Legislation allowing the voters to St. Tammany to approve a waterfront casino in Slidell is headed to the Senate floor. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
_______________________________
A proposal to allow Louisianans to carry a concealed handgun without taking a class to get a permit is headed to the Senate floor after narrowly passing a Senate committee. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
____________________________
Four bills have been filed in the legislature impacting transgender individuals in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington on why they don’t have the Governor’s support
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
____________________________
A Senate committee narrowly approves legislation allowing the people of St. Tammany Parish to vote on allowing a casino to operate in Slidell.
Bill author Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says a developer has proposed a waterfront casino that would create 1,900 permanent jobs and keep parish residents from spending money in Mississippi.
Cut 4 (11)“…customers in Mississippi.”
The proposal is by P2E, who currently owns DiamondJacks Casino in Bossier City. DiamondJacks did not reopen after COVID restrictions were lifted.
Louisiana Baptist Convention President David Cranford opposes allowing the referendum vote, saying allowing a casino would corrupt the family-friendly culture of the Northshore.
Cut 5 (10)“…are wolves.”
St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper supports allowing the vote and the Parish Council has issued a resolution in support.
Speak Hope representative Cynthia Collins argues casinos are hotbeds of human trafficking, a charge Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns denied.
Cut 6 (12) “…trafficking.”
The final vote was 4-3. The bill heads to the Senate floor.
_____________________________
A bill allowing Louisianans 21 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit or training passes out of a Senate Committee 3-2.
Bill author West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says Louisiana already allows open carry for anyone over the age of 18…
Cut 7 (08) “…weapon.”
20 states have already approved “Constitutional Carry” legislation with Texas seemingly on track to become the 21st state.
Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Fabian Blache Jr. spoke against the bill. He says they’re not opposed to concealed carry, just concealed carry without education and training…
Cut 8 (11) “…fear.”
Constitutional Carry proponents argued there’s no data supporting claims that not requiring a permit for concealed carry will result in more crime. Those with criminal records would still be forbidden from possessing a weapon.
New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says the legislation promotes untrained gun ownership. He says this would increase the likelihood of accidental shootings.
Cut 9 (07) “…matters.”
The legislation is headed to the Senate floor. A similar bill in the House that would set the age limit at 18 instead of 21 awaits a hearing in committee.
____________________
There are several bills making their way through the legislature that impact transgender individuals in Louisiana. Two bills would prohibit transgender girls from competing in women’s sports. Governor John Bel Edwards says he does not support any of the bills.
Cut 10 (10) “…in sports.”
The other bills would make it more difficult or even ban health care for transgender children and teenagers.
Edwards says he’s concerned about the emotional impact these bills could have on the transgender community.
Cut 11 (09) “…individuals”
Louisiana is scheduled to host the NCAA’s Final Four basketball tournament next year. The NCAA has stated it will not hold tournaments in states with antitransgender laws. Edwards believes the state will receive national backlash if transgender girls are not allowed to compete.
Cut 12 (07) “…other things.”
In 2016 the NCAA disqualified North Carolina from hosting neutral-site championship events for the 2016-17 academic year after the passage of a bill banning transgender use of public restrooms. The law has since been reversed.
_____________________________
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the Seacor lift boat that capsized off the coast of Lafourche Parish last Tuesday. Eight of the nineteen crew members remain missing. N-T-S-B investigator Andrew Ehlers says the investigation can take anywhere from 12 to 24 months.
Cut 13 (08) “…happening again”
Ehlers says the investigation will focus on three factors to determine the cause of the accident.
Cut 14 (10) “…accident.”
Ehlers says they will focus first on weather conditions at the time of the accident and the National Weather Service is assisting with the investigation.
Other organizations assisting include the U-S Coast Guard, Seacor Marine, and the American Bureau of Shipping.
The N-T-S-B is also asking for the public’s help. Ehlers says if you were in the area and witnessed the accident or experienced similar weather conditions in the Gulf of Mexico that day to contact them.
Cut 15 (09)“…that vessel”
The N-T-S-B can be reached at eyewitness@ntsb.gov. You can follow the investigation on Twitter @ntsb_newsroom.
___________________________________________
Halfway through the SEC season, the LSU Tigers find themselves four and eleven in league play and in fifth place in the SEC West. The Tigers dropped another series this past weekend against South Carolina and once again it featured a game in which the Tigers blew a late lead. Coach Paul Mainieri says finding a dependable closer has been an issue all season
Cut 16 (15) “…frustrating.”
The Tigers have used three closers, Devin Fontenot, Garrett Edwards, and Ty Floyd and none of them have been able to get the job done consistently. Mainieri says despite the team’s struggles, there are some positive things to point out too…
Cut 17 (19) “..frustrating.”
LSU will host ULM tonight. Freshman Will Helmers will start against the Warhawks. Hellmers is 5-and-1 with a 3.46 ERA and Mainieri was asked about using him as a game three starter for the weekends…
Cut 18 (18)”…work in progress.”