The budget standstill could be coming to an end. The Senate Finance committee is laying out its plans to tackle this fiscal year’s 900-million dollar budget deficit. It’s likely a conference committee will be needed to iron out differences between the House and Senate when it comes to cuts and taxes. But Senate President John Alario likes the direction that budget talks are heading…
cut 10 (07) “to it”

Lawmakers have begun filing bills for the regular session to alter the TOPS scholarship program. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish says legislators tried to cap the amount of the dollars going to TOPS last year, but former Governor Bobby Jindal vetoed the bill. He says lawmakers also want to address the situation of TOPS students dropping out without graduating…
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The Senate Education Chairman has also filed legislation so that TOPS would no longer cover 100-percent of a student’s tuition.

Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle announced today he’s joining the race for the 3rd Congressional District seat. Jeff Palermo reports…:
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UL-Lafayette will have to vacate 22 football games between 2011 and 2014 after two-year investigation by the NCAA Committee. The committee found that a former assistant coach falsified ACT scores for five students, which means those students were ineligible to play. The voice of the Ragin Cajuns Jay Walker says he understands the committee’s ruling and the school accepts the penalties and will move on.
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The state House has finally started taking up tax bills and today sent to the senate a bill that would raise the cigarette tax in Louisiana by another 22 cents to $1.08 a pack. The vote was 73 yeas and 26 nays, and it needed 70 to pass. The bill’s author is New Orleans Representative, Walt Leger…:
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The Senate Finance committee laid out its plan today for fixing the state’s 900-million dollar budget shortfall for this fiscal year, but they need the House to agree to pass 83 million dollars in tax bills.

Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle announced today he’s joining the race for the 3rd Congressional District seat. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says, although Angelle is leading the pack of 6, it’s still anyone’s race…:
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Lawmakers are filing bills for the regular session that will make changes to the TOPS scholarship program. Halen Doughty has more…:
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UL-Lafayette will have to vacate 22 football games between 2011 and 2014, as a result of a two-year NCAA Committee investigation into allegations a former coach faked ACT scores for recruits which means they weren’t eligible to play. The Ragin Cajuns can no longer claim victory in the games they played in. Jay Walker is the voice of the Ragin Cajuns…:
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The Senate Finance committee laid out its plan today for fixing the state’s 900-million dollar budget shortfall for this fiscal year, but they need assistance from the House. Chairman Eric LaFleur says after putting the numbers together through a combination of tax increases and budget cuts, they can close the deficit, if the House agrees to pass more tax bills that will generate an additional 83-million dollars…:
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The full House meets this afternoon where they could decide to raise taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and internet sales.

Bills related to the TOPS scholarship are being filed for the regular session. Senate Education Chairman Blade Morrish of Jennings says one of his measures would change the popular scholarship program so that it’s not 100% funding a student’s tuition…:
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Morrish says bill seeks to raise the GPA requirement for the TOPS award from a 2.5 to a 2.75 and the ACT score from a 20 to a 21.

Public Service Commissioner and former gubernatorial candidate Scott Angelle says he’s running for the 3rd Congressional District seat being left open by US Senate candidate Charles Boustany. There are now five Republicans in the race and UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says with such a crowded field, candidates will need to identify strongly with the region…:
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He says, with this announcement, Angelle becomes the clear front runner.

The NCAA says UL-Lafayette will have to vacate 22 football games as part of a 2 year investigation into allegations a former coach faked ACT scores for recruits. The games were played between 2011-14 and include victories in the 2011 and 2013 New Orleans Bowl. Athletic Director Scott Farmer says while it’s a disappointing ruling, they are glad to finally put this matter to bed.

Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle announced today he’s joining the race for the 3rd Congressional District seat. He joins five other Republicans looking for the spot being vacated by Congressman Charles Boustany who’s running for US Senate. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says, now that it’s official, Angelle becomes the clear favorite…:
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Other announced candidates include former state lawmaker Brett Geymann, Erick Knezek, Lt. Col Gregory Ellison, Gus Rantz and Grover Joseph Rees.

The Senate finance committee seems to be making some big changes to the House approved bill which contained millions in cuts to government spending. The proposal would cut $37 million — a significant decline from the $106 million sent over from the lower chamber. The House convenes at 1pm and there are a number of tax increase proposals on the agenda. Lawmakers are working to come together on ways to correct the current $940 million dollar deficit. The special session must end Wednesday.

A man accused of being a member of the Gremlins street gang turned himself in to police late Wednesday. Abbeville Chief Tony Hardy says 22-year-old Cody Guidry of Abbeville is one of 17 people indicted in connection with a lengthy multi-agency investigation into gang activity in Acadia, Lafayette, Vermilion and St. Martin parishes. He says these men face many charges related to criminal street gang violations…:
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Five of the suspected members are still at large.

Former president Bill Clinton will campaign for his wife in Baton Rouge tonight. Bill Clinton will meet with supports of Hillary Clinton ahead of Louisiana’s presidential primary election Saturday.

Seven days are left in the special legislative session and lawmakers still are at odds over the best way to address the 940 million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year. Jeremy Alford of La-politics-dot-com says there have been repeated delays on many tax votes, but there should be some movement this afternoon…

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Alford says the governor is worried that if lawmakers can’t come up with a solution, another special session will be needed.

The full House convenes at 1pm this afternoon. The lower chamber was waiting to see what the Senate would do with cuts before voting on tax measures. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur, a Democrat from Ville Platte, says everyone will know a lot more after today. He says it’s helped that Governor John Bel Edwards has been meeting with many lawmakers on these issues which is something they’re not used to…:

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Lawmakers have started filing bills for the regular session to change the TOPS scholarship program. Jennings Senator and Senate Education Chairman Blade Morrish says he has filed about a dozen TOPS-related bills, one of which would raise the requirements to qualify for the scholarship.

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Morrish says legislators have looked at raising the GPA requirement for TOPS from a 2.5 to a 2.75 and the ACT score from a 20 to a 21.

A man accused of being a member of the Gremlins street gang turned himself in to police late Wednesday, according to Abbeville Chief Tony Hardy. He says 22-year-old Cody Guidry of Abbeville is one of 17 people indicted in connection with a lengthy multi-agency investigation into gang activity in Louisiana. The gang is accused of operating in Acadia, Lafayette, Vermilion and St. Martin parishes. Five of the suspected members are still at large. Hardy says these men face many charges related to criminal street gang violations…:

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The presidential primary is heating up in the wake of Super Tuesday. Louisiana’s primary is Saturday and it’s a vital state for the candidates. Halen Doughty reports…
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Republican Marco Rubio was scheduled to hold a rally in Baton Rouge on Friday, but that has been cancelled. Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton will be in the Capitol City tonight for a campaign event in support of his wife Hillary Clinton.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education begins two days of meetings today. The state’s top school board is expected to vote on recommended changes to Common Core.

An accused member of the Gremlins street gang has turned himself into police. Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy says 22-year-old Cody Guidry is one of 17 people indicted in connection with a lengthy multi-agency investigation into gang activity near Abbeville and three surrounding parishes…
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Five suspected members of the gang are still at large.

Scientists are encouraged that Louisiana’s wetlands are repairing themselves after the devastating 2010 BP spill, which goes down as the largest oil spill off the US coast. LSU chemistry professor Edward Overton….
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But Overton says it’s not all positive news. Several animal species remain stressed by the spill and there’s still the problem of coastal land loss.

The Senate Finance Committee is slated to meet this morning at 10:30 and chairman Eric LaFleur says a vote is set to happen on the House approved bill that contains about $100 million dollars in budget cuts. After several days of holding off on any tax votes, the lower chamber convenes at 1pm this afternoon and measures to increase taxes are on the agenda. Senator LaFleur says there is nothing worse than being in a political office and having to vote on either a tax increase, or cutting spending in areas that are important to the people…:
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Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says it seems like the House and Senate have been playing a game of chicken…:
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The special legislative session called to fix the state’s $940 million dollar budget deficit must end on Wednesday.

2 days before Louisiana’s Presidential primary, a GOP debate takes place tonight in Detroit and Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and John Kasich are set to square off on Fox at 8pm. ULM Political Science professor Joshua Stockley says Louisiana will be a critical state for the candidates, especially for Republicans…:
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Trump is holding a planned rally in New Orleans tomorrow, while Cruz will be in Metairie.

A man accused of being a member of the Gremlins street gang turned himself in to police late Wednesday, Abbeville Chief Tony Hardy said. 22-year-old Cody Guidry of Abbeville is one of 17 people indicted in connection with a lengthy multi-agency investigation into gang activity near Abbeville and three other parishes in South Central Louisiana. They face charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and criminal street gang violation. Five of the suspected gang members are still at large.

With only seven days left in the special legislative session, lawmakers are still working to solve the state’s 950 million dollar deficit. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Former Saints star Darren Sharper has reportedly reached a new plea deal on charges he drugged and raped women, according to court filings. His lawyers originally had their client plead guilty in a “global deal” for 9 years in prison, but that was rejected by a federal judge and the new agreement could mean Sharper will be in jail longer and possibly testify against two co-defendants, the documents say. Exact details were not disclosed. A hearing is set for March 17.

One day before Louisiana’s presidential primary, GOP candidates Ted Cruz and Donald Trump are slated to make appearences in the Bayou State. Marco Rubio cancelled a planned appearence Friday ahead of the March 5th election day. ULM Political Science professor Joshua Stockley says Democrats in Louisiana will probably support Hilary Clinton, but Trump is not a slam dunk…:
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Stockley says Louisiana doesn’t have enough suburban areas to give Rubio the kind of support he’s been drawing in other parts of the country.

It looks like the devestating effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on wetlands are nearly gone. LSU Chemistry Professor Edward Overton says the 2010 BP spill was a huge environmental disaster, but it has been slowly mending itself ever since…:
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He says he’s surprised it only took five years to see this level of improvement.

It looks like we’ll finally be seeing some real action today at the Capitol as lawmakers grapple with the current $940 million dollar budget deficit. The House has refused to take up tax bills until the Senate released the spending cuts bill out of committee. Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur, a Democrat from Ville Platte, says the budget cuts bill will pass out of his committee Thursday. He says once that happens, more decisions can be made on the state’s deficit…:
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The tax measures are on the House floor agenda today which convenes at 1pm. The special session must end Wednesday.

Scientists say the damage caused by the BP oil spill has drastically diminished since 2010. LSU Chemistry Professor Edward Overton says biologists studying the spill’s impacts in Louisiana’s wetlands have seen how the composition has changed…:
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The presidential primary is heating up in the wake of Super Tuesday. Louisiana’s primary is Saturday, and it could be a vital state for the candidates. Halen Doughty reports…:
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Organizers of a triathlon originally scheduled to be held on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, has been cancelled amid threatening statements. The race dubbed, “Escape from Angola” included a package where participants could sleep in the prison’s old death row overnight. The backlash on social media and even national media is what caused FrenchJunkie Racing to cancel the March 20th event, saying they are not equipped to handle such an onslaught.