Lawmakers had until Friday to pre-file bills for the legislative session that begins April 13th and so far there are nearly 1,000 measures set to be taken up. Most of the legislation deals with the massive state budget deficit, but there was a bill filed yesterday which would prevent state government from penalizing a business or person for decisions made based on their religious views about marriage. So the religious freedom debate which made national headlines in Indiana and Arkansas appears headed to Louisiana.

Haughton Representative Henry Burns, who has filed a bill that would require bar and restaurant patrons to have a designated driver, is now saying he will not try to seek approval of his measure in this session. Burns says his legislation would be difficult to enforce…:
CUT 3 (08) “smooth transition”
He feels something like this would be better taken up at local levels.

This is the biggest weekend of the seafood year and a distributor says the crawfish are in good supply, but the sooner you get your orders in the better…:
CUT 2 (26) “reporting”

The Slidell police officer who was shot during a shootout Friday night is said to be doing well. Cops say they responded to reports of a disturbance at a bar and were opened fire upon by a suspect. Officers returned fire but it is not known of the suspect was hit by a bullet. The suspect was apprehended by a K-9 and was injured in the incident which remains under investigation.