KATC.com

Tagged News

• State Debating Higher Education Tuition Hikes Play Video

  April 30, 2013 7:26 PM

  Depending what happens in the legislature, tuition could rise for thousands of students at universities across the state. Tuesday, the House Education Committee held a hearing on a proposed bill which would allow universities to raise tuition without legislative approval. "We're trying desperately to maintain quality and performance... more »

• Louisiana Eye Care Facing Possible Changes Play Video

  April 22, 2013 11:50 PM

  Changes could be on the way for eye care in Louisiana. Under House Bill 527, optometrists could perform procedures now performed by medical doctors. A board may determine whether optometrists could give certain injections or perform laser surgery. Eye care doctors across the state are at odds because there... more »

• Legislature passes coastal master plan

  May 23, 2012 7:46 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A $50 billion, 50-year proposal aimed at stopping coastal land loss in Louisiana has passed the state Legislature. The Senate voted 94-0 Tuesday in favor of the 2012 coastal master plan. By law, the state has to update it every five years. Funding for the... more »

• Former Lawmakers Seek Return to LA Legislature

  August 7, 2011 2:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Term limits cleared out much of Louisiana's Legislature within the last few years, and some of those lawmakers weren't ready to go when their time was up. Now, a few longtime legislators are trying to return, seeking to oust those who took their place. Others... more »

• A look at what passed, failed in the Legislature

  June 23, 2011 10:42 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers were wrapping up their two-month regular legislative session Thursday. A look at what won approval and what fell short of passage: WHAT PASSED: -BUDGET: A $25 billion budget will finance ongoing operations of state agencies, services and programs in the fiscal year that begins... more »

• Jindal Says He'll Veto Cigarette Tax Within Days

  June 4, 2011 10:56 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal says he's not changing his mind: He intends to veto a 4-cent per pack cigarette tax renewal passed by Louisiana lawmakers. Jindal received the bill this week and said he will reject it within the 10 days he has before the renewal... more »

• LA Regular Legislative Session Begins Monday

  April 24, 2011 2:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Weary lawmakers still smarting from angry battles over the drawing of their political districts return to the Louisiana Capitol on Monday to take up the difficult task of balancing next year's budget. The two-month regular session will be jam-packed with tough decisions on whether to... more »

• Arizona Legislature OKs Presidential 'Birther' Bill

  April 15, 2011 6:48 AM

  PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona Legislature gave final approval to a proposal that would require President Barack Obama and other presidential candidates to prove they are U.S. citizens before their names can appear on the state's ballot. Arizona would become the first state to require such proof if Gov. Jan... more »

• Legislature creates oil spill oversight committee

  March 4, 2011 6:17 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State legislative leaders have formed a special committee to oversee the BP claims process led by Kenneth Feinberg. The committee will be chaired by New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger, a Democrat. It is expected to hold its first meeting this month. Senate President Joel Chaisson... more »

• Legislature seeks public comment on redistricting

  February 11, 2011 8:53 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers are holding a series of meetings around Louisiana to receive public comment about upcoming plans to redraw the state's political maps. The redistricting meetings begin Feb. 17 in Covington and run through March 1 in Alexandria. Stops include New Orleans, Houma, Baton Rouge, Lake... more »

• Cyberbullying Bill Proposed in Louisiana

  April 20, 2010 9:53 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Harassing or intimidating someone by text message, e-mail or posts on social networking sites like Facebook would be deemed "cyberbullying" and would be a crime under a bill proposed by a Shreveport lawmaker. The House Criminal Justice Committee is scheduled... more »

• Proposed Bill May Save Money on Energy

  April 12, 2010 3:18 PM

  One local lawmaker is pushing for a way to make energy costs lower. This session Senator Mike Michot of Lafayette brings his alternative energy bill to the table. "Using the natural flow of the river and harnessing that and converting it into electricity is the general idea," Michot... more »

• Bill Would Revamp School Board

  April 5, 2010 3:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge lawmaker is back again this year with his proposals to revamp local school board laws by limiting board members' authority and their elected terms. Republican Rep. Steve Carter of Baton Rouge has tweaked the bills after they... more »

• Lawmakers Divided In Baton Rouge

  April 2, 2010 6:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The divisive state House battle over its second-ranking leader spilled more political gamesmanship into public view than is typical at the Louisiana Capitol, but lawmakers said Thursday they hope the dispute won't mar the legislative session. Lawmakers disagreed whether the... more »

• No Lawmaker Pay Raises This Year in House

  April 1, 2010 3:35 PM

  The state House of Representatives won't give out annual pay raises to its workers next year as Louisiana continues to struggle with budget problems. House Speaker Jim Tucker said Wednesday that the chamber will follow the lead of Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Civil Service Commission, who have... more »

• House Committees Change After Controversial Vote

  March 31, 2010 9:45 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - House Speaker Jim Tucker stripped four lawmakers of their assignments to two highly prized legislative committees after they voted against his choice for the House's No. 2 leader. The announcement Wednesday came only hours after Tucker said some lawmakers... more »

• Legislative Session Begins

  March 29, 2010 7:54 PM

  State lawmakers will be spending lots of time in Baton Rouge over the next few months. Louisiana's Regular Session got underway Monday and with budget cuts happening all over the place, it's now a matter of getting business done with less money. Governor Jindal says the financial troubles present an... more »

• Louisiana Legislative Session Begins Today at Noon

  March 29, 2010 12:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana lawmakers begin their annual regular session Monday, grappling with a set of deep budget problems and nearly 2,000 pieces of legislation that propose everything from college tuition increases and looser gun restrictions to bans on energy drink sales to... more »

• Energy Drinks to Be Banned in Louisiana?

  March 18, 2010 1:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A state senator is proposing to ban the sale of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16 amid concerns about the jolt of caffeine's effect on health. Republican Sen. Robert Adley of Benton has proposed the bill for ... more »

• Two Lawmakers Under Fire for Attendance

  March 18, 2010 12:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Two New Orleans-area lawmakers are under fire from House leaders for what some describe as shoddy attendance records with the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee. House Speaker Jim Tucker says he's received complaints that Rep. John LaBruzzo of Metairie and Rep. Charmaine Marchand Stiaes... more »