LRN AM Newscall April 18

Sports betting is off the books for the foreseeable future in Louisiana. Don Molino has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Don Molino.”

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A Senate committee approves a bill that would ban abortions 15-weeks after conception, but its uncertain if it will get final legislative approval. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A bill that would make it illegal to hold and use your phone while driving was narrowly defeated in the House. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Sports betting will not be legal in Louisiana anytime soon as a push to allow parishes to vote on allowing it in casinos was shot down six to three in Senate Finance. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny, the bill’s sponsor, says if the US Supreme Court expands sports gaming nationwide, Louisiana could lose out on a lot of tourism to its neighbors.

Cut 4  (10) “we don’t.” 

Martiny says the opposition wasn’t interested in expanding gambling in the state.

Cut 5  (07)  “respect that”

Martiny says keeping sports gaming illegal in Louisiana isn’t going to keep Louisianans from placing bets on their favorite sports.

Cut 6 (11) “of it.”

The US Supreme Court could rule on allowing sports betting in all 50 states this spring.

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A Senate committee approves legislation that would prohibit abortions in Louisiana after 15 weeks from conception, but there are concerns the legislation could bring upon unintended consequences. Kaplan Senator Jonathan Perry urged the bill’s author to work on the language of the bill with an attorney, before bringing it up to the Senate floor

Cut 7 (07)  “it can hurt”

An attorney said if “Roe versus Wade” is overturned, this legislation could actually weaken Louisiana’s pro-life laws by allowing abortions within 15 weeks of pregnancy. But the bill’s author, Shreveport Senator John Milkovich, urged the committee to pass his legislation so its in place if the federal appeals court upholds Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban

Cut 8 (05)  “after 15 weeks.”

Pro choice advocates were on hand to testify against the 15-week abortion ban. Amy Irvin of the New Orleans Abortion Fund says the legislation will cost the state thousands of dollars to defend

Cut 9 (07)  “costly litigation”

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A bill allowing judges to inform juries about whether or not a victim in a car crash was wearing a seat belt died in a Senate Committee. The bill was promoted as potentially leading to smaller settlements in some cases, which would drive insurance rates down. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt, the bill’s sponsor, says we should trust judges to make the right call.

Cut 10 (08) “a jury”

But the bill received opposition from Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti, who says the bill punishes victims with lower settlements in crashes that weren’t their fault.

Cut 11 (06) “everyday thing”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon could not guarantee that insurance rates would go down as a result of the bill, and Gatti says it’s emblematic of problems with the bill as a whole.

Cut 12 (09) “be reduced”

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A bill to ban drivers from using their phone with their hands while on the road failed to pass the House floor after an, at times, contentious debate. The legislation by Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval was inspired by the traffic deaths of a constituent’s child. Huval says it’s a bill designed to save lives.

Cut 13 (12)  “they know”

The bill received stiff opposition from Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton, who frequently clashed with Huval during her questioning.

Cut 14 (11) “still distracted”

Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey says the bill is unnecessary nanny state legislation.

Cut 15 (10) “be responsible”

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LSU’s leading hitter, Brandt Broussard, is expected to return to the line-up tonight after missing just over three weeks with a fractured thumb. Broussard says he feels good swinging a bat…

Cut 16 (15) “anything”

Broussard is hitting .363 on the year and has stolen nine bases. The second baseman injured his thumb when he was hit by a pitch in the series against Vanderbilt. He believes the injury will not hinder his performance going forward…

Cut 17 (12)  “getting ground balls”

Tonight’s game at Tulane begins a stretch of seven of the next eight games on the road. Coach Paul Mainieri says the next two weeks are very important…

Cut 18 (19)  “it is”