LSU President F King Alexander does NOT like the idea of front loading the TOPS scholarship program because it still isn’t fully funded. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Attorney General Jeff Landry says he’ll review the case involving the Baton Rouge mom who was arrested after she allegedly used an electrical cord to whip her children, after they were caught breaking into a neighbor’s home and stealing a hover board, electronics, and socks. Schaquana Spears could face two counts of child cruelty. 

Governor John Bel Edwards has mixed feelings about the special sessions. Edwards is glad legislators provided adequate funding for the public-private hospitals that proved care for the poor and uninsured…

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But the governor is not happy about cuts coming to k thru 12 education and TOPS.

A Shreveport woman is wanted by police for making false accusations that a father molested his 5-month-old daughter. Lt. Bill Davis with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Carrie Rivers was a babysitter for the family of the infant and when her services were no longer needed, she made up this story to make the parents mad. He says this allegation created major problems.

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Davis says authorities believe Rivers is still in the northwest Louisiana area.

Lawmakers failed to raise enough revenue in the special session to fully fund the TOPS scholarship program. However, an amendment was added that means TOPS students would get all of their tuition paid in the fall semester, but they would have to pay about 60% in the spring. LSU President F King Alexander doesn’t think this is fair to students or their parents.

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It’s possible the governor will do a line item veto on the amendment.

Governor John Bel Edwards believes the legislature accomplished a lot when it comes to funding important state services but came up short in certain areas. Based on the taxes raised during the two special sessions, Edwards says higher education will not face any cuts, which is good news for students.

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Edwards is disappointed that public schools will see a cut in funding.

An Abbeville man will spend the rest of his life in prison for fatally shooting a Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s deputy. District Attorney Keith Stutes says 22-year-old Quintylan Richard entered a plea of guilty on the two-year anniversary when he shot Deputy Allen Bares. Stutes says Richard did show some remorse for his crime. He says in the courtroom Richard apologized to the family and Bares’ wife.

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Bares was 51-years-old and spent 12 years as a deputy with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s office.

Two more arrests have been made in the shooting of two Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Deputies. 17-year-olds Rodricus Shaw and Dominque Dean both called police claiming to be alleged shooter Rickie Wade Jr. wanting to turn himself in and then gave dispatchers false addresses. They could both be charged with accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder.

After 19 weeks of trying to come up with a way to solve a massive budget deficit, lawmakers are finally done with their work. Jeff Palermo tells us how they did…:
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The bill fully funds TOPS for the fall semester, but not in the spring. Governor Edwards says only paying for 45% of a recipients tuition next semester is going to leave students with a hefty bill, and no other way to apply for financial assistance due to the time of year. Supporters say funding TOPS in the fall is the right thing to do. Edwards can line-item veto if he wants.

“Free State of Jones,” a Louisiana film starring Matthew McConaughey, opens in theaters today. It joins other movies with ties to the Bayou State being released this year including “Bad Moms,” “When the Bough Breaks” and “Magnificent 7.” Celtic Studios Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn says, unfortunately, movie production is down this year…:
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He hopes lawmakers will make changes to the film tax credit program in 2017.

An Abbeville man will spend the rest of his life in prison for fatally shooting a Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s deputy. District Attorney Keith Stutes says 22-year-old Quintylan Richard entered a plea of guilty on the two-year anniversary when he shot Deputy Allen Bares. He says everyone is glad this is over with…:
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The TOPS program would be fully funded next semester under the budget bill sent to Governor John Bel Edwards by the legislature late last night. But under the plan, students would only have 42-percent of their tuition covered for the spring semester. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says hopefully we’ll see higher than anticipated revenues because of rising oil prices…:
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Edwards doesn’t see that happening and he can line-item veto the TOPS language.

The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to vote today on whether or not the AgCenter will grow medical marijuana. It’s unknown if growing the plant is a worthwhile investment. That’s according to AgCenter spokeswoman Frankie Gould. She says it could take $10 to $20 million to produce medical marijuana…:
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There’s more turmoil with Grambling State’s administration. Halen Doughty reports…:
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The man who murdered a Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s deputy will spend the rest of his life behind bars. 22-year-old Quintylan Richard of Abbeville pleaded guilty exactly 2 years after he shot and killed Deputy Allen Bares (BAH REZ). District Attorney Keith Stutes says Richard apologized to the family and Bares’ wife..:
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The Louisiana budget bill that lawmakers sent to Governor John Bel Edwards desk fully funds TOPS for the fall semester, but only pays 45% of tuition for spring. Several democrats call the front-loading of TOPS a budget gimmick. Edwards doesn’t anticipate a higher than expected amount of revenue rolling in, so TOPS students will be left with a big tuition bill in the spring…:
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But others say students were promised to have their tuition paid, so funding the program next semester is the right thing to do.

We may find out today whether or not LSU wants to be the state’s grower of medical marijuana. The new drug will be a pill containing cannabis oil, and patients won’t be able to smoke it. LSU AgCenter spokeswoman, Frankie Gould, says they have a lot to consider before committing to growing the plant…:
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Louisiana filmed, “Free State of Jones”, starring Matthew McConaughey, opens in theaters today. Emelie Gunn talks with Patrick Mulhearn of Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge…:
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An Abbeville man will spend the rest of his life in prison for fatally shooting a Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s deputy in 2014. District Attorney Keith Stutes says 22-year-old Quintylan Richard entered a plea of guilty on the two-year anniversary of shooting Deputy Allen Bares (BAH REZ)…:
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Just before midnight, the Louisiana legislature gave final approval to a spending bill that calls for the TOPS scholarship program to be fully funded for the fall semester. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says it’s the right thing to do…:
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But under the bill, students would only have 42 percent of tuition covered for the spring semester, and Governor John Bel Edwards says with no more revenue rolling in, our kids will have a massive bill the second half of the school year.

The LSU Board of Supervisors will vote today on whether or not their AgCenter will grow medical marijuana. Spokesperson for the LSU AgCenter, Frankie Gould, says the law passed this year that expanded the diseases for which the drug can be prescribed, and also outlined two possible growers for the plant…:
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The new drug will be a pill containing cannabis oil, and you won’t be able to smoke it.

The Louisiana filmed movie, Free State of Jones, starring Matthew McConaughey opens in theaters today. Executive Director of Celtic Studios Patrick Mulhearn says the movie revolves around a Mississippi farmer who tries to secede from the Confederacy. He says it’s set during the Civil War and was filmed in 10 different Louisiana parishes…:
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He says Hollywood South is struggling a bit this year, and he hopes lawmakers will make some changes to the film tax incentive program in the 2017 session.

As expected former LSU star Ben Simmons was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. He’s the second player from LSU to be taken with the top pick. Shaquille O’ Neal was the first in 1992. Simmons says this is a dream come true…:
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The second special session for 2016 comes to an end tonight. State lawmakers raised an estimated $258 million in this session to address a $600 to $800 million budget shortfall. Legislators have spent the day deciding how to spend that money. Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says they will be able to mitigate cuts to hospitals that provide care for the poor and the TOPS scholarship program.

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The second special session must conclude by midnight tonight. It appears based on the tax revenues available, the TOPS will only be funded at 70-percent, which means recipients of the state funded scholarship program will have to pay a portion of their tuition for the first time. Henry says he’s comfortable with how the legislature addressed funding for TOPS…

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Beginning in August, the felony for assaulting an officer could land someone in jail for up to 10 years, under a new law that expands the felony to include assault with any weapon, not just firearms. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says this law means individuals who assault cops will receive consequences more in line with their actions.

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Walsworth says under the previous law, assaulting an officer with anything other than a gun was a misdemeanor.

The LSU Board of Supervisors will vote tomorrow on whether or not their AgCenter will grow medical marijuana that would be sold to patients who receive prescription for the drug. Spokesperson for the LSU AgCenter Frankie Gould says the law passed this year that expanded the diseases for which the drug can be prescribed, also outlined two possible growers for the plant.

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Gould says they aren’t sure if this is a worthwhile investment, especially since state funding for colleges has been slashed in recent years.