A lot of questions still surround the budget on the final day of the regular session, but the House and Senate agree that fully funding TOPS is a priority. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says this is an improvement over last year, but the uncertainty of TOPS funding has encouraged other states to recruit Louisiana students.

Cut 5 (10) “on it”

Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says funding TOPS is one good thing that came out of a session where not much was accomplished. He’s also pleased a resolution was passed to form a taskforce that will examine the TOPS scholarship program.

Cut 12 (10) “in the future”

The session ends tonight at 6 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries arrests three Jennings men for hunting alligators in a drainage canal from the bed of a pickup truck. Spokesperson Adam Einck says 24-year-old Rhett Guidry, 19-year-old Dodie Bouley, and 23-year-old Kyle Thibodaux have been cited for illegally hunting gators, among other things.

Cut 13 (10) “citations as well”

The men also faces charges for taking frogs using illegal methods.

LDWF agents also rescued a partially blind man in Rapides Parish. Einck says 48-year-old Charles Pickering was last seen Monday afternoon. He was found yesterday afternoon in a wooded area less than half a mile from his house. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.