Latest news for May 20, 2013

• Buddhist ceremony in BR enchants visitors

  The chanting started off deep and guttural as nine Tibetan monks began the opening ceremony for the construction of a mandala sand painting at the Tam Bao … Continue reading →

• Debts aimed helping State Police

  A state Senate committee Monday steered dollars toward a Louisiana State Police training academy through legislation creating a state debt collector. If the bill becomes law with the amendment intact, new troopers would be trained for the first time in several years. Another significant change …

• Amendment would protect cuts to hospitals, nursing homes

  The state Senate Finance Committee on Monday advanced two proposed constitutional amendments that opponents said would protect more areas of the budget from cuts. The propositions, contained in House Bills 532 and 533, would provide more financial stability for hospitals, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities and pharmacists through constitutionally protected funds. But …

• Texas Brine says insurers holding up settlement offers

  BAYOU CORNE — Gov. Bobby Jindal issued an executive order Monday calling on all state and local agencies to review permits held by Texas Brine, the company that owns the salt …

• Police and fire briefs for Tuesday, May 21, 2013

  Baton Rouge police arrested a woman Monday accused of throwing a brick at her 13-year-old daughter’s back and stabbing her in the right shoulder Sunday. Linda Thomas, 57, 1067 W. 5 Central Road, Baton Rouge, was …

• Pay raise bill heads to Senate

  The Senate Finance Committee quickly signed off Monday on multi-year, 4 percent pay raises for Louisiana clerks of court. Under House Bill 174, the clerks could opt for 4 percent pay raises in each of four years. The money to cover the raises would have to …

• Juban Crossing aid clears Senate

  The Louisiana Senate on Monday advanced legislation that would provide state help to finance infrastructure improvements related to the planned Juban Crossing development. The Senate voted 34-2 for measure sponsored by state Sen. Dale Erdey, R-Livingston. Senate Bill 50 now heads to the Louisiana House for debate.

• Tuition bills poised for votes

  Higher education leaders around the state will have their eyes on the State Capitol this week as legislators are set to debate two bills that would take tuition-setting control away from the Legislature and give it to the boards that manage Louisiana’s public colleges and universities.

  Judge tosses ex-BP executive’s obstruction charge

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a charge that is the backbone of the case against a former BP executive accused of concealing information from Congress about the amount of oil spewing in 2010 from the company's blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico. Defense attorney Reid Weingarten …

• School funding resolution set for hearing on Tuesday

  A state Senate committee is set to consider a $3.5 billion spending plan for public schools on Tuesday at 9 a.m. The proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, has been the subject of controversy for the past week. The Senate Education Committee initially shelved the measure because …

• Congressmen write to change his mind on Harbor Maintenance bill

  WASHINGTON - Members of the Louisiana congressional delegation on Monday wrote to the Obama administration asking the White House to stop opposing efforts to preserve funding for river dredging and ports projects. U.S. Reps. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans; Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson; and Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, were part of 25 House members …

• Elite getting incentives for Metro Airport flights

  Baton Rouge Metro Airport will give a standard incentive package to Elite Airways when the company begins flying out of the market in July. Elite Airways will get a two-year waiver on landing fees and rent, said Jim Caldwell, an airport spokesman. Baton Rouge Metro will also …

• Financing sought for Government St. development

  Danny McGlynn is seeking $700,000 in gap financing from the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority for his redevelopment of the Darensbourg building and a “model block” project on Government Street. An RDA loan review committee will look over the application at 9 a.m. Tuesday in its office …

• Picnic honors Marines

  U.S. Marine Cpl. Cullen Orgeron spent a balmy Sunday afternoon eating a hearty picnic lunch with about 100 others, including his family, friends and other Marines. Orgeron, a member of the Marine Reserve Truck Company, 23rd Marine Regiment, in Baton Rouge, brought his …