The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that is now known as the “Max Gruver Act.” It makes hazing a felony crime in Louisiana, which would mean an increase in fines and jail time. Gruver’s parents came in from Roswell, Georgia, to testify in favor of the legislation. Here’s Rae Ann Gruver…
cut 3 (16) “…fly high Max”
Maxwell Gruver died in a suspected hazing incident on LSU’s campus last September. His blood alcohol level was .495.

Legislation is heading to the Senate Floor that seeks to change Louisiana’s constitution when it comes to how many jurors are needed to find a person guility of a felony crime. Current law says 10 of 12 jurors are needed for a guility verdit, but the proposed consitutional amendment seeks to change it to unanimous.

It’s a somber atmosphere outside of the Notre Dame Seminary, where a two-day public visitiation for Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson is underway. Benson was a devout Catholic, and talked often with Archbishop of New Orleans Gregory Aymond. Aymond says Benson was a man of Christian values….
cut 11 (09) “….since 1991”
Benson’s funeral is set for Friday.

Today, thousands of young persons are joining nationwide for the 23rd annual Kick Butts Day, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Anti-tobacco advocate Carlos Vela says the tobacco companies are working hard to trying to get youngsters addicted to a deadly habit…
Cut 7 (07) “every hour.”
The national youth smoking rate is a record low of 8-percent, but in Louisiana that rate is 12-percent.

The full Senate will debate legislation that rewrites the state’s riverboat casino laws. Jeff Palermo reports the proposal would allow the floating casinos move some of their gaming operations on land…
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Caddo Sheriff’s office announce the arrest of five teens on sexting charges. Sheriff Steve Prator say they shared a nude photo of a fellow student on social media. Sheriff’d Detective Jared Marshall also seized their cell phones.

2016 flood victims are now eligible for a bigger tax break. If you lost more than 500 dollars that wasn’t covered by insurance or government grants, you can deduct the difference from your 2016 income tax return. Some residents could see a significant refund. That’s according to Baton Rouge area CPA Bryan Lagarde….
Cut 5 (09) “benefit people”.
Lagarde suggests flood victims to get the help of a tax preparer to help amend your 2016 tax returns.

Alexandria Representative Lance Harris has reached out to his constituents with a Facebook video to remind them the state republican party is watching the budget. Harris says they are dedicated to cutting spending during this session and not raising taxes if another special session is called to increase state revenues.
Cut 30 (08) “other way around”

A Senate committee approved legislation today that gives riverboat casinos the opportunity to move on land. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says his legislation is not an attempt to expand gaming…
Cut 11 (09) “since 1991″
The measure allows the 15 riverboat casinos to conduct gambling activities within 12-hundred feet on land from where the riverboat is berthed.

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has signed into law a bill that prohibits abortions after 15 weeks. A similar bill has been filed by Shreveport Senator John Milkovich told Talk Lousiaina that abortion clinics are only in the business of terminating pregancies for financial gain…
cut 8 (09) “….Dunkin Donuts”
Planned Parenthood says legislators should be working to expand health care, not taking it away.

Alexandria Representative Lance Harris has reached out to his constituents with a Facebook video to remind them the state republican party is watching the budget. Harris is the chair of the House Republican Delegation…
Cut 9 (:09) “budget deficit.”
Republicans have insisted the actual deficit is closer to 700-million dollars. The Revenue Estimating Conference is expected to finalize a number in the coming weeks.

The recent federal tax overhaul allows 2016 Louisiana flood victims to re-file their taxes and write off more of their losses, even if they didn’t itemize their deductions….
cut 4 (11) “…of loss”
Brandon Lagarde with Postlethwaite and Netterville says an estimated 500-million dollars is available for Louisiana flood victims and encourages those who plan to re-file to contact a CPA.

A bill that rewrites the state’s riverboat casino laws heads to the Senate floor. It would allow riverboats to have gaming on land and provide for more gaming space. It faces opposition from religious leaders. A pastor from Ponchatoula says the Louisiana Department of Health has estimated that problem gambling costs the state 845-million dollars per year
Cut 12 (10) destroyed lives”
New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson also questioned the director of the Casino Association of Louisiana on why there are not more contracts between riverboat casinos and minority-owned businesses
Cut 14 (08) “their goals.”
The bill’s author, Lake Charles Senator, Ronnie Johns says he’ll address the concerns, before there’s a vote on the Senate floor.

Government analysts say 500 million dollars is available for 2016 Louisiana flood victims to make claims against losses from the disaster….
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Legislation to prevent an abortion after 15 weeks of a pregancy is waiting for debate in the Louisiana legislature. A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order preventing a similiar Mississippi law from going into effect. Shreveport Senator John Milkovich says he still plans on going through with his legislation…
cut 7 (09) “”…federal courts”

Mississippi’s governor has signed a bill that bans abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy. A similar bill has been introduced by Shreveport Democrat Senator John Milkovich. He says the issue mentioned to him the most when he ran for office was how and when Louisiana would ban abortions. He says the bill is hopefully the first step…
Cut 6 (08) “quietly by”
A legal challenge has already been filed against Mississippi’s law.

Marksville Representative Robert Johnson is the new House Democratic Caucus Chairman. Johnson plans to take an active role in the upcoming budget negotiations…
Cut 13 (09) “years ago.”
Johnson replaces Minden Representative Gene Reynolds, who recently resigned.

A Senate panel hears a constitutional amendment today from New Orleans Democrat J-P Morrell that will require a jury’s verdict in a felony trial to be unanimous for conviction. Louisiana and Oregon are the only states that allows for ten out of twelve jurors to agree on a guilty verdict. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the nation’s highest court has heard several challenges…
Cut 24 (10) “by jury.”
The committee meets at 1:00.

Shreveport-Bossier will host the 2018 Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, with Miss USA confirmed for May 21st. It’ll be the first time both pageants have ever been held at the same location back to back Shreveport Chief Administrative Officer Bryan Crawford….
Cut 10 (09) “Bossier region.”
This will be the third time the pageants have been held in Shreveport-Bossier.