The White House is hammering out details of a plan to give two years of free community college to any American. The $60 billion over 10 year funding source will be announced next month. Dr. Monty Sullivan admits it’s a lot of money, but people shouldn’t at this as another big expenditure…:
CUT 4 (11) “grow the economy”
The President will promote the initiative in his State of the Union address on January 20th.

The lineup for the 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has been announced. Headliners include Elton John, The Who, Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett along with Lady Gaga, No Doubt, Keith Urban, Pitbull and many more. Jazz Fest is Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26 and Thursday, April 30 through Sunday, May 3.

The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating an accidental shooting which left a man dead and another behind bars. Sgt. Mary Ann Godawa says officers responded to find the victim lying at the end of a driveway. She says cops questioned witnesses and the suspect, 19-year-old Jawan Lloyd Billy…:
CUT 9 (11) “killed the victim”
Billy is charged with negligent homicide.

Gas prices keep dropping. According to the American Automobile Association the current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $1.96.

Here’s a check on commodities.

President Obama is working on the details of a plan to offer two years of free community college education to any American to help train the US workforce. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has announced the 2015 lineup and the headliners include The Who, Elton John, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. Other acts performing at the track last weekend in April/first weekend in May are Jimmy Buffett, Chicago, Keith Urban, Pitbull, Steve Winwood and more.

Republican US Senator David Vitter says he plans to be active in Washington D-C, even though he’s running for governor this year. Vitter says he has several priorities and one of them is to pass a highway and transportation bill that would help improve traffic flow on major highways…”
CUT 6 (09) “that issue”
Vitter says he’ll also work to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating the death of a man they believe was shot and killed accidentally by his friend. They say 19-year-old Jawan Lloyd Billy has been charged with negligent homicide after a gun discharged when he was adjusting his pants getting out of bed and 20-year-old Demarcus Rheams was shot. The bullet went through the victim’s chest and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

President Obama is working on a plan to offer two years of free community college education to any American to help train the US workforce. Dr. Monty Sullivan, the head of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, says it’s exciting that the work of two-year colleges is getting national recognition…:
CUT 3 (10) “very, very positive”
The program is estimated to cost the federal government around $60 billion over 10 years and funding details will be released next month.

The Baton Rouge Police Department has arrested an elderly man for allegedly trying to set his longtime girlfriend on fire. They say Carols Garrido told authorities he poured a flammable liquid on the woman after she apparently told the suspect’s wife the two had been having an affair for several years. The victim was able to escape before she caught on fire. The man is charged with attempted second degree murder.

The Transportation Funding Task Force meets today at the Capitol where they’ll finalize recommendations on improving the way the state funds highway improvements. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

State Police say the woman who died in a single vehicle crash last night in Tangipahoa Parish was not buckled up. They say 40-year-old Bridget Rodriguez of Mandeville lost control of her vehicle in Robert, exited the road and struck a tree. She was ejected and partially pinned under the vehicle which had overturned and later pronounced dead at the scene.

Lynne Marino, the highly outspoken mother of serial killer victim Pam Kinamore, discloses that she has pancreatic cancer and hopes to see Derrick Todd Lee executed before she dies. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

Army officials announce that Brig. Gen. Timothy P. McGuire, the current director of operations at the US Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, will replace Brig. Gen. William Hickman as the next commanding officer at Fort Polk. This will be McGuire’s second stint at the Vernon Parish base. As a colonel, he previously served as deputy commander of the Joint Readiness Training Center’s operations group on the base.

A spokeswoman for the Jindal Administration says a 200 to 300 million dollar cut in funding to higher education is being considered for the fiscal year budget that starts July 1st, but it faces opposition from legislative and university leaders. University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley is confident that the legislature will make sure a 300-million dollar cut in funding for higher ed will not happen…

cut 9 (11) “have now”

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley says he’ll fight any plan that would significantly reduce funding for higher education.

Governor Bobby Jindal is traveling overseas today on an economic development mission that will include stops in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland. The governor will meet with corporate executives to cultivate more foreign-direct investment opportunities and increase trade between Louisiana and Europe. Jindal will also give a foreign policy speech and meet with political leaders in the United Kingdom. The governor returns to Baton Rouge on January 20th.

The Jindal administration is considering a 200 to 300 million dollar cut to higher education, but it faces opposition from legislative and university leaders. Scott Carwile has the story…

cut 2 (31) “reporting”

State Police say a Rosepine man is dead after a single vehicle accident in Calcasieu Parish. They say a pickup driven by 31-year-old Wayne Wiser ran off of LA 12 and then struck a concrete culvert and several trees. Wiser was pronounced dead at the scene. Four passengers in Wiser’s truck received minor to moderate injuries.

Today, the Transportation Funding Task Force will finalize their recommendations on improving the way the state funds highway improvements. Senate Transportation Committee Chairman, Robert Adley of Benton, says there has been discussion of raising the gas tax to better fund road improvements, but he doesn’t see that happening…

cut 6 (11) “at this point”

With this being Governor Jindal’s final year in office, it is not expected that we’ll see major changes to how the state funds roadway projects.

A major motion picture is set to be filmed exclusively in Louisiana about the Battle of New Orleans. The project will be based off a book by Ron Drez and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says the premise of that book is that the British were very committed to the Battle of New Orleans…

cut 15 (13) “200th anniversary”

Dardenne says this film will remind the country that America’s success as a nation was solidified 200 years ago in Chalmette.

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley says he’ll fight a Jindal Administration plan that would reduce funding for higher education by 200 to 300 million dollars. The administration is looking at ways to reduce funding as the result of an anticipated one-point-four billion dollar shortfall. Kleckley says he’ll look at other options, but cutting higher ed when the state needs to bolster its workforce is not the answer…

cut 8 (06) “would not support”

University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley is confident that the legislature will not let those cuts happen.

Today, the Transportation Funding Task Force meets at the Capitol where they’ll work out recommendations on improving the way the state funds highway improvements. Senate Transportation Committee Chairman, Robert Adley of Benton, is hopeful the task force will get behind his plan to ensure the state spends $70 million for roadway preservation…

cut 5 (12) “on right now”

Recommendations are due to the Legislature by January 15.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne announces a major motion picture is set to be filmed exclusively in Louisiana about the Battle of New Orleans. He says that battle shaped the future of America and saved New Orleans and Louisiana as a port to be controlled by the US instead of the British…

cut 14 (07) “look different”

The movie will be called, “Andrew Jackson – The Battle For New Orleans.”

Lynne Marino, the highly outspoken mother of serial killer victim Pam Kinamore, discloses that she has pancreatic cancer and hopes to see Derrick Todd Lee executed before she dies. Marino, who is 78, said when she was diagnosed with one of the worst forms of cancer, she had one thought…

cut 11 (11) “and to my family”

Lee was linked by DNA to the deaths of seven women in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas.

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley says he’ll fight any plan that would significantly reduce funding for higher education. A spokeswoman for the Jindal Administration says a 200 to 300 million dollar cut in funding to higher ed is being considered for the fiscal year budget that starts July 1st. But Kleckley says he’s not having any of it….

cut 7 (07) “generations”

The Jindal administration is looking at ways to reduce funding as the result of an anticipated one-point-four billion dollar shortfall.

The Transportation Funding Task Force meets today at the Capitol where they’ll finalize recommendations on improving the way the state funds highway improvements. Senate Transportation Committee Chairman, Robert Adley of Benton, says one item is at the top of everyone’s list…

cut 4 (10) “to be discussed”

There is currently a $12 billion backlog of road and bridge needs in the state.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne announces plans for a major motion picture set to be filmed exclusively in Louisiana about the Battle of New Orleans. The movie will be called, “Andrew Jackson – The Battle For New Orleans.” Dardenne says the project will be based off the book by Ron Drez “The War of 1812: Conflict and Deception” and will begin filming here soon…

cut 13 (12) “here in Louisiana”

Dardenne says the unpredictable victory at the battle is made for film as folks love rooting for the underdog.

Sad story out of Madison Parish. A grandmother in Tallulah died Friday afternoon trying to keep one of her grandsons from shooting another according to authorities. Cops say the woman apparently died of a heart attack when trying to defuse the dispute between cousins. One teen shot the other they say and he’s in custody while the other is in the hospital.

There’s a growing concern in northwest Louisiana over a plan to burn 15-million pounds of M6 propellant in steel trays at Camp Minden. Minden Mayor Tommy Davis says he and other local officials are worried about possible health effects…:
CUT 3 (10) “environmental impact”
The US E-P-A supports opening burning as the disposal method.

5th District newly elected Congressman Ralph Abraham joined the many Republicans in the US-House on Friday by voting to approve the TransCanada Corp. Keystone XL pipeline project. The President has promised to veto such a bill if it hits his desk. 6th District Congressman Garret Graves says having the actual Keystone Pipeline legislation in front of President Obahama may cause The White house to reconsider vetoing it, considering the amount of support…:
CUT 16 (09) “with Congress”
The Senate has enough votes to pass an identical bill and will take a test vote on Monday.

Money news from the Louisiana Lottery: Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is a big one at $162 million dollars. That’s a cash value of $105.5 Million. Nobody hit Mega Millions in last night’s drawing so that prize now goes to $246 million for the next drawing on Tuesday.