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The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Friday, Sept. 8
8:28 a.m. 1300 block of Second Street; Animal complaint.
8:51 a.m. 400 block of Duke Street; Animal complaint.
9:18 a.m. 900 block of Fig Street; Investigation.
9:22 a.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Alarm.
9:39 a.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Complaint.
9:55 a.m. 700 block of Front Street; Alarm.
10:21 a.m. 600 block of General MacArthur Street; Complaint.
10:23 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
10:37 a.m. 500 block of First Street; Alarm.
10:58 a.m. 2100 block of Cedar Street; Theft.
11:14 a.m. 2100 block of Cedar Street; Complaint.
11:30 a.m. 500 block of Terrebonne Street; Complaint.
12:30 p.m. Front Street; Complaint.
12:38 p.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Complaint.
1:35 p.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Welfare check.
2:21 p.m. 100 block of Chennault Street; Animal complaint.
4:13 p.m. 1100 block of Chestnut Drive; Harassment.
4:15 p.m. 200 block of Mallard Street; Disturbance.
4:26 p.m. Chennault Street; Medical.
4:27 p.m. 3200 block of Vine Drive; Suspicious person.
7:40 p.m. 7100 block of Park Road; Removal of subject.
7:48 p.m. 1800 block of Sixth Street; Medical.
9:13 p.m. 800 block of Florence Street; Alarm.
9:54 p.m. 600 block of Leona Street; Medical.
10:46 p.m. 300 block of Grizzaffi Street; Assistance.
Saturday, Sept. 9
12:56 a.m. 1800 block of Maple Street; Loud noise.
2:45 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
7:09 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Animal complaint.
8:44 a.m. Federal and Railroad avenues; Warrant arrest.
9:02 a.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Remove subject.
10:33 a.m. Patterson; Warrant arrest.
11:22 a.m. 900 block of Franklin Street; Theft.
12:11 p.m. 500 block of Bush Street; Theft.
12:52 p.m. 500 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.
1:43 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Alarm.
2:32 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Theft.
3:18 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Complaint.
3:21 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
3:31 p.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Complaint.
5:57 p.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Complaint.
6:39 p.m. 3100 block of Roselawn Drive; Loud music.
7:44 p.m. 1300 block of Elm Street; Frequent patrols.
7:55 p.m. 700 block of Justa Street; Theft.
8:06 p.m. 3200 block of Roselawn Drive; Disturbance.
9:58 p.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Medical.
11:53 p.m. 700 block of Onstead Street; Complaint.
Sunday, Sept. 10
12:13 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Hit and run.
1:07 a.m. 300 block of Second Street; Frequent patrols.
2:12 a.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Theft.
2:50 a.m. 1000 block of Front Street; Complaint.
4:08 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.
4:27 a.m. 700 block of Marshall Street; Alarm.
8:25 a.m. 1300 block of Elm Street; Complaint.
10:13 a.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Officer stand by.
11:06 a.m. 500 block of Third Street; Medical emergency.
2:23 p.m. 300 block of Chennault Street; Officer stand by.
3:04 p.m. Mount Street; Reckless driver.
3:58 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Complaint.
4:03 p.m. 700 block of Brashear Avenue; Fight.
4:59 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
6:22 p.m. 800 block of Walnut Drive; Animal.
7:54 p.m. 100 block of Youngswood Road; 911 hang up.
8:02 p.m. 200 block of Mallard Street; Disturbance.
9:22 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Juvenile problem.
Monday, Sept. 11
12:08 a.m. 1000 block of Front Street; Complaint.
2:48 a.m. 1000 block of Front Street; Suspicious person.
3:36 a.m. 1000 block of Front Street; Complaint.

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana lawmakers appear caught in a near-perpetual loop, repeatedly debating how to stabilize the TOPS free college tuition program and continually reaching no agreement on its future.

This latest iteration of the discussion about the popular entitlement program comes with a 10-member study group created by and populated with lawmakers, charged with trying to determine ways to ensure TOPS’ “long-term viability.”

But while the method for approaching the conversation has changed, the central debate remains the same: Should the nearly 20-year-old program be needs-based or merit-based? Or should lawmakers just acknowledge there’s no willingness to heavily rewrite the rules of a program that so many of the state’s middle-class families support?

It’s unlikely the ideas to emerge will strike new territory. Over the years as the TOPS price tag ballooned, lawmakers have thrown out an array of suggestions to lessen the spending.

Eliminate students in higher-income families? Raise the eligibility standards? Require repayment if a student fails to get a degree? End TOPS awards for students who attend private colleges? Make it a forgivable loan program? Mandate that TOPS students work in Louisiana after college or repay some of the tax dollars spent on their tuition? Change the program into a flat stipend not tied to tuition at all?

All those ideas have been floated — only to go nowhere in the Louisiana Legislature.

TOPS, which began covering tuition costs in 1998, is credited with improving high school performance and college graduation rates in a poor state that has struggled to boost education attainment. But its costs have shot up to an estimated $291 million this year, as more students reached the modest eligibility standards and as colleges boosted tuition rates to compensate for cuts to their state financing.

The program, formally called the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, is paying tuition for more than 51,000 students this year. Louisiana has spent $2.7 billion on the program since it began, the task force was told.

Of more than 350 pieces of legislation introduced to tweak TOPS since its creation, 75 have been enacted into law, according to data presented to the study group. Those provisions largely have expanded the program, sweeping in more students.

Examples include making it easier for homeschool students to qualify for the aid, allowing the awards to be used in cosmetology school and reducing the eligibility level for certain awards.

“Historically, there have not been a lot of changes to restrict or limit the program,” said Sujuan Boutte, executive director of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The only significant cost containment effort from lawmakers passed last year, when they locked in the tuition payment rate at the current level. If tuition goes up, a TOPS award won’t automatically grow to cover it.

Lawmakers appear to disagree on what they believe TOPS should be.

Should it be a reward for higher-performing students?

A method to boost high school achievement by steering students to courses they otherwise might not take? A program to help students who can’t afford college? A way to keep the brightest students in Louisiana?

Some lawmakers think TOPS should be all those things. Others say that’s a nice idea, but Louisiana can’t afford it.

Rather than prioritize students in the program, lawmakers so far decided any reductions to TOPS should be divvied up pro rata, rather than factoring in a family’s wealth or a student’s performance. The only time the Legislature hasn’t fully funded TOPS, during the last school year, the cut was evenly applied so each student had 70 percent of tuition costs covered.

Providing historical perspective to the task force was James Caillier, executive director of a foundation created by Pat Taylor, the philanthropist who designed a scholarship program that was the precursor to TOPS and for whom TOPS is named.

“TOPS was never intended for the best and brightest. TOPS was intended to better prepare students for success in college,” he said.

Caillier also reminded lawmakers the tuition assistance program started by Taylor had an income cap and primarily focused on low- and moderate-income students.

Recommendations from the legislative task force are due Feb. 15. But whether lawmakers have the political will or interest to tweak TOPS, no matter the recommendations, remains a question mark.

Melinda Deslatte has covered Louisiana politics for The Associated Press since 2000. Follow her at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte

The deadline to register to vote in the Oct. 14 primary election is Wednesday for people registering in person or mail, St. Mary Parish Registrar of Voters Jolene Holcombe said in a news release.

The Geaux Vote online registration deadline is Sept. 23. Anyone wishing to vote in the Oct. 14 election must be registered by these deadlines.

Early voting will begin Sept. 30 and continue through Oct. 7. Hours for early voting are 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. at the registrar’s office on the third floor of the parish courthouse in Franklin and at the registrar’s branch office located at 301 Third St. in Morgan City. You may vote early in either office regardless of your address.

Races on the ballot include ones for state treasurer, Louisiana Public Service Commission District 2 and Franklin City Marshal. Issues on the ballot include three proposed constitutional amendments, a millage continuation for Water and Sewer Commission 4, millage renewal for Water and Sewer Commission 5 and millage renewal for Gravity Drainage District 6.

HOSPITAL
Auxiliary of Morgan City meeting 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, in Teche Regional Medical Center cafeteria.

PILGRIM GROVE
Baptist Church celebrating its 140-year anniversary at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 24. Public invited.