Governor John Bel Edwards approved legislation that would front load the TOPS program in the new budget. Halen Doughty has more on how students feel about this change…

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The Colorado State University forecast team has upped the number of anticipated named storms in 2016 by one. Don Molino reports…:

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The pharmaceutical company, Sanofi, agrees to develop cancer immunotherapy drugs that were discovered by an LSU Health Shreveport professor and scientists at a university in Poland. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The budget for this fiscal year front-loads state spending on the TOPS scholarship program. This means students on TOPS will have their tuition funded for the fall semester but only have 42-percent covered in the spring. LSU student Ally Balthazar has been on the scholarship program for the last three years and her parents pay out of pocket for the expenses left over

cut 4  (09)  “I graduate”

LSU President F. King Alexander doesn’t support the front-loading of the program, because he believes it will be difficult for students to get financial aid for the spring semester. Balthazar says she still plans on applying for federal student aid for the spring semester…

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Balthazar says the TOPS program not being fully funded puts a financial struggle on her family and there’s also extra pressure to do better in school…

Cut 6 (09) “TOPS anymore”

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The Colorado State University forecast team has upped the number of anticipated named storms in 2016 by one. In June they called for 14 named storms, now they predict 15. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the change is due to the fact that there are already 4 named storms on the books this year. He says that’s the most ever for this early in the season…:

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The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November. The updated forecast calls for 6 storms to become hurricanes, and two of those major systems with winds of 111 per hour or more. Keim says the forecast for the season is still made up of counter-balancing forces, as a La Nina is expected to take effect at the heart of the hurricane season…:

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Historically, the most active part of the hurricane season is August and September. Keim says the peak is around September 10th…:

Cut 9 (12)  “considerably”

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The town of Welsh, located in in Jefferson Davis Parish, is now the official The Home of the Cajun Dictionary.” Mayor Carolyn Louviere says the town’s long time former late pastor, Father Jules Daigle, wasn’t pleased with the way Cajun French was spoken and wrote two books on the language. She credits Welsh’s city council for taking steps to get this official designation…

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Louviere says copies of “A Dictionary of Cajun Language” and “Cajun Self Taught” by Father Daigle can be purchased in Welsh and on Amazon. She says the town will hold a special celebration on their new designation…

cut 11 (10) “Daigle’s work”

Louviere says everyone in the town is proud to call Welsh “The Home of the Cajun Dictionary.” She says Father Daigle would be happy with the accomplishment.

cut 12 (08) “honor him”

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A deal has been struck to develop cancer immunotherapy drugs first discovered by LSU Health Shreveport professor Doctor Robert Rhoads and scientists at the University of Warsaw in Poland. Immunotherapy is already used in treatment of melanoma and prostate cancer. Rhoads says pharmaceutical company Sanofi has paid a licensing fee to see if immunotherapy could work with other types of cancer

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Rhoads says immunotherapy would not have the toxic side effects of current chemotherapy drugs and it would direct a person’s immune system to attack cancer cells until the last one is gone.

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Rhoads, who lost both of his parents to cancer, is excited Sanofi will seek to develop this treatment to other cancers. He says it takes hundreds of millions of dollars for biotechnology companies to bring a new drug to the market and hopefully Sanofi will have success

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#####Stations, we’ve replaced some news stories on our original newscall. So use this one instead. Only one newscall on Monday, unless something major breaks. Happy 4th of July.####

It’s Independence Day and many people will be shooting off fireworks. Emelie Gunn has some safety tips to take into mind while enjoying the holiday.

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Two Louisiana police officers have died while on duty during this holiday weekend. Jeff Palermo has the story….

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It’s Independence Day and the State Fire Marshal urges caution when using fireworks. Butch Browning says  if you’re buying fireworks make sure you use them in legal areas. He reminds consumers to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when lighting fireworks and always have a bucket of water nearby.

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Browning says children or those under the influence of alcohol should never be allowed to use fireworks. He say the most common injuries associated with pyrotechnical devices is on the hands and then the eyes.

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Laura Adams with InsuranceQuotes says if you’re shooting off fireworks in an area that is illegal and you damage your home or vehicle, you are not covered by insurance. She says it’s a smart idea to call your insurance agent if someone is hurt as a result of fireworks.

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Adams says homeowners insurance doesn’t always cover homes with pools. She says some insurance agencies require pools to have gates and other potentially dangerous items may not be covered.

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Tons of events are taking place around the state today in honor of the 240^th anniversary of America’s independence. New Orleans’ 26^th annual ‘Go 4^th on the River’ event is ranked the third best Fourth of July celebration in the US, with a red, white and blue water show and a fireworks show to follow on the river. Angie Manning with the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau says there are a lot of events going on tonight in Lake Charles as well.

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Manning says Crying Eagle Brewing Company will have a VIP soft opening today between 2pm and 6pm. She says this is a local brewery that’s opening its doors for the first time today.

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Manning says people can get more information about the events at VisitLakeCharles.org. In north Louisiana, Chris Jay with the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau says there will be an enormous Independence Day festival in Festival Plaza.

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Jay says there are over a dozen events listed at Shreveport-dash-Bossier-dot-com.

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The USS KIDD’s Freedom Festival will take place today in downtown Baton Rouge from 11am to 4pm. This event is free and open to the public and honors men and women in the Armed Forces, with fireworks to follow tonight on the river.

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It’s been a difficult holiday weekend for law enforcement as two Louisiana police officers died while on duty in separate incidents. New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison says 43-year-old officer Bryan Bordes was working on Bourbon Street when he became ill early Sunday morning…

cut 11 (10) “to the hospital”

The Orleans Parish coroner will conduct an autopsy, though it appears the officer’s death was of natural causes. Bordes was an officer with the NOPD for 18 years and his wife lives in Church Point. Harrison says Bordes loved his job and was a great guy…

cut 12 (08) “the other officers”

State Police say an impaired driver struck and killed a police officer and injured two others in Ouachita Parish. Trooper Michael Reichardt says Sterlington police officer David Elahi was conducting a traffic  stop on the shoulder of US Highway 165 early Sunday morning, when a pickup truck driven by 44-year-old Tracy Govan of Monroe plowed into Elahi. Reichardt says Govan faces multiple charges

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Officer Elahi was pronounced dead at the scene. The other two officers involved were taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Reichardt says this tragedy is a reminder that motorists need to obey the “Move Over” law…

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It will be hot as a firecracker on this Fourth of July. Much of north Louisiana is under a heat advisory until seven o’ clock tonight. Michael Berry is with the National Weather Service in Shreveport….

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Berry says if you have outdoor activities today, make sure you take some breaks from that hot sun…

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Berry says there is the chance for a cooling thunderstorm…

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