The TOPS task force is meeting and they are looking at several recommendations to change the popular scholarship program. Governor Edwards has said he doesn’t want to make major changes, but Senate Education Chairman Blade Morrish is proposing a four-thousand dollar stipend for those TOPS Opporutunity recipients, but the award amount would go up for students who achieve a higher ACT score and GPA…
cut 9 (07) “….21st century”
Morrish’s proposal would need legislative approval.

Louisiana has been experiencing a horrendous flu season and today the state is offering free vaccinations for the virus. Regional Health Director Dr. Marilyn Reynaud details who is at the highest risk of getting the flu…
Cut 11 (13) “of age”
The free flu shots will be available from 1-4:30 at more than 60 parish health units.

House Speaker Taylor Barras provides Governor Edwards with budget cutting proposals as part of the negotiations to solve next fiscal year’s billion dollar shortfall. House Republican delegation chairman Lance Harris says they are pushing for a lower spending cap…:
cut 14 (11) “budget reforms”
Edwards asked Republican lawmakers to present a plan on how to address the fiscal cliff which could be discussed in a special session next month.

One of the special guests at last night’s State of the Union was 14-year-old Bella Reed, who was born with cystic fibrois. Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s worked with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to support critical research and advances in eradicating the fatal disease….
cut 5 (10) “…cure it”