This could be the last week of the regular session as the governor will likely call for a special session to begin next week. Matt Doyle has more
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A new website is offering a years worth of college courses for free, that transfer to major universities. Becca Dill has more.
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A Senate committee will hear arguments today on a bill that would extend the state’s contract with Harrah’s New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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There are indications from both the Governor and legislative leaders that this will be the final week of the regular session. The chambers have 120 hours to come to a resolution on gaming issues, unanimous juries, a 15 week abortion ban, and possibly a budget. LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says the budget battles will escalate after Senate Finance passed a spending plan quite different from the House.
The Senate will be forced to reckon with a budget from Finance that includes cuts to many state agencies that are as deep as 25 percent. Alford says Senate President John Alario is likely to wait for the public to weigh in this week before deciding whether or not to bring a budget to a vote.
But its not just budget issues and fiscal cliffs. Alford says one of the most controversial issues, riverboat gaming on land, will come to a head later this week.
the Governor is calling for the special session, that could get the revenue needed to fund the budget, to begin Friday after the regular session ends.
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Modern States Education Alliance is offering a “Freshman Year For Free” at their website which allows students to take CLEP eligible courses by nationally renowned professors, without paying thousands of dollars. Founder Steve Klinsky says the classes give credits that can be transferred to major colleges like LSU.
Klinsky says his program is the “Netflix” of online college curriculum.
Klinsky says the program lets you earn college credits on your own time, and can even shave up to a year of introductory courses off your four year diploma.
The project was founded, and funded by Klinsky, the Chair of Harvard’s Public education Policy Group.
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A Senate Committee will review a controversial bill today that would renew the state’s contract with New Orleans Harrah’s Casino for another 30 years. The bill has received opposition from statewide leaders like U.S. Senator John Kennedy, who say Louisiana should hold out for a better deal, and legislators are concerned about a provision that calls for less legislative scrutiny over future contract renewals. Political Analyst Clancy DuBos says there’s also another concern.
Harrah’s officials say in exchange for a new 30-year contract, they will spend 350-million dollars on a new 340-room hotel, plus restaurants and a nightclub that would result in 500 full-time jobs. DuBos says that’s not the only bonuses.
DuBos says he doesn’t see the bill passing in its current form, unless Harrah’s puts up more on its end.
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A constitutional amendment requiring unanimous jury verdicts in all felony trials is scheduled for a vote in the House today. Louisiana is one of two states that does not require unanimous jury decisions. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Louisiana’s outlier verdict system influences DAs to charge suspects with crimes that have longer sentences, just to have a better chance at conviction.
The amendment would have to survive a popular vote before being put into law.
Meche says criminal justice reformers are pushing this legislation, because the non-unanimous jury requirement leads to more defendants pleading guilty to crimes they may have not committed
Opponents have argued that requiring unanimous verdicts would make it tougher to get convictions, and lead to more costly mistrials, but Meche says any increase in court fees would be more than balanced out by a decrease in incarcerations.
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Saints Coach Sean Payton says as of right now, they do not plan on signing a veteran running back with Mark Ingram set to miss the first four games because of violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing substances. But Payton says they will not close the door on possibly bringing back future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson..
Payton says they have guys on their roster that can fill the void of Ingram’s absence, including sixth-round pick and former Louisiana Tech running back Boston Scott….
The Saints had a chance to evaluate all of their draft picks this past weekend during a three-day rookie mini-camp. Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen is excited about first-round pick Marcus Davenport…
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LSU got a much needed 7-3 victory on Sunday to keep hope alive they can make the NCAA Tournament. Daniel Cabrera drove in four runs and Nick Bush pitched six strong innings for his first win of the year. Coach Paul Mainieri says the sophomore left-hander has been money all season…
Mainieri called Sunday’s game a must-win in order to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The Tigers are now 14-13 in the SEC heading into the final SEC series at Auburn. The coach says a series victory against Auburn should be enough to receive an at-large bid…