LRN AM Newscall May 1

A bill to define the parameters of a parade route for gun-free zones advances from House Governmental Affairs. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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 Xavier University and Ochsner Health are teaming to bring the first HBCU Medical College to the Gulf Coast. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 2 (32)  “I’m Colleen Crain.” 

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Big vote today on the House floor as the bill that calls for a constitutional convention is up for debate this afternoon. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Legislation to better define gun-free zone laws pertaining to parade routes advances from House Criminal Justice. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry’s bill clarifies that guns are not permitted within 100 feet of the center line of a parade route and it does not apply to law enforcement or…

Cut 4 (12) “…to them.”

President of the Louisiana Shooting Association, Dan Zelenka, spoke in opposition…

Cut 5 (06) “…themselves.” 

New Orleans Representative Alonzo Knox reminded gun advocates who spoke in opposition that local law enforcement supports laws for a gun-free parade zone.

Cut 6 (14) “…my area.”

The bill passed on an eight to five vote and heads to the Full House.

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New Orleans will be home to the Gulf Coast’s only HBCU Medical School. Founding Dean Dr. Leo Seoane (Swan ee) says Xavier Ochsner Colleen of Medicine will transform generations of young black and brown lives…

Cut 7 (09) “…nationwide.”

The school will be in Benson Tower which is undergoing renovations to make way for the medical college.

It could be three years before accreditations, hiring, and renovations are complete and Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine is ready to begin training physicians. Seoane (Swan ee) says there’s an urgent need because the doctor shortage is growing…

Cut 8 (11) “…medical school.” 

Seoane (Swan ee), a first-generation Cuban American says training minority physicians is especially important because health outcomes for minorities are worse when their physicians don’t represent them…

Cut 9 (11)  “…for it.”

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The Louisiana House is set to vote today on a bill that calls for a constitutional convention to begin on May 20th. The Landry Administration says reorganization is needed so state lawmakers can avoid making deep cuts to health care and education when there are budget deficits. Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson supports the effort…

Cut 10 (10) “…on the ballot.”

Louisiana’s constitution was created in 1974 and over the last 50 years it’s been amended 216 times. Nelson says there are sections of the state constitution that should be moved into state law, so that’s the main emphasis of a proposed constitutional convention

Cut 11 (08) “…make it better”

There is opposition to holding a constitutional convention this year. Alfreda Tillman Bester, with the group ten-thousand women, says the public remains in the dark regarding exact proposed changes to the constitution…

Cut 12 (14) “…rewritten.” 

The constitutional convention would begin May 20th and organizers believe it will take two weeks to complete. HB 800 will need 70 votes in the 105-member House to advance to the Senate.

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The fate of Louisiana’s congressional map is up in the air again after a two-to-one ruling throws out the map lawmakers approved in January with a second majority-black district. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat describes the ruling as stunning and incredible…

Cut 13 (08)  “…this fall.”

The ruling was handed down after a federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of some Republicans on the grounds the January map was racial gerrymandering.

The Secretary of State’s Office has stated they needed a map in place by May 15th for the fall election. And with a constitutional convention possibly in the works to begin May 20th Pinsonat says there are several complications and multiple twists and turns in the map saga.

Cut 14 (14)  “…this controversary.”

As for the next chapter, Pinsonat expects the ruling will be appealed to the State Supreme Court…

Cut 15 (14)  “…any of this.”

Qualifying for the fall elections is mid-July

State Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a statement that she’s still reviewing the ruling and the state plans to appeal to the State Supreme Court.

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The Pelicans won 49 games in the regular season, but had zero victories in the postseason. Executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin says there are several positives to take away from the just completed season, but changes will be needed in order to make some noise in the Western Conference playoffs

Cut 16 (11)  “…do that.”

A bright spot was the play of Zion Williamson, who played in a career-high 70 games and led the team in scoring, averaging nearly 23 points a game. Griffin says it was disheartening to see Williamson injure his hamstring in the play-in tournament…

Cut 17 (23) “…intends to go.”

Williamson says having joy in playing basketball helped him have one of his better seasons…

Cut 18 (13)  “…is something.”