The House Appropriations Committee approves a proposed spending plan for next fiscal year that fully funds TOPS. The panel moved money away from other state agencies to fully fund the popular scholarship program. While speaking to the Baton Rouge Press Club, Governor John Bel Edwards expressed concerns about cutting funding to various agencies that have already seen their budgets slashed…
cut 13 (08) “…dollar amounts”
The budget bill still has a long way to go in the legislative process.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison says robbery appears to be the motive in the shooting death of Thomas Rolfe. He’s the Tulane grad, who was in New Orleans for the weekend to plan a spot for his wedding. Rolfe’s body was found a few blocks from where surveillance video spotted the 25-year-old purchasing water. Harrison says there were marks on Rolfe’s hands that suggests there was a struggle.

Carinsurance.com shows Louisiana is the third most dangerous state for teen drivers. The study also found Louisiana teens are driving drunk at a rate of 9-percent, and 49-percent are texting and driving. Highway Safety Advocate Jim Champagne says law enforcement needs to be tougher on teen drivers…
cut 8 (10) “…our teens”

23-million dollars of rehabilition work on the Jimmie Davis Bridge has been put on hold because the state could not come to an agreement on how much it should cost to move the cliff swallows living there. cliff swallows is a protected species of bird. State department of transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett…
cut 10 (12) “…painting issue”
Mallett says the 23-million dollars is still allocated for the project, even though there is no word on when work will begin on the bridge.

The House Appropriations Committee passes a proposed budget for next fiscal year that fully funds TOPS. Committee Chairman Cameron Henry says money was moved around to come up with the 183-million dollars needed to pay for tuition costs associated with the scholarship program…
cut 12 (06) “…for priorities”
The budget still has a long way to go through the legislative process.

Baton Rouge mayor Kip Holden has filed his paperwork to run for Congress. Holden is expected to challenge fellow Democrat and incumbent US Representative Cedic Richmond, who represents the 2nd District which covers New Orleans and parts of the River Parishes and Baton Rouge. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Holden, who is term-limited as a mayor, is a strong candidate….
cut 3 (08) “….for him”

Louisiana is ranked the third most dangerous state for teen drivers, according to a new study from Carinsurance.com. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…reporting”

Rehabilition work on the Jimmie Davis Bridge in Bossier-Shreveport will not go on as planned, because there is a protected species of birds living on the bridge. Department of transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the state and the contractor couldn’t agree on a cost to safely move the birds, so they will go back to the drawing board…
cut 11 (05) “…Shreveport area”

A report from Carinsurance-dot-com finds Louisiana is the third most dangerou state for teen drivers. The study found that Louisiana teens are drinking and driving at a rate of nine-percent and texting and driving at a rate of 49-percent, both percentages are above the national average. Highway Safety advocate, Colonel Jim Champagne, says it’s a disturbing report…
cut 7 (09) “….the nation”

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden has filed papework that suggests he’s running for Congress. Holden is expected to run against fellow Democrat Cedric Richmond, who represents the 2nd District. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Holden could be a serious threat to Richmond, but he’ll need to raise some dough…
cut 5 (11) “…just announcing”
Qualifying is in July and the election is in November.

The Jimmy Davis Bridge in Shreveport-Bossier City will not get its planned renovation anytime soon because the construction contract has been terminated. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says work has been halted because of a protected species of bird that’s nesting on the bridge.
CUT 9 (10) “the work”
Mallett says DOTD is regrouping and will try to come up with a cost prohibitive plan to protect the cliff swallows that are living on the bridge.

The House Appropriations Committee has approved a spending plan for next fiscal year that fully funds the TOPS Scholarship program. Governor John Bel Edwards proposed spending plan only funded TOPS at one-third of the level neeeded to completely pay for all of the tuitions. Money was moved from other parts of the budget to fully fund the scholarship program. The full house will debate the budget bill later this week.

A new study from Carinsurance.com shows Louisiana is the third most dangerous state for teen drivers. Highway safety advocate, Col. Jim Champagne is not surprised because he says we give teen drivers too much freedom at an early age….
cut 6 (12) “…until 18”
The study also found Louisiana teens are driving drunk at a rate of 9-percent, and 49-percent are texting and driving.

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden has filed paperwork to run for Congress and it’s expected he’ll challenge 2nd District US Representative Cedric Richmond, who represents New Orleans and parts of the River Parishes and Baton Rouge. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Holden could be a strong challenger to Richmond…
cut 4 (05) “…very viable”
Holden is term-limited and can’t run for re-election as Baton Rouge’s mayor.

The tiny Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph may finally get their water problems resolved, as members of the governor’s staff are there today to discuss fixing the brown tap water. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty’

Baton Rouge mayor Kip Holden has filed his paperwork to run for Congress. Holden is expected to challenge fellow Democrat and incumbent US Representative Cedic Richmond, who represents the 2^nd District which covers New Orleans and parts of the River Parishes and Baton Rouge. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Holden, who is term-limited as a mayor, is a strong candidate.

CUT 3 (08)  “for him”

A bill could be withdrawn from the regular session that would prohibit open burning of explosives and munitions because of opposition from a company called Clean Harbors, which has a location near Colfax that open burns. Minden Rep. Gene Reynolds says in the bill’s place would be a House resolution which would call for local input before Clean Harbors can receive a new permit next year.

Cut 6 (05)  “working on”

Members of the Governor’s staff are in St. Joseph today to address the brown water that’s been flowing from faucets in the Tensas Parish town. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says they are there to inform St. Joseph residents about what’s being done to improve the drinking water…

CUT 7 (08)  “as possible” 

Residents of St. Joseph say the tap water has been pale yellow to murky brown for over 8 years.

Louisiana’s U.S. Senate election is 6 months away, ULM Political Science Professor, Dr. Joshua Stockley, says it’s been a slow race so far. Stockley says we haven’t seen or heard much from the nine declared candidates. He says this election is very similar to last year’s governor’s election.

Cut 10 (10) “to date”

The House Appropriations Committee has begun discussions on the proposed budget for next fiscal year. The governor’s proposed spending plan only allocated a third of the approximately 300-million dollars needed to fully cover tuition costs for eligible TOPS students. Chairman of the budget committee, Cameron Henry of Metairie, says that’s not enough…
cut 13 (07) “…that’s covered”
Henry says they’ll move money away from the state health department to make sure TOPS is fully funded.

The full House is scheduled to hear a bill this afternoon that would prohibit open buring of explosives and munitions. But the bill’s author, Minden Representative Gene Reynolds, says the legislation might not be needed, if they work out a compromise with Clean Harbors, a company that open burns near Colfax….
cut 5 (10) “…in statue”

Louisiana’s US Senate race is six months away. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says right now, the favorites to make a December runoff are any of the major Republican candidates…
cut 12 (10) “…picks up”
There are two major Democrats, businesswoman Caroline Fayard and PSC Member Foster Campbell.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ staff are in St. Joseph today to meet with residents who have complained for years about brown drinking water. Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says there’s nearly eight-million dollars to available repair the town’s water system, but unfortunately St. Joseph cannot receive the money, because it has yet to complete a 2015 financial audit.…
cut 8 (10) “..status”
Baxter Payer hopes that gets done soon.

Louisiana’s US Senate race is just 6 months away, but so far things have been fairly quiet from the candidates vying for the seat being vacated by David Vitter. ULM Political Science Professor, Dr. Joshua Stockley, says right now, the focus is on the state’s budget problems and the legislative session:
cut 11 (10) “attuned”
He says the presidential election will likely play a role in who wins this Senate seat.

The House Appropriates Committee is expected to push cuts to the Department of Health and Hospitals in order to fund TOPS when they present the proposed budget today. Chairman Cameron Henry of Metairie says TOPS is a priority for a majority of House members and if state agencies receive less funding next fiscal year, they’ll have to make do…:
Cut 15 (07) “for them”
The governor says $183 million dollars in cuts to other state agencies would have to be made if TOPS is fully funded.

A bill that would ban open burning of munitions and explosives may be withdrawn from House consideration. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says the major opposition came from Colfax Clean Harbors, which open burns waste. He says lawmakers and the company are trying to meet in the middle…:
CUT 5 (10) “in statue”
He feels everyone would win this way.

St. Joe residents in Tensas Parish may soon have their brown murky water cleared up, as leaders from the Governor’s office visit the town today to address the matter. Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer, hopes concern citizens will come out to a 5pm meeting to discuss the water…:
Cut 9 (10) “to come”
She says there is money available to repair the system, but the town has to complete an audit first.

Today, lawmakers in the lower chamber will present a proposed budget plan for next fiscal year that’s expected to fully fund TOPS. Leaders say the scholarship program is a top priority, but Governor John Bel Edwards says if the state covers 100% of tuition for eligible students, it will mean less state funding for hospitals, public education and state prisons…:
cut 14 (05) “do that”
He says of legislators fully fund TOPS it would mean 183-million dollars in cuts across other areas of the budget.

A bill that would prohibit open burning of explosives could be withdrawn from the regular session. There’s opposition from Clean Harbors Colfax which burns about 540,000 pounds of toxic waste annually. Minden Rep. Gene Reynolds says they’re in talks with Clean Harbors the state DEQ.
cut 4 (05) “things out”
He says he’s glad they are nearing a compromise, because the measure only passed 9-8 out of a House committee and they likely wouldn’t have had enough votes on the floor.

The Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph may finally get their water problems resolved. Members of the governor’s staff are there today to address the issue…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A man from Slidell drowned in Lake Pontchartrain Saturday while drinking with friends, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. Witnesses told authorities 28-year-old Joshua Entrekin had been drinking when he went into the water and never came back up. An autopsy is scheduled for today. St. Tammany Coroner Dr. Charles Preston said Louisiana has the third-highest drowning rate in the nation, and it’s vital we all take precautions when on the water.