Two bills that attempt to resolve funding problems for TOPS have been approved by the Senate Education Committee. One of the bills would cap the award amount at the current level and would no longer meet tuition increases. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue says this bill is similar to one that passed last year.

Cut 14 (11) “…of the bill”

Governor John Bel Edwards supports this proposal.

The other approved TOPS funding bill would reduce the amount each TOPS recipient receives in the event the state cannot fully fund the program. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish says this ensures that all of the students who earn TOPS get at least part of their scholarship.

Cut 16 (10) “…million dollars”

Both of these measures now head to the Senate floor.

A bill that would extend the waiting period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours has been approved by the House. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says women have a lot to consider when making this decision.

Cut 7 (07) “…mother’s decision”

Hoffman says the waiting period does not apply to women more than 150 miles from an abortion clinic

A new study shows if Louisiana lawmakers loosen the restrictions on the dispensing of medical marijuana it could be a multi-million dollar industry. Cannabis Association spokesperson Jesse McCormick says the report also shows medical marijuana could generate between 5 and 13-million dollars in revenue, if a four-percent tax was placed on the sale of the product.
cut 9 (12) “….are doing”

The Senate Education Committee approved a measure that would cap the amount TOPS scholars currently receive, and it would no longer match tuition increases. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says students in his district are worried about the future of TOPS….

cut 15 (08) “our students” 

This bill now heads to the Senate floor.

The director LSU’s marching band, Roy King, has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation. It’s been reported that there’s a dispute between King and the School of Music over athletic funds. King’s attorney Jill Craft has a huge problem someone being irresponsibly placed on paid administrative leave.

cut 10 (08)  “he hasn’t”

In a statement, LSU denies an alleged dispute between King and the School of Music.

The massive flooding the state experienced in March has caused up to 15 million dollars in damages to the agriculture industry. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Authorities have been searching for a 22-year-old Natchitoches woman, who has been missing at the Grand Canyon National Park since Saturday. According to a release, the National Park Service is currently conducting a search and rescue operation for 22-year-old Diana Zacarias.

The Senate Education Committee approves two bills addressing the funding issues around the TOPS scholarship program. One measure would cap the amount students currently receive and it won’t go any higher if even tuition increases. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth opposed this bill last year, but he’s heard from many of students worried about the future of TOPS….
cut 15 (08) “our students”

Governor Edwards supports the legislation.

The director of the famous LSU Golden Band from Tigerland, Roy King, has been placed on paid administrative leave, and his lawyer says it’s because of a witch hunt. King’s attorney Craft says it isn’t clear what the probe hopes to uncover, and there is a big problem with placing someone irresponsibly on paid administrative leave…
cut 10 (08) “he hasn’t”

Craft says King has been there for 18 years and is well liked by his students.

 
The extreme flooding across Louisiana last month has cost the agriculture industry close to 15 million dollars. LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry nearly 4 million dollars in corn was lost and it’ll cost farmers about 150 dollars per acre to replant. He says another commodity affected was wheat.
cut 12 (08) “and flooding”

He says hundreds of cattle died after their pastures were flooded.

A Natches man has been arrested after killing his estranged wife and another man multiple times in their Vidalia home, while the woman’s children were sleeping. Vidalia Assistant Police Chief Bruce Wiley says Curt Thornton and his estranged wife Angela Thornton were reportedly having problems, so Thornton allegedly shot her and 36-year-old Ken Tibbs.
CUT 5 (09) “the situation”

Wiley says the female child called 911 at 7 a.m. when she found her mom dead.

The Senate Education Committee advances two TOPS related bills seeking to control the program. One is by Jennings Senator Blade Morrish. This measure would reduce the amount each TOPS recipient receives, if the state doesn’t have enough money to fund TOPS at its current level…:
cut 16 (10) “something”
The other bill headed to the Senate flood would cap TOPS at its current level and not go up even if tuition goes up.

The House has approved a bill that would extend the waiting period to get an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says says women have a lot to consider when making this decision…:
CUT 7 (07) “mother’s decision”
The measure heads to the Senate

The massive flooding the state experienced in March has caused up to 15 million dollars in damages to the agriculture industry. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A Natchez man is now in custody after fatally shooting his estranged wife and another man multiple times in their Vidalia home while the woman’s two children slept nearby. Vidalia Assistant Police Chief Bruce Wiley says a child called cops after she found her mother and another man dead and their reaction was extraordinary…:
CUT 4 (07) “that age”
35-year-old Curt Thornton was arrested.

The Senate Education Committee approves two bills that address the funding issues surrounding the TOPS scholarship program. One of the measures would cap the amount students currently receive and it would not go any higher if even tuition increases. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue says this is repeat legislation…:
cut 14 (11) “of the bill”
Governor John Bel Edwards supports this legislation, due to the state’s budget problems.

The massive March flooding across the state has cost the agriculture industry up to 15 million dollars. hat’s according to LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says about 40-thousand acres of corn were covered in water and some fields are still flooded…:
Cut 11 (09) “excessive rains”

The director of the famous LSU Golden Band from Tigerland has been placed on paid administrative leave, and his lawyer says it’s the result of a witch hunt. Attorney Jill Craft says her client, Roy King, has been there 18 years and is well liked by his students. She says this action truly came out of the blue…:
CUT 8 (10) “and ridiculous”
LSU says this is not the result of a dispute between King and the School of Music, but Craft says the timing of it all is far too suspicious.

Lafayette Police say they are investigating a reported accidental shooting which claimed the life of 21-year-old man. Colin Norwood of Baton Rouge is identified as the victim, and another 21 year old is being interviewed in the ongoing case.

A Natchez man is now in custody after allegedly fatally shooting his estranged wife and another man multiple times in their Vidalia home while the woman’s two children slept nearby. Vidalia Assistant Police Chief Bruce Wiley says witnesses saw the suspected gunman fleeing the home in the early morning hours on Wednesday…:
CUT 3 (09) “a motorcycle”
36-year-old Angela Thornton and 36-year-old John Ken Tibbs are identified as the victims. Angela’s estranged husband, 35-year-old Curt Thornton is booked in the double homicide.

Authorities have been searching for a 22-year-old Natchitoches woman, who has been missing at the Grand Canyon National Park since Saturday. According to a release, the National Park Service is currently conducting a search and rescue operation for 22-year-old Diana Zacarias.

The House has approved a bill that would extend the waiting period to get an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says five other states have similar waiting periods. He says this gives women facing crisis pregnancies time to look at their options without an impending deadline…:
CUT 6 (06) “later regret”
The bill now heads to the Senate.

A recent study looked at the economic impact of medical marijuana and what kind of market it would create in Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A bill has been filed that would restrict college athletic teams in the state, excluding LSU, from traveling more 375 miles to play in games. The proposed law also does not apply to football, basketball or postseason. ULM Athletic Director Brian Wickstrom says he understands that Louisiana is facing budget problems, but college sports are important to students…:
Cut 15 (10) “young people”
Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter, says state dollars are scarce and public dollars shouldn’t be used on long road trips for baseball, softball and volleyball teams.

Police in Kaplan say charges are upgraded against a mother and her live in boyfriend, now for the murder of her 4-year-old child. They say Samantha Babineaux of Kaplin and 23-year-old Nathaniel Trahan rushed the child to an emergency room, and he died this morning. The two are charged with first degree murder and in the Vermilion Parish jail with no bond.

LSU students are not happy about proposed rule changes for tailgating on gamedays. They include banning couches and kegs at student association parities before a game, and possibly hiring a third party to sell alcohol only to people 21 and up. LSU’s Dean of Students Maria (Ma-dee-ah) Fuentes-Martin says during town hall style meetings on campus, there is a lot of opposition:
cut 11 (06) “destroy that”
But she says the rules headed to LSU President F. King Alexander are meant to curb underage drinking for the sake of student safety.

Ponchatoula High School is closed today due to what authorities call an anonymous threat. They say law enforcement is checking the campus and classes will resume tomorrow.

One of the two men who went missing during a fishing trip off the coast of Cameron Parish, has died. State wildlife officials say the pair’s boat sank and they were in the water all night before being found Wednesday morning. 19-year-old Derek Romero of New Iberia lost his life, and Shane Marin, also 19, is listed in stable condition.

LSU is thinking about restricting drinking by student organizations on campus during football tailgates. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Should Louisiana get a cut of the profits from film projects that are produced in the state? Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is making such a proposal as a well to keep movie tax credits in place. He says he spoke with producers at the Grammy’s in Hollywood, and hasn’t heard a good reason why this would not work out for everyone…:
Cut 6 (06) “that before”

Lawmakers are set to take up a measure that would restrict college athletic teams from traveling more than 375 miles to play in games, with the exception of all LSU sports, and all football, baseball games and postseason play. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter says Louisiana’s budget is in bad shape, and legislators have to figure out a way to cut back on spending…:
Cut 14 (05) “some dollars”
School leaders do not like this bill saying the only people it would hurt is students.

The Louisiana Cannabis Association commissioned a study which found that medical marijuana legalization, on a wide range of conditions, would not only improve health outcomes, but also give the state a huge economic boost. Spokesperson Jesse McCormick…:
CUT 8 (10) “health care dollars”
He estimates the economic impact for the state would be upwards of $330 million dollars.

A recent study looked at the economic impact of medical marijuana and what kind of market it would create in Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The full House approved two pro-life bills Wednesday. One would increase the wait time for reflection between pre-abortion counseling and the procedure from 24 to 72 hours. The other measure would require that abortion providers be board certified. The bills now move to the Senate.

There is a heated debate brewing on the LSU campus over whether drinking by students tailgating on gamedays should be more closely monitored. University leaders are considering several regulations that are designed to crack down on binge and underage drinking. LSU’s Dean of Students Maria (Ma-dee-ah) Fuentes-Martin says students are hurting themselves by having too much…:
Cut 10 (10) “our practices”
She says proposed rules would prohibit items like couches, punch bowls, and kegs from student association tailgates, and hiring a third party to serve alcohol.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser wants Hollywood South to share some of their profits in order to keep the film tax exemptions in place. He hopes to build such a partnership with movie producers who come to Louisiana…:
cut 4 (10) “a partnership”