State lawmakers have approved a 26-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year that does not fully fund the TOPS scholarship program and hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the spending plan is not perfect, but they can address gaps in the budget in a special session that begins tonight…:
cut 4 (04) “is a priority”
Because of a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall, the budget also contains cuts to public schools, universities, prisons and child welfare programs.

The National Hurricane Center reports the tropical depression in the southern central Gulf of Mexico has now quickly formed into a tropical storm called Colin and is moving north at 12 mph with 40 mph winds. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Gulf Coast from Georgia and northeast Florida.

The number of Louisiana homes at risk for storm surge damage has increased since last year, according to CoreLogic. Senior hazard risk scientist for CoreLogic, Tom Jeffery says that has a lot to do with new homes being built along the coast…:
Cut 13 (07) “about everywhere”
According to CoreLogic, last year there were just over 760-thousand hones at risk in Louisiana, and that number has grown to over 800-thousand.

Police in Baton Rouge have arrested a man they say led them on a high-speed chase in a stolen Mustang that reached over 130 miles per hour, with his 7 year old niece in the back seat. They say 30-year-old Hollis Tate was identified as the suspect in the robbery, but when cops tried to pull him over he sped off and raced down Florida Blvd at 132 miles per hour. Tate faces many charges.

A bill to increase the age for an individual being charged for a crime from 17 to 18 moves closer to final legislative passage. Michelle Southern has more…
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Legislation that would require pet stores to keep records of breeders’ names, addresses, and licensing information heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. The Louisiana SPCA says these regulations will help ensure pet stores are held to certain standards. She says pet stores will be required to keep the records of their dogs and cats for at least two years.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking into three suspected murders all within 24 hours of each other in the town of Natalbany. Police say 24-year-old Charleston Mitchell and 31-year-old Randy Darnell Bickham were found shot to death in a vehicle early Thursday morning, and the body of 18-year-old Marcus Lightfoot was found Friday morning. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they are urging anyone with any information to come forward…
cut 16 (10) “that way”

22-year-old Ernest Felton, the first shooter arrested in the deadly shooting of two Southern students, has had his charge upgraded to second degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says Felton was originally charged with attempted second-degree murder. Mckneely says police are looking for the brother of the other shooter involved, 25-year-old Brandon Henderson…
cut 10 (11) “that area”

Voters could soon decide if universities in the state get to set their own tuition. Jeff Palermo has more…
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

There is a flash flood watch for southeast Louisiana until Sunday. The National Weather Service says we can expect to see heavy rain throughout the weekend, as a result of a strong low pressure system moving through Texas pulling in gulf moisture.

The LSU Tigers defeated Utah Valley 7 to 1 after a long day at the ball park. The Tigers were supposed to take the field at 2 p.m. but a rain delay pushed them back until 8:30.

A measure that would charge 17-year-olds as juveniles moves closer to final legislative passage. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says 17-year-olds are now allowed to join the army, buy lottery tickets, or buy cigarettes because we know they are more immature and more susceptible to change than adults. He says in many ways they are still children.
cut 12 (08) “to children”

The first shooter arrested in the shooting deaths of two Southern students in April, has now been charged with second-degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says 22-year-old Ernest Felton was originally charged with attempted second-degree murder, but ballistics analysis and autopsy results led to the upgraded charge. He says Felton has also been charged with obstruction.
CUT 9 (10) “this investigation”

Flash flood watches are now in effect for southeast Louisiana until Sunday. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says we can expect some heavy rain throughout the weekend.

CUT 3 (08) “next week”

Jones says there’s a strong low pressure system moving through Texas and that’s pulling up gulf moisture.

Legislation to charge 17-year-olds as juveniles nears final legislative passage. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says putting 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system creates safer communities and more successful children.

Cut 11 (10) “avoid reoffending”

Raising the age is a big part of Governor Edwards’ legislative plan.

Voters could soon decide if universities should have the authority to set their own tuition as a result of a proposed constitutional amendment that is nearing final legislative passage. Right now, the legislature has to approve a tuition hike if it goes above a certain percentage. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says the proposed change to the constitution gives institutions the power to lower and increase tuition depending on the market…
CUT 6 (07) “they want”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating three suspected murders that happened within 24 hours in Natalbany. Police say 24-year-old Charleston Mitchell and 31-year-old Randy Darnell Bickham were found shot to death in a car early Thursday morning, and the body of 18-year-old Marcus Lightfoot was found Friday morning close to the scene of the double murder. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they are still trying to determine if the incidents are related.
cut 14 (08) “rule em out”

Much of south Louisiana is under a flash flood watch though Saturday night. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says there’s a strong low pressure system moving through Texas that’s pulling up gulf moisture. He says the heavy rain will move through Louisiana in waves. He says flash flooding will be a big concern, particularly in the western part of the state.

CUT 4 (07)  “further east”

Flash flood watches for many parishes continue until Saturday night.

A bill to charge 17-year-olds as juveniles nears final legislative passage. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says including 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system makes for safer communities and more successful children.

Cut 11 (10) “avoid reoffending”

Raising the age is a key part of Governor Edwards’ legislative agenda.

Louisiana voters could decide this fall if universities should have the authority to set their own tuition as a result of a proposed constitutional amendment that is close to receiving final legislative passage. Currently, the legislature must approve a tuition hike if it goes above a certain percentage. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says the proposed change to the constitution gives schools the power to lower and increase tuition depending on the market…

CUT 6 (07) “they want”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating three suspected murders that occurred within 24 hours in the rural town of Natalbany. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says other agencies, including Hammond Police and State Police, are assisting in the investigation. He says they are asking anyone with any information to come forward, as police are offering a reward for any information that elads to an arrest.

cut 16 (10) “that way”

A bill to increase the age for an individual being charged for a crime from 17 to 18 moves closer to final legislative passage. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

State Representatives have rejected the changes the Senate made to the proposed budget for next fiscal year. The spending plan will now go into a conference committee where representatives from both chambers will try to come to a compromise before the regular session ends on Monday.

The first shooter arrested in the fatal shooting of two Southern students in April, has had his charge upgraded to second-degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says more arrests could be made as police are attempting to find the brother of the other shooter involved, 25-year-old Brandon Henderson.

cut 10 (11)  “that area”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating three suspected murders that occurred within 24 hours in Natalbany. Following a double homicide early Thursday morning, the body of 18-year-old Marcus Lightfoot was found early Friday morning a block or so away from the scene of the double homicide. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says the Sheriff’s Office is offering an award for information about both of these cases.

cut 15 (12) “these homicides”

Voters could soon decide if universities in the state get to set their own tuition. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bill to ban hotels, convention centers and trade shows from blocking personal Wi-Fi hotspots is heading to the governor’s desk. Ville Platte Senator Eric LeFleur says his bill saves people from having to pay for daily access to a company’s WiFi. He says disabling personal hotspots when people pay cellular data plan fees is unfair.

The Raise the Age bill is nearing final passage. The bill would put 17-year-olds back in the juvenile justice system, rather than charging them as adults. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says there has been a huge coalition behind this bill. He says it’s good policy and it’s common sense policy.

Cut 13 (09)  “mistakes”

The legislation passed the House 97 to 3 and heads back to the Senate for approval on minor changes.

The first shooter arrested in the fatal shooting of two Southern students in April, has had his charge upgraded to second-degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says 22-year-old Ernest Felton was originally charged with attempted second-degree murder, but ballistics analysis and autopsy results led to the upgraded charge. He says Felton has also been charged with obstruction.

CUT 9 (10) “this investigation”

There are numerous scattered thunderstorms across the state today as much of south and central Louisiana are under a flash flood watch through Saturday night. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says be prepared for locally heavy downpours…
cut 3 (08) “….next week”
Rain and lightening has pushed back the start of the LSU baseball game until 5 PM.

A measure is heading to Senate floor final legislative passage that will result in voters deciding whether colleges should have authority to raise tuition. Currently, it takes a two-thirds vote in the legislature to raise tuition above a certain level. Higher Ed Commissioner Joseph Rallo says letting universities set their own tuition is in the best interest of students…
cut 8 (10) “…amount of tuition”
The Tangiaphoa Parish Sheriff’s office is seeking clues into the murder of three people during a 24-hour period. Two people were found shot to death in an SUV in Natalbany on Thursday and then this morning, the body of 18-year-old Marquise Lightfoot was found about a block away from the double homicide. Sheriff Daniel Edwards…
cut 14 (08) “…rule em”
Edwards says they are offering a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in these recent murders.

Legislation that raises the age a person can be put through the adult criminal justice system is close to final legislative passage. Under the bill 17-years would be put through the juvenile system, instead of the adult, which is good thing for the state, accorrding Joshua Perry, the director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights…
cut 12 (08) “….to children’

It looks like voters will have the opportunity this fall to determine if public colleges should have authority to raise tuition. A constitutional amendment that would place that item on the ballot is close to final passage. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says Louisiana is the only state that doesn’t allow its institutions to set their own tuition and that puts state colleges at a competitive disadvantage with schools in other states…
cut 7 (10) “….the marketplace”
Currently, it takes a two-thirds vote from the state legislature to raise tuition above a certain level.

A judge in New Orleans has refused to lower the bond for the man accused of killing former Saints star Will Smith. Cardell Hayes will remain in prison on a 1.75 million dollar bond for the April 9th shooting.

Flash flood watches are in effect for most parishes in south and central Louisiana until Saturday night. Donald Jones is with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles…
cut 5 (07) “…of days”
The weather has already caused delays at the baseball regionals in Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

A bill to increase the age for an individual being charged for a violent crime from 17 to 18 is close to final legislative passage. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

Voters could soon decide if universities in the state get to set their own tuition. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bill that lets people use their phone on their own mobile hotspot at hotels, convention centers or trade shows is headed to Governor John Bel Edwards desk. Opponents says this measure would ensure that people wouldn’t be forced to buy into a company’s Wi-Fi program in order to have mobile internet access. Disabling personal hotspots now carries a fine of $10,000.

The state House approved the Raise the Age bill Thursday. The measure, which would change the minimum age to charge someone as an adult from 17 to 18, easily passed on a 97-3 vote. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says charging 17-year-olds as juveniles will make communities safer…:
CUT 11 (10) “avoid re-offending”
Louisiana is currently one of nine states where 17-year-olds who commit minor offenses are treated as adults.

Much of south Louisiana is under a flash flood watch though Saturday night. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says flash flooding will be a big concern, particularly in the western part of the state:
CUT 4 (07) “further east”
He says the rain likely won’t taper off until Sunday evening into Monday..