AM Newscall, June 2nd, 2015

There are 10 days left in the 2015 legislative session and lawmakers do not appear to be close to balancing the state’s budget. Eric Gill reports…

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The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tabasco Control begins its annual summer crackdown on underage sales. Michelle Southern reports…:

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The LSU Tigers are headed to the Super Regionals where they’ll face the Ragin Cajuns. Scott Carwile has more…

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There are 10 days left in the 2015 legislative session and lawmakers do not appear to be close to balancing the state’s budget. Legislators are tackling a $1.6 billion budget deficit for next fiscal year. La-Politics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says lawmakers have serious doubts about being able to produce a revenue-neutral budget as required by Governor Bobby Jindal…

cut 4  (07)  “accomplish that”

Alford says it seems the key to a revenue-neutral budget is Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue’s Senate-passed SAVE tax credit that would provide colleges with a tax credit for raising student fees. He says lawmakers are having a hard time understanding the legislation, especially in the House where the bill is pending…

Cut 5  (08)  “revenue-neutral”

The SAVE tax credit was to be heard in a House committee Monday, but that hearing has been delayed. The legislative session ends June 11th. Alford says the clock is ticking loudly and you can expect things to go down to the wire…

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The Grambling State Presidential search has been narrowed to 5 candidates who begin public interviews today. University spokeswoman Tracy Wright says interviewing today are Dr. Wayne Brumfield, Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon, and Dr. Thomas Calhoun. She says tomorrow will be Dr. Willie Larkin and Dr. Glenda Carter. Wright says they are happy with the semi-finalists…:

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Wright says they will narrow this list down to two on Thursday…:

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The interviews will be held at the Betty Smith Nursing Building Auditorium and members of the public and the media are invited to attend. Wright says they are excited about this process…:

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The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announces the start of the agency’s annual summer crackdown on underage sales. ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert says this is the third year they will increase compliance checks statewide during summer months. He says with kids out of school, the chances of them drinking or smoking goes up…:

Cut 10 (10) “people underage”

Hebert says during last summer’s crackdown, agents conducted over 6500 compliance checks on businesses and sell or serve alcohol and tobacco products and issued nearly 900 citations from underage sales. He says they will be going into businesses with people who are underage trying to buy alcohol or tobacco…:

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The 2015 Summer Crackdown will begin this week and run through August. Hebert says last year about 14% of the businesses that ATC checked sold to underage operatives. He says with an increase in their education initiative, they want to ensure that more places will do the right thing and not sell to minors…:

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A bill that would give certain protections to victims of domestic violence when it comes to their housing passes a House committee Monday. SB174 is by Baton Rouge Senator Sharon Weston Broome. Under the measure, a victim could break a lease to escape a violent situation and the landlord could evict an abuser. Chalmette Representative Raymond Garofalo says his concern with the bill deals with landlords…:

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Garofalo did not vote in favor of the bill saying he wanted to see it tightened up for the sake of apartment owners…:

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The Senate approved measure now heads to the full House for further consideration. Broome says they’ve added many amendments to this bill to try to add additional protections for property owners…:

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It will be LSU and U-L Lafayette in a super regional series this weekend at Alex Box Stadium. Both teams advanced out of their respective regionals, the Tigers defeated UNC-Wilmington 2-0, while the Cajuns defeated Rice 5-2. LSU center fielder and former St. Thomas More star Andrew Stevenson grew up in Acadiana and he’s excited for what should be an electric atmosphere at the Box

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LSU’s starting pitching was outstanding in the regionals. Alex Lange tossed a complete game shutout and Jared Poche was one out away from duplicating that effort on Monday. Coach Paul Mainieri says the entire pitching staff is ready for more low-scoring games this weekend…

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UL Lafayette won two games in the Houston Regional by scoring multiple runs in the ninth inning to win. The voice of Ragin Cajuns, Jay Walker, says this team has found ways to get it done

Cut 18 (15) “first two games”‘

Walker says the Cajuns will bring a young team to Baton Rouge, their top three starters are freshmen and so is their closer. He says the club understands they go in as underdogs

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