An anti-bestiality law received approval from a House committee, but it’s receiving pushback from Chrisitan conservative groups like the Louisiana Family Forum. President Gene Mills says the proposed legislation would remove human on human acts from criminality….
cut 10 (09) “….prohibition”
But the measure heads to the House floor for final legislative passage.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler told a Senate committee his office is looking at improving its anti-harassment policies. Schedler, who was accused of sexually harassing an employee in a recent lawsuit, was forced to discuss his agency’s policies during harsh questioning …
Cut 15 (09) “the way”
The House Criminal Justice Committee approves a constitutional amendment to require unanimous verdicts in serious felony cases. Jim Shannon reports testimony got a little heated after a comment by a district attorney.
Cut 1 (:28) “I’m Jim Shannon”
The proposal now heads to the full House.

Tangipahoa voters will not get a chance to decide if they want a riverboat casino in their parish. A bill that called for a local referendum in November did not pass the Senate on a 15-18 vote. A House bill that would have done the same thing, also failed to get out of a House Committee.

A bill to strengthen laws against bestiality is facing oppositon from Christian Conservatives, because of a concern it will go against a the state’s ban on sodomy, which is unconstitutional. Doctor Will Hall with the Louisiana Baptist Convention doesn’t like the wording of Senator JP Morrell’s legislation…
cut 11 (08) “…four words”
Despite the objection, the measure is heading to the House floor for final passage.

Religous leaders have helped defeat a bill that called for referendum in Tangipahoa on whether they want a riverboat casino in their parish. Pastor Louis Husser at Crossgate church says such a vote would be unfair…
cut 4 (10) “…casino is”
A casino operator in Bossier City has looked at moving their license to Tangipahoa.

Supporters seeking to end Louisiana’s requirement that only 10 of 12 jurors are needed in order to secure a conviction in felony cases won a legislative battle today as the measure received approval from a House committee. The constitutional amendment would require all 12 jurists to agree on guilty or not guilty. The author of the legislation, New Orleans Senator, J-P Morrell says Louisiana is one of the two states using a Jim Crow era law in felony trials….
cut 8 (13) “…official journal”
The uanimous jury proposal has already been approved by the Senate, it now heads to the House and will need voter approval as well.

Baton Rouge police say a two-year accidentally shot his eight-year-old brorther inside a vehicle. Detectives say the boys’ father left the loaded handgun unattended when he got out of the car. The child was shot in the arm, but the injury is not considered life-threatening.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler, who is acussed of sexual harassment by a state worker, said before a Senate panel that sexual harassment policies should be uniform across state agencies. Schedler made the comments after he was asked if his agency plans to revise its policies, which have been the same since 2013….
cut 16 (08) “…that process”
Lawmakers are working on anti-harassment legislation in this session.

An anti-bestiality law received approval from a House committee, but it’s receiving pushback from Chrisitan conservative groups like the Louisiana Family Forum. President Gene Mills says the proposed legislation would remove human on human acts from criminality….
cut 10 (09) “….prohibition”
But the measure heads to the House floor for final legislative passage.

The state legislature is not willing to give voters in Tangipahoa the opportunity to vote on whether they want a riverboat casino in their parish. DiamondJacks Casino and Resort in Bossier City is interested in moving its license to a site near Hammond But religious leaders object. First Baptist Church of Hammond Pastor Jeff Robertson
Cut 3 (:10) “of it”
The Senate and a House committee have killed bills that would call for a local option referendum.

Smoothie King is moving its corporate headquarters from New Orleans to Dallas. It means the loss of 60 jobs for the Crescent City. Greater New Orleans Inc C-E-O Michael Hecht says the city has had its share of economic wins lately, but this is a bit of a blow…
cut 14 (08) “…make progress”
The Smoothie King Center, home of the Pelicans, will retain its name.

Tangipahoa residents will not get the opportunity to vote on whether they approve of a riverboat casinos in their parish. Two bills that calls for the referendum vote have been killed over the last two days. Ponchatoula Representative Steve Pugh moved to table his bill in a House committee, because of opposition from local senators….
cut 5 (11) “….as well”
DiamondJacks Casino and Resort in Bossier City is looking at moving its license from Bossier to a site near Hammond.

Smoothie King is moving its corporate headquarters from New Orleans to Dallas. It means the loss of 60 jobs for the Crescent City. Greater New Orleans Inc President Michael Hecht says the direct economic impact may be small, but….
cut 13 (06) “…issue here”

The House Criminal Justice Committee approves a constitutional amendment to require unanimous verdicts in serious felony cases. Jim Shannon reports testimony got a little heated after a comment by a district attorney.
Cut 1 (:28) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Secretary of State Tom Schedler told a Senate committee his office is looking at improving its anti-harassment policies. Schedler, who was accused of sexually harassing an employee in a recent lawsuit, was forced to discuss his agency’s policies during harsh questioning …
Cut 15 (09) “the way”

A beastiality bill that’s drawn some surprising opposition passed through a House committee unanimously. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Smoothie King is moving its corporate headquarters out of New Orleans, and taking most of it’s 80 jobs to a new location in Dallas. Greater New Orleans Inc. President Michael Hect says Smoothie King’s owner is Korean wanted better access to his overseas holding.
Cut 12 (08) “to asia”
The Smoothie King Center will retain its name.

Voters could soon have the opportunity to decide if serious felony convictions should require an unanimous jury verdict. A constitutional amendment requiring unanimous jury verdicts was approved by a House committee today. Several district attorneys oppose the constitutional amendment because they say it will be tougher to get convictions. Calcasieu D-A John DeRosier said “it is what is” when discussing the current standard of 10 of 12 jurors for a guilty verdict as a vestigate of slavery. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James was not happy with statement…
cut 7 (10) “…offended”
When the Senate-approved legislation passed, it drew a round of applause. It just needs House approval and then it heads to the voters.

And legislation that would allow a family to install a surveillance camera inside a nursing home room so it can keep tabs on their loved one is moving closer to final passage. The House approved member received backing from the Senate Health and Welfare Committee today. Senators say they will work on tightening the language of the bill.

A Senate-approved bestiality bill that’s been grabbing headlines passed unanimously through a House committee. The bill would update bestiality laws, and codify them as only applying to acts between man and animal. Some opponents argue the bill is an attempt to protect homosexual behavior. The bill’s sponsor, New Orleans Senator JP Morrell…
cut 9 (10) “…about beastiality”
The measure now heads to the House floor.

Religous leaders have helped defeat a bill that called for referendum in Tangipahoa on whether they want a riverboat casino in their parish. Pastor Louis Husser at Crossgate church says such a vote would be unfair…
cut 4 (10) “…casino is”
A casino operator in Bossier City has looked at moving their license to Tangipahoa.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers say the average teacher salary has fallen two-thousand dollars below what teachers make in Southern states. L-F-T spokesperson Les Landon says they are polling members to find out what actions they should take to help improve pay and other issues impacting teachers….
cut 12 (11) “….strike”
Landon says they will release a report next month with the results.

State Police has arrested a Morehouse Parish Deputy for alleged inappropriate sexual contact with an inmate at the detention center in Bastrop. 50-year-old Terry Davis is facing a charge of malfeasance in office.

The state legislature is not willing to give voters in Tangipahoa Parish the opportunity to vote on whether they want a riverboat casino at a location near I-12. DiamondJacks Casino and Resort in Bossier City is interested in moving its license to Tangipahoa. But religious leaders object. First Baptist Church of Hammond Pastor Jeff Robertson

Cut 3 (:10) “of it”

The House Criminal Justice Committee moved the unanimous jury bill out of committee and on to the house floor without objection. The bill calls for all 12 members of a criminal jury to agree on the guilt or innocence of an accused person. Current law only requires 10. The debate digressed to a racial issue when an opponent, Calcasieu D.A. John Derosier, brushed off the notion that unanimous jury’s were racially driven.

Cut 6 (:12)  “what it is.”

A 15 week abortion ban passes the Senate on a 31-3 vote. The bill mirrors a Mississippi law recently passed that has been halted by a federal judge. Shreveport Senator and Democrat John Milkovich:

Cut 14 (10) “frowning”

A teachers strike in Kentucky that led to increased funding for schools and higher pay is inspiring educator walkouts and work stoppages across the south. Louisiana Federation of Teachers is now polling its members to see what actions they would favor to address quality of life for teachers and students. LFT spokesperson Les Landon says it’s not just about winning a bigger paycheck.

Cut 10 (09) “to be”

Landon says they’ve already polled around 3,000 members, and will release a report in mid to late may with the results.

The Senate approves legislation to allow riverboat casinos to operate on land, despite objections it’s an expansion of gambling…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

It doesn’t look like Tangipahoa Parish will vote on whether they want a riverboat casino in their parish. A bill that called for a local referendum in November did not pass the Senate on a 15-18 vote. A House bill that would have done the same thing, failed to get out of the House Criminal Justice Committee this morning.

The House Criminal Justice Committee is considering a measure that would change the threshold for a jury to find a defendant guilty in a criminal case. Currently, it’s 10 out of 12 jury members, but the proposal would require a unanimous verdict for a conviction. Christie Smith is with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys….
cut 7 (10) “…in Louisiana”
The measure has already passed the Senate.

And the Senate has approved legislation that would ban abortions 15-weeks following conception. The bill’s author is Shreveport Democrat John Milkovich…
cut 14 (10) “….frowning”
If the legislation receives Governor Edwards signature, it will only go into effect if the federal courts approve Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban law.