A proposed 15-week abortion ban moves closer to final legislative passage after a House committee approved the measure on a 9-8 vote. Jim Shannon has more…
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The state legislature is close to allowing riverboat casinos to expand gaming activity on land. Matt Doyle reports a House committee approved the Senate-passed measure today.
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The full Senate approved a measure to enact a statewide policy against sexual misconduct in government. The bill was passed the same day Secretary of State Tom Shedler announced he was stepping down following allegations of sexual misconduct. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson is a co-author of the bill
Peterson says the bill will allow state employees to make complaints that will be investigated, unlike the Secretary of State’s office.
Peterson says the bill will greatly enhance the state’s sexual harassment policy.
Cut 5 (:12) “as inappropriate.”
The bill heads back to the House for final passage.
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The House Criminal Justice Committee approved Senator John Milkovich’s 15 week abortion ban bill 9-8, after it passed with little opposition in the Senate. The bill mirrors an effort in Mississippi that’s been halted in federal court that would make it illegal to provide an abortion after 15 weeks. The Shreveport Democrat says fetuses are alive, and deserving of a chance at life.
Current law blocks abortions after 22 weeks in Louisiana. The majority of states have a 24 to 26 week ban.
Milkovich raised concerns that the level of development in a 15 week old fetus could lead to potentially dangerous medical complications.
Cut 7 (11) “significant injuries”
The bill is similar to the Mississippi ban, but pro-choice activists note that there are differences. They say Louisiana’s law imposes stiff criminal penalties for providers, and does not allow exceptions for fetal abnormalities. Pro-choice attorney Ellie Schilling says this bill also measures the time from conception.
Schilling says the effort is a waste of taxpayers’ dollars, and just adds to the six abortion restriction court battles the state is embroiled in.
The law would not go into effect unless a federal appeals court rules favorable on the challenge to Mississippi’s 15 week abortion ban.
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A bill allowing riverboat casinos to build on land from their current water bound facilities cleared a House committee 10-4, one of the few gaming related bills to gain traction this session. The bill has come under fire from gambling critics for being a de facto expansion of casino services, but bill sponsor Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says that’s not the case.
Johns says gaming is responsible for bringing in over 900 million dollars in state revenue, 300 million more than even oil and gas. The Shreveport Republican says we’re in danger of losing that revenue if we don’t allow our casinos to compete.
Cut 11 (09) “enormous casinos”
But opponents disagree that the bill is not an expansion of gaming. Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says taking the casinos off the water will make it easier for casinos to bring in bigger crowds.
Mills says there’s a reason why the state initially imposed such severe restrictions on gaming in the state…
Cut 13 (10) “those industries”
The bill moves to the House.
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The Mayor of Cotton Valley, Joseph Alexander, has been arrested by State Police and charged with Felony Abuse of Power related to two undisclosed incidents in 2017 involving the alleged mishandling of town funds. State Police Trooper Glenn Younger says the charge is similar to misappropriation of funds and malfeasance.
The arrest took place after Webster Parish Sheriffs informed the LSP about the incidents.
Younger says Alexander is now out of detention, while the investigation continues.