Governor John Bel Edwards has signed legislation designed to control the cost of the TOPS program in future years. Starting in 2017, TOPS students will have to pay a portion of their tuition, if the legislature does not agree to raise the TOPS payment to match tuition hikes. The author of the measure, Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue, says this won’t solve all of the TOPS funding issues, but it’s a start…
cut 7 (05) “…we have”

Digital billboards are up in Baton Rouge and Shreveport urging residents to contact their legislators and ask them to support legislation that would expand the number of diseases medical marijuana can treat. Katie Corkern is featured on one of the billboards and she says FDA approved medication doesn’t help her child that has a seizure disorder…
cut 10 (08) “…talk about”
The full House is expected to vote on the bill that Corkern supports.

A 21-year-old Ascension Parish mother is facing charges after police say her two-year-old child ate methamphetamine. Gonzales Police Sergeant Steven Nethken says 21-year-old Tyler Dauzat was at first evasive in answering questions at the hospital, but a blood screen of the toddler showed meth in her system…
cut 4 (10) “….the methamphetamine”

The headshot of a service dog in the yearbook from West Monroe’s Good Hope Middle School has made national headlines. The service dog’s name is Presley and is photo can be found right next to his owner, 14-year-old Seph Ware, who has muscular dystrophy. The school’s yearbook advisor, Sonya Hogg, says Presley has evened signed a few yearbooks, with help from Seph….
cut 13 (05) “…from Presley”
Hogg says it was a natural decision for her to have a picture of Presley in the yearbook.

The TOPS Scholarship will no longer guarantee to cover a student’s full tuition starting in the fall of 2017. Governor Edwards signed the measure which doesn’t tie the award to tuition increases…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The governor has ordered flags on public buildings be flown at half staff today to honor Frank Levingston. The Cotton Valley native was the oldest living man in the US and the oldest verified surviving World War II veteran. Levingston died in Lake Charles a week ago at the age of 110.

Sensible Marijuana Policy for Louisiana has launched billboards in Baton Rouge and Shreveport in hopes to encourage people to contact their legislators to vote in favor of legislation that would expand access to medical marijuana. Spokesperson Jacob Irving says if you don’t make an effort, lawmakers will assume you don’t care…:
CUT 9 (10) “yourselves”
The bill that would add more medical conditions that could utilize medical marijuana is expected to be debated on the House floor tomorrow.

The story about the yearbook of West Monroe’s Good Hope Middle School is going viral and making national headlines. That’s because a service dog, Presley, got her own headshot next to her owner, Seph Ware who suffers with MS. Good Hope yearbook advisor Sonya Hogg says Presley, a Goldendoodle, is just another member of the school…:
CUT 12 (04) “quiet student”
She says Presley even signed the kids’ yearbooks, with a little help from Seph.

Governor Edwards signs into law a bill that means the TOPS scholarship is no longer guaranteed to cover the full cost of a student’s tuition, starting in the fall of 2017. Executive Director of the Taylor Foundation, Dr. James Callier (*Kye-yay*), says tuition increases have hurt the scholarship program:
CUT 6 (06) “increases”
The bill locks in the amount of a TOPS scholarship at next year’s rate, and the award will not automatically increase, even if tuition costs go up. Supporters say this will help make TOPS more affordable and thus more sustainable for the future.

State Police say a teenager from Marksville died this morning following a crash with a school bus in Avoyelles Parish. Investigators determined 19-year-old Joshua Frank lost control of his vehicle and collided with the school bus that was going in the opposite direction. There were no children on the bus at the time, but troopers say Frank wasn’t buckled up and he died at the scene.

An attack on a member of law enforcement, firefighters or EMS would be considered a hate crime under a measure headed to the Senate floor. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the hate crime law currently covers violence against people because of their race, gender, religion, age, disability or nationality — and this bill expands that…:
cut 15 (07) “EMS”
There was no objection in the Senate committee.

A juvenile who allegedly beat up a 61-year-old female because she refused to perform oral sex on him is charged with simple battery of the infirmed, according to the Thibodaux Police Department. They say the suspect was identified by a witness who tried to stop the attack, and he was subsequently booked into the Juvenile Detention Center on the charge.

Governor John Bel Edwards signed the bill that would permanently change the TOPS scholarship program so that, starting in the fall of 2017, awards will no longer automatically go up with tuition increases. The measure was introduced as a way to control the state’s costs, because there was a fear that Louisiana won’t be able to offer TOPS if the financial note isn’t more reasonable. 17 other bills were also signed into law.

A bus driver in Bossier Parish was busted driving drunk following her drop off route, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Bill Davis says 33-year-old Bridget Whitley was subjected to a random drug test after she showed signs of intoxication…:
CUT 14 (10) “for DWI”
He says this is the second DWI for Whitley, whose bond was set at $50,000.

Lawmakers want to remove Attorney General Jeff Landry’s funds from the state’s general operating budget. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Prairieville woman has been arrested after cops say her child ate methamphetamine. Gonzales police Sgt. Steven Nethken says 21-year-old Tyler Dauzat took her 2-year-old to the hospital when the child began exhibiting erratic behavior. Nethken says Dauzat was staying in a local hotel, when she left her toddler alone…:
CUT 3 (08) “her purse”
The 2-year-old is in stable condition at a hospital and Dauzat’s charges include cruelty to a juvenile and negligent injuring.

The House Appropriations committee has backed a plan that would give the Attorney General’s Office more oversight over its own budget. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry says A-G Jeff Landry requested more freedom to determine how to spend his agency’s allotted state funds…
cut 4 (10) “….move money around”
Governor John Bel Edwards says this action is not only unconstitutional, it’s also bad policy….
cut 6 (09) “….agencies”
The full House will debate this issue some more later in the week.

Flags are at half-staff over the State Capitol and all public buildings today in honor of Frank Levingston of Lake Charles. He was the oldest verified World War Two vet, who died earlier this month at the age of 110.

A poll of over six-hundred likely voters in Louisiana finds Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has a big lead over Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. John Couvillion of JMC Analytics conducted the survey and he says the poll shows very little evidence of Republican disunity…
cut 13 (10) “….republican”
Trump received an approval rating of 47-percent in the poll, while Clinton and Sanders disapproval rating was above 55-percent.

The state legislature is close to approving a bill that would require signs warning motorists of intersections where red-light traffic cameras are present. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says if there are no signs and driver gets ticketed for blowing a red light, they’ll have the opportunity to contest that ticket…
cut 10 (08) “…be heard”
The full House still has to approve it and it then heads to the governor’s desk.

The House Appropriations Committee voted to eliminate the Inspector General’s Office from the proposed budget, saying it overlaps with work done by state police, the attorney general, and legislative auditors. But IG Stephen Street says his agency investigates tough political cases that other agencies will not…:
CUT 7 (11) “place else”
The panel also wants the office of the Attorney General to have its own budget — which the governor calls bad policy and against the constitution. There are several items in the proposed spending plan which go against the recommendations of the Edwards Administration — including the fully funding of TOPS and instead cutting other agencies. It heads to the full House.

The governor has ordered flags on public buildings be flown at half staff today to honor Frank Levingston. The Cotton Valley native was the oldest living man in the US and the oldest verified surviving World War II veteran. Levingston died in Lake Charles a week ago at the age of 110.

If the presidential election were held today, Louisiana would choose Republican Donald Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton, 52 to 36%. That’s according to John Couvillon of JMC Analytics who says even among women voters, 48% support Trump while 41% do not…:
cut 12 (10) “like that”

Bossier Parish Deputies say a school bus driver got a DWI shortly after she dropped of a busload of kids at school. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Lawmakers would like to see the office of Attorney General Jeff Landry have its own budget instead of one with the state, despite opposition from those who say the policy would violate the constitution. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger…:
CUT 5 (07) “the past”
The House Appropriations Committee voted 17-6 to give Landry more power over the agency’s money. The spending plan is scheduled to hit the House floor Thursday. It also rejects significant recommendations by the governor’s office.

Would you like to see signs on roadways which would warn you if a red light camera intersection was just ahead? A bill that would which would mandate the notices 500 feet away is headed to the House floor for final legislative passage. New Orleans Sen. Troy Carter says the measure would also grant the individual legal rights…:
CUT 9 (09) “to challenge”

A poll finds the 52% of Louisianans would vote for Republican Donald Trump and 36% would vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton for president. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A bus driver in Bossier Parish is facing DWI charges after cops say she was driving drunk when she was running her morning route. Lt. Bill Davis says this was the second DWI for 33-year-old Bridget Whitley. He says this is completely unacceptable…:
CUT 15 (11) “of parents”

A House Committee advanced a proposal that would give Attorney General Jeff Landry more control over his office’s budget by removing it from the state’s general operating budget. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The graduate of Tulane who was shot and killed in New Orleans over the weekend while visiting the city to plan his wedding was the victim of robbery, according the police. They said 25-year-old Thomas Rolfes, a St. Louis native, had injuries on his hands that indicated there may have been a struggle. He was here with his fiance to select a wedding venue.

A woman from Prairieville is under arrest after her 2-year-old allegedly ate methamphetamine, according to cops. They say 21-year-old Tyler Dauzat took the toddler to the hospital for exhibiting erratic behavior, and doctors later determined the child’s system was loaded with a serious amount of meth. Dauzat was charged on counts of negligent injuring and cruelty to juveniles.

A bill that would require warnings 500 feet ahead of red-light camera intersections heads to the house floor for final legislative passage. New Orleans Sen. Troy Carter on his measure…:
Cut 8 (06) “due notice”
He says the bill would also allow a driver to challenge a red light ticket if no sign was present.

State Police will hold a memorial this evening to remember those law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The list includes Trooper Steven J. Vincent and Louisiana Highway Commission Patrolman Frank Brown Jr. The ceremony will be held at the memorial in front of the Louisiana State Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge.