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 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”

Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says he would like to see movies share with Louisiana some of their profits, if a successful film was shot in the Bayou State. Nungesser says he would like to see legislators and producers discuss if this is feasible…
cut 5 (07) “….that works”
LSU has finished two-days of town hall meetings to get feedback from students on possible new rules that attempt to crack down on binge drinking on campus before home football games. LSU’s Dean of Students Maria Fuentes-Martin says most students are not happy with the proposed changes…
cut 12 (07) “…other activities”

Many college sports fans are not happy with a bill that would restrict college athletic teams in the state, excluding LSU, from traveling more than 375 miles to play games. The proposed law also does not apply to football or basketball or postseason action. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter, says state dollars are scarce and public dollars shouldn’t be used on long road trips for non-revenue generating sports…:
Cut 13 (09) “great distances”
It’s unclear when Carter’s bill will come up for debate in committee.

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”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser suggests movie producers who film in Louisiana share their profits so the state can keep film tax exemptions in place. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

One person is dead after a motorcyclist was hit by a school bus in St. Martin Parish Wednesday afternoon. State Police say 47-year-old Dennis Labbie of Breaux Bridge lost control of his motorcyclist and was ejected when he slide into the path of a St. Martin Parish school busy. Labbie was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The driver and the 6 passengers on the bus were not injured.

A study paid for by the Louisiana Cannabis Association finds medical marijuana could be a 200 to 330 million dollar industry, if the state loosens its restrictions on who could use the prescription drug. Spokesperson Jesse McCormick says under current law only about 4-thousand people can be legally prescribed medical marijuana…:
CUT 7 (10) “helping patients”
He says if medical marijuana was expanded to those with chronic pain and other serious ailments, the number of eligible patients increases to as much as 105-thousand.

The band director of LSU’s Golden Band from Tigerland was put on paid administrative leave Wednesday. According to Roy King’s lawyer, King is a target of a witch hunt, which LSU denies.

The House Education Committee rejected a bill to make a TOPS recipient pay back some or all of their scholarship if they fail or withdraw from school. Kenner Representative Julie Stokes authored the proposal. She says a lot of students get to college and have too much fun, then they end up dropping out.

cut 10 (04)  “take it seriously”

A proposal to increase the GPA a college student must achieve to keep their TOPS scholarship was also rejected.

Two new Zika cases have been confirmed in Louisiana, bringing the total number to four – but DHH says they are all okay. Medical Director for the Louisiana Center for Community Preparedness, Dr. Frank Welch says this Zika confirmation is really a few weeks late, because the tests had to be sent to the Center for Disease Control for confirmation.

cut 12 (07) “positive”

Welch says doctors have a much faster method for testing for Zika now.

Legislation that attempted to prevent local governments from removing Confederate monuments failed in a Senate Committee today. The bill would create a statewide commission that would have to grant a waiver before a monument could be altered, moved, or renamed. Confederate monument supporter Leslie Tassin says monuments of Confederate soldiers are a history lesson…

CUT 6 (04) “brighter future”

Opponents for the legislation believe it shouldn’t be up to the state what happens to city property.

A petition on change-dot-org is calling for Natchez, Mississippi, to secede from the state after legislators there approved a bill that allows individuals and institutions with religious obligations to deny services to gay people. Natchez resident Casey Hughes says she wants to send a message to people who would visit the historic city.

CUT 3 (08)  “to everyone”

Hughes says Natchez welcomes all kinds of people, even if the rest of the state does not.

The House Education Committee did not pass a bill to make a TOPS recipient pay back some or all of their scholarship if they fail or withdraw from school.  New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says changing TOPS to a loan makes it less of an opportunity for students.

CUT 9 (11) “many students”

Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater proposed a bill that would make TOPS a partial scholarship, in which recipients would receive more money each year. That bill also failed to make it out of committee. Broadwater says lawmakers have to do something to save the TOPS program.

Cut 11 (05) “a challenge”

The committee also rejected a proposal to increase the GPA a college student must achieve to keep their TOPS scholarship.

A rally in support of legislation to have 17-year-olds charged as juveniles rather than adults took place on the State Capitol steps yesterday. Meg Garvey with the Youth Justice Coalition says Louisiana is one of only 9 states that routinely prosecutes 17-year-olds as adults… with a law like this.

cut 23 (09) “and unfair”

Governor John Bel Edwards is spoke at the rally.

A bill that would prevent local governments from removing Confederate monuments failed in a Senate Committee today. Opponents for the legislation believe it shouldn’t be up to the state what happens to city property. Democrats on the panel voted against the bill, while Republicans supported it. Author of the legislation Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell urged legislators to vote favorably to allow the monuments to educate future generations…

CUT 8 (08) “shared history”

The bill failed on a 5-4 vote.