The House Appropriations Committee rejects a proposal to legalize sports betting, after the bill got swamped with special interest amendments. Video poker, horse breeders, software producers, and others wanted a piece of the gaming pie. The bill’s author, Metairie Senator Danny Martiny questioned whether the additions are in good faith.

cut 12(10)   “…posture””

The bill originally only called for sports betting at racetracks, riverboat casinos, and Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans, but an amendment was added to allow for the activity at the state’s thousands of video poker facilities.

A proposal to shield the identity of the drug companies that supply lethal drugs for the state to carry out death penalty sentences failed on a 3-2 vote in Senate committee. New Orleans Senator J-P Morrell says the legislation would have opened the state to lawsuits, if an execution is botched

Cut 9 (10) “…of dollars”

A Senate committee has killed a bill that sought to help the state carry out lethal injections. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A three year old drown in Lake Arthur in Jefferson Davis Parish on Memorial day. Lake Arthur police responded to a call of an unresponsive child found near the beach just before 4 p.m. Monday CPR was started immediately, but no pulse could be detected. coroner pronounced the boy dead later that day. The incident is still under investigation.

A proposal to allow sports betting at the state’s casinos and racetracks failed in the House Appropriations Committee. Amendments were added to the legislation to get some money for horseman and allow sports betting at video poker establishments, which drew the opposition of the Louisiana Casino Association. Executive Director Wade Duty…
cut 13 (11) “…we can support”
There’s still a chance the sports betting bill could be revived through legislative procedures, but the odds are against the measure from passing.

A bill shielding the makers of the drugs used in lethal injections to carry out death sentences failed in a Senate committee. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson says offering confidentiality is not the way to go…
cut 11 (09) “…this body”
The last execution held in Louisiana was in 2010.

The Senate Finance committee has approved a budget proposal that contains a one-thousand dollar pay raise and 39-million dollars in block grant funding for local shool systems. But the House does not support extra money for local schools, instead they prefer a larger pay raise for teachers. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin says election year politics is playing a role in the dispute…
cut 5 (11) “…teacher pay raise’
The dispute needs to be solved by June sixth, the final day of the session.

An eleven-year-old Baton Rouge boy has been charged with negligent homicide in the weekend fatal shooting of his nine-year old brother. No charges have been filed against the parents in what police call an accidental shooting. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says without facts and data in place, it is a difficult call on how to charge the parents…
cut 8 (09) “…indirectly”

On a 15-6 vote, a House Committee voted against a proposal that would allow the public to legalize sports betting. Louisiana Baptist Convention Director for Office of Public Policy, Doctor Will Hall, spoke in opposition….
cut 14 (11) “…that hope”
Another House bill dealing with the taxing and regulation of sports betting could be amended, so that a vote could take place this fall to legalize sports betting. But it would take 70 votes in the House to pass.

The session comes to a close next Thursday and the House and Senate differ on how much of a pay raise teachers should get and if public schools should receive an additional 39-million dollars in block grant funding. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin believes a deal can be made…
cut 4 (08) “…compromise”

A Senate committee has killed a bill that sought to help the state carry out lethal injections. Jeff Palermo has the story…
cut 2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”

LSU basketball coach Will Wade spoke publicly today for the first time he was suspended on March 7th. Wade told reporters covering the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida that it’s been a couple of difficult months for the basketball program. But Wade says allegations of illegal recruiting were thoroughly addressed with LSU administrators and NCAA officials.

An attempt to legalize sports betting in Louisiana is dead for the session after the House Appropriations Committee voted 15-to-6 against it. The bill got swamped with amendments, video poker, horse breeders, software producers and others wanted a piece of the gaming pie. The bill’s author, Metairie Senator Danny Martiny, questioned whether those additions were in good faith.
cut 12(10) “…posture””

Another bill that died today is a proposal to shield the drug manufacturers who supply the state with drugs to carry out a lethal injection. Several came to a Senate Committee to speak out against the proposal. Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops executive director Rob Tasman…
cut 10 (12) “…the process”
The measure died on a three-two vote.

The Senate Finance committee has approved a budget proposal that contains a one-thousand dollar pay raise and 39-million dollars in block grant funding for local shool systems. But the House does not support extra money for local schools, instead they would prefer giving teachers a larger pay raise. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin says election year politics is playing a role in the dispute over education funding…
cut 5 (11) “…teacher pay raise’
The dispute needs to be solved by June sixth, the final day of the session.

An 11-year-old Baton Rouge boy has been charged with negligent homicide in the shooting death of his nine-year brother. Police say it was an accidential shooting. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says if conficted, the child could receive a juvenile life sentence, which would keep him in state custody until he turns 18…
cut 7 (07) “…he becomes an adult”
The child’s parents are not facing any charges at this time.

A fatal blow was delivered to a pro death penalty bill at the State Capitol today. A proposal to shield the identity of the drug companies that supply lethal drugs for the state to carry out death penalty sentences failed on a 3-2 vote in Senate committee. New Orleans Senator J-P Morrell says the legislation opens the state to lawsuits, if an execution is botched
Cut 9 (10) “…of dollars”
Proponents of the legislation say the only way to buy the drugs to carry out an execution, is if drug manufacturers know their names would names would not be made public.

The session comes to a close next Thursday and the House and Senate differ on how much of a pay raise teachers should get and if public schools should receive an additional 39-million dollars block grant funding. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin believes a deal can be made…
cut 4 (08) “…compromise”

Three Louisiana teams are in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. Jeff Palermo has more on who they will play…
Voicer 3 (30) “..Jeff Palermo”

A Senate approved bill that would allow a parish by parish vote on the legalization of sports betting will be heard today in the House Appropriations Committee.Currently the bill calls for the activity at racetracks and casinos but video poker interests are hoping to expand that. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says that can’t happen…

Cut 12 (05) “…you know”

A companion bill to tax the activity proposes a 13 percent tax rate, which Martiny says is about average, and nearly equal to that of Mississippi’s.

 The Army Corps of Engineers announces it will open the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish on Sunday. Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the St. Mary Levee District will begin installing a temporary flood barge on Bayou Chene (Shane) in southern Assumption Parish on Tuesday. Governor Edwards says it will take about a week to install and it will prevent backwater flooding for communities east of Morgan City…

Cut 11 (09) “…that chance.”

Senate Finance has approved a spending plan for next fiscal year that contains a one-thousand dollar teacher pay raise and 39-million dollars in block grant funding for school districts. The House budget proposal calls for a higher pay raise for teachers, but no additional dollars for public schools. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says lawmakers have until June 6th to agree on a budget

Cut 3 (10) “…the wire.”

An 11-year-old boy has been charged with negligent homicide following the shooting death of his 9-year-old brother in a Baton Rouge home on Saturday afternoon.  Authorities believe the shooting was unintentional.  Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says the complexities of the case raise more questions on if the charge will stick.

Cut 6 (09) “…or weak case.”

the parents are not facing charges at this time.

The Army Corps of Engineers announces it will open the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish on Sunday. Governor John Bel Edwards on why they need to open the Morganza Floodway structure for the third time in history and the first since 2011.

Cut 10 (09) “…used up.”

Edwards is requesting federal assistance due to the ongoing threat of river flooding across Louisiana.

The 2018 high school class sets a record for the number of kids who’ve made the jump to a two-year or four-year college. Assistant Superintendent Jessica Baghian says  it’s been a banner year overall for the class of 2018, which set records across the board…

Cut 6 (10) “…the state.”

29 percent of those who enrolled in a college are set to go to a two-year school, versus 71 percent who chose a four year program.

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LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center will participate in a study to see why some people born in rural parishes and counties are more resilient when it comes to heart disease and other illnesses. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m  Jeff Palermo” 

A Senate approved bill that would allow a parish by parish vote on the legalization of sports betting will be heard today in House Appropriations. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny is optimistic about it’s chances and thinks the activity can be up an running by years end.

Cut 14 (08) “…championship.”

A record number of Louisiana high school students are set to move on to college. Matt Doyle discussed the results with the State Assistant Superintendent…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana House is set to vote this afternoon on a bill that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is around six weeks of pregnancy. Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia are among the states that have passed similar anti-abortion legislation and the measures are facing court challenges.

There’s about a week and a half left in the legislative session and a bill to bring sports betting to Louisiana has yet to pass. It died in the legislature last year and Metairie Senator Danny Martiny is trying to make sure it doesn’t happen again….
cut 13 (06) “….behind”
Martiny’s sports betting measure gets a hearing today in front of the House Appropriations Committee.

Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is participating in a study that’s looking at why Southerners in some rural parishes live longer, healthier lives than other parishes, even though the two parishes share similar poverty levels and racial composition.
cut 8 (06) “….these differences”
That’s Doctor Stephanie Broyles who says Assumption Parish is more resilient to heart disease and other illnesses compared to Franklin Parish. The study is expected to take several years to complete.

A record number of Louisiana high school graduates from the class of 2018 are set to attend college this fall. The state has seen a 23 percent increase in the number of students entering college from high school since 2012. Department of Education Assistant Superintendent Jessica Bahgian says that adds up to 4,626 more students than seven years ago.

Cut 5 (09) “…disabilities”

Approximately 15-hundred more students decided to enter college in the class of 18 than the class of 17.

A Senate approved bill that would allow a parish by parish vote on the legalization of sports betting will be heard today in the House Appropriations Committee.

Currently the bill calls for the activity at racetracks and casinos but video poker interests are hoping to expand that. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says that can’t happen…

Cut 12 (05) “…you know”

The Session is scheduled to wrap up June 6^th.

The state budget is still being debated in the legislature, the senate finance committee re-wrote the house-backed spending proposal that includes an increase on college spending, a teacher pay raise and a $39 million block grant for school districts. The house version of the budget has similar teacher pay raises but excluded the $39 million dollar block grant. The budget also increases funding for health programs, child welfare, corrections and a pay raise for state employees. The $30 billion dollar operating budget now heads to the Senate floor.

Researchers from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center and other institutions will study why some people in rural parishes and counties live longer, healthier lives. Doctor Stephanie Broyles will lead the Louisiana portion of the study and they’ll look at Assumption and Franklin Parishes…

Cut 7 (12) “…composition.”

With the Morganza Spillway set to open Sunday, Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the St. Mary Levee District will begin installing a temporary barge floodgate on Bayou Chene  in southern Assumption Parish today. Governor Edwards says it will take about a week to install and it will prevent backwater flooding for communities east of Morgan City…

Cut 11 (09) “…that chance.”

A senate bill to allow a parish vote on the legalization of sports betting will be heard today in the House Appropriations Committee. The current bill calls for sports betting at racetracks and casinos but video poker interests are hoping to expand that. If that happens the bill would go it back to the Senate and time is running short in this legislative session.  But Metairie Republican Danny Martiny is optimistic and thinks Louisiana could have sports betting in the state’s racetracks, riverboat casinos, and land-based casino in New Orleans by the end of the year.

Cut 14 (08) “…championship.”

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center will participate in a study to see why some people born in rural parishes and counties are more resilient when it comes to heart disease and other illnesses.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m  Jeff Palermo” 

Three Louisiana teams are in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, LSU, McNeese and Southern. LSU will square off against the Stony Brook Friday at six o’clock at The Box. The McNeese Cowboys, who won the Southland Conference Tournament on Saturday, head to Nashville and face to Indiana State Friday at noon. The Southern Jaguars will make their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 10 years. The Jaguars head to Starkville to face Mississippi State, Friday afternoon.