Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries chief resigns

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries chief resigns

Montoucet resigns: Jack Montoucet resigned as head of the state's wildlife and fisheries department Friday, a day after The Advocate | The Times-Picayune | The Acadiana Advocate identified him as being implicated in a bribery scandal. Tyler Bridges and Sam Karlin have the story.

Pay raises?: Gov. John Bel Edwards' plan to hike first responders' pay breezed out of a Senate committee this week, while his teacher pay raise plan was picked apart by House lawmakers. The debate suggests a tough road ahead in the legislature for the teacher raises, James Finn reports.

Chase wins: Gubernatorial candidates Jeff Landry and John Schroder have spent years attacking JP Morgan Chase for refusing to invest in fossil fuels and gun companies. But both signed off this week on a plan to let Chase underwrite $251 million in state bonds, Karlin reports. Schroder said Chase offered the best deal for the state.

Numbers to Know

A cost breakdown of bills and budgets discussed in the Legislature this week:

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$24M: Cost of proposed pay raises for first responders

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$197M: Cost of proposed pay raises for teachers and school support staff

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$4.2B: Cost of proposed Minimum Foundation Program for students

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$165M: Department of Youth Services budget

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$38M: Public Safety Services budget

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$640M: Corrections Services budget

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$55M: Special Schools and Commissions budget

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Source: Louisiana State Legislature