Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols proposed a budget for next fiscal year that calls for a $211 million dollar cut to higher education. But she told lawmakers they could further reduce those cuts by raising the cigarette tax and using those revenues to provide families with a tax credit to help offset the costs for higher fees at public colleges…:
CUT 10 (07) “100 million dollars”
Lawmakers will be discussing budget solutions before passing a spending plan in June.

The Jefferson Davis Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men in connection with the homicide of a Lake Arthur man. Spokesman Christopher Ivey says deputies were dispatched to the home of 73-year-old Charles Talen, Sr. to notify him that his stolen vehicle had been found burned…:
CUT 12 (06) “inside his home”
18-year-old Roderick Cawthrone, Jr. and 18-year-old Brett Hebert, both of Lake Arthur, face first degree murder charges.
————————————
In the race for Governor US Senator David Vitter got the endorsement of former President George H.W. Bush. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the backing of Bush and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is a big boost in Vitter…:
CUT 7 (09) “on your side”
Vitter is the front runner in this year’s governor’s race, ahead of Republicans Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, and Democratic state Representative John Bel Edwards.

If you are out on the road this weekend, you’ve probably already noticed that gas prices are continuing their rapid rise, as the price jumped another 2 cents a gallon to an average of $2.19 . According AAA, that’s up 7 cents already from this time last week as refineries make the shift from the winter to summer blend of gasoline.