3:30 LRN Newscast April 30

A constitutional amendment to abolish the death penalty in Louisiana passed a Senate committee on a 4-2 vote. Co-author of the measure, New Iberia Representative Terry Landry, says the punishment is immoral and the criminal justice system is far from perfect.
Cut 6 (12) “…room for error.”
Two district attorneys spoke against the proposal that will need a two-thirds vote in the Senate to advance to the House

A judge sentenced former St. Landry Parish priest Michael Guidry to seven years in prison and three years probation for a sexually assaulting a teenage boy several years ago. Legal analyst Tim Meche believes Guidry received a harsh sentence…
cut 15 (10) “..get lower sentences”
The 76-year-old Guidry will have to register as a sex offender and turn over his passport.

A Senate committee voted for a proposal today that would ban abortions in Louisiana if a fetal heartbeat is detected. It’s similar to a recently passed law in Mississippi that’s facing a legal challenge. If Louisiana’s abortion ban proposal is signed by the governor, it would not take effect until the federal courts say its constitutional.

The Louisiana House approves legislation that would prohibit banks from refusing to do business with companies that sell or make firearms. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”