The Senate approves legislation to allow riverboat casinos to operate on land, despite objections it’s an expansion of gambling…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

It doesn’t look like Tangipahoa Parish will vote on whether they want a riverboat casino in their parish. A bill that called for a local referendum in November did not pass the Senate on a 15-18 vote. A House bill that would have done the same thing, failed to get out of the House Criminal Justice Committee this morning.

The House Criminal Justice Committee is considering a measure that would change the threshold for a jury to find a defendant guilty in a criminal case. Currently, it’s 10 out of 12 jury members, but the proposal would require a unanimous verdict for a conviction. Christie Smith is with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys….
cut 7 (10) “…in Louisiana”
The measure has already passed the Senate.

And the Senate has approved legislation that would ban abortions 15-weeks following conception. The bill’s author is Shreveport Democrat John Milkovich…
cut 14 (10) “….frowning”
If the legislation receives Governor Edwards signature, it will only go into effect if the federal courts approve Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban law.