The House approved Senate changes to the budget, that fully funds healthcare, but slashes higher ed, funding for state agencies, and cuts TOPS by 30 percent. the Democratic Caucus opposed the passage of the budget, calling the cuts included immoral. They argued the legislature should wait until the special session, where revenue could be raised to fill the 648 million dollar budget gap.  Caucus Chairman Robert Johnson:

Cut 15 (11) “disengenuous”

It’s been a record breaking week of intense heat, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says this unusual weather phenomenon is not an indicator that the summer will be abnormally hot.

Cut 13 (10) “play out”

A cool front moving into the area today should start pushing temperatures down today and into the weekend.

Three anti-hazing bills are on their way to the governor’s desk following last fall’s death of LSU freshman Max Gruver. Jim Shannon has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Riverboat casinos were thrown a lifeline this week as legislation was passed that would allow the water based facilities to expand onto land. That has Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, who owns Treasure Chest, Sam’s Town, and Amelia Belle, pretty excited. He says this could lead more investment in Louisiana facilities.

Cut 3 (06) “we’re optimistic”

Riverboat casinos were thrown a lifeline this week as legislation was passed that would allow the water based facilities to expand onto land. That has Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, who owns Treasure Chest, Sam’s Town, and Amelia Belle, pretty excited. He says this could lead more investment in Louisiana facilities.

Cut 3 (06) “we’re optimistic”

Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the recent US Supreme Court decision to allow sports betting outside of Nevada on his monthly talk radio show. 32 states have legislation in place to allow the activities, including Mississippi, but Louisiana shot down similar legislation this session. Edwards didn’t oppose the idea. But don’t expect to see Senator Danny Martiny’s parish by parish legalization legislation to pop up again during the special session that starts next week.

Cut 6 (09)  “July 1st”

Three anti-hazing bills are on their way to the governor’s desk following last fall’s death of LSU freshman Max Gruver. The house voted 88 to 1 in favor of final passage of house bill 78 otherwise known as the Max Gruver Act. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore testified in favor of the measure to give the current laws more teeth.

cut 8 (10) “hazing violations”

Moore says a companion bill to force mandatory education for university fraternities and sororities should help  stop dangerous hazing.

The House approved Senate changes to the budget, that fully funds healthcare, but slashes higher ed, funding for state agencies, and cuts TOPS by 30 percent. The spending plan is now on its way to the Governor who has expressed opposition to the cuts. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry says the budget will identify what programs need to be funded with special session revenue.

Cut 14 (11)  “family services”

Its been a record breaking week of unusual heat, but forecasts project a cooler weekend. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”

Riverboat casinos were thrown a lifeline this week as legislation was passed that would allow the water based facilities to expand onto land. That has Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, who owns Treasure Chest, Sam’s Town, and Amelia Belle, pretty excited. He says this could lead more investment in Louisiana facilities. He says one casino in particular is looking very promising now that it’s allowed to expand on land.

Cut 4 (11) “very significant”

Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the recent US Supreme Court decision to allow sports betting outside of Nevada on his monthly talk radio show. 32 states have legislation in place to allow the activities, including Mississippi, but Louisiana shot down similar legislation this session. Edwards didn’t oppose the idea.

Cut 5  (07) “do this”

Three anti-hazing bills are on their way to the governor’s desk following last fall’s death of LSU freshman Max Gruver. The house voted 88 to 1 in favor of final passage of house bill 78 otherwise known as the Max Gruver Act. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore testified in favor of the measure to give the current laws more teeth.

cut 8 (10) “hazing violations”

The House approved Senate changes to the budget, that fully funds healthcare, but slashes higher ed, funding for state agencies, and cuts TOPS by 30 percent. the Democratic Caucus opposed the passage of the budget, calling the cuts included immoral. They argued the legislature should wait until the special session, where revenue could be raised to fill the 648 million dollar budget gap.  Caucus Chairman Robert Johnson:

Cut 15 (11) “disengenuous”

It’s been a record breaking week of intense heat, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says this unusual weather phenomenon is not an indicator that the summer will be abnormally hot.

Cut 13 (10) “play out”

A cool front moving into the area today should start pushing temperatures down today and into the weekend.

Three anti-hazing bills are on their way to the governor’s desk following last fall’s death of LSU freshman Max Gruver. Jim Shannon has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Riverboat casinos were thrown a lifeline this week as legislation was passed that would allow the water based facilities to expand onto land. That has Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, who owns Treasure Chest, Sam’s Town, and Amelia Belle, pretty excited. He says this could lead more investment in Louisiana facilities.

Cut 3 (06) “we’re optimistic”

Its been a record breaking week of unusual heat, but forecasts project a cooler weekend. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the recent US Supreme Court decision to allow sports betting outside of Nevada on his monthly talk radio show. 32 states have legislation in place to allow the activities, including Mississippi, but Louisiana shot down similar legislation this session.

But Edwards did express some concerns about legislation he’s seen that would legalize the activity in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (10)  “fiscal year”

Three anti-hazing bills are on their way to the governor’s desk following last fall’s death of LSU freshman Max Gruver. The house voted 88 to 1 in favor of final passage of house bill 78 otherwise known as the Max Gruver Act. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore testified in favor of the measure to give the current laws more teeth. Moore contends that the new law holds principals at the national level accountable for problems at the chapters.

Cut 10 (10) “cover it up”

In the new bill hazing that does not result in a death will still cost one thousand dollars and six months in jail.

The House approved Senate changes to the budget, that fully funds healthcare, but slashes higher ed, funding for state agencies, and cuts TOPS by 30 percent. The spending plan is now on its way to the Governor who has expressed opposition to the cuts. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry says the budget will identify what programs need to be funded with special session revenue.

Cut 14 (11)  “family services”

Three anti-hazing bills are on their way to the governor’s desk following last fall’s death of LSU freshman Max Gruver. The house voted 88 to 1 in favor of final passage of house bill 78 otherwise known as the Max Gruver Act. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore testified in favor of the measure to give the current laws more teeth. Moore says a companion bill to force mandatory education for university fraternities and sororities should help  stop dangerous hazing.

Cut 9 (07) “university people.”

It’s been a record breaking week of intense heat, that’s turned the usually tolerable Louisiana spring into a hot, soupy mess. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a high pressure system is camping just off the coast, leading to a historic scorcher that’s taken down long time state records. A cool front is moving over the area starting today, which Keim says will make things just a little more pleasant this weekend than they’ve been this week.

Cut 12 (10)   “take precautions”

Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the recent US Supreme Court decision to allow sports betting outside of Nevada on his monthly talk radio show. 32 states have legislation in place to allow the activities, including Mississippi, but Louisiana shot down similar legislation this session. Edwards didn’t oppose the idea. But don’t expect to see Senator Danny Martiny’s parish by parish legalization legislation to pop up again during the special session that starts next week.

Cut 6 (09)  “July 1st”

Riverboat casinos were thrown a lifeline this week as legislation was passed that would allow the water based facilities to expand onto land. That has Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, who owns Treasure Chest, Sam’s Town, and Amelia Belle, pretty excited.

Cut 4 (11) “very significant”

Three anti-hazing bills are on their way to the governor’s desk following last fall’s death of LSU freshman Max Gruver. The house voted 88 to 1 in favor of final passage of house bill 78 otherwise known as the Max Gruver Act. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore testified in favor of the measure to give the current laws more teeth.

cut 8 (10) “hazing violations”

It’s been a record breaking week of intense heat, that’s turned the usually tolerable Louisiana spring into a hot, soupy mess. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a high pressure system is camping just off the coast, leading to a historic scorcher that’s taken down long time state records.

Cut 11 (10) “the state”

A cool front is moving over the area starting today, which Keim says will make things just a little more pleasant this weekend than they’ve been this week.

Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the recent US Supreme Court decision to allow sports betting outside of Nevada on his monthly talk radio show. 32 states have legislation in place to allow the activities, including Mississippi, but Louisiana shot down similar legislation this session. Edwards didn’t oppose the idea. But Edwards did express some concerns about legislation he’s seen that would legalize the activity in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (10)  “fiscal year”

But don’t expect to see Senator Danny Martiny’s parish by parish legalization legislation to pop up again during the special session that starts next week. The Governor says the fiscal cliff will take priority, and lawmakers will need to focus exclusively on it for the two week planned special session.

Riverboat casinos were thrown a lifeline this week as legislation was passed that would allow the water based facilities to expand onto land. That has Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, who owns Treasure Chest, Sam’s Town, and Amelia Belle, pretty excited. He says this could lead more investment in Louisiana facilities.

Cut 3 (06) “we’re optimistic”

Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the recent US Supreme Court decision to allow sports betting outside of Nevada on his monthly talk radio show. 32 states have legislation in place to allow the activities, including Mississippi, but Louisiana shot down similar legislation this session. Edwards didn’t oppose the idea.

Cut 5  (07) “do this”

But he says don’t expect to see Senator Danny Martiny’s parish by parish legalization legislation to pop up again during the special session that starts next week.

A bill that would have allowed teachers to pray with students in school has been gutted in the legislature. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (31) I’m Jeff Palermo”

Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry’s anti-hazing bill flew through the House 88-1 and is on it’s way to the governor. The bill would making it a felony crime to initiate and participate in a hazing activity that kills someone, punishable by up to five years in prison. Organizations responsible would be liable for a 10,000 dollar fine. The legislation was named after Maxwell Gruver, who died in a hazing incident at LSU last year.

The Senate approved a bill that would renew the state’s contract with Harrah’s New Orleans for at least 20 more years, contribute an additional 20 million dollars a year to the state’s coffers, and they would provide an upfront payment of 40-million dollars, which would be divided between the state and the city. Harrah’s would also agree to build a 350-million dollar hotel, with new restaurants and entertainment space. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson says if Harrah’s agrees, it’d be a huge investment in the state.
Cut 13 (10) “twenty years”
The measure heads back to the House to see if they agree to Senate changes with the legislation.

During his monthly call-in show, Governor Edwards says he’s waiting for the final language in the Harrah’s bill, before determining whether he’ll sign it….
cut 5 (09) “…the House”

A bill that would have allowed teachers to join students in prayer during school hours was significantly changed by the House because of concerns were raised that it violated religious civil rights. The bill would have allowed the joint prayer to occur if all students present had a signed consent form from their parents. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh says the old bill would have targeted religious minorities.
Cut 10 (11) “consent form”
The amendments were rejected by the bill’s author, Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti this moring, and a committee will try to iron out the differences.

Kenner Representative Julie Stokes announces she will run for Secretary of State this fall, becoming the first announced candidate to be the state’s election chief. Stokes if elected, she’ll encourage voter participation and protect Louisiana elections….
cut 8 (10) “….possible”
The general election is in November.

On a 21-16 vote, the Senate approves legislation that would provide Harrah’s New Orleans casino with a 20 to 30 year contract extension on its land-based license. In exchange, Harrah’s will build a 340-room luxury hotel and pay the state 84-million dollars a year starting in 2021. But Winnfield Senator Gerald Long wishes the legislature had more time to review the propsoal….
cut 14 (08) “….it now”
The measure heads back to the House to see if they agree to upper chamber changes.

This November, Louisiana voters will decide if unanimous jury verdicts should be required in criminal trials. Under current law, it takes 10 of 12 juors to agree on a guilty verdict. Governor Edwards hopes the public will approve the change to the state’s constitution…
cut 6 (09) “…unanimous jury”

The House has done a major rewrite to a Senate bill that would have allowed teachers to participate in student-initiated prayers during school hours, if the student provided a signed note from their parents. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabugh says the legislation by Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti would prompt lawsuits…
cut 11 (08) “…they will win”
The measure heads back to the Senate to see if they agree with the significant changes made by the House.

We have our first announced candidate in this fall’s Secretary of State race. Kenner Representative Julie Stokes has thrown her hat into the ring. The election should draw a large number of candidates and Stokes hopes being a female will give her an advantage…
cut 9 (07) “…United States”
Stokes was set to qualify in last year’s State Treasurer’s Race, but withdrew when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.