Governor John Bel Edwards has put out the call for a special session that would begin May 22nd, and end June 4th. During the special session, revenue could be raised that would potentially plug the 648 million dollar budget shortfall resulting from expiring sales taxes. The February special session fell apart just days into the process, but Edwards is optimistic that the second time is the charm.
Cut 10 (10) “catastrophic”
Governor Edwards is in Alexandria at this hour. He’s touring the Cabrini Clinic and the Rapides Clinic, before speaking to the Alexandria Rotary Club. At the Rotary Club he’ll discuss his efforts to fund health care services, including partner hospitals.

With a special session beginning next Tuesday, legislators only have a few more days to finish their work in the regular session. Numerous bills will receive final passage this week. One of them is the measure that toughens the law against bestiality.
Another Senate committee will take a look today at proposed legislation that would allow Harrah’s to continue to operate its land-based casino in New Orleans for another 30 years. It passed on a 4-3 vote in Judiciary B yesterday, despite strong opposition….
cut 27 (12) “….twenty five”
The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee will review the legislation this afternoon.

Final legislative passage has been given to a constitutional amendment that would require a unanimous jury verdict in most felony cases. Albany Representative Sherwin Mack led the discussion on the House floor and had this simple appeal to his colleagues…
cut 15 (05) “…right thing”
The amendment needs voter approval and it will appear on the November ballot.

It’s the final home game of the year for the LSU baseball team as they take on Northwestern State. It’s an important game for the Tigers, who need every win they can get as they try to build a case to receive an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Demons bring a five-game winning streak into Alex Box Stadium after sweeping Abilene Christian. First pitch 6:30.

The Ragin Cajuns host Tulane tonight as UL Lafayette looks to build momentum heading into next week’s Sun Belt Tournament. ULM is at McNeese. The Warhawks have lost nine straight on the road, while the Cowboys Joe Provenzano needs two hits to tie the school’s career hits record of 247. First pitch is at 6 PM.

Also tonight, Southeastern Louisiana hosts South Alabama. The Lions lost to the Jaguars six to one earlier this season and UNO is at 14^th ranked Southern Miss. The Privateers have won five of their last six.

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Thanks to a series victory over nationally ranked Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech’s R-P-I moved up 15 spots to number 47. The Bulldogs are in third place in Conference USA, percentage points behind Florida Atlanta. It’s expected two teams from Conference USA will make the NCAA Tournament. Southern Miss is a lock and the Bulldogs have put themselves in contention to receive an at-large berth. Tech concludes its regular season with a three-game series starting Thursday at home against Old Dominion, who has the worst record in the league.

LSU-Shreveport lost in the opening round of the NAIA tournament as they fell to William Carey 11-10 in the Hattiesburg Regional. The Pilots had a 10-2 lead and lost in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Former LSU offensive lineman KJ Malone says his football days are over. Malone received an invitation to the Houston Texans minicamp, but says because of a knee injury suffered in college and can’t continue his career. Malone says he will pursue a career in law enforcement.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called for a special session to begin on May 22nd. The current regular session is set to end on Friday and then legislators will return to Baton Rouge a few days later for a special session to address the fiscal cliff.

Because of expiring sales taxes, legislators are unable to fund health care, public colleges and TOPS to a level that satisfies anyone involved in state government…
cut 11 (09) “…fiscal year”
Edwards is hoping the legislature adopts his revenue plan that would keep a portion of a expiring penny sales tax, while eliminating sales tax exemptions for certain industries.
Cut 12 (08) “million dollars”
The special session must conclude June 4th.
A bill that would renew the state’s contract with Harrah’s New Orleans Casino passed a Senate Committee on a 4-3 vote. The legislation, which was heavily amended, is a 20 year contract with a ten year renewal option. Caesar’s Entertainment, who owns Harrah’s, sent their regional president Dan Real to argue for the contract renewal.
Cut 6 (12) “bad buisiness”
Harrah’s has six years remaining on their current contract, a point that has many opponents arguing that the renegotiation should be postponed.

The House has approved a constitutional amendment that would require a unanimous jury verdict in most felony cases. Albany Representative Sherwin Mack authored the legislation on the House floor and had this simple appeal to his colleagues…
cut 15 (05) “…right thing”
The amendment would need a majority vote of the people to be enacted into law.

Governor Edwards has called for a special session to begin a week from Tuesday and it would end June 4th. During this time, legislators will be asked to replace expiring sales taxes and fill a 648-million dollar budget deficit. The governor is optimstic lawmakers will come up with a solution to the fiscal cliff.

A House bill that allows some convicted felons while serving probation and parole to get their voting privileges back cleared the Senate Governmental Affairs committee today. The bill restores voting rights for those on parole once it’s been five years after their release from prison. Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin was in staunch opposition to the bill. Saying losing your voting rights should be used as a deterrent to crime….
Cut 11 (11) “criteria”
Despite Fannin’s opposition, the measure heads to the Senate floor for final approval.

Today’s US Supreme court ruling means sports gambling won’t just be restricted to Nevada. Jim Shannon on what it means for Louisiana.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

The American Civil Liberties Union says students in the Webster Parish School system are no longer subject to school-sponsored Christian prayer. ACLU staff attorney Bruce Hamilton…
cut 15 (12) “…covercive”

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states outside of Nevada are now allowed to permit sports gambling. Mississippi approved legislation that would allow sports betting, but Louisiana’s legislature rejected legislation that would have brought the issue to voters this fall. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says that’s great news…. for Beau Rivage.
Cut 6 (08) “Orleans market”
Martiny says Louisiana could generate more revenue for the state with sports betting and hopes it gets approved in the future.

Authorities say a Sorrento man was killed when his Dad wrecked a boat they were in Saturday night on the Amite River. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says 53-year-old Patrick White was operating a 20-foot aluminum vessel when it slammed into a river wall.
Cut 3 (08) “head on”
The impact killed 27-year-old Caleb White. Patrick White has is facing numerous charges, including vehicular homicide.

A House bill that allows some convicted felons while serving probation and parole to get their voting privileges back cleared the Senate Governmental Affairs committee today. Current law says felons must complete probation and parole, before they are able to vote. Checko Yancy is the executive director of “Organize to Educate” who still cannot vote.
Cut 10 (09) “voting polls”
The bill restores voting rights five years after he or she is released from prison. The measure heads to full Senate for final approval.

The American Civil Liberties Union says the Webster Parish School District will no longer subject students to school-sponsored Christian prayer as the result of a consent decree approved by a federal judge.
cut 14 (09) “….school events”
That’s Louisiana A-C-L-U staff attorney Bruce Hamilton, who says this is a victory for all students in the Webster Parish School District. A student at Lakeside claimed the district promoted religion by broadcasting prayers over the P-A system.

Today’s US Supreme court ruling means sports gambling won’t just be restricted to Nevada. Jim Shannon on what it means for Louisiana.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Governor John Bel Edwards holds a press conference this afternoon where it’s expected he’ll release the call for a special session that would begin next week. Edwards has said a special session is needed, because the state needs to replace expiring sales taxes to fill a 648-million budget deficit.

A bill that would allow convicted felons who have been out of prison for five years to vote, even if they are on probation or parole is heading to the full senate for final passage. The measure passed the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, despite opposition from Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin, who says five years too soon….
cut 12 (09) “…object”
If passed, the measure would take effect on March 1st, 2019.

A Sorrento man has been charged with vehicular homicide in the boating death of his son. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says 53-year-old Patrick White was operating a a 20-foot aluminum vessel when he slammed into a river wall. Einck says White flunked a field sobriety test when an L-D-W-F agent arrived…
cut 5 (08) “…as well”
Caleb White was 27-years-old.

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…

Cut 19 (12) ‘”….allyear”

The Tigers are 14-13 in the SEC heading into the final SEC series at Auburn.

Louisiana Tech clinched an impressive series victory over 9^th ranked Southern Miss by beating the Golden Eagles eight to three. Southern Miss had won 12 straight consecutive series over the Bulldogs, who yesterday got four runs driven in by Parker Bates and good pitching from Logan Bailey and David Leal.

The Ragin Cajuns lost their last two games to Texas State, but still hold a half-game lead over Little Rock for first place in the Sun Belt Western Division.

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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..

Cut 16 (19) “…great worker”

UL Lafayette and LSU with once again meet in an NCAA Softball Regional. The Tigers are the host school and they’ll play Fordham at 5:30 on Friday. The Cajuns and Houston are the other two teams in the regional at 3 PM. McNeese is heading to the College Station Regional, where they’ll compete against Baylor, Prairie View and host school Texas A-and-M.