Lawmakers had until Friday to pre-file bills for the legislative session that begins April 13th and so far there are nearly 1,000 measures set to be taken up. Most of the legislation deals with the massive state budget deficit, but there was a bill filed yesterday which would prevent state government from penalizing a business or person for decisions made based on their religious views about marriage. So the religious freedom debate which made national headlines in Indiana and Arkansas appears headed to Louisiana.

Haughton Representative Henry Burns, who has filed a bill that would require bar and restaurant patrons to have a designated driver, is now saying he will not try to seek approval of his measure in this session. Burns says his legislation would be difficult to enforce…:
CUT 3 (08) “smooth transition”
He feels something like this would be better taken up at local levels.

This is the biggest weekend of the seafood year and a distributor says the crawfish are in good supply, but the sooner you get your orders in the better…:
CUT 2 (26) “reporting”

The Slidell police officer who was shot during a shootout Friday night is said to be doing well. Cops say they responded to reports of a disturbance at a bar and were opened fire upon by a suspect. Officers returned fire but it is not known of the suspect was hit by a bullet. The suspect was apprehended by a K-9 and was injured in the incident which remains under investigation.

Let the crawfish boils continue today. Lots of folks had their fill of mudbugs on Good Friday as the biggest seafood weekend of the year got underway. Gulf Seafood Institute Chairman Harlon Pearce says the product and prices are so great right now Louisianians can’t get enough…:
CUT 6 (07) “get em and enjoy em”
He says though prices are currently excellent, you can expect them to continue to drop after this weekend.

Spring Festival season is also in full swing in Louisiana. There is at least a fair or festival on the calendar every weekened through the end of June in Louisiana. Lt. Governor’s Office spokesman Jacques Berry says Louisiana festivals are loved by locals and tourists…:
CUT 9 (09) “promote the state”
He says you can log on to www.louisianatravel.com to see a full calendar of events happening this spring.

The author of a bill to require a designated driver before drinks can be served to a person at a bar or restaurant, now plans on not seeking approval of his legislation. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 1 (26) “reporting”

State Police say a crash yesterday in Iberia Parish claimed the life of Loreauville Mayor Albert Broussard. They two vehicles hit head-on when a truck entered the opposite lane of travel and struck the car Broussard was riding in. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were hospitalized.

The religious freedom debate which made national headlines in Indiana and Arkansas is coming to Louisiana. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson has filed a bill that would prevent state government from penalizing a business or person for decisions made based on their religious views about marriage. Jeremy Alford of la-politics-dot-com, says with the state facing a huge budge deficit, some legislators might not be willing to debate this issue.
CUT 13 (09) “hallways”
Gays rights organization, Equality Louisiana, has already come out in opposition to Johnson’s measure.

The Slidell Police Department is investigating a Friday night shooting that left an officer and suspect injured. Cops say they responded to a call reporting a disturbance and when officers approached a suspect he opened fire and police returned shots. The officer’s injuries are said to be non-life threatening..the suspect was injured by a K-9 unit.

Louisiana State Police are investigating a crash in Iberia Parish which claimed the life of the Mayor of Loreauville. They say last night a Dodge Ram crossed the centerline in a curve and struck a 2013 Ford Mustang head on. Loreauville Mayor Albert Broussard was a passenger in the Mustang and was pronounced dead on the scene. Investigators believe a juvenile in the Dodge grabbed the steering wheel which is why the vehicle entered the opposite lane of travel.

Data from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, shows Louisiana’s personal income for the fourth quarter in 2014 grew by just 0.6 percent, which is last in the country. But LSU economist Loren Scott says a reason for the low growth is because Louisiana did not accept federal dollars to expand its Medicaid program…:
CUT 12 (08) “bad thing”
The fourth quarter of 2014 coincides with a drop in oil prices and layoffs in the oil and gas industry.

The author of a bill to require a designated driver before drinks can be served at a bar or restaurant, now plans on not seeking approval of his legislation…
CUT 1 (26) “reporting”

A plea bargain has agreed upon by a former Donaldsonville High School strength coach, who is accused of providing anabolic steroids to an unaware student athlete. Fifty-seven year-old Curtis Tsuruda (sah-ROO-dah) will not have prison time; instead he receives a 5 year suspended sentence, 5 years probation and a 25 hundred dollar fine.
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This Easter weekend in Louisiana is the biggest weekend of the seafood year, where crawfish are in good supply, and reportedly having excellent quality. But even if you’re not a crawish person, Gulf Seafood Institute Chairman Harlon Pearce says there’s plenty of plump shrimp and fresh oysters to go around…:
CUT 8 (06) “fairly tight”
He says it’s been years since he’s seen crawfish this beautiful as this year.

The latest numbers from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, shows Louisiana’s personal income growth for the fourth quarter in 2014 grew by just zero-point-6 percent, and that’s the lowest in the nation. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says fewer dollars from the feds to help low-income or unemployed workers is what led to the slow growth…
CUT 14 (10) Q: ‘in the country”

The author of the bill requiring bar and restaurant patrons to have a designated driver, is now saying he will not try to seek approval of his measure in this session. Haughton Representative Henry Burns says the stumbling block was the question about enforcement…
CUT 5 (09) “goes from here”
He says filed the legislation after hearing from families who have lost loved ones as a result of drunk drivers.

The numbers from the Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis shows Louisiana’s personal income from the fourth quarter of 2014 shows a growth of just zero-point six percent, which is the lowest in the nation. LSU Economist Loren Scott says even though the fourth quarter coincides with a drop in oil prices, the impact has not been as bad as some other states…
CUT 13 (07) Q: ‘hurt some.”
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Not only is this Easter weekend in the Bayou State, but it is also the biggest weekend of the seafood year. Gulf Seafood Institute Chairman Harlon Pierce says this weekend is the peak of the season and prices tend to drop from here. As far as mudbugs, he says it’s been years since he’s seen crawfish as beautiful as they are this season…:
CUT 7 (08) “really great season”

It’s Spring Festival time in Louisiana, and the calendar is full of events. Jacques Berry with the Lt. Governor’s Office says the greatest thing about these Louisiana gatherings is that they celebrate local communities and Louisiana’s many passions…:
CUT 11 (08) Q: ‘gumbo pot’
Berry says you can log on to LouisianaTravel.com to see a full calendar of events around the state.

This is the biggest weekend of the seafood year and a distributor says the crawfish are in good supply, but the sooner you get your orders in the better. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 2 (26) “reporting”

A Baton Rouge man is under arrest for child abuse charges, after he allegedly breaking the leg of his 7 month old baby was found to have a broken leg, along with reportedly causing other bodily injuries, that hospital officials said were consistant with child abuse. It was also on the same day when the baby was left with 22 year-old Henry Leboeuf, as the child mother’s was at work. Leboeuf was booked into the EBR present.
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The author of the bill that would require bar and restaurant patrons to have a designated driver now says he will not seek approval, because of enforcement problems. Haughton Representative Henry Burns says he still would like to have a committee hearing on his bill, to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving….
CUT 4 (06) “do some good”

The April Festivals are here in the state, and there is no shortage of events for Louisianians. Most everyone knows about the huge Jazz Fest in New Orleans on the last weekend of the month, but Jacques Berry with the Lt. Governor’s Office says, there’s a lot more…
CUT 10 (15) Q: “last weekend in April”