The House Appropriations Committee sends a budget to the full House that fully funds TOPS and Go Grants, but makes cuts to higher education and health care. Jim Shannon has more…
The full House will likely make changes to the proposed spending plan on Thursday.
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A solider died from a gunshot wound at his residence in Fort Polk last Thursday. Matt Doyle has more.
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The House Appropriations Committee approves a budget that fully funds TOPS. The Revenue Estimating Committee recognized 346- million in new revenues and 233-million dollars of that would go towards TOPS under this proposal. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says the TOPS funding proposal gives students false hope, but because he anticipates amendments to reduce TOPS funding….
Governor John Bel Edwards released a statement saying “TOPS is absolutely a priority, and should be fully funded, but so should higher education institutions, and healthcare.”
Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil authored the amendment to fully fund TOPS….
But Baton Rouge representative Pat Smith says health care will take a hit in the process which is not good.
Smith says the amendment to fully fund TOPS means public colleges would receive a 22 million dollar cut in funding.
Cut 6 (:12) “doesn’t connect.”
More changes in the budget are expected when the bill hits the House Floor on Thursday.
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Clean up is underway in Bossier Parish after some nasty weather trashed the northern part of the parish on Saturday. Most of the damage occurred just north of I-20 near Red Chute. Bossier Sheriff spokesperson Lt. Bill Davis says a tornado tore through a town just outside of Bossier City.
Debris pickup is now underway in the affected areas. Unfortunately, there was one fatality. Davis says Carli Ortiz, an infant, died at mobile home park in Haughton…
Davis says life, for the most part, is back to normal in Bossier Parish. He says it was inspiring to see the community come together after the storm whipped the area.
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A bill that would require 18-wheelers to be in the right hand lane while traveling on interstates through Baton Rouge from 4 to 7 PM weekdays passed the House Transportation Committee. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter says he’s trying to do something about the daily back-ups that happen in the capital city…
Lobbyist Maria Bowen representing the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, is against the measure. She says even though forcing truck drivers into the right lane may have some benefits, the poor infrastructure in place in Baton Rouge negates any positives. She cited a 2008 study…
Bowen says Interstates were designed to handle heavy transport traffic, not commuters to and from work, which leaves too many drivers and not enough interstates…
Carter acknowledged an infrastructure improvement to I-10 from the Mississippi River bridge to the 10/12 split, but is afraid it’s too little too late…
The bill now moves to the full House.
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The National Weather Service confirms three tornadoes touched down in Acadiana Saturday morning. Parishes affected included Lafayette, St. Landry and St. Mary Parish, with the strongest tornado touching down north of Carencro. National Weather Service Lake Charles Meteorologist Donald Jones they varied in intensity…
Jones says some damage was reported with the EF-2 tornado in Lafayette Parish near Carencro…
National Weather Service forecasters are already concerned as another strong cold front will move through the Pelican State this weekend…
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