The sponsor of this year’s failed attempt to abolish the death penalty has a bold prediction for next year’s legislative session…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Governor Edwards signs legislation to extend foster care from 18 21-years-old. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

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After a controversial legislative battle that drew international attention, Louisiana is set to bar kids under the age of 16 from getting married.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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A proposal to abolish the death penalty failed to pass this year, but proponents are more optimistic about its chances going forward, citing the progress it made this year. New Iberia Representative Terry Landy says his bill got further this year than ever before, proof that legislative opinion may be shifting…

Cut 4 (12) “…conversation.”

The Democrat says despite a lack of support for the bill on the House floor, he’s encouraged about the effort’s momentum because lawmakers were more receptive to his arguments than ever before…

Cut 5 (11) “…their mind.”

Landry adds the incoming generation of lawmakers, set to replace a third of the legislature that is term-limited, may be more progressive in their views of this issue.

The death penalty ban failed to pass, but so too did an effort to make it easier to get the drugs needed to carry out the death penalty. Landry says the progress made this year has inspired him to make a bold prediction…

Cut 6 (09) “…my heart.”

Louisiana has not carried out an execution since 2010, as pharma companies refuse to sell the drugs the state legally needs to carry out lethal injections.

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Governor John Bel Edwards signs legislation that increases the maximum foster care age from 18 to 21-years-old. The Department of Children and Family Services says by expanding the program, it will help many foster care teens transition into adulthood. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says for those that elect to stay in foster care, they can receive various forms of state aid.

Cut 7 (09) “…so much support.”

Walters says the law allows those who decide to leave foster care at 18 to come back in the event they feel they need the assistance.

Cut 8 (12) “…with this population.”

Previously, the law ended support at 18, which meant some of those in the foster care program was not able to finish high school. Walters says the change will increase the likelihood of better outcomes.

Cut 9 (11) “…or technical school.”

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Legislation barring kids under the age of 16 from getting married awaits Governor Edwards signature after a last second push got it over the finish line before the end of the session. New Orleans Representative Stephanie Hilferty says the legislation is designed to push back against human trafficking that is often facilitated when older men marry young girls.

Cut 10 (07) “…states.”

Kids aged 16 and 17 will need judicial approval and parental consent before getting married. Hilferty says each prospective spouse will be interviewed separately by the judge, so they can vet out any potentially dangerous scenarios…

Cut 11 (09) “…free will.”

An amendment to allow anyone under 16 to get married, but with judicial approval was defeated.  The bill sailed through the Senate but ran into stiff opposition in the House after influential religious organizations raised concerns about barring kids who get pregnant from having to have a child out of wedlock. Hilferty says that opposition prompted a compromise…

Cut 12 (11) “…16.”

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The 2019 LSU baseball season finished with a heartbreaking 5-4 loss in 12 innings to Florida State. The Seminoles star third baseman Drew Mendoza singled home the winning run. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri could have walked Mendoza, but decided to go after the Seminoles veteran number three-hitter…

Cut 13 (13) “on the ball.”

LSU rallied back from a three-run deficit to tie the game at four, but could never get over the top. Mainieri says it was a great college baseball game

Cut 14 (12) “…hearts out.” (2x)

Devin Fontenot suffered the loss, but it’s hard to blame him for the defeat. Fontenot entered with one out in the sixth inning and pitched six innings of no-hit baseball before allowing a single in the 12th inning. Mainieri says it was a great effort by his hard-throwing right-hander

Cut 15 (13) “go forward”

New Orleans musical icon and six-time Grammy winner Dr. John has died. Actor Harry Shearer and fellow New Orleans musician Irma Thomas remember the legendary artist.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A last second filibuster kills fantasy sports legalization as the session came to an end yesterday. Matt Doyle has the story…

cut 2 (31) I’m Matt Doyle”  

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New Orleans has lost one of its most recognizable voices as six-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dr. John has passed away following a heart attack. New Orleans actor Harry Shearer remembers Dr. John as one of the area’s legendary piano players.

Cut 3 (10) “…so gloriously.”

Fellow Big Easy musician Irma Thomas, who recorded several songs written by Dr. John, says she had heard of his recent illness, but his death still comes as a surprise, adding he’ll be greatly missed by the city.

Cut 4 (09) “…to New Orleans.” 

Shearer says the music of Dr. John has impacted his life dating back to his first album.

Cut 5 (08) “…to Mac for that.”

Dr. John was 77.
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Fantasy sports legalization fails to get a final vote after a last second filibuster on the Senate floor from the same legislator who brought an ultimately doomed sports betting bill.

Fairness for Fantasy Sports spokesperson Ryan Berni says it’s a travesty that one legislator would seek retribution for his failed legislation by snubbing over 60 percent of voters that approved fantasy sports last year.

Cut 6 (09) “…anyway”

Martiny attempted to get his sports betting effort passed by amending it onto the fantasy sports bill, but that was undone earlier in the day when a conference committee agreed to strip the amendment.

Two bills had to be approved in the last fifteen minutes of the session for fantasy sports to be OK’d. The first passed by a comfortable margin, but when the second was brought up, Metairie Senator Danny Martiny took the floor and appeared to run out the clock…

Cut 7 (07) “….vote”

Martiny is termed limited after having served 26 years in the Legislature.

The Metairie Republican has been noticeably frustrated by what he alleged were dirty tricks employed to prevent sports gambling from getting a fair vote on the House floor after it passed the Senate. He said this as he filibustered the vote…

Cut 8 (07) “…treated.”

Martiny’s sports betting bill would have allowed voters in each parish to approve or reject sports betting at riverboat casinos, racetracks, or the land-based casino in New Orleans.

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CBD sales were legalized in the same legislation that allows industrial hemp production, and the ATC is now accepting applications from retailers interested in selling the products. ATC Commissioner Juana Lombard says retailers will need to apply as they would for an alcohol license, but no need for a newspaper posting. After that…

Cut 9 (12) “….registration.”

The temporary permit will last through January. A permanent license can be obtained by working with the Department of Health on labeling requirements.

Lombard says the kinds of CBD products available once retailers begin selling will be limited by what is FDA approved.

Cut 10 (09) “…beverages.”

CBD vitamin type products cannot be advertised as a dietary supplement, which may result in some of them being taken off shelves until their labeling can be corrected.

There was some public confusion about the legality of CBD products before the bill was signed, but Lombard says before yesterday the law was clear…

Cut 11 (09) “…cracking down”

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Two of college baseball’s best programs meet for a best out of three Super Regional Series on Saturday at Alex Box Stadium. The winner will advance to the College World Series. Kendall Rogers of D-1-baseball-dot-com says the Seminoles are playing their best baseball

Cut 12 (09)   “…right now.”

LSU will start Cole Henry tomorrow afternoon and Landon Marceaux will start  Sunday. Florida will pitch junior lefty Drew Parrish on Saturday and CJ Van Eyk in game two. Rogers says Parrish and Van Eyk have stepped it up…

Cut 13 (12) “…next year’s draft” 

Rogers says both teams are pitching well and getting clutch performances at the plate and the Seminoles have the extra motivation of playing for their longtime head coach Mike Martin, who is retiring when the season ends…

Cut 14 (09) “…are rolling.”