The Louisiana House approves legislation to toughen the penalties for those convicted of hazing. Kelley Ray has more.
Voicer 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

A senate committee has approved a bill that would legalize sports gambling in Louisiana. The measure would allow gamblers to make sports bets at exisiting gaming facilities, including restaurants and bars that have video poker machines. The legislation could be sent to Senate Finance, because of the costs associated with regulating it.

Up for debate in a Senate committee room right now is a bill that would ban the sale of assault weapons to those under the age of 21. It’s facing opposition from second-amendment supporters. Louisiana Shooting Association lobbyist Wade Duty says it doesn’t make sense to have 18-to 20-year-olds serve in the military, but barred from purchasing assualt weapons…
cut 7 (11) “….for it”
In committee, testifying in favor of the bill is New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison.

The Louisiana NAACP is urging the state attorney general to have a grand jury review the evidence in the Alton Sterling Shooting. State Director Michael McClanahan….
cut 13 (11) “…our citizenery”
Attorney General Jeff Landry announced last week that he would not pursue criminal charges against officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake.

A Senate Committee will hear a gun control bill today that would raise the minimum age of purchase for firearms to 21. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Crews have removed a pickup truck from water along I-20 in Webster Parish between Minden and Dixie Inn and the search continues for the driver. Authorities are asking motorists to avoid the area as the search and recovery is causing a backup on Interstate 20.

At this hour, a Senate committee is hearing legislation that would call for a referendum to legalize sports betting and internet gambling. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says allowing this type of gambling and taxing it, can provide much needed revenue for the state…
cut 16 (12) “….to make”
If the bills pass the legislature, the referendum elections would be held in November.

Forecasters say strong to severe storms are expected later today and tonight in Louisiana, because of a cold front. State Climatologist Barry Keim says heavy rain is also possible…
cut 8 (12) “….and tornadoes”
It will be cooler tomorrow with high temperatures in the low 70s to mid 60s.

LSU Baseball Head Coach Paul Mainieri is not happy about the team’s RPI rating of 81. The Tigers have tumbled down the NCAA’s rating index despite an 18 and 11 record. Mainieri says he’s befuddled by the extraordinarily low rating.

Cut 17 (15) “…our RPI”

LSU has a midweek game tonight as they host Nicholls at 6:30 PM at Alex Box Stadium.

Louisiana Tech is ranked 22^nd in the D-1 poll and they are at Grambling State tonight. The Bulldogs have a team RPI of 58 and they’ve won 17 of their last 21. G-S-U has won three of its last four.

In other action tonight, the Ragin Cajuns are at 13^th ranked Southern Miss, while ULM visits 5^th ranked Arkansas. The Razorbacks are 19-and-9 on the season and the Hogs are 5-4 in the SEC, same record as LSU.

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A bill that calls for a statewide referendum to legalize sports betting in Louisiana will be heard in a Louisiana senate committee today. Metairie Senator Daniel Martiny says the argument against his legislation is that it expands gambling, but it can help generate a stable revenue source for state government…

Cut 14 (12) “…dollar deficit”

The U-S Supreme Court could soon strike down a decades old federal law that has banned sports betting outside of Nevada.

LSU football has added an eighth member to its 2019 recruiting class. IMG Academy offensive lineman Charles Turner gave his verbal commitment to the Tigers coaching staff after visiting the school two weeks ago. He’s a three-star prospect, who also had offers from Florida, Michigan and Auburn. He’s the third offensive lineman in LSU’s 2019 recruiting class.

Louisiana will receive 5.8 million dollars from the federal Election Assistance Commission to purchase thousands of new voting machines as part of a proposed 50 to 60 million dollar plan to overhaul the state’s aging voting equipment. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says we have a looming crisis with our decade old voting booths.

Cut 10 (12) “precarious position.”

Bids will begin for the new machines May 1^st.

Louisianans for Prison Alternatives is actively lobbying the legislature to not only maintain the 2017 justice reforms passed but to enact even more measures to reduce the prison population by 50-percent over the next 10 years. Colleen Gielskie (gel-skie) is looking to have the three strike and mandatory minimum sentencing laws changed.

Cut 14 (11)   “offenses”

Baton Rouge Police investigators have decided against charging a man in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old. Sergeant L’Jean Mckneely says the teenager, Ke’irie Grayer, pointed a gun at a 25-year-old and tried to rob him, as he walked out of a convenience store. Mckneely says they are turning over their evidence to the District Attorney’s office, leaving open the possibility that the D-A could purse charges…

Cut 7 (11)  “entire incident”

A suspect involved in a reported domestic disturbance in New Llano (New Lan-no) was shot dead by a Vernon Parish Sheriff’s deputy on Easter Sunday. Sheriff Sam Craft says 60-year-old Bobby Hinton tried to shoot the unidentified sheriff’s deputy moments after he arrived on the scene…

Cut 3 (11) “left forearm.”

Louisiana stands to receive nearly six million dollars from the federal government that will go towards the purchase of 10-thousand early and election day voting machines.
cut 11 (10) “…out there”
Secretary of State Tom Schedler says it will cost between 50 to 60 million dollars to overhaul the state’s aging voting system and they’ll begin accepting bids in May.

Louisianans for Prison Alternatives is actively lobbying the legislature to not only maintain the 2017 criminal justice reforms, but to enact even more measures to reduce the prison population by 50-percent over the next 10 years. Spokesperson Colleen Gielskie (gel-skie)…
Cut 13 (10) “new ones”
Gielskie says the so-called three strike law and high mandatory-minimum sentences are largely to blame for such long prison sentences.

Baton Rouge Police investigators have decided against charging a man in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old. Sergeant L’Jean Mckneely says the teenager, Ke’irie Grayer, pointed a gun at a 25-year-old and tried to rob him, as he walked out of a conveinence store…
cut 6 (10) “…justifiable shooting”
Mckneely says they are turning over their evidence to the District Attorney’s office, leaving open the posisibility the D-A could purse charges.

A Vernon Parish sheriff’s deputy is recovering today after he was involved in a fatal shooting when he responded to a domestic distrubance call in New Llano. Sheriff Sam Craft says 60-year-old Bobby Hinton fired at his officer as soon he got out of his patrol car. Craft says the deput fired his weapon, killing Hinton….
cut 5 (06) “…fired immediately”
The female who called in the incident was not injured,

Louisiana will receive 5.8 million dollars from the federal Election Assistance Commission to purchase thousands of new voting machines as part of a proposed 50 to 60 million dollar project to overhaul the state’s aging voting equipment. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says we have a looming crisis with our decade old voting booths.
Cut 10 (12) “precarious position.”
The state will begin accepting bids for new voting machines on May 1st.

There were two officer-involved shootings in Louisiana on Easter Sunday. One in Vernon and another in St. Tamany Parish. In both cases a deputy was shot, but is expected to survive, while a suspect was fatally shot. The incident in St. Tammany involved in a car burglary suspect who led authrorities on a pursuit.

The parents of Maxwell Gruver, who died last year in an alleged hazing incident at LSU, are expected back at the state capitol to show support for a bill that would stiffen criminal penalties for those found guilty of hazing. The “Max Gruver Act” is set to be heard today on the House floor.

A suspect has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection to a weekend shooting in Natchitoches. Police spokesperson Kelly Parks says 21-year-old Jaquarious Ardison of Campti shot Jamel Haskett after an argument at a Shop Right at 11PM Saturday night..
cut 8 (06) “….Keyser Avenue”
Haskett died at a local hospital, while Ardison turned himself in on Easter Sunday.