The Senate has unveiled its funding plan for next fiscal year, and it does not call for any cuts to higher ed, prisons, and the Department of Children and Family Services. Senate President John Alario says their proposal also fully funds the TOPS scholarship program…:
Cut 14 (09) “their budgets”
The budget was approved by the Senate Finance Committee and heads to the Senate floor for their approval.

Federal disaster recovery dollars appropriated by Congress are finally getting into the hands of flood victims. Nick Speyrer ( s p ay uh r ) with the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program says Governor Edwards passed out the first handful of reimbursement checks to those who already completed their rebuilding…:
Cut 8 (12) “to come”
Speyrer says the first step for flood victims to receive federal aid is to complete the survey at restore.la.gov.

After a proposal to increase the state’s gasoline tax was tabled for the session, one lawmaker proposed firing thousands of DOTD workers to pay for better roads. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh says the department has plenty of money, but they aren’t responsible with it..:
cut 4 (08) “of em”
But state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says that’s not a practical solution.

The road to Omaha begins for the LSU Tigers as they open the Baton Rouge Regional this afternoon by hosting Texas Southern. Senior left-hander Jared Poche of Lutcher will start on the mound…:
Cut 17 (08) “what happens”
The Tiger softball team won their first game Thursday in the Women’s College World Series.

Hurricane season begins today, and Colorado State University has upgrade their forecast for the season. In April, CSU called for a slightly below average season. State Climatologist Barry Keim explains why the forecast now calls for 13 named storms.

Cut 3 (09) “this year”

The CSU forecast calls for six hurricanes with two of them becoming major.

Oakdale Elementary School in Allen Parish was ravaged by a massive fire overnight. Deputy Chief Brant Thompson with the state Fire Marshal’s Office says they’re investigating what led to the huge blaze that left most of the school destroyed. He says thankfully the school was already out for the summer.

Cut 11 (10) “blessing here”

State Police say they have arrested the Baton Rouge man who allegedly struck and killed a 12-year-old boy during a police chase. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A Shreveport man has been arrested after police say he put a 2-year-old in a refrigerator as a form of punishment. Police say 30-year-old Steven Funderburk is also accused of slapping the child across the face. He is charged with cruelty to a juvenile, and his bond was set at $100,000.

Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil halts his effort to raise the minimum GPA required for high school students to receive the TOPS scholarship. Foil told Senate Education a task force will be formed to examine TOPS and he’ll wait to see their findings before pursing his legislation…
Cut 15 (09) “that reason”

Colorado State University hurricane researchers have updated their 2017 Atlantic hurricane season forecast as it begins today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the forecast now calls for 13 named storms.He says the US has gone 11 straight seasons without a major hurricane landfall. He says the last one was Wilma in 2005.

Cut 5 (12) “a major hurricane”

CSU finds there is a 32 percent chance a hurricane will make landfall on the Gulf Coast.

State Police have arrested the man who allegedly hit and killed a 12-year-old boy during a police chase. Trooper Bryan Lee says 32-year-old Joshual Hilton of Baton Rouge faces multiple charges including manslaughter and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He says investigators are reconstructing the scene where Sammy Lee was run over…
Cut 7 (09) “was struck”

The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a couple for aggravated assault after the man and girlfriend allegedly attacked the man’s mother with a cast iron skillet. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says Venus Camacho and Kurtis Strong started attacking Strong’s mother after an argument and Strong ended up severely injuring her by throwing the skillet at her head. He says this is extremely disrespectful.
Cut 14 (06) “unacceptable”

Strong is charged with two counts of aggravated battery and domestic abuse battery by strangulation.

After first forecasting a below-average hurricane season, researchers at Colorado State University have upped their seasonal outlook and now predict a more active season. The CSU forecast calls for six hurricanes, with two of them becoming major. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Louisiana has not seen a hurricane make landfall in four years…:
Cut 4 (11) “but we’ll see”
the forecast now calls for 13 named storms.

Bond has been set at $57,500 for the man who was arrested after he allegedly struck and killed a 12-year-old boy during a police chase in Baton Rouge. Investigators booked 32-year-old Joshual Hilton with manslaughter, reckless operation, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests a man for allegedly locking his 2-year-old daughter in a refrigerator with the door closed as a form of punishment. He is 30-year-old Steven Funderburk of Shreveport.

The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man and his girlfriend for aggravated assault after the couple allegedly attacked the man’s mother with a cast iron skillet. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says Kurtis Strong and Venus Camacho, both 38, were playing a table game with the Strong’s mother and her friend when Camacho and the mom got into an argument…:
Cut 12 (07) “his mother”
He says the son then threw the skillet at his mom’s head and her injuries were serious enough that she had to be taken to a hospital in New Orleans.

An elementary school in Allen Parish was ravaged by a massive fire overnight. Deputy Chief Brant Thompson with the state Fire Marshal’s Office says the fire began at Oakdale Elementary around 4 p.m. yesterday. He says it took some time to get the fire under control, and hot spots remained until this morning…:
Cut 9 (09) “by fire”
About 80 percent of the building was reportedly destroyed by the fire. The cause is under investigation.

State Police say a 12-year-old in Baton Rouge died after being run over by a suspect who was leading cops on a chase. Trooper Bryan Lee says they were called to investigate at the request of BRPD when officers were conducting a possible narcotics operation…:

CUT 6 (09) “dead also”
The child is identified as Sammy Lee. The suspect 32 year old Joshual Hilton of Baton Rouge, is charged with Manslaughter.

The proposal to raise the state’s gas tax was pulled from the House floor
before debate as there weren’t enough votes to get it passed. It still
sparked discussion from both sides. Shreveport Representative Alan
Seabaugh opposed the increase saying he won’t turn his back on his
constituents…:
Cut 16 (08) “gas tax”
Supporters said killing the bill puts Louisiana’s roads at risk.

SWEPCO is reporting that there are still thousands of customers in west Louisiana who are without power following last Sunday’s severe storm system. The utility hopes to have power restored to the 3600 affected in the Mansfield and Natchitoches areas by 5pm today.

Colorado State University upgrades its hurricane season forecast from below-average to near-normal. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The team at Colorado State University upgrades their forecast for the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins today. In April, CSU called for a slightly below average season, but State Climatologist Barry Keim explains why the forecast now calls for 13 named storms…:
Cut 3 (09) “this year”
CSU finds there is a 32 percent chance a hurricane will make landfall on the Gulf Coast, and 55 percent chance one would hit anywhere in the US.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office says they’ve made an arrest in the case of a missing 18-year-old girl who was last seen on Tuesday May 23rd. Online records indicate that 22-year-old Malik Davis of Lafayette is being held on a $250,000 bond on a second degree murder charge. Detectives say his booking is in connection with the disappearance of Jacquelyn “Daisy Lynn” Landry who has still not been found.

The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office says they’ve arrested a man and his girlfriend for allegedly attacking the man’s mother. They say 38-year-old Kurtis Strong of Franklinton allegedly threw his mom to the floor during a fight over a table game then lunged a cast iron skillet at her striking her in the head. Strong’s girlfriend is also accused of taking part in the assault. Strong was booked with various counts of battery and strangulation. The girlfriend with battery.

A Senate committee defers two bills seeking to protect confederate monuments after 5 hours of emotional testimony. Halen Doughty has more:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Proposals that would require either a public vote or legislative approval to remove confederate monuments were rejected by a Senate committee. The two bills faced steep opposition from black lawmakers, like New Orleans Senator Troy Carter, who says there are no statues celebrating Hitler.

Cut 10 (12) “a commemoration”

Supporters say confederate monuments honor those who fought in the Civil War.

A Senate committee takes up a bill to raise the minimum GPA requirement for TOPS from a 2.5 to a 2.75. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil believes his bill has a shot at making it through the process.

Cut 9 (09) “as well”

But the measure could be in trouble in the Senate, which has approved a proposal to create a task force examining how changes to TOPS could impact students.

After a proposal to increase the state’s gasoline tax was killed without a vote in the House, lawmakers discussed their disappointment or excitement the measure died. The bill’s author Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter expressed his frustrations with the out of state anti-tax group Americans for Prosperity, who lobbied against it.

Cut 14 (09) “our problems”

Carter didn’t bring the bill up for vote because the support was not there.

With hurricane season kicking off today, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon reminds homeowners to make sure their home is covered by flood insurance. He says now is the time to purchase flood insurance if you don’t have it already.

Cut 6 (10) “to effect”

Louisiana Senators reject two proposals that sought to protect military monuments in the state. Governmental Affairs Committee chairwoman Senator Karen Carter Peterson argued men who fought to enslave people should not be revered and reminded supporters the Civil War has ended:
Cut 13 (10) “is over”
Bill backers called the monuments a reminder of Louisiana’s history and memorials to the state’s veterans.

A bill to raise the minimum GPA requirement to receive the TOPS scholarship from 2.5 to 2.75 starting with the Class of 2020 will be heard in the Senate Education Committee today. State Representative Franklin Foil stresses his bill is not about leaving anyone out…:
Cut 8 (07) “asking for”
He says this would also save money to help sustain the TOPS program.

A 12-year-old boy in Baton Rouge was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by a suspect involved in a police chase. That’s according to State Police who say cops were responding to a narcotics investigation when an officer involved shooting took place and the man fled. They said the child was crossing the street when he was hit. The suspect was taken into custody and charges are pending. The 12-year-old died at the scene.

A proposed gas tax hike was killed without a vote on the House floor, but there was still ample discussion about the attempt to raise millions of dollars to improve roads. Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson says even business leaders in her community backed the proposal. She hopes this discussion is not over yet…:
Cut 17 (09) “in a call”
Governor John Bel Edwards is calling for a special session next week that would only take place, if lawmakers are unable to approve a spending plan for next fiscal year.