An effort to legalize recreational marijuana use is done for this legislative session after Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill to tax the sale of pot failed to get the 70 votes needed for passage. Nelson attempted to win over skeptics by dedicating 20 percent of all legal pot revenue to local law enforcement. That did not sway the Sheriffs’ Association or Thibodaux Representative Brian Fontenot…
Cut 16 (05) “…vote no.”
Nelson says the bill could have generated 100-million dollars a year for the state.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo says he’s no longer the House Education Chairman…
Cut 10 (06) “….you’re out.”
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus asked House Speaker Clay Schexnayder to remove Garofalo from his post after he said the good, the bad, and ugly of slavery. Black lawmakers say there was no good from slavery and Garofalo said his comment was taken out of context.

The Revenue Estimating Conference upgrades the state revenue forecast for the current fiscal year by 357 million dollars and 320 million dollars for the next fiscal year beginning in July. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…Matt Doyle”

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board says there was an effort to anchor the Seacor Power before it capsized during rough weather off the coast of Port Fourchon on April 13th. The NTSB says the vessel’s crew was trying to drop Seacor Power’s three large legs in an effort to stabilize the lift boat.