The House approved a budget proposal before taking off for the weekend. House Appropriations Chair Jack McFarland says the 47-billion-dollar budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1st will not raise taxes and speeds up investments in better classrooms and more high-paying jobs.

Cut 13 (11) “…for our citizens.”

The House’s budget proposal contains the funding Governor Landry is seeking for the LA GATOR Scholarship program. But Senate leaders oppose Landry’s proposal to double the funding for the program that provides taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition and other education expenses.

Other highlights of the budget bill include 125-million dollars to Louisiana Economic Development for new projects and 50-million dollars to replenish a fund to face future emergencies, such as hurricanes.

A bill heading to the Senate floor would set up a process for the Louisiana Legislature to use the courts to remove a public official from office for malfeasance or gross misconduct. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris is proposing that the Legislature can file a civil lawsuit to oust an official and it would take a two-thirds vote by either the House or Senate for the lawsuit to be filed.

Cut 7 (09) “…easier to prove.”

Senate Bill 425 passed on a four to three vote. Democrats oppose the measure; New Orleans Senator Gary Carter says with Republicans holding a super majority in the House and the Senate, the G-O-P could use this method to get rid of Democratic officials they didn’t like.

Cut 10 (09) “…the Senate side.”

Before lawmakers left for the weekend, the state House approved a 47-billion-dollar budget proposal. House Appropriations Chair Jack McFarland says the spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st makes critical investments in public school classrooms and workforce training.

Cut 12 (11) “…high-impact jobs program.”

In the race for the G-O-P nomination for U.S. Senate, Bill Cassidy has a huge lead with more than seven-million dollars cash on hand. Julia Letlow has more than 2.275-million, while John Fleming has more than 2.2-million after loaning himself 10-million dollars. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says self-funding his campaign may be part of his strategy.

Cut 4 (10) “…more a contender.”

Inmates preparing to be released from prison or jail will get health coverage through Medicaid under a new state policy. Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) says by beginning medical services for substance abuse treatment and mental health disorders while in prison and providing a 30-day supply of prescription drugs, these people are much less likely to go back to jail.

Cut 8 (08) “…once they leave.”

Another whooping crane is shot to death in Evangeline Parish. Biologists reported a lost signal on the whooping crane’s collar on March 19th, and Wildlife and Fisheries agents found the dead bird the next day. LDWF Corporal Tib Guillory says 49-year-old Michael Alaniz of Chicago admitted to killing the bird.

Cut 9 (08)  “…harvesting the bird.”

Updated campaign finance totals are out for the major candidates in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. Andrew Greenstein has the analysis.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A child died in a house fire in Minden early Wednesday. Minden Fire Chief Brian Williams says they responded to the burning home in less than four minutes and despite their efforts to save the girl, who was trapped by the blaze, they could not find her in time. A cause of the blaze is not known.

The Louisiana House approved a 47-billion dollar budget plan for next fiscal year. House Appropriations Chair Jack McFarland says for the first time since 2009, there is an increase in per-student funding…

Cut 14 (11) “…local school districts”

And the House went along with the governor’s request to double the funding of the L-A Gator program. The Senate will make changes to the spending plan and Senate President Cameron Henry opposes the increased funding for the voucher program.

A man from Chicago has been cited for allegedly fatally shooting a whooping crane in Evangeline Parish….

Cut 11 (09) “….going forward”

That’s LDWF Corporal Tib Guillory, who says 49-year-old Michael Alainz, faces up to 120 days in jail and thousands of dollars in fines.

The House approved a budget proposal before taking off for the weekend. House Appropriations Chair Jack McFarland says the 47-billion-dollar budget proposal will not raise taxes and speeds up investments in better classrooms and more high-paying jobs.

Cut 13 (11) “…for our citizens.”

According to first quarter campaign finance reports, Bill Cassidy has by far the most cash on hand in the G-O-P U.S. Senate race with more than seven-million dollars. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that’s not surprising, with Cassidy being an incumbent.

Cut 3 (10) “…is still unclear.”

Julia Letlow’s campaign reports more than 2.275-million dollars, while John Fleming’s campaign reports just under 2.2-million.

Louisiana launches a plan to provide soon-to-be-released inmates with health insurance through Medicaid. Governor Landry says this initiative gives inmates a continuity of care, particularly for those with mental health and substance use disorders.

Cut 7 (07) “…a normal life.”

Under this new policy, inmates would be approved for Medicaid up to 90 days before they are released from prison or jail.

Another whooping crane is shot to death in Evangeline Parish. Biologists reported a lost signal on the whooping crane’s collar on March 19th, and Wildlife and Fisheries agents found the dead bird the next day. LDWF Corporal Tib Guillory says 49-year-old Michael Alaniz of Chicago admitted to killing the bird after agents found the whooping crane on a crawfish farm near Highway 106.

Cut 10 (08) “…shot the bird.”

Updated campaign finance totals are out for the major candidates in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. Andrew Greenstein has the analysis.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

Inmates released from prison will have Medicaid as part of a plan the state and the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services are working to put in place. Joe Gallinaro has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

____________________________________________

The first quarter campaign finance reports are released; and in the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Louisiana, Bill Cassidy has by far the most cash on hand with more than seven-million dollars in his war chest. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that’s not surprising, given the fact that Cassidy is an incumbent running for re-election.

Cut 3 (10) “…is still unclear.”

Julia Letlow’s campaign reports more than 2.275-million dollars cash on hand, while John Fleming’s campaign reports just under 2.2-million. Fleming’s total, however, is exceeded by more than 3.6-million in debts still owed, after Fleming loaned his own campaign more than ten-million dollars. Cross says self-funding his campaign may be part of his strategy.

Cut 4 (10) “…more a contender.”

Cross says no one is in danger of running out of money between now and May 16th, after which date things will heat up ahead of the June 27th runoff.

Cut 5 (12) “…are right now.”

While Cassidy has almost twice as much cash on hand than Fleming and Letlow combined, polls indicate that it’s unclear which of the three will end up being the odd one out after May 16th,

____________________________________________

Louisiana is partnering with the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services on a program that would allow soon-to-be released inmates to receive health insurance through Medicaid. Governor Jeff Landry says this proactive approach helps offenders successfully transition back into their communities and rebuild their lives.

Cut 6 (09) “…member of society.”

Under this new policy, inmates would be approved for Medicaid up to 90 days before they are released from prison or jail. Landry says the initiative gives inmates a continuity of care, particularly for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.

Cut 7 (07) “…a normal life.”

Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein (green-steen) says by beginning medical services for substance abuse treatment and mental health disorders while in prison and providing a 30-day supply of prescription drugs, these people are much less likely to go back to jail after they’re released.

Cut 8 (08) “…once they leave.”

Officials are aiming to have the program operating in the summer.

____________________________________________

Another whooping crane is shot to death in Evangeline Parish. Biologists reported a lost signal on the whooping crane’s collar on March 19th, and Wildlife and Fisheries agents found the dead bird the next day. LDWF Corporal Tib Guillory says 49-year-old Michael Alaniz of Chicago admitted to killing the bird.

Cut 9 (08)  “…harvesting the bird.”

Corporal Guillory says agents found the whooping crane on a crawfish farm near Highway 106.

Cut 10 (08) “…shot the bird.”

Whooping cranes are an endangered species; and, as such, Guillory says it is illegal to shoot one.

Cut 11 (09) “…population going forward.”

Alaniz is charged with violating the migratory bird treaty act and faces a fine of up to 950 dollars and up to 120 days in jail. He will also be assessed civil restitution of up to 15-thousand dollars for the replacement value of the bird.

____________________________________________

Before Louisiana lawmakers left for the weekend, the state House approved a 47-billion-dollar budget proposal. House Appropriations Chair Jack McFarland says the spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st makes critical investments in public school classrooms and workforce training.

Cut 12 (11) “…high-impact jobs program.”

The House’s budget proposal contains the funding Governor Landry is seeking for the LA GATOR Scholarship program. But Senate leaders oppose Landry’s proposal to double the funding for the program that provides taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition and other education expenses.

McFarland says this budget proposal will not raise taxes and speeds up investments in better classrooms and more high-paying jobs.

Cut 13 (11) “…for our citizens.”

McFarland says for the first time since 2009, there is an increase in per-student funding for school districts.

Cut 14 (11) “…local school districts.”

The expenses include fuel, insurance, utilities and retirement costs.

The Senate will put together its own budget proposal, and that will take several weeks to do.

Before lawmakers left for the weekend, the state House approved a 47-billion-dollar budget proposal. House Appropriations Chair Jack McFarland says the spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st makes critical investments in public school classrooms and workforce training.

Cut 12 (11) “…high-impact jobs program.”

According to first quarter campaign finance numbers, Bill Cassidy has a huge lead in cash on hand in the race for the G-O-P nomination for U.S. Senate, with more than seven-million dollars. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says no one is in danger of running out of money between now and May 16th, after which date things will pick up.

Cut 5 (12) “…are right now.”

Inmates released from prison will have Medicaid as part of a plan the state and the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services are working to put in place. Joe Gallinaro has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

Another whooping crane is shot to death in Evangeline Parish. LDWF Corporal Tib Guillory says 49-year-old Michael Alaniz of Chicago admitted to killing the bird last month.

Cut 9 (08)  “…harvesting the bird.”

First quarter campaign finance numbers are out; and in the race for the G-O-P nomination for U.S. Senate, Bill Cassidy has a huge lead with more than seven-million dollars cash on hand. Julia Letlow has more than 2.275-million, while John Fleming has more than 2.2-million after loaning himself 10-million dollars. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says self-funding his campaign may be part of his strategy.

Cut 4 (10) “…more a contender.”

Louisiana is partnering with the U-S Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services on a program that would allow soon to be released inmates to receive health insurance through Medicaid. Governor Jeff Landry says this proactive approach helps offenders successfully transition back into their communities and rebuild their lives…

Cut 6 (09) “…society.”

A resolution that seeks to lift deer feeding bans in response to chronic wasting disease is heading to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A child is killed in a house fire in Minden. The child was pulled from the burning home early yesterday morning and was rushed to a hospital but unfortunately did not survive. The State Fire Marshal’s Office says while the cause is still unclear, fire investigators have confirmed that the home did not have a working smoke alarm.

According to first quarter campaign finance reports, Bill Cassidy has by far the most cash on hand in the G-O-P U.S. Senate race with more than seven-million dollars. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that’s not surprising, given the fact that Cassidy is an incumbent running for re-election.

Cut 3 (10) “…is still unclear.”

Julia Letlow’s campaign reports more than 2.275-million dollars cash on hand, while John Fleming’s campaign reports just under 2.2-million.

The Public Service Commission approves Entergy Louisiana’s request to expedite the approval process on its plan to build seven new gas power plants to power Meta’s data center in Richland Parish. The P-S-C will vote in December on its power plan proposal, and Commissioner Jean-Paul Coussan says that’s plenty of time to review the plan.

Cut 26 (05) “…in Louisiana.”

Senate Health and Welfare Chairman Patrick McMath unveils his plan to fix the state agency responsible for child welfare. The Department of Children and Family Services has been criticized for not preventing child deaths after being alerted about dangers in the home.

Cut 13 (10)  “..now dead.”

McMath wants to move many of its functions within the Department of Health and put State Police in charge of handling child abuse reports.

The House Natural Resources Committee approves a resolution that would remove the deer feeding bans that are in place where chronic wasting disease has been found. Supporters say these bans hurt people’s hunting rights; but opponents, like LDWF Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon, say they slow the spread of CWD.

Cut 12 (10) “…congregate deer.”