Governor Edwards has called for a special session to begin a week from Tuesday and it would end June 4th. During this time, legislators will be asked to replace expiring sales taxes and fill a 648-million dollar budget deficit. The governor is optimstic lawmakers will come up with a solution to the fiscal cliff.

A House bill that allows some convicted felons while serving probation and parole to get their voting privileges back cleared the Senate Governmental Affairs committee today. The bill restores voting rights for those on parole once it’s been five years after their release from prison. Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin was in staunch opposition to the bill. Saying losing your voting rights should be used as a deterrent to crime….
Cut 11 (11) “criteria”
Despite Fannin’s opposition, the measure heads to the Senate floor for final approval.

Today’s US Supreme court ruling means sports gambling won’t just be restricted to Nevada. Jim Shannon on what it means for Louisiana.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

The American Civil Liberties Union says students in the Webster Parish School system are no longer subject to school-sponsored Christian prayer. ACLU staff attorney Bruce Hamilton…
cut 15 (12) “…covercive”

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states outside of Nevada are now allowed to permit sports gambling. Mississippi approved legislation that would allow sports betting, but Louisiana’s legislature rejected legislation that would have brought the issue to voters this fall. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says that’s great news…. for Beau Rivage.
Cut 6 (08) “Orleans market”
Martiny says Louisiana could generate more revenue for the state with sports betting and hopes it gets approved in the future.

Authorities say a Sorrento man was killed when his Dad wrecked a boat they were in Saturday night on the Amite River. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says 53-year-old Patrick White was operating a 20-foot aluminum vessel when it slammed into a river wall.
Cut 3 (08) “head on”
The impact killed 27-year-old Caleb White. Patrick White has is facing numerous charges, including vehicular homicide.

A House bill that allows some convicted felons while serving probation and parole to get their voting privileges back cleared the Senate Governmental Affairs committee today. Current law says felons must complete probation and parole, before they are able to vote. Checko Yancy is the executive director of “Organize to Educate” who still cannot vote.
Cut 10 (09) “voting polls”
The bill restores voting rights five years after he or she is released from prison. The measure heads to full Senate for final approval.

The American Civil Liberties Union says the Webster Parish School District will no longer subject students to school-sponsored Christian prayer as the result of a consent decree approved by a federal judge.
cut 14 (09) “….school events”
That’s Louisiana A-C-L-U staff attorney Bruce Hamilton, who says this is a victory for all students in the Webster Parish School District. A student at Lakeside claimed the district promoted religion by broadcasting prayers over the P-A system.

Today’s US Supreme court ruling means sports gambling won’t just be restricted to Nevada. Jim Shannon on what it means for Louisiana.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Governor John Bel Edwards holds a press conference this afternoon where it’s expected he’ll release the call for a special session that would begin next week. Edwards has said a special session is needed, because the state needs to replace expiring sales taxes to fill a 648-million budget deficit.

A bill that would allow convicted felons who have been out of prison for five years to vote, even if they are on probation or parole is heading to the full senate for final passage. The measure passed the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, despite opposition from Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin, who says five years too soon….
cut 12 (09) “…object”
If passed, the measure would take effect on March 1st, 2019.

A Sorrento man has been charged with vehicular homicide in the boating death of his son. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says 53-year-old Patrick White was operating a a 20-foot aluminum vessel when he slammed into a river wall. Einck says White flunked a field sobriety test when an L-D-W-F agent arrived…
cut 5 (08) “…as well”
Caleb White was 27-years-old.

LSU got a much needed 7-3 victory on Sunday to keep hope alive they can make the NCAA Tournament. Daniel Cabrera drove in four runs and Nick Bush pitched six strong innings for his first win of the year. Coach Paul Mainieri says the sophomore left-hander has been money all season…

Cut 19 (12) ‘”….allyear”

The Tigers are 14-13 in the SEC heading into the final SEC series at Auburn.

Louisiana Tech clinched an impressive series victory over 9^th ranked Southern Miss by beating the Golden Eagles eight to three. Southern Miss had won 12 straight consecutive series over the Bulldogs, who yesterday got four runs driven in by Parker Bates and good pitching from Logan Bailey and David Leal.

The Ragin Cajuns lost their last two games to Texas State, but still hold a half-game lead over Little Rock for first place in the Sun Belt Western Division.

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Saints Coach Sean Payton says as of right now, they do not plan on signing a veteran running back with Mark Ingram set to miss the first four games because of violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing substances. But Payton says they will not close the door on possibly bringing back future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson..

Cut 16 (19) “…great worker”

UL Lafayette and LSU with once again meet in an NCAA Softball Regional. The Tigers are the host school and they’ll play Fordham at 5:30 on Friday. The Cajuns and Houston are the other two teams in the regional at 3 PM. McNeese is heading to the College Station Regional, where they’ll compete against Baylor, Prairie View and host school Texas A-and-M.

There was more late game magic at Alex Box Stadium last night. Down 5-1 in the 8^th inning, the Tigers roared back for six runs highlighted by Beau Jordan’s second career grand slam to give LSU a 7-5 win. Todd Peterson pitched a perfect 9^th inning for his third save on the year. LSU has won four in a row and they are now 13-12 in the SEC. Game 2 is tonight at 7 PM.

Down 4-1. Louisiana Tech scored seven runs in the seventh inning to stun 9^th ranked Southern Miss as the Bulldogs pulled out off a 10-6 win over the Golden Eagles. Tech took advantage of five Southern Miss errors. Steele Netterville had a big day at the plate as he scored three times and had a three-run double in that seven-run, seventh inning.

Colten Scmidt improved to 7-0 on the year as the Cajuns defeated Texas State seven to four. With the win, UL Lafayette moves into first place in the Sun Belt West by a half a game over Little Rock.

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Southeastern Louisiana led 6-2 in the 6^th inning, but ended up losing to Central Arkansas seven to six. Ridge Heisler struck out nine as Northwestern State crushed Abilene Christian nine to one, Owen Magee hit for the cycle as UNO upended Nicholls 8-3 and McNeese thumped Prairie View A-and-M 12-7 as Joe Provenzano went 4-for-5.

At the state high school baseball playoffs in Sulphur, Claiborne Christian beat Grace Christian 2-to-1 to win the Division 5 state championship. That’s five state championships for the Warriors.

Harrisonburg won its first state title by beating Simpson 4-3 in the Class C title game.

Oak Hill held on to beat Zwolle 5-4 for the Class B title. Delta Charter and Merryville play at 2 this afternoon in the One-A title game.

In Four-A semifinals…Benton scored three runs on a wild pitch and defeated West Ouachita 6-5. The Tigers will take on DeRidder at 11:30 AM in the title game

Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps says in a perfect world they would like to have DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo back next season. They are unrestricted free agents this summer. Cousins is rehabbing a torn achilles tendon, but Demps believes the talented big man can return next season and still play at a high level….

Cut 19 (19) “…DeMarcus”

Unrestricted free agents are not allowed to sign new deals until July 6^th.

The Saints have signed their six draft picks, including their first round draft pick Marcus Davenport to a four-year deal. Financial terms were not reported. A three-day rookie minicamp begins today for the Black and Gold. And running back Adrian Peterson says he’s open to a return to the Saints.

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The LSU Tigers have a chance to build on their late season push to make the NCAA Tournament. After taking two of three from the best team in the SEC West, Arkansas, the Tigers host the worst team, Alabama. The Crimson Tide are 6-and-18 in league play, but Coach Paul Mainieri says Bama is more than capable…

Cut 17 (15) “…for him”

The Tigers have won 15 of the last 19 games played between the two schools over the past six seasons.

Louisiana Tech is at 9^th ranked Southern Miss, who is 19-4 in Conference USA. The Bulldogs have 16 road wins, most in program history since 2016.

The Cajuns are at Texas State. UL Lafayette has won five straight conference series. After sweeping Georgia State last weekend, ULM hosts Troy.

The big series in the Southland…Southeastern at Central Arkansas and Nicholls is at UNO as those two teams battle for the final spot in the conference tournament.

A petition is nearing 13,000 signatures that asks the state not to kick 37,000 Medicaid recipients off the program, and potentially out of nursing homes. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Momentum is building for a constitutional convention, as the bill gained more support in the House than it has in previous years. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

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Sunday is Mother’s Day and the National Retail Federation anticipates that Americans will spend 23 billion dollars on mom. Becca Dill has more.

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Becca Dill”

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Two Louisianans have put together a petition that’s gathered nearly 13,000 signatures asking to state not to remove the 37,000 Medicaid recipients from the program in light of letters sent out warning that budget cuts could eliminate their programs. One of the petition’s creators, social worker Andrea Centofanti says the letters are a blow to people who already have a lot to deal with.

Cut 4  (11) “eviction notice” 

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the letters were mailed to seniors to encourage them to get a head start on trying to qualify for other programs in the event their coverage is canceled, but Centofanti says many of those patients don’t qualify for anything else.

Cut 5  (08)  “sometimes”

Centofanti says even the potential for a loss of coverage reflects very poorly on the state.

Cut 6 (06) “populations”

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The push to trigger a constitutional convention is picking up steam, as this year’s version of the bill gained a majority vote in the House, but not the two thirds needed for passage. The convention is aimed at rewriting the rules on Louisiana’s finances. President of the Louisiana Association of Business and industry Stephen Waguespack says it puts voters in control of what is “protected” spending.

Cut 7 (11)  “themselves”

Waguespack says our constitution is growing unwieldy after decades of add-ons that have restricted budget cuts to education and healthcare.

Cut 8 (08)  “80 times”

But Monroe Representative Jay Morris says a constitutional convention is prone to be corrupted by special interests pouring money into the delegate elections that would determine who actually writes the constitution.

Cut 9 (08)  “the election”

Morris says unless you’re willing to stand up and say what protected spending categories you’d like to see changed, there’s no point in holding the convention.

Cut 10 (07) “convention”

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The National Retail Federation anticipates an increase in spending for Mother’s Day. A 20 year veteran of retail marketing and CEO of FUEL Partnerships, Erik Rosentrauch, says spending is expected to reach $23 billion in 2018, a 61% increase since 2009. People between the ages 35-44 are projected to spend the most, averaging $224.

Cut 11 (04) “on her”

Rosentrauch says that Mother’s Day is the third highest spending holiday behind Christmas and the Back-to-School season. People are projected to spend most of their money on flowers, dining, and jewelry. The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans will spend an average 180 dollars per person.

Cut 12 (12) “4.4 billion dollars”

Rosentrauch recommends experiential gifts, like sending mom out for a spa day or a concert. He says experiential gifts last longer than material items, allowing the family to continually celebrate their mothers.

Cut 13 (08)  “happiness value” 

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Heart wrenching testimony was presented in favor of a bill that would make it illegal to touch your phone while driving. The bill passed Senate Transportation. Gabrielle from East Baton Rouge Parish says she was hit by a truck on I-10 that was going 75 miles per hour, and the driver didn’t react until a half a second before impact because they were on their phone.