The House Education Committee meets today to discuss a variety of proposals that would change the TOPS Scholarship Program as we know it. Kenner Representative Julie Stokes sponsors legislation that would make the scholarship a loan that students would have to pay back if they drop out or fail classes. She says when you offer something for free, there will always be people who will abuse the system…:
CUT 7 (05) “for me”
There are other measures on the table that seek to raise the requirements in order to be awarded money from TOPS.

There is now a $5000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person who murdered a couple in Kenner on Monday. 28-year-old Dawn Scott and 31-year-old Raynell Kimbrough were found in their bed shot multiple times and cops say the incident happened while their three young children were in the apartment. Anyone with information on these homicides should call Crimestoppers.

A group of high school aged kids will rally on the state Capitol steps in support of legislation to prosecute 17-year-olds in juvenile court. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will attend the Champions for Change Event hosted by the STAR Center, and honoring Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne.

The measure that would allow people to be buried with their pets in cemeteries did not make it out of a Senate Committee today. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

Another national rating agency has dropped Louisiana’s credit rating by one notch, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy. This is the second rating downgrade in just two months, as Moody’s Investor Services lowers the state’s rating in February. These rating determine interest rates so borrowing money could become more expensive for Louisiana.

A state lawmaker tells higher education officials not to expect any additional revenue and they need to come up with a plan on how to educate our future workforce with existing dollars. Covington Representative John Schroeder says higher education should restructure itself based on the dollars that are available now…

cut 14 (07)  “down the road”

Schroeder says after raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the special session, he doesn’t see legislature passing any more tax increases.

Lawmakers advanced a bill to the Senate floor that would increase the fine for texting or using social media while driving. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor helped move the bill out of committee.

CUT 8 (10) “the distraction”

A state lawmaker tells higher ed officials not to expect any additional revenue and they need to come up with a plan on how to educate students with exisiting dollars. Covington Representative John Schroeder says after raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the special session, he doesn’t see the legislature passing any more tax increases…
cut 13 (09) “…money coming”
A bill that would allow pets to be buried with their owners failed to get approval from a Senate committee today. Gerald Melancon, with the Louisiana Cemetery Board, says this proposed law would give cemeteries problems, if the owner never wanted to be buried with the pet, but the family wants it to happen…
cut 11 (09) “…that owner”
The author of the bill says he’ll bring the legislation back again next year.

LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson says the school is debating whether or not it will grow medical marijuana. Lawmakers gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to produce the prescription drug. Richardson says they are considering their options…:
CUT 4 (08) “or out”
He says several bills on medical marijuana in this regular session outline the regulations that could help them make a decision.

Seat belt fines would double on a first offense under a bill that advances out of the House Transportation Committee. New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger says under this legislation, the maximum fine would be 75 dollars. He feels this would help more people buckle up …:
CUT 7 (10) “use a seat belt”
The bill moves to the full House.

A bill to increase the penalty for violating the state’s seatbelt law has passed out of the House Transportation Committee.  New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger says the higher the penalty, the better the compliance.

CUT 6 (09) “a year”

Leger says under the proposed law, the fine would double to 50 dollars for the first offense of not wearing a seatbelt.

Bill Richardson, LSU Vice President for Agriculture, says the school is debating whether or not it will grow Louisiana’s medical marijuana. He says several proposed bills that outline the regulations could help them make a decision. Richardson says they are still a ways away from offering medical marijuana to the public.

CUT 3 (09)  “years away”

When lawmakers approved medical marijuana legislation last year, they gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to grow the plant.

A state lawmaker says it’s time to restructure higher education. Jeff Palemro has the story…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana’s credit rating was downgraded by Fitch Ratings today, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy. Kennedy says this is what happens when you spend more than you take in for 7 years. Moody’s Investor Service already downgraded the state’s credit rating earlier this year.

The measure that would allow people to be buried with their pets in cemeteries did not make it out of a Senate Committee today. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

A Senate committee has approved a proposal that would prevent adult entertainment venues from hiring dancers who are under 21. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says this bill would protect young women and reduce human trafficking in the state. Opponents of the bill say it would limit the number of women who enter this industry for good reasons.

LSU is unsure about whether or not they will grow Louisiana’s medical marijuana, according to LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson. Richardson says growing the prescribed marijuana could cost upwards of $15 million, and the school doesn’t have that in the budget right now. He says they are looking into third-party investors, but there is a lot of uncertainty about the financial impact.

CUT 5 (08)  “next week”

Lawmakers gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to be growers after medical marijuana legislation was approved last year.

The legislature has advanced a bill to the Senate floor that would increase the fines against drivers who are caught texting or using social media while behind the wheel. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor helped move the bill out of committee.

CUT 8 (10) “the distraction”

The measure that would let pet owners be buried with their furry friends stalls in a Senate committee today. Metarie Senator Conrad Appel says opponents are asking for clarity in the language, but his bill is already very general. He says cemeteries would have the power to figure out how they want to do this, and also the right to refuse burying pets…:
cut 12 (08) “the cemetery”
But the Louisiana cemetery Association wants it written into the law exactly how and where they would bury the pets, and what to do with spots that are already sold in human remains only areas.

Shreveport Police arrest a man they say is accused of visiting a local park and exposing himself to people there. They said multiple complaints came in, including one in which the offender allegedly asked a juvenile to look at him while he was exposed. 38-year-old Michael Daniels was developed as a suspect and he’s charged with five counts of Obscenity with $100,000 bond.

LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson says the school is debating whether or not it will grow medical marijuana. When lawmakers approved the legislation last year, it gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to produce the prescription drug. Richardson says they are considering their options…:
CUT 4 (08) “or out”
He says several bills on medical marijuana in this regular session outline the regulations that could help them make a decision.

Five more parishes are now eligible for disaster assistance for residents affected by recent severe storms and flooding. They are Catahoula, East Carroll, Franklin, Lincoln and St. Helena. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says some residents in disaster declared parishes are also eligible for disaster unemployment insurance, but the deadlines to enroll are approaching.

During a rally today of people with development disabilities, Governor John Bel Edwards told the crowd that lawmakers would be back for a second special session to raise more revenue.

The measure that would allow people to be buried with their pets in cemeteries did not make it out of a Senate Committee today. Gerald Melancon, with the Louisiana Cemetery Association, says the language in the bill that says pets would be in different sections needs clarification. He says cemeteries already have spots sold with the promise there would only be human remains there…:
CUT 9 (10) “this section”
It’s Metairie Senator Conrad Appel’s bill and he says it states folks who would want to be buried with their pets would have to buy a spot in another section, -and- do it in advance…:
CUT 10 (08) “goldfish section”
Melancon said they’d like to see more work on the bill and it was deffered.

Seat belt fines would double on a first offense under a bill that advances out of the House Transportation Committee today. New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger says under this legislation, the second and third offense would increase to 75 dollars from 50 dollars. He feels this would help more people buckle up and ultimately save lives…:
CUT 7 (10) “use a seat belt”
The bill now moves to the full House.

House Transportation also voted in favor of the REAL ID license bill after almost 2 hours of debate. The vote was 10-5 and now heads to the House floor. A similar bill has already passed in the Senate.