The Edwards administration and GOP legislators continue to exchange barbs over the decision to mail benefit cancellation warnings to 37,000 Medicaid patients. Lafayette Representative, Republican Nancy Landry, blamed the Medicaid budget cuts on John Bel Edwards.
Cut 6 (12) “nursing homes”
But the Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne pushed back, arguing that the feds require Medicaid recipients to be informed of program cancellations ahead of time. Dardenne says Republican House legislators approved a budget that called for deep cuts in funding for health care services…
Cut 9 (11) “get out”
A special session is set to begin next Tuesday so lawmakers can pass revenue measures to avoid deep budget cuts.

Camp J, which is where Angola housed inmates in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, has been closed and the prisoners have been moved to other facilities. Department of Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says the decision is in part due to new standards that were adopted while working with criminal justice reform organiziations….
cut 12 (09) “…reputation”

Louisiana is known for its hot summers, but we are already seeing temperatures in the mid 90s in mid-May. Michael Hill, with the National Weather Service in New Orleans on why it’s been so hot this week…
cut 15 (08) “….been hot”
Hill says temperatures should be a little cooler tomorrow as the chance for rain increases. Northwest Louisiana is under a marginal risk for severe weather.

To convince the legislature to pass a bill that requires unanimous jury verdicts was considered a long shot in March. Now as Jim Shannon reports the measure is one vote away from becoming law.
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

The Senate approved a 28-billion dollar spending plan for next fiscal year that Governor John Bel Edwards has no plans of endorsing, because it reduces money for public colleges, eliminates the food stamp program, allocates fewer dollars for child welfare and TOPS.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections has shut down Camp J at Angola. That’s where the state used to house inmates in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. D-O-C Secretary James LeBlanc says Camp J’s infrastructure was crumbling, so the prisoners had to be moved…
cut 11 (12) “…housing areas”

Another record high was set in New Orleans today as the temperature hit 93-degrees at Louis Armstrong International Airport, breaking the previous record set in 1995. National Weather Service forecaster Michael Hill…
cut 14 (12) “…warm temperatures”
There is a marginal risk for severe weather tomorrow afternoon and night for northwest Louisiana.

Unanimous jury verdicts in criminal cases are a public vote away from becoming law in Louisiana. At first liberal advocacy groups like the ACLU and Southern Poverty Law Center were all for it. Then other groups like Louisiana Family Forum joined and the District Attorneys took a neutral stand. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says that’s when things began to change.
Cut 3 (08) “tremendous momentum”
It passed the House yesterday on a 82-15 vote and will appear on the ballot this November, where a majority of voters will have to approve before it becomes law.

If you think it’s a little to hot for the middle of May, you are right. Records high temperatures were broken yesterday and more could go down today….
cut 13 (06) “…ninety-six”
That’s Michael Hill with the National Weather Service in New Orleans, who says we’ll see some cooler temperatures tomorrow as rain chances increase.

House Republican lawmakers are criticizing the Edwards administration for sending out letters to Medicaid recipients, warning them they could lose their benefits after July 1st because of a lack of state dollars for health care funding. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry says the letters were completely unwarranted as the budget process is not yet finished…
cut 7 (09) “….day weekend”
Some 20-thousand nursing home residents received this letter. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne pushed back, arguing that the feds require Medicaid recipients to be informed of program cancellations ahead of time, so that they can try to find other programs to qualify for.
cut 8 (10) “for medicaid”
The Edwards administration is optimistic revenue measures will be approved in a special session set to begin next Tuesday that will provide the state with adequate funding.

Voters will get a chance in November to decide if criminal cases should be decided by a unanimous jury. The current standard only calls for 10 of 12 jurors to agree on a guilty verdict. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell’s proposed constitutional amendment received final passage today and he’s hopeful a majority of voters will see the current standard is not high enough
cut 5 (11) “…just ignore”
The issue will appear on the November ballot.

One of Angola’s most restrictive housing units, Camp J, has been closed due to the facilities crumbling infrastructure. The cells at Camp J were used to house inmates in solitary for 23 hours a day. Department of Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says the camp was no longer safe for use.
Cut 10 (06) “place open”
Camp J housed 400 inmates at its peak.

State leaders are locked in combat over the Governor’s decision to mail a cancellation warning to 37,000 Medicaid recipients. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”

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.

__________________________________________________________________________

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.