As a way to help reduce cuts to higher education, The Jindal administration proposes higher fees to attend public college, but provide a tax credit to offset those costs, which would be paid for by raising the cigarette tax. But Chairman of the Republican House Delegation, state Representative Lance Harris of Alexandria doesn’t like the idea of a cigarette tax…

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Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Amite representative John Bel Edwards, says he’s not a fan of Jindal’s proposal, either.

Common Core exams begin in two weeks and Abbeville Representative Bob Hensgens has pre-filed a bill that will prevent penalties if a student decides to opt out of testing. He says there is currently no law that levies penalties for not taking the tests, but that’s not what he’s hearing from school districts…

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Hensgens’ bill would protect students, schools, and school systems from non-participation penalties.

State Police say a single vehicle fatal crash in St. Landry Parish has killed an Opelousas man. Authorities say 32-year-old Reginald Jenkins drove off of the road while entering a curve, drove through a wooden fence, and struck a storage building. The car continued traveling and ended up overturned in a shallow canal. Jenkins was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

NBC’s hit show “The Voice” continues its blind auditions tonight and three contestants with Louisiana ties have already made it through. Michelle Southern reporting.

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