the Tigers in this weekend’s Super Regional series. LSU swept the Bulldogs in a three-game series last month and Cannziaro believes his club has more confidence this time around
After losing the first game at the Hattiesburg Regional, Mississippi State won four straight to advance to the best out of three Super Regional series with the Tigers. Cannizaro says his team is looking forward to the challenge…
Cut 17 (20) “like our chances”
Cannizaro was Tigers hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons, before taking the head coaching job at Mississippi State. He wishes the LSU players the best, but it’s his job to beat them this weekend…