The state senate has approved legislation that would lead to the legalization of sports betting. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says under his legislation there are specific places where a gambler can legally put money down on a sporting event…
cut 9 (11) “…place a bet”
The measure heads to the House where it will likely face opposition from Republicans that represent conservative districts.

During discussion on the Senate floor over a bill that would allow adults to opt into a statewide immunization database, Shreveport Democrat John Milkovich listed reasons why he believes vaccinations are dangerous…
cut 12 (11) “….mercury”
But Republican US Senator Bill Cassidy calls Milkovich’s rant “fake news.”

A state senate committee approves legislation that would ban abortions if a fetal heartbeat is detected. Kevin Barnhart has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnart”

Hancock Whitney Bank announces it will buy MidSouth Bancorp of Lafayette for 213-million dollars. MidSouth has been struggling with bad loans.

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”

A constitutional amendment to abolish the death penalty in Louisiana heads to the Senate floor after advancing out of a Senate committee…
cut 2 (30) I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Former St. Landry Parish priest Michael Guidry received a seven-year prison sentence today for sexually assaulting a teen boy several years ago. The 76-year-old was facing up to 10 years in prison. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says the number of sex abuse cases involving priests may have contributed to the sentencing…
cut 14 (05) “…the maximum sentence”

The Louisiana House passes a bill that says banks with gun control policies can not refuse to do business with companies involved in the manufacturing and selling of guns and ammunition. Erath Representative Blake Miguez says his legislation protects against a discriminatory action
Cut 3 (10) “…move it forward”
The House approved the measure on a 66-27 vote and it heads to the Senate for more discussion.

The governor’s office believes there is enough damage in Ruston from last Thursday’s EF-3 tornado for the city and Louisiana Tech to qualify for federal aid. The governor’s office of Homeland Security spokesperson Mike Steele says they are meeting with FEMA officials to conduct damage assessments…
cut 11 (08) “…infrastructure”
If Ruston is deemed a federal disaster area, then the federal government would pay 75-percent of the repairs for public facilities.

A proposal to end the death penalty in Louisiana advanced out of a Senate committee today. Supporters of the constitutional amendment say the death penalty needs to go because there’s the chance the state could execute an innocent person. But 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux says the intricacy that goes into death penalty cases today ensures the accuracy of the current system.
Cut 9 (10) “…system currently works“.
On a 4-2 yes vote, the measure heads to the Senate floor, where it needs a two-thirds vote to pass.

The Louisiana House passes a bill that says banks with gun control policies can not refuse to do business with companies involved in the manufacturing and selling of guns and ammunition. Democrats oppose the legislation. Franklin Representative Sam Jones says the legislation infringes on the First amendment rights of banks…
Cut 4 (06) “…don’t you.”
The House approved the measure on a 66-27 vote and it heads to the Senate for more discussion.

A former St. Landry Parish priest was sentenced to seven years in prison today and also received three years probation. Michael Guidry pleaded guilty in March to giving a 16-year-old boy alcohol and then sexually molesting him. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s a harsh sentence…
cut 13 (12) “…significant reduction”
Guidry was a long time leader of St. Peter Church in Morrow.

Governor Edwards is confident tornado ravaged Ruston and Louisiana Tech will receive federal disaster recovery funds once damage assessments are complete, and an application for aid has been filed. Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says assessment teams are preparing to survey the damage.
Cut 10 (10) “…next week”
Steele says there is no timeline for when federal aid could be available.

A House committee narrowly approves legislation that partially rolls back changes made by Governor John Bel Edwards to a tax break program that benefits large manufacturers. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Two hotly debated topics will be discussed in a Senate committee this morning. Lawmakers will debate a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish the death penalty and there’s also a bill on the agenda that would prohibit an abortion when the fetus’ heartbeat is detected.

The Louisiana House passes a bill that says banks with gun control policies can not refuse to do business with companies involved in the manufacturing and selling of guns and ammunition. Erath Representative Blake Miguez says his legislation protects against a discriminatory action
Cut 3 (10) “…move it forward”
The House approved the measure on a 66-27 vote and it heads to the Senate for more discussion.

The state is reporting its first death from the Hepatitis A outbreak, which is a highly contagiuous liver infection. Assistant state health officer Joseph Kanter says Hep A primarily spreads through close contact and it’s most often seen with drug users, in the homeless population, prisoners and homosexuals. Kanter says at first someone may experience fever, fatigue and loss of appetite…..
cut 14 (09) “….of the eyes’

Will Wade’s name has surfaced again in the college basketball corruption case as evidence emerges of the LSU basketball coach allegedly offering 300,000 dollars in an effort to recruit Naz Reid. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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 A proposal to partially roll back Governor Edwards’ changes to a program that issues substantial property tax cuts to big business narrowly gets through a House committee. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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An outbreak of Hepatitis A results in the first reported death from the virus in Louisiana. Who’s most at risk for contracting the liver infection? Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The Louisiana Department of Health is asking residents to be on the lookout for the penny sized “kissing bug”, whose bite can carry the rare, but nasty Chagas disease.  LDH vector-borne diseases epidemiologist Julius Tonzel says the Triatomine bugs are known to break into poorly maintained houses, and feast on unsuspecting sleepers.

Cut 4 (12) “…happens.”

The alert was triggered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which confirmed a case of the disease in Delaware.

The best way to keep the bugs out is to fix any holes in your home that lead to the outside, and Tonzel says you can identify the disease carrying “kissing bug” by it’s long, thin legs, and earthy brown or black outside with red stripes…

Cut 5 (11) “…the body.”

There’s only been 13 confirmed cases of Chargas Disease in the state’s history and none since 2017.

Chagas symptoms can take weeks to appear, and can feel very much like the flu initially. Tonzel says after that, it could be quite some time before the long term effects are felt, but they could ultimately be fatal.

Cut 6 (12) “…heart failure”

In it’s history, the disease has been documented in 11 parishes, as far north as Caddo, and as far south as Terrebonne.

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A recording that claims LSU basketball coach Will Wade allegedly offered 300,000 dollars in an effort to recruit LSU forward Naz Reid was featured Monday at a federal trial on NCAA corruption. Tiger Rag assistant editor Tyler Nunez says it’s another recruiting allegation against the 36-year-old coach.

Cut 7 (12) “…him in.”

The video aired in court is former Arizona assistant Book Richardson, who was reportedly caught on tape saying Wade offered him a job to help with the recruiting of Reid, and quoted Wade as saying “There’s a deal in place, I got 300,000 for him.” Richardson allegedly responded saying “Give me half, and I’ll make sure the kid goes there”.

After being reinstated, Wade agreed to a provision in his contract that would give LSU cause to fire him if he was found in violation of a level one or two NCAA violation. Nunez says this fits the bill, if the allegation is true…

Cut 8 (12) “…allegations.”

Reid was instrumental in helping LSU win an SEC regular season title and a trip to the Sweet 16. Nunez says along with potentially ending Will Wade’s time at LSU, the ongoing trial could reveal just how much illegal money is flowing into basketball recruiting.

Cut 9 (09) “…continues.″

LSU responded, saying “We are continuing to monitor the situation, and will refrain from commenting until further notice.”

___________________________

A bill that would partially roll back the Governor’s changes to the Industrial Tax Exemption Program advanced to the House floor. The change would take the ability to grant the often substantial local property tax breaks to businesses away from local boards, like school boards.

Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says it’s scaring away business.

Cut 10 (09) “…ITEP.”

Companies use ITEP to request hundreds of thousands, and even millions in tax breaks from the state.

Governor Edwards opposes reversing the changes he made to the program last year. Edwards’ Executive Council, Matthew Block, says every other state allows local level authorities to make decisions about issuing local tax breaks…

Cut 11 (07) “…program.”

The changes created a controversy in Baton Rouge when the local school board denied Exxon a several hundred thousand dollar ITEP request under the new rules.

The change would see the parish president, sheriff, and school board president in charge of accepting or rejecting ITEP requests. Opponents would prefer keeping the authority at the city/town, and not parish level, but Edmonds says that should be local enough.

Cut 12 (10) “…they will.”

Before Edwards’ changes, the decision to issue the tax break was made by a state level board.

_______________________

A Hepatitis A outbreak results in the first death reported from the virus in the state. The highly contagious liver infection primarily spreads through close contact. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says in Louisiana the cases recorded since January 2018 sees the biggest impact in two main risk categories.

Cut 13 (09) “…those two categories.”

Kanter adds the virus spreads rapidly when people are in close quarters in such settings as homeless shelters or jails.

About two-thirds of those diagnosed with Hepatitis A are having to be hospitalized in this most recent outbreak, which Kanter says is higher than normal. Many people who have it end up doing fine, but some end up having worsened liver damage or even liver failure. Kanter says at first someone may experience vague symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
Cut 14 (09) “…of the eyes.”

For those that are high risk, Kanter says there is action that can be taken to reduce the chance of contracting the virus.

Cut 15 (07) “…an initial vaccine.”

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LSU ranks in the middle of the pack in the Southeastern Conference for team batting average. But Coach Paul Mainieri is hoping freshman Gavin Dugas can provide a spark. He missed about two months with a hamate injury, but delivered a big two-run single in Sunday’s win over Alabama

Cut 16  (22) “…for us” 

In Sunday’s win over the Crimson Tide, Landon Marceaux struck out nine in 5.1 innings pitched for the victory. Mainieri liked how the freshman from Destrehan battled back from shaky start

 cut 17 (09)   “as well” 

Mainieri also likes what he’s seeing from catcher Saul Garza, who hit his second home run of the season on Sunday