The final act of this year’s special session trilogy is less than a week away, with the administration and many legislators scrambling to find some extra cash for programs like TOPS, which is facing a 30 percent cut. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the Department of Health is one place the state should look if it wants to plug the budget gaps.

Cut 3 (11) “they need”

The session starts Monday

US Senator John Kennedy is weighing in on President Donald Trump’s historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Kennedy says past threats were laughed off, and with Trump, threats of military action are taken seriously.

Cut 13 (11) “in Syria.” 

Bashar Al Assad is the current President of Syria, who has sustained his military rule through nearly a decade of civil war.

40 million dollars in federal money is being sent to the state to help more parents pay for childcare. Connor Ferrill has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Connor Ferrill” 

Three out of four pediatricians say is not the way to handle an unruly kid. Tulane associate professor Catherine Taylor says that the widely accepted punishment can have a negative outcome.

Cut 6 (07)  “…than good for kids.”

Legislators return to Baton Rouge next week to consider revenue raising measures that would go towards closing a large budget deficit. But House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says there’s other ways they can reduce the deficit. He says taking away automatic pay raises for state workers is one possible solution….
cut 4 (09) “…next year”
Henry says he’ll bring the head of the Civil Service Board before the Appropriations Committee next week to talk about pay raises.

US Senator John Kennedy is weighing in on President Donald Trump’s historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He says it took a certain kind of person to break through the Hermit kingdom’s tough outer shell, after decades of failed attempts.
Cut 12 (09) “baby step.”
President Trump tweeted out this morning that North Korea is no longer nuclear threat.

After years of cuts, the taxpayer Childcare Assistance Program is getting some much needed federal funding, which will allow four-thousand more low-income families receive financial assistance for pre-k education. Currently enrollment is at 15-thousand children, but Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Melanine Bronfin says at one time, enrollment was much higher….
cut 11 (12) “…years ago”
Go to the state department of education’s website for more information on the program.

A potentially deadly brain-eating amoeba has been found in Terrebonne Parish. The Terrebonne Consolidated Waterworks District issued a notification to residents in Pointe-aux-Chenes and they have taken steps to kill the organism in the water system. Officials says they will test the water in two weeks to make sure its eradicated.

The executive director of the Patrick Taylor Foundation says the uncertainty of TOPS funding could sway some college students to get their education out of state. Doctor James Caillier says that’s not good news for our economy when our best students are going elsewhere….
cut 15 (09) “…brain drain”
Lawmakers return to Baton Rouge next week to see if they can come up with a way to fully fund TOPS. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says if extra revenues are needed, he’d like to see a gradual phase out of any sales tax bill approved in the upcoming special session…
cut 5 (09) “…dollar amount”
Legislation are expected to debate renewing a portion of an expiring one-cent sales tax.

Good news for low income parents waiting to take advantage of a taxpayer funded Child Care Assistance Program. Because of an increase in federal funding, an additional four-thousand children under the age of four can join the program. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Melanie Bronfin says helping working families figure out what to do with their children is not only good for the kids, but great for the economy.
Cut 9 (08) “great need”
About 15-thousand students are currently enrolled.

A study involving Tulane researchers finds three out of four pediatricians do not approve of hitting children for corrective purposes, because it can lead to more harm than good. Tulane associate professor Catherine Taylor says while spankings are not recommended, discpline is still crucial…
cut 8 (09) “…has been”
Taylor says talk with your pediatrician on what are the best disciplinary actions for your child.

The feds are pumping 40 million dollars into the state’s Childcare Assistance Program, that helps working and middle class parents pay for child care services. That means 4,000 more families will get help finding a safe environment for their pre-kindergarten age children while they’re at work. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Melanie Bronfin says that’s big for working parents.

Cut 9 (08)  “great need”

It’s a disciplinary action that has been around for years, but now a study involving Tulane University researchers finds that about three out of four pediatricians are saying spankings are no longer recommended.  So what ill effect can spankings have with kids?  Tulane associate professor Catherine Taylor says there are increased risks in multiple unfavorable behaviors later in life.

Cut 7 (09)  “…risks are raised.”

—

The final act of this year’s special session trilogy is less than a week away, with the administration and many legislators scrambling to find some extra cash for programs like TOPS, which is facing a 30 percent cut. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the Department of Health is one place the state should be looking if it wants to plug the budget gaps.

Cut 3 (11) “they need”

The Metairie Republican says LDH has 110 million dollars in funded vacant positions, which are jobs that have money allocated, but are not currently filled. The Representative says it would take roughly 90 million dollars to fund the remainder of TOPS.

Here’s a look at your commodities…

In an interview with KPEL radio in Lafayette, U-S Senator John Kennedy says Governor John Bel Edwards’ should step down and let Republican Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser handle the state’s budget problems….
cut 30 (08) “…health care costs”
Edwards’ Deputy of Chief staff Richard Carbo says Kennedy’s absurity knows no limits.

House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry is looking at shuffling money around in the budget to fill the TOPS gap….
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Rudy Guiliani is visiting Cajun country to raise money for Lafayette attorney Josh Guillory, who is challenging fellow Republican and US Representative Clay Higgins this fall. The former New York City Mayor, and adviser to the President, will attend a fundraiser for Guillory on June 25th in Lafayette. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s a bit surprising.
Cut 10 (11) “to figure”
The general election is in November.

It’s a disciplinary action that has been around for years, but now a study involving Tulane University researchers finds that about three out of four pediatricians are saying spankings are no longer recommended. Tulane associate professor Catherine Taylor says that the wide accepted punishment can have a negative outcome on a child.
Cut 6 (07) “…than good for kids.”
Taylor says spankings can raise the risk for mental and physical problems.

US Senator John Kennedy is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to step down due to his handling of the state’s fiscal cliff. Kennedy, who is reportedly readying up a run for the Governor’s Mansion, says the legislature’s inability to find a long term solution to the budget crisis come down to a lack of leadership from Edwards. The Republican called for the Lt. Governor to take over the state.

Cut 4  (06) “at it.”

The eyes of the world are on the recent meeting between President Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. US Congressman Ralph Abraham says he’s got faith in President Trump’s ability to strike up an effective deal with Kim Jong Un.

Cut 9 (12)  “,,,to seeing what happens”

President Trump has released a statement saying there is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea.

Rudy Guiliani is visiting Cajun country to raise money for US Congressman Clay Higgins primary challenger, Josh Guillory. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearrson Cross says with Higgins being a loyal Trump booster, this could just be another example of the Trump Administration’s tendency to lack a unified political agenda.

Cut 11 (10) “coherent message”

Unless the Legislature approves additional revenue, TOPS will suffer a 30 percent reduction, a cost that will be passed right back to students and their families. Executive Director Dr. James Caillier says even if the state approves the funds, we’re already losing some of our highest performers.

Cut 13 (11)  “and brightest” 

That 30 percent reduction would result in the average LSU student with TOPS graduating nearly 14,000 dollars more in debt.

US Senator John Kennedy is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to step down due to his handling of the state’s fiscal cliff. The governor supports a half penny sales tax that would fully fund government, while some House Republicans favor a third penny sales tax that would require 126 million in cuts. Kennedy says Edwards was negligent to reject the House Republican’s offer.

Cut 6 (09) “you want.”

Edwards’ Spokesperson Richard Carbo says “Sen. Kennedy’s absurdity knows no limits.”

Unless the Legislature approves additional revenue, TOPS will suffer a 30 percent reduction.  Taylor Foundation Executive Director Dr. James Caillier says if we fail to sure up TOPS, the state will bleed its best talents.

Cut 15 (09) “brain drain”

Presidential confidant Rudy Guiliani will be in Lafayette to raise money for US Congressman Clay Higgins primary opponent. Becca Dill has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “I’m Becca Dill”

A third man has been arrested in the death of a St. Martinville teenager whose body was found on a St. Landry Parish levee over the weekend. 62-year-old Donald Boutte of Breaux Bridge, and grandfather of one of two men who were previously arrested in connection to the death, was charged with Obstruction of Justice and Accessory After the Fact to Second Degree Murder.

US Senator John Kennedy said on a Lafayette Radio station that Governor John Bel Edwards should resign. Matt Doyle has more…
Voicer 1 (30) I’m Matt Doyle“

Meanwhile in an event hosted by Politico, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise says he will not run for governor in 2019. Scalise is a candidate to become the next Speaker of the House. And tomorrow, marks the one-year anniversary of the shooting of the Republican Congressman from Jefferson Parish.

As it stands now, TOPS students will have to pay 30-percent of their tuition next school year, unless legislators are able to raise revenues to reduce the state’s large budget deficit. Taylor Foundation executive director Doctor James Caillier is concerned some TOPS students will be unable to afford college, if their tuition is not paid for….
cut 14 (11) “…this point”

Former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani will be in Lafayette later this month to help Republican Josh Guillory raise cash as the Lafayette lawyer is challenging U-S Representative Clay Higgins in the November election…
cut 12 (10) “…campaign”
That’s UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross.

TOPS will be cut by 30 percent without additional funds from a special session tax deal, and that could cost Louisiana students big. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (32) ” I’m Matt Doyle”

Good news for low income parents who have been waiting to take advantage of a taxpayer funded Child Care Assistance Program. It is receiving an injection of federal funds, which will allow an additional four-thousand children under the age of four to join the program. About 15-thousand students are currently enrolled.

President Trump is back in the U-S after his histroic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump posted on Twitter today that there is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea. Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham says current discussions could always go south, but as of now, it appears they are more advanced with North Korea than ever before…
cut 8 (08) “…his grandfather”

Rudy Guiliani is visiting Cajun country to raise money for US Congressman Clay Higgins primary challenger, Josh Guillory. The former New York City Mayor, and adviser to the President, will attend a fundraiser for Guillory on June 25th in Lafayette. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s… a bit surprising.
Cut 10 (11) “to figure”
Cross says Guillory is considered a more moderate Republican than Higgins.