Tagged News

• TOPS cuts may continue through next year Play Video

  February 23, 2017 6:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE – The Edwards' administration proposed a state budget Thursday that keeps the cuts to the TOPS scholarship program intact. In the proposal, students would only receive 70 percent of their scholarships beginning fall 2017. It's the same amount students are receiving this year after lawmakers cut the program... more »

• State budget cuts loom Play Video

  January 26, 2017 11:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor John Bel Edwards is scheduled to address state lawmakers in a joint budget meeting Friday morning at the capitol where he's expected to disclose more details on an upcoming special legislative session. The Louisiana budget is short $304 million for the current fiscal year leaving state services... more »

• Louisiana colleges spared some cuts for now

  December 15, 2016 4:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana colleges took a lighter hit to their budgets Thursday than state lawmakers had feared a month earlier. Members of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget recognized a $312 million mid-year budget cut at the capitol and higher education took a $12 million hit. In November,... more »

• Medicaid, TOPS, public schools all running out of money Play Video

  December 30, 2015 1:58 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state's budget woes keep getting worse. Louisiana now has a $2.65 billion budget hole to be filled by June. Incoming Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announced the sobering news Tuesday at LSU. "This is the clear view, the true picture for where we are today. It's... more »

• Healthcare and higher ed could be broke by spring Play Video

  December 14, 2015 8:00 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Health care and higher education could be broke by spring if money isn't raised for state services. There's a $227 million shortfall for Medicaid and the college tuition program, TOPS, according to Jan Moller with the Louisiana Budget Project. "This is an extremely serious situation," said Moller.... more »

• Pollster: Dardenne endorsement likley insignificant Play Video

  November 5, 2015 7:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Rep. John Bel Edwards (D) said Thursday's endorsement by former gubernatorial opponent Jay Dardenne (R) is a "big deal" in his campaign against Sen. David Vitter (R). But long time pollster Bernie Pinsonat of Southern Media & Opinion Research doesn't think it will make much difference. Pinsonat... more »