The regular legislative session is at the halfway point, with issues like TOPS reform, gun control, and gambling expansion mostly dead, while new sexual harassment policies, tougher hazing laws, and medical marijuana expansions have received broad support. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the session has been bogged down by one issue.
Cut 6 (10) “gunna have”

A bill to make hazing a felony, which means harsher penalties for those convicted, moved a step closer to final passage, when it was approved by a Senate committee. The parents of LSU student Maxwell Gruver, who died in a suspected hazing incident were on hand to approve it…
cut 5 (11) “…saved Max’s”

Festival International begins tomorrow in Lafayette, a five-day music festival that features music groups from over 20 countries. The festival attracts 300-thousand people every year and has an estimated economic impact of 49-million dollars. Marketing director Carly Viator says there’s no other festival in Louisiana you can attend for free and hear music from across the globe.
cut 11 (11) “…this year”

84-year-old Arcadia Mayor Eugene Smith has passed away from complications related to a lung illness. Smith led the north Louisiana town for 16 years. Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson says Smith was a man of the people.
cut 30 (11) “was everywhere”

This week marks the halfway point of the regular session and once again legislation that would change the TOPS scholarship failed to advance very far. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says at this point legislators should just give up trying to change the popular program.
Cut 7 (11) “ever passed”
Legislation to make it more difficult to get the taxpayer funded scholarship was killed on the House floor last week.

The largest international music fest in the United States begins tomorrow in Lafayette as Festival International de Louisiane starts a five-day fun that features music from over 20 countries. Marketing director Carly Viator says its free to attend…
cut 9 (09) “….pretty cool”
Viator says to make things easier on fairgoers this year, they will issue electronic bracelts instead of selling tickets to buy drinks and merchandise.

The House-approved Max Gruver Act is sailing through the legislative process, passing out of a Senate committee without objection today. Jim Shannon has more.
Voicer 1 (:31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron said today on a Shreveport radio station that they’ll probably play two quarterbacks next season. Coach O says they will name a starter by the end of fall camp. The three QBs vying for an opportunity to start didn’t separate themselves during Spring practice.

The House approved Max Gruver Act moved a step closer to becoming law today when it passed out of a Senate panel. The proposal strengthens the criminal penalties for hazing. It’s named after the LSU student, who died last fall in a suspected hazing incident involving large amounts of alcohol. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore testifed in support….
cut 4 (06) “…it’s fair”
Currently, hazing is just a misdemeanor crime.

Leaders in St. James Parish are overjoyed about the announcement that a nine-point-four billion dollar chemical facility will be built near the Sunshine Bridge. St. James Parish President Timothy Roussell says the project means over a thousand jobs and the company building the complex, Formosa, is also known for its community involvement….
cut 11 (06) “…organiziations”
Construction is expected to begin next year.

Legislation that sought to raise the fees on certain hunting and fishing licenses failed to muster enough votes on the House floor. The vote on the bill was 54-27. It needs 70 votes to pass, because it’s a fee increase. The measure can be brought up again. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says the public is not opposing this legislation and hopes there’s another vote on the proposal
Cut 15 (09) “not citizens”
Supporters of the legislation say the fee increase is needed to help sustain the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Governor John Bel Edwards and U-S Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy will attend a state dinner tonight at the White House, where the president of France is a special guest.

84-year-old Arcadia Mayor Eugene Smith passed away yesterday from complications related to a lung illness. Smith sheparded the north Louisiana town for 16 years. Homer Representative Pat Jefferson, who was hired by Smith as the city’s first black attorney.

Jefferson says Smith “mastered Baton Rouge”, and worked the rooms in the capital to get the best deal for his constituents and the surrounding areas.

Cut 8 (10)  “his stewardship”

The House-approved Max Gruver Act is sailing it’s way through the legislative process, passing out of a Senate Judiciary Committee without objection this morning. It calls for tougher penalties for those convicted of hazing. Police say Gruver died after an alcohol induced hazing incident last September at LSU. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry authors the bill.

Cut 3 (:11) “Your support”

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A proposal to increase fees for hunting and fishing licenses failed to get the necessary 70 votes to pass the House. The legislation would raise an additional six-point-eight million dollars a year for Wildlife and Fisheries, who says the increase is necessary to help sustain the department for years to come. But Erath Representative Blake Miguez says if L-D-W-F needs more money, they can get it from the Conservation fund

Cut 13 (08)  “what happens”

Governor John Bel Edwards and Formosa Petrochemical Corporation announced an agreement to build a 9.4 billion dollar facility in St. James Parish. Once the ten year project is completed, officials say it will generate 1,200 full time jobs with an average pay of 84,500 dollars a year. St. James Parish President Timothy Roussell

Cut 12 (11) “kinda issues”

Formosa Petrochemical Corporation has announced plans to build a 9.4 billion dollar facility in St. James Parish. Once the ten year project is completed, officials say it will employ 1,200 full time workers with an average pay of 84,500 dollars a year. St. James Parish President Timothy Roussell says it’s a big deal.
Cut 10 (08) “these jobs”
Construction is expected to begin next year.

The Bienville Parish town of Arcadia is mourning the death of Mayor Eugene Smith, who passed away at the age of 84. Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson says Smith was an excellent role model for other leaders, because he was great at networking….
cut 9 (11) “…Arcadia”
Smith was Arcadia’s mayor for nearly 16 years. He died from complications related to a lung illness.

Ed Raymond Veillon has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting death of his 15-year-old son and the victim’s mother was also seriously wounded. St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Corporal James Grimaldi…
cut 5 (10) “…of deputies”
The shooting happened Sunday night in the town of Paradi. A motive has not been given.

The state House has rejected a measure that would have increased some hunting and fishing licenses. The legislation would also consolidate the number of licenses from 117 to 35 and actually lower some fees. Erath Representative Blake Miguez says he’s fine with a consolidation of licenses, but his constitutions are not happy about a fee increase….
cut 14 (09) “…good government”
The vote was 54-27, but needs 70 votes to pass.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Formosa Petrochemical Corporation announced an agreement to build a 9.4 billion dollar facility in St. James Parish. Once the ten year project is completed, officials say it will generate 1,200 full time jobs with an average pay of 84,500 dollars a year. St. James Parish President Timothy Roussell says it’s a big deal.

8,000 construction jobs are expected to be created while the facility is built.

Roussell says Formosa, who employs over 100,000 people worldwide, including several hundred at its other Louisiana facilities, is looking forward to working with and in the St. James community.

Cut 11 (06) “organizations”

A proposal to increase fees for hunting and fishing licenses failed to get the necessary 70 votes to pass the House. The legislation would raise an additional six-point-eight million dollars a year for Wildlife and Fisheries, who says the increase is necessary to help sustain the department for years to come.

The vote on the bill was 54-27. It needs 70 votes to pass, because it’s a fee increase. The measure can be brought up again. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says the public is not opposing this legislation and hopes there’s another vote on the proposal

Cut 15 (09) “not citizens”

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15-year-old Seth Veillon was found dead by deputies in a mobile home Sunday in Paradis, and his mother is in critical condition. The child’s father is the suspected killer. Deputies found the boy, and his mother, both with multiple gunshot wounds. St. Charles Parish Sherriff’s spokesman Corporal James Grimaldi says they could not resuscitate the boy.

Cut 4  (09) “no avail” 

Lunches for Catholic and other non-public school students are threatened because of the House passed budget last week. The proposal, if eventually passed, would gut the program by 53 percent. The program is called school lunch salary supplements and it helps finance cafeteria operations and the cost of meals.

A proposal to raise fees on hunting and fishing licenses fails to get enough votes on the House floor. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

15-year-old Seth Veillon was found dead by deputies in a mobile home Sunday in Paradis, and his mother is in critical condition. The child’s father is the suspected killer. Deputies found the boy, and his mother, both with multiple gunshot wounds. St. Charles Parish Sherriff’s spokesman Corporal James Grimaldi says they could not resuscitate the boy.

Grimaldi says the victim’s mother, Nicole Veillon was taken to a local hospital.

Cut 6 (10) “unharmed”

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Governor John Bel Edwards and Formosa Petrochemical Corporation announced an agreement to build a 9.4 billion dollar facility in St. James Parish. Once the ten year project is completed, officials say it will generate 1,200 full time jobs with an average pay of 84,500 dollars a year. St. James Parish President Timothy Roussell says it’s a big deal.

8,000 construction jobs are expected to be created while the facility is built.

Roussell says Formosa, who employs over 100,000 people worldwide, including several hundred at its other Louisiana facilities, is looking forward to working with and in the St. James community.

The project will require a major overhaul to local infrastructure, and Roussell says it’s the parish and state’s responsibility to make sure the road are up and working before construction begins.

Cut 12 (11) “kinda issues”

A LSU economic impact study estimates the facility will generate 313 million dollars in state revenue during its first ten years of operation.

A 9.4 billion dollar chemical manufacturing facility has been announced for St. James Parish. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

15-year-old Seth Veillon was found dead by deputies in a mobile home Sunday in Paradis, and his mother is in critical condition. The child’s father is the suspected killer. Deputies found the boy, and his mother, both with multiple gunshot wounds. St. Charles Parish Sherriff’s spokesman Corporal James Grimaldi says could not resuscitate the boy.

Grimaldi says the boy’s father, Ed Veillon Jr. has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

Cut 5  (10)  “of deputies”

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A proposal to increase fees for hunting and fishing licenses failed to get the necessary 70 votes to pass the House. The legislation would raise an additional six-point-eight million dollars a year for Wildlife and Fisheries, who says the increase is necessary to help sustain the department for years to come. But Erath Representative Blake Miguez says if L-D-W-F needs more money, they can get it from the Conservation fund

The legislation would also consolidate the number of licenses from 117 to 35 and actually lower some fees. Miguez says he’s fine with a consolidation of licenses, but his constituents are not happy about a fee increase…

Cut 14 (09) “good government”

Lunches for Catholic and other non-public school students are threatened because of the House passed budget last week. The proposal would gut the program by 53 percent. The program is called school lunch salary supplements and it helps finance cafeteria operations and the cost of meals.