LRN 8:30 A.M. Newscast 03/01/2018

New Orleans Senator Troy Carter has filed a bill for the regular session that raises the age to purchase an assault rifle from 18 to 21. Kelley Ray has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

A Mason Dixon Polling and Strategy poll finds that Democrat Governor Edwards has a 55 percent approval rating. 31 percent disapprove and 14 percent answered they were unsure. But Pollster Brad Coker says the high approval rating doesn’t mean he’ll be re-elected in 2019.

Coker says his approval rating among Republicans may not mirror their feelings come Election Day…

Cut 5  (06)  “for him.”

LSU’s new hazing policy calls for expulsions from campus for those who haze another student. Division of Student Affairs Kurt Keppler says System President F King Alexander did not want to leave a gray area where hazing is concerned and students found guilty of doing so will be banned from campus.

Many of the new rules come from a task force that was formed after LSU student Maxwell Gruver died in an alleged hazing incident. Gruver had a blood alcohol content of .495. Keppler says as part of the new rules hard alcohol will no longer be allowed at on campus or off campus fraternity parties…

Cut 8 (08) “and wine.”

The special session called to address a looming one-billion budget shortfall is on the verge of getting nothing accomplished. The House overwhelming rejected a sales tax bill that would have generated an additional 300-million in revenues.

Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight says his sales tax bill is part of the solution towards closing the budget deficit, but Leesville Representative James Armes says he told his constituents he would not vote for another bill to raise the sales tax rate above four-percent…

Cut 12 (13) “large sales tax rates.”