The state Department of Education has changed regulations for low income families to be eligible for federal childcare assistance. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”
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UL Lafayette announces the expansion of their Louisiana Legacy Scholarship. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Only three days remain in the special session, and it still remains to be seen how much, if any, of the rainy day fund lawmakers will tap to close a $304 million deficit. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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The state Department of Education has changed requirements for the Child Care Assistance Program, which provides federal funds so low income families can pay for child care while going to work or school. Assistant Superintendent of Early Childhood Jenna Conway says they received feedback from families about previous regulations and decided it was time to make some improvements.
Cut 4 (10) “in class”
Conway says previously, there were very strict regulations where families were required to work at least 30 hours a week to receive to be eligible for childcare assistance. She says this program is so important because Louisiana has many working families that are in need of childcare.
Cut 5 (11) “and thrive”
Families with special needs children who work at least 15 hours a week are now eligible to receive childcare funds. Conway says they are also raising the bar for childcare programs in the state to better prepare kids for kindergarten.
Cut 6 (10) “and grow”
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The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announces the expansion of their Louisiana Legacy Scholarship. Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. DeWayne Bowie (BOO-ee) says the scholarship is designed to bring out of state students with Louisiana ties back to the state. He says the scholarship covers out of state fees for these students.
Cut 7 (09) “huge saving”‘
Bowie says the scholarship is typically for out of state students with parents who graduated from UL-Lafayette, but they’ve expanded it to children of alums of any Louisiana university. He says even though many Louisiana alum end up leaving, some of their children still consider the Bayou State home.
Cut 8 (10) “Louisiana school”
Bowie says they’re optimistic that even in the face of rising tuition and cuts to higher education, this scholarship could attract more out of state students back to Louisiana. He says they want to show these students what their school has to offer.
Cut 9 (07) “worldwide”
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A 30-day closed season for crabbing begins today in the Bayou State. Crustacean Program Manager for Marine Fisheries at LDWF Jeff Marx says the crab population is down in Louisiana. He says they’re hoping this ban will help boost the crab population because we’re not seeing as many crabs as usual.
Cut 10 (11) “very high”
Marx says this is one of the slower periods in the year for crabbing, which is why they chose this time of year to implement the ban. He notes that the 30-day ban will be in effect beginning the third Monday of February every year until 2019. He says there is also a year round ban on harvesting immature female crabs.
Cut 11 (12) “some of the fishermen”
Marx says the ban comes as a result of recommendations made by the crab task force, which includes fishermen, docks, and crab processors. He says this will also give LDWF a chance to do what they can to help increase the crab population.
Cut 12 (11) “left out there”
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There’s three days left in the special session and the big argument continues to be over how much money to use from the rainy day fund to address the $304 million budget shortfall. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Governor John Bel Edwards recommended using $119 million, but House Republicans only support using 75-million in rainy day dollars and deeper cuts to reduce state spending.
Cut 13 (10) “next year”
The Senate approved it’s own version of the budget cut bill last night and it includes 99-million dollars from the rainy day fund. It takes a two-thirds vote of the legislature to use rainy day money and Senate finance chairman Eric LaFleur says the votes are not there to use that much money..
Cut 14 (11) “to start with”
It will likely take a committee made up of House and Senate members to iron out a compromise on the two bills. Pinsonat says based on the polling he’s done, the public supports the Republicans’ effort to cut back on state spending.
Cut 15 (10) “pay a price”
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Coach Paul Mainieri says the opening weekend to the 2017 season could not have gone any better for the 2nd ranked Tigers. On Saturday, LSU swept a doubleheader from Army, highlighted by Jared Poche’s no-hitter. On Sunday, the Tigers took down Air Force 10-3. Mainieri says the ceremonies to honor our military and law enforcement were also excellent
Cut 16 (20) “I’ve been here”
Mainieri says he was also impressed with how Army and Air Force competed…
Cut 17 (20) “the end “
LSU’s pitchers only allowed two earned runs in the three games and the Tigers crossed the plate 25 times during the three games. Senior second baseman Cole Freeman led the way with six hits and two doubles….
Cut 18 (16) “played tremendous”
Tigers junior right fielder Greg Deichmann hit two home runs and likes how freshmen Josh Smith and Jake Slaughter swung the bats…
Cut 19 (18) “this weekend”