With three days left in the special session, lawmakers are arguing over how much to fund TOPS. A bill approved by the House funds the scholarship program at 70-percent. Bogalusa Representative Malinda White believes fewer dollars should go to TOPS in favor of more money for safety net hospitals….:
Cut 10 (11) “to college”
Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala urged House members not to take any more funding away from the scholarship program. He says LSU students will leave the state for better scholarship opportunities or attend cheaper schools if they do stay in Louisiana…:
cut 12 (11) “or Nicholls”
The Senate Finance committee will talk more about TOPS funding at its meeting today.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is looking for volunteers for a first-of-its-kind study to slow memory loss as a result of Alzheimer’s. Director of Dementia Research, Dr. Jeffery Keller, says they’re seeking people ages 50 to 85 who are concerned about their memory and don’t have a confirmed case of Alzheimer’s Disease to undergo this new treatment:
cut 14 (11) “from occurring”
Keller says this study is necessary because the disease forms in individuals who don’t show symptoms.

Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington issued a statement regarding the 3-year-old twins who died in a hot vehicle in Bossier City. The father of Oliver and Aria Orr, Travis Orr, works as a deputy. Whittington this is even more difficult, as they are a part of the Sheriff’s Office family. Cops said they are still investigating how the children got into the truck.

Two children died after being locked in a hot pickup truck in Bossier City, and authorities are still unsure of what happened. Halen Doughty has the story…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

State Police have made an arrest in the fatal hit and run that claimed the life of 22-year-old William Boyne of Patterson on Friday Night. Troopers arrested 52-year-old Darrell Barlow of Chauvin on charges of vehicular homicide, felony hit and run, improper lane usage and obstruction of justice.

The two Alabama football players that were arrested in May in Monroe won’t be prosecuted on gun and drug charges because of a lack of evidence. DA Jerry Jones told the TV station KNOE, he didn’t want to run Cam Robinson or Hootie Jones lives because they’ve been working in the heat while we were all sitting in the air conditional. Legal analyst Tim Meche says…

cut 15 (09) “and he has the discretion”

32-year-old Margaret Sanchez has been sentenced to 40 years in jail after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and manslaughter in the death and dismemberment of Bourbon Street exotic dancer Jaren Lockhart in 2012. Legal analyst Chick Foret says now that the case is over, Lockhart’s family can finally have closure.

CUT 9 (09) “involved”

The Louisiana House approved two bills today that would generate an additional 75-million dollars in tax revenue. If approved by the Senate, the legislature will raise 284-million dollars in this special session, far short of the $600 million sought by Governor John Bel Edwards. Political analyst Clancy Dubos…:
cut 12 (10) “….for raising taxes”
Based on the taxes that have been raised in the two special sessions, at least 70% of TOPS would be funded under a bill approved by the House. Dubos says that would mean only 70% of a student’s tuition would be paid instead of all of it…:
cut 14 (11) “…higher tuition”

With three days left in the special session, lawmakers are arguing over how much to fund TOPS. A bill approved by the House funds the scholarship program at 70-percent. Bogalusa Representative Malinda White believes fewer dollars should go to TOPS in favor of more money for hospitals that provide care for the poor and uninsured…
cut 28 (10) “…life or death”
Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala urged House members not to take any more funding away from the scholarship program. He says LSU students will leave the state for better scholarship opportunities or attend cheaper schools if they do stay in Louisiana….
cut 29 (11) “…or Nicholls”
The Senate Finance committee will talk more about TOPS funding at its meeting Tuesday.

Two Alabama football players arrested in Monroe on gun and drug charges will not be prosecuted. Ouachita Parish District Attorney Jerry Jones told KNOE-TV there was insufficient evidence. Back in May, Cameron Robinson and Hootie Jones were arrested after a Monroe police officer allegedly found them smoking pot inside a vehicle.

Data from the Department of Children and Family Services indicate the number of food stamp recipients is declining nationally, but increasing in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo reports…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Authorities continue to investigate the deaths of 3-year-old twins who died after being locked in a hot pickup truck. Bossier City Police spokesperson Mark Natale says on Saturday afternoon, the children’s mother realized she didn’t know where the kids were…:
CUT 3 (09) “unresponsive”
He says the kids were pronounced deceased, and they are working to determine how the toddlers ended up in the truck.

Thirty-two-year-old Margaret Sanchez of Metairie was sentenced to 40-years in prison for the stabbing death and dismemberment of a Bourbon Street dancer. Last year, Sanchez’s ex-boyfriend was convicted and is serving two life sentences. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says the victim’s family is happy with Sanchez’s sentencing, because the trial of Speaks was a fiasco…
cut 11 (10) “…that took place”

The two Alabama football players & North Louisiana natives that were arrested in Monroe in May will not be prosecuted on drug and gun charges. KNOE reported that DA Jerry Jones said he dropped the charges because he could not prove who was in possession of the drugs and gun in question. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Jones has been in office for over 20 years, and he knows what he’s doing…:

cut 16 (09) “of the cases”

Jones told KNOE he didn’t want to ruin the lives of Cam Robinson and Laurence “Hootie” Jones.

At least 70% of TOPS would be funded under a bill to be heard this afternoon on the House floor. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says that would mean only 70% of a student’s tuition would be paid instead of all of it…:

cut 14 (11)  “higher tuition”

Authorities are still investigating the deaths of 3-year-old twins Oliver and Aria Orr, who died Saturday after being locked in a hot pickup truck in Bossier. Bossier City Police spokesperson Mark Natale says a preliminary result from autopsies shows the children died of heat related causes. But He says at this point, authorities have more questions than answers.

CUT 5 (09)  “pickup truck”

A Shreveport television reports the children were in the truck for two hours.

According to the Department of Children and Family Services, the number of food stamp recipients in Louisiana jumped 9% from April 2015 to April 2016, but that rate is falling nationwide. Director of the Louisiana Budget Project, Jan Moller says those rates should go down when oil prices come back up, and more people in that sector get jobs.

CUT 7 (10) “to decrease”

Based on action at the State Capitol today, lawmakers look like they’ll approve about 285-million dollars in new revenue during this special session. That’s far short of the 600-million sought by Governor John Bel Edwards to avoid budget cuts. Political Analyst Clancy Duobs says Edwards has said he would cut proportionally over 12 months…
cut 13 (10) “…fewer services”
With the special session set to end Thursday, the TOPS program is funded at 70-percent.

Based on data from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services the number of people receive food stamps is up nine percent from last year. Director of the Louisiana Budget Project, Jan Moller, says the average recipient receives benefits for nine months….
cut 8 (10) “….their children”
Nearly one-in-five people now receive food stamps in Louisiana.

Ouachita Parish District Attorney Jerry Jones says he will not pursue gun and drug possession charges against Alabama football players Cam Robinson and Hootie Jones. Jerry Jones says there was not enough evidence to prosecute the case. Legal analyst Tim Meche…
cut 15 (09) “…the discretion”
Robinson and Jones were arrested last May. The Monroe police report were in possession of pot and a stolen gun was in the vehicle.

The investigation continues into the death of three-year-old twins who were found unresponsive in a hot pickup truck in Bossier City over the weekend. Bossier City Police spokesperson Mark Natale says once the kids were found, a neighbor immediately called 9-1-1….
cut 4 (11) “…the hospital” (2X)
Natale says the father wasn’t home and the mother laid down and woke up to find her children missing.

Two children died after being locked in a hot pickup truck in Bossier City, and authorities are still unsure of what happened. Halen Doughty has the story…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The two Alabama football players & North Louisiana natives that were arrested in Monroe in May will not be prosecuted on drug and gun charges due to lack of evidence. The DA reportedly said he didn’t want to ruin the lives of Cam Robinson and Laurence “Hootie” Jones because they’ve been working and sweating while we were all in the air conditioning.

The woman who was one of two people involved in killing and dismembering a former New Orleans dancer, Jaren Lockhart, will spend 40 years in prison under a plea deal reached in Jefferson Parish. 32-year-old Margaret Sanchez said she’s guilty of manslaughter and obstruction of justice. Legal analyst Chick Foret says the Lockhart family did not want to have to endure a lengthy trial…:
CUT 10 (10) “any appeals”
Lockhart was stabbed to death in Kenner, then cut up and tossed into the Gulf of Mexico in 2012.

The House Ways and Means Committee approved two bills today that would generate an additional 75-million dollars in tax revenue. If approved by the full House, that means the legislature will have raised nearly 300-million dollars in this special session, far short of the $600 million sought by Governor John Bel Edwarsd. Political analyst Clancy Dubos…:
CUT 12 (10) “for raising taxes”

Authorities continue to investigate the deaths of 3-year-old twins Oliver and Aria Orr, who died after being locked in a hot pickup truck. Bossier City Police spokesperson Mark Natale says at some point Saturday afternoon, the children’s mother realized she didn’t know where the kids were…:
CUT 3 (09) “unresponsive”
He says the children were pronounced deceased, and they are still working to determine how the toddlers ended up in the truck to begin with.

The head of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association says there are some encouraging signs for the struggling industry. LOGA President Don Briggs says one positive sign is that oil prices are near 50-dollars a barrel, after falling to 26-dollars in February…:
cut 1 (07) “for sure”
Briggs says they hope the price can rise some more during the second half of 2016.

The Department of Children and Family Services reports the number of food stamp recipients is declining nationally, but increasing in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Tropical Storm Danielle has formed off Mexico’s eastern coast. The system, which is no threat to the United States, is expected to produce lots of rainfall over several Mexican States.

The number of food stamp recipients is increasing in Louisiana, while the rate is falling nationwide. Nearly one in five Louisiana residents are on the federal food assistance program, according to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. Louisiana Budget Project Director, Jan Moller, says that increase is due to the downturn in the oil and gas industry…:
CUT 6 (11) “find work”
According to DCFS, the number of food stamp recipients jumped 9% from April 2015 to April 2016.

3-year-old twins died in a hot vehicle in Bossier City over the weekend, according to police. They say neighbors reported the toddlers mother contacted them looking for the kids and that’s when they were found in a truck at the home a short time later. Oliver and Aria Orr were pronounced dead. The matter is under investigation.

32-year-old Margaret Sanchez has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2012 death and dismemberment of the former Bourbon Street dancer Jaren Lockhart. She also pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in a Jefferson Parish courtroom and was sentenced to 40 years. Legal analyst Chick Foret says the case is now over and the family finally has closure…:
CUT 9 (09) “involved”
Sanchez’ ex-boyfriend has already been convicted for the same crime.

A man from Galliano man was killed in a single vehicle crash in Livingston Parish last night. State Police say 57-year-old Brian Leonard failed to make a right curve near Springfield and lost control of his car. They say Leonard ran off the road, struck a culvert and went airborne striking a tree. He was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. He wasn’t buckled up, and impairment is unknown at this time.

If you count today, there are four days left in the special session and there are only two bills left for lawmakers to consider that would raise revenues to cover a 600 to 800-million dollar shortfall. So far legislators have agreed to tax changes that would generate 214-million dollars. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says many lawmakers believe they’ve raised enough revenue…
cut 13 (11) “…we implemented”
Without anymore tax increases, higher education, health care, public schools and TOPS face significant cuts.

Margaret Sanchez has pleaded guilty to manslauther in the 2012 death and dismemberment of the former Bourbon Street dancer Jaren Lockhart. The 32-year-old Sanchez also pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in a Jefferson Parish courtroom and was sentenced to 40 years.

A new report from Car-insurance-dot-com says Lousiaina has the third worst driving environment in the country. Only Oklahoma and California are worse. Michelle Megna with Car-Insurance-dot-com says the state’s high insurance premiums contributes to the bad driving environment…
cut 11 (11) “…insurance rate”
Megna says almost 14-percent of Louisiana drivers do not have auto insurance.

Data from the Louisiana Department of Health indicates the number of abortions that took place in 2015 fell 10-percent from the previous year. There were 93-hundred abortions last year. Louisiana Right to Life spokesperson Ben Clapper says that means about 26 abortions are performed every day in Louisiana…
cut 8 (10) “….considering abortions”