In Washington House Speaker Paul Ryan’s announcement that he will not seek re-election has sparked debate over who will run. Jim Shannon has more.

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Legislation to legalize fantasy sports betting in Louisiana is heading to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story….

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In Washington the announcement of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s, R-Wisconsin, decision not to seek re-election has sparked debate over who might be the next Speaker. New Orleans area Congressman Steve Scalise’s is considered a strong candidate. Political analyst Clancy DuBos says Scalise has as good a chance as anyone.

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DuBos says if it were up to President Trump, Salise would have the job.

Cut 4 (10) “will decide.”

He adds that Louisiana would benefit greatly if Scalise is House Speaker.

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The Republicans have to maintain control of the House for Scalise to have any chance. The election is in November. Scalise told the Associated Press that now is not the time for people to talk about what titles they want.

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Senator John Kennedy wants to hold Facebook and it’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg accountable for any breach in privacy. He is testifying before House Energy and Commerce Committee about a data breach affecting as many as 87-million Facebook users by a data firm with ties to President Trump’s campaign.   Kennedy says any trust that users placed in Facebook is no more after this incident…

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Even though Facebook is being used as an avenue for many to get news and information, Kennedy feels Facebook pushes it’s own political agenda…

Cut 7 (12)  “completely neutral.”

Kennedy hopes that Zuckerberg will be held accountable for what he allows to be put on Facebook, good or bad…

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The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would allow fantasy sports players in Louisiana to collect winnings if they win contests hosted by third party groups like Fan Duel and Draft Kings. Gretna Representative Joseph Marino says each parish will have a chance to decide if they want to authorize fantasy sports gambling

Cut 9 (11) “its allowed”

If the bill is approved, Louisiana could tax businesses that organize fantasy sports contests. And the bill’s author, Kirk Talbot gave fellow Representative Barbara Norton advice, if she decides to draft a fantasy sports team….

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The measure passed on a 10-4 vote. It has Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle’s support…

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Louisiana Baptist office spokesperson Doctor Will Hall says legalizing fantasy sports betting is an expansion of gambling and it will create more problem gamblers….

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The House Criminal Justice Committee voted down a bill seeking to end the death penalty in Louisiana. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews says there needs to be severe consequences for first-degree murder and raping children under the age of 13….

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New Iberia Representative Terry Landry marched a dozen religious groups to testify in favor of his bill,. which was debated for two hours.

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Crews didn’t agree with Landry’s bill no matter how many groups testified.

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A similar bill is still alive in the senate, but if approved by the upper chamber, it would go before the same committee in the House.

A bill to allow riverboat casinos to expand gaming operations on to land has been waiting for a vote on the Senate floor, but could get a vote today. Kelley Ray has more…

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The number of eligible graduates in Louisiana achieving TOPS reaches an all time high.    Kelley Ray has more.

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18 year olds will still be able to purchase assault rifles in Louisiana.  Michael Farrar has more.

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A bill to allow the state’s 15 licensed riverboats casinos to expand their gaming operations on to land and change the rules regarding gaming space has been sitting on the Senate floor for over two weeks, but a vote in the upper chamber could happen today. Senator Troy Carter says many senators are concerned about the numerous pieces of legislation that seek to expand gambling…

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But the author of the bill, Lake Charles Senator, Ronnie Johns says requiring riverboats to only conduct gambling on water prohibits these facilities from making a substantial investment in their properties….

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Black lawmakers in the Senate are also not happy that earlier in the session the upper chamber voted against a proposal to raise the minimum wage. Carter says instead of providing a living wage, many low income workers are forced to rely on casinos to provide for their families.

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Black legislators have also raised concerns that casinos fail to contract with enough minority-owned firms and they also believe there’s a lack of minorities in management at the gambling halls. Johns says he’s had good dialogue with concerned legislators

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Governor John Bel Edwards and state Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee unveiled a report on the economic impact of Medicaid expansion. Edwards says according to the LSU report, Louisiana is saving 317-million dollars in state money and providing medical care to those who can’t afford it…

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Governor Edwards says many who have recently diagnosed with cancer, are able to receive medical care with expansion…

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The report says Medicaid expansion through the infusion of one-point-eight billion dollars in federal dollars has created over 19-thousand jobs in the health care sector, resulting in  nearly three-point-six-billion-dollars in economic activity. Dr. Gee says healthy people are important to the state’s economy. She says if you’re sick, you’re not a productive person…

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The number of eligible graduates in Louisiana achieving TOPS reaches an all time high. More than 19,200 senior high school students qualified for at least one scholarship, up from 18,373 in 2016. Superintendent for the Office of Student Opportunities Ken Bradford says there’s a new college high school option for students to give them a head start…

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But there is a problem for TOPS candidates. Bradford says if TOPS funding is cut due to a  one-billion-dollar budget shortfall, a lot of high school students hoping for a scholarship may be disappointed…

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Bradford says many graduating seniors are ready to attend a college or unviersity, the hope is that they can afford it…

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A bill to eliminate the death penalty as a form of punishment for capital murder, rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. Jeff Palermo reports Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre testified in favor.

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A bill to ban cell phone while driving passed the House Transportation committee. Kelley Ray has more.

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A bill to eliminate the death penalty in cases of first degree murder, child rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell’s legislation would apply to offenses after August 1st 2018. Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre (FOB) testified in favor of the measure.

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Morrell says he authored the bill, because the death penalty has not reduced violent crimes.  Fabre says the death penalty is just matching violence with violence.

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The measure passed on a 4-1 vote, after the testimony from Fabre….

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Capital crimes would receive a life prison sentence under the legislation approved by the Senate committee.

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A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The money committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti of Bossier City says it’s a tragedy that once a foster child gets put on the street once they turn 18

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After benefits for foster children are taken away, if they end up in trouble, Gatti says more money is spent taking care of their needs in jail that in a foster home…

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Gatti believes that most 18-year-olds will stay in foster care if benefits are extended to 21…

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One-million-dollars from the BP settlement would be used to finance the extension. The bill next heads to the Senate floor.

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A bill that makes it illegal to place your hands on your cell phone while driving passed the House Transportation committee. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s measure says you can’t text or hold your phone, while behind the wheel. Jennifer Smith from Stop Distractions dot org says studies have shown cell phones divide your attention…

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Huval says the legislation allows you to use a  hand free device to talk on the phone, but the measure prohibits the use of holding a  phone…

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Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter is in support of the bill. He almost found out the hard way how easy it is to get distracted…

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The measure heading to the House floor calls for a 125-dollar fine for first offenders and after a third violation your driver’s license could be suspended.

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A Senate bill that requires juveniles to wait until they are 18 before getting married cleared committee today. Current law allows kids to get married with their parents consent as early as 12 years old. Ginger Lecompte is with Women United she says 70 percent of child marriages don’t last and it puts young people in a bad spot.

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LeCompte says it just makes sense to mandate that kids wait until they are 18 to get married.

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Current law requires not only parental consent, but permission from a juvenile judge. She says this would eliminate the judge’s permission.

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