A bill to make it more difficult for a person who is the subject of a protective order to posses a gun is moving closer to final legislative approval. It has the support of domestic violence victims. Tiffany Morgan says she was shot in the face by an angry boyfriend and she’s been diagnosed with severe depression and P-T-S-D….
cut 4 (06) “…a weapon”
The bill requires offenders to declare in open court what firearms they possess.

Lousiaina ranks second in the nation with the highest hit and run rate of fatal crashes per capita. That’s according to a new survey from the AAA foundation. Louisiana AAA spokesperson Don Redman says the report found most victims of fatal hit and run crashes are pedestrians and bicylists…
cut 7 (07) “….pedestrians”
Redman says the lack of sidewalks on rural roads is a factor for Louisiana’s high fatal hit and run rate.

Should public school students attending K-through-eighth grade have a mandatory 30-minute recess. The House Education Committee has endorsed legislation that does just that, despite opposition from the Louisiana Association of Principals, who raised concerns it would cut back on classroom time. Executive Director Debra Schum….
cut 12 (12) “…the classroom”
Supporters of the legislation say allowing recess time would help reduce stress, anxiety and could lead to better student performance. The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Louisiana now ranks second in the nation with the highest hit and run rate of fatal crashes per capita, according to a new survey from the AAA foundation. The national study concluded there is a hit and run fatality every minute in the nation. Don Redman is with AAA
Cut 6 (:10) “of fatalities”
The report found most victims of fatal hit and run crashes are pedestrians and bicyclists.

A Senate Committee pases a House-approved bill that would allow families to put video cameras in the nursing home rooms of loved ones. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says after using cameras to watch his elderly father, he’s supportive of the idea.
Cut 15 (05) “as well”
The legislation was inspired by a Louisiana family who suspected a nursing home staff member was beating a family member in their room.

A domestic violence firearms bill cleared a House panel that further restricts possession of a gun by someone who is under a protective order…
Cut 1 (:31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

And the House Education committee has approved legislation that would require public schools to provide 30- minute recess during the school day. Opponents says there’s not enough time to give students a half-hour recess period, but the bill’s author Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says it’s worthwhile endeavor…
cut 13 (06) “…worth it”

Tonight is the first round of the NFL draft. New Orleans enters the three-day draft process with a total of eight picks and most of them coming in the later rounds. Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis on what goes into their evaluation of a potential prospect

Cut 17 (17)  “we draft”

Loomis also said the Saints don’t have anything against LSU, even though the NFL franchise has selected just two former Tigers since 2004. They have the 27^th pick overall tonight, it’s unlikely they will select running back Derius Guice, who is expected to be the only LSU player taken in the first round. Cornerback, tight end and pass rusher are the major priorities for the Saints.

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The Pelicans second round Western Conference playoff series versus Golden State will begin on Sunday night in Oakland. The Warriors are expected to provide an update tomorrow on two-time MVP Stephen Curry, who has not played since March 23^rd because of a sprained M-C-L injury. Friday, marks exactly five weeks since the injury, so he is expected to return sometime during the series.

According to Tiger Rag-dot-com, junior college forward Marlon Taylor has committed to LSU. He’s a six-foot-six athletic wing from Panola College in Florida. He averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds last season, while shooting 44-percent from three-point territory.

In college baseball…Northwestern State, who beat Mississippi Valley State 21-0 on Tuesday night, did even more damage against the Delta Devils on Wednesday as they beat them 34-0 on Wednesday.

The Rain Cajuns defeated UNO eight to six. Gavin Bouregois drove in four runs.

The LSU Tigers begin an SEC series tonight versus Ole Miss. The Bayou Bengals trail the Rebels and Arkansas by one game for the division lead in the SEC West.

An anti-bestiality law received approval from a House committee, but it’s receiving pushback from Chrisitan conservative groups like the Louisiana Family Forum. President Gene Mills says the proposed legislation would remove human on human acts from criminality….
cut 10 (09) “….prohibition”
But the measure heads to the House floor for final legislative passage.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler told a Senate committee his office is looking at improving its anti-harassment policies. Schedler, who was accused of sexually harassing an employee in a recent lawsuit, was forced to discuss his agency’s policies during harsh questioning …
Cut 15 (09) “the way”
The House Criminal Justice Committee approves a constitutional amendment to require unanimous verdicts in serious felony cases. Jim Shannon reports testimony got a little heated after a comment by a district attorney.
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The proposal now heads to the full House.

Tangipahoa voters will not get a chance to decide if they want a riverboat casino in their parish. A bill that called for a local referendum in November did not pass the Senate on a 15-18 vote. A House bill that would have done the same thing, also failed to get out of a House Committee.

A bill to strengthen laws against bestiality is facing oppositon from Christian Conservatives, because of a concern it will go against a the state’s ban on sodomy, which is unconstitutional. Doctor Will Hall with the Louisiana Baptist Convention doesn’t like the wording of Senator JP Morrell’s legislation…
cut 11 (08) “…four words”
Despite the objection, the measure is heading to the House floor for final passage.

Religous leaders have helped defeat a bill that called for referendum in Tangipahoa on whether they want a riverboat casino in their parish. Pastor Louis Husser at Crossgate church says such a vote would be unfair…
cut 4 (10) “…casino is”
A casino operator in Bossier City has looked at moving their license to Tangipahoa.

Supporters seeking to end Louisiana’s requirement that only 10 of 12 jurors are needed in order to secure a conviction in felony cases won a legislative battle today as the measure received approval from a House committee. The constitutional amendment would require all 12 jurists to agree on guilty or not guilty. The author of the legislation, New Orleans Senator, J-P Morrell says Louisiana is one of the two states using a Jim Crow era law in felony trials….
cut 8 (13) “…official journal”
The uanimous jury proposal has already been approved by the Senate, it now heads to the House and will need voter approval as well.

Baton Rouge police say a two-year accidentally shot his eight-year-old brorther inside a vehicle. Detectives say the boys’ father left the loaded handgun unattended when he got out of the car. The child was shot in the arm, but the injury is not considered life-threatening.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler, who is acussed of sexual harassment by a state worker, said before a Senate panel that sexual harassment policies should be uniform across state agencies. Schedler made the comments after he was asked if his agency plans to revise its policies, which have been the same since 2013….
cut 16 (08) “…that process”
Lawmakers are working on anti-harassment legislation in this session.

An anti-bestiality law received approval from a House committee, but it’s receiving pushback from Chrisitan conservative groups like the Louisiana Family Forum. President Gene Mills says the proposed legislation would remove human on human acts from criminality….
cut 10 (09) “….prohibition”
But the measure heads to the House floor for final legislative passage.

The state legislature is not willing to give voters in Tangipahoa the opportunity to vote on whether they want a riverboat casino in their parish. DiamondJacks Casino and Resort in Bossier City is interested in moving its license to a site near Hammond But religious leaders object. First Baptist Church of Hammond Pastor Jeff Robertson
Cut 3 (:10) “of it”
The Senate and a House committee have killed bills that would call for a local option referendum.

Smoothie King is moving its corporate headquarters from New Orleans to Dallas. It means the loss of 60 jobs for the Crescent City. Greater New Orleans Inc C-E-O Michael Hecht says the city has had its share of economic wins lately, but this is a bit of a blow…
cut 14 (08) “…make progress”
The Smoothie King Center, home of the Pelicans, will retain its name.