Tangipahoa residents will not get the opportunity to vote on whether they approve of a riverboat casinos in their parish. Two bills that calls for the referendum vote have been killed over the last two days. Ponchatoula Representative Steve Pugh moved to table his bill in a House committee, because of opposition from local senators….
cut 5 (11) “….as well”
DiamondJacks Casino and Resort in Bossier City is looking at moving its license from Bossier to a site near Hammond.

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 President Michael Hecht says the direct economic impact may be small, but….
cut 13 (06) “…issue here”

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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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”

A beastiality bill that’s drawn some surprising opposition passed through a House committee unanimously. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Smoothie King is moving its corporate headquarters out of New Orleans, and taking most of it’s 80 jobs to a new location in Dallas. Greater New Orleans Inc. President Michael Hect says Smoothie King’s owner is Korean wanted better access to his overseas holding.
Cut 12 (08) “to asia”
The Smoothie King Center will retain its name.

Voters could soon have the opportunity to decide if serious felony convictions should require an unanimous jury verdict. A constitutional amendment requiring unanimous jury verdicts was approved by a House committee today. Several district attorneys oppose the constitutional amendment because they say it will be tougher to get convictions. Calcasieu D-A John DeRosier said “it is what is” when discussing the current standard of 10 of 12 jurors for a guilty verdict as a vestigate of slavery. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James was not happy with statement…
cut 7 (10) “…offended”
When the Senate-approved legislation passed, it drew a round of applause. It just needs House approval and then it heads to the voters.

And legislation that would allow a family to install a surveillance camera inside a nursing home room so it can keep tabs on their loved one is moving closer to final passage. The House approved member received backing from the Senate Health and Welfare Committee today. Senators say they will work on tightening the language of the bill.

A Senate-approved bestiality bill that’s been grabbing headlines passed unanimously through a House committee. The bill would update bestiality laws, and codify them as only applying to acts between man and animal. Some opponents argue the bill is an attempt to protect homosexual behavior. The bill’s sponsor, New Orleans Senator JP Morrell…
cut 9 (10) “…about beastiality”
The measure now heads to the House floor.

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.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers say the average teacher salary has fallen two-thousand dollars below what teachers make in Southern states. L-F-T spokesperson Les Landon says they are polling members to find out what actions they should take to help improve pay and other issues impacting teachers….
cut 12 (11) “….strike”
Landon says they will release a report next month with the results.

State Police has arrested a Morehouse Parish Deputy for alleged inappropriate sexual contact with an inmate at the detention center in Bastrop. 50-year-old Terry Davis is facing a charge of malfeasance in office.

The Senate approves legislation to allow riverboat casinos to operate on land, despite objections it’s an expansion of gambling…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

It doesn’t look like Tangipahoa Parish will vote on whether 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, failed to get out of the House Criminal Justice Committee this morning.

The House Criminal Justice Committee is considering a measure that would change the threshold for a jury to find a defendant guilty in a criminal case. Currently, it’s 10 out of 12 jury members, but the proposal would require a unanimous verdict for a conviction. Christie Smith is with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys….
cut 7 (10) “…in Louisiana”
The measure has already passed the Senate.

And the Senate has approved legislation that would ban abortions 15-weeks following conception. The bill’s author is Shreveport Democrat John Milkovich…
cut 14 (10) “….frowning”
If the legislation receives Governor Edwards signature, it will only go into effect if the federal courts approve Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban law.

We’re at the halfway point of the regular session, and major changes to hot button issues appear to be off the table. Matt Doyle has more.
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The state senate has approved legislation that would prohibit abortions 15 weeks after conception. It passed on a 31-3 vote and now moves to the House for its consideration. Mississippi also passed a 15-week abortion ban, but a federal judge has temporarily blocked the state from enforcing that new law.

A House approved bill to make hazing a felony, which means harsher penalties for those convicted, moved a step closer to final passage, when it was approved by a Senate committee. The parents of LSU student Maxwell Gruver, who died in a suspected hazing incident were on hand to testify…
cut 5 (11) “…saved Max’s”
The proposal would make hazing a felony, which it currently is not in Louisiana.

And there’s also a resolution moving through the legislative process that would create a panel to look at options on reducing traffic during the morning commute in Baton Rouge. One of those ideas is to have classes at LSU start after 10 AM. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter….
cut 14 (08) “….one suggestion”

We’re at the halfway point of the regular session, and major changes to hot button issues appear to be off the table. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

LSU announces House Majority Whip Steve Scalise will deliver the keynote address at LSU’s commencement on May 11th. The Louisiana Congressman will also deliver the commencement speech for the LSU Law Center on June 1st. Scalise is an LSU almunus.

The House-approved Max Gruver Act is sailing through the legislative process, passing out of a Senate Judiciary Committee without objection this morning. It calls for tougher penalties for those convicted of hazing. Police say Gruver died after an alcohol induced hazing incident last September at LSU. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry authors the bill.
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A Senate-approved resolution made it out of the House Transportation committee that will study whether LSU should start classes after 10 AM to ease the morning traffic congestion in Baton Rouge. State Representative Steve Carter says it’s a concept local downtown businesses have discussed as well….
ct 13 (10) “…this resolution”