State Treasurer John Schroder is facing a lawsuit from Governor Edwards after refusing to turn over an estimated 25-million dollars in unclaimed property money to help fund the governor’s proposed 32-billion dollar budget. Schroder says using unclaimed money in the budget is bad public policy.
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Edwards released a statement that the Unclaimed Property Fund hit a balance of more than $78-million, leaving a healthy balance of funds for Schroder to distribute.

Teacher unions are upset the budget does not contain a line item that will guarantee educators will receive a pay raise for a second consecutive year. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says Edwards campaigned on pushing for further teacher pay raises…
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The Edwards administration says they are proposing an increase in funding for public schools and leaving it up to individual school districts to use that money for teacher pay raises.

Holden Matthews, the white man accused of torching three African-American St. Landry Parish churches last spring, has a plea-change hearing today in Lafayette. Matthews originally pleaded not guilty to several federal charges. Legal analyst Tim Meche says during the hearing the judge will make sure Matthews is changing his plea voluntarily…
cut 7 (10) “….is guilty”
Matthews faces several years in prison if convicted.

During the upcoming session, lawmakers will look at ways to reduce auto insurance rates, but one Senator says he’s filed a few bills that he says are common-sense solutions. Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau says one of his bills would prevent insurance companies from charging you more for your insurance just because you have a lower credit rating…
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Luneau says he has also has a bill that would insurers from raising rates on people who are widowed