Legislation calling for a constitutional convention has been filed. New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu’s legislation calls for the convention to begin May 20th, which means the regular session would have to end two weeks early. La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says private dollars would pay for the convention…
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Governor Landry is pushing for a streamlined state constitution.

A week from today a total solar eclipse will darken the skies. LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Dr. Natalie Hinkel says the northwest corner of Louisiana will have the best view
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For Louisiana, the eclipse will begin around 12:30, with the best view around 1:45, and it will end by 3:10.

House Natural Resources approves a bill to raise fees on Louisiana processors and distributors who import foreign seafood. Colleen Crain reports the additional dollars will help fund a state program that tests imported seafood…
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Colleen Crain.”

LSU fans will be rushing home from work today to get in front of the TV tonight for the rematch of last year’s national championship game, LSU versus Iowa. The winner advances to the Final Four. A record for women’s college basketball nine point nine million people watched this game last year.

Legislation that would allow lawmakers to rewrite the state’s constitution has been filed. Teiko Foxx spoke with LaPolictics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford who explains the process.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

It’s LSU and Iowa tonight in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament. The Lady Tigers beat the Hawkeyes in last year’s national championship game. A women’s basketball record nine point nine million people watched and another huge TV audience is expected tonight. Ti[p off is at 6:15.

A week from today there will be a total solar eclipse. Texas and Arkansas will get the full effect of the total solar eclipse and in Louisiana, the Shreveport area will have a 95-percent view and in southeast Louisiana 80-percent. LSU Planetary Astrophysicist Doctor Natalie Hinkel encourages people to get their eclipse glasses now…
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Mansfield, Louisiana Mayor Thomas Jones says he will never forget last week’s council meeting as the small town deputized 12-year-old Davarjaye “DJ” Daniel of Houston. It was the 821st time the young man with a rare form of terminal brain and spine cancer had been sworn in as an honorary officer. Jones says DJ is an inspiration.
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The city had a uniform and badge specially made for DJ whose goal is to be sworn in to as many law enforcement agencies as possible.

This is the Louisiana Radio Network Legislative report, I”m Jeanne Burns…

New Iberia Representative Beau Beaullieu files legislation for a constitutional convention so state lawmakers and delegates appointed by the governor can write a new state constitution.

The goal is to streamline the state constitution which has been amended more than 200 times and they want to remove certain sections and put it into state law.

Beaullieu says the main goal is to give state lawmakers more flexibility in tough budget times.

He says when the state faces a budget deficit, higher education and health care take the brunt of the cuts because certain areas are constitutionally protected…
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Beaullieu’s bill calls for the constitutional convention to begin May 20th and run until July 15th, but he believes it will not take that long…
Cut 14 (11) “…we can do that”

The plan calls for 171 delegates to write a new constitution. All 144 state lawmakers and Governor Jeff Landry will handpick the other 27 delegates.

Jeremy Alford of La-politics-dot-com says private dollars would pay for the convention….
cut 6 (11) “…find out” (AM Newscall)
Senate President Cameron Henry has said it would be difficult to end the regular session two weeks early to start a constitutional convention. Henry says legislators are also not crazy about being in Baton Rouge in June and July after already going through two special sessions this year. He says many of them need to get back to their full-time job.

Beauilleau expects a committee hearing on his bill in the next couple of weeks.