By Sarah Gamard
Students could face criminal charges for bringing fake guns to school
By Rose Velazquez
Louisiana students, technically as young as kindergarteners, who bring toy guns to school could face criminal penalties if House Bill 43, pre-filed by Rep. Dodie Horton, R Haughton, passes the 2017 Legislature when it convenes April 10.
The bill would ban the possession of “imitation firearms, projectiles or ammunition” in Louisiana schools, at school-sponsored events or within 1,000 feet of campuses. It includes BB guns, firearm replicas, CO2 propellant guns and other firearm devices that are “substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to perceive that the device is a firearm.”
Anti-smoking advocates question link between New Orleans ban and casino revenue drop
By Sarah Gamard
New Orleans’ smoking ban has driven Harrah’s customers away.
That was the argument on Tuesday (March 22) from Caesars Entertainment, the global casino enterprise that owns Harrah’s New Orleans Casino & Hotel. But Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO for Americans for Nonsmokers Rights, called those accusations “baseless.”
Harrah’s Casino claims $70 million in losses from New Orleans smoking ban
By Sarah Gamard
Representatives from the global casino enterprise Caesar’s Entertainment outlined for the Riverboat Economic Development and Gaming Task Force the negative impact of a local smoking ban on its No. 1 Louisiana enterprise, Harrah’s Casino & Hotel in downtown New Orleans.
The casino is one of the three in Louisiana owned by Caesar’s. The other two are in Bossier City.
Could changes be coming for Louisiana’s gaming industry?
By Sarah Gamard
BATON ROUGE — Louisiana law requires gaming riverboats to have a working paddlewheel, even though the boats do not traverse the waterways. The chairman of the legislatively created task force in charge of recommending rules for the state’s gaming industry called that requirement “ridiculous.”
Police spouses, school workers, firefighters, politicians affected by Louisiana legislative bills
By Tryfon Boukouvidis
BATON ROUGE — Spouses of certain Louisiana law enforcement officers would receive better pension survivor benefits under a bill filed for the legislative session that starts April 10. It is sponsored by Sen. Barrow Peacock, R-Bossier City, who also filed a bill to expand the reach of the Teachers’ Retirement System.
Federal money for Aug. flooding coming soon?
By William Taylor Potter
GONZALES — Representatives from the Governor’s Office and the Office of Community Development hinted to victims of the August floods that in April they may at last see federal disaster relief to compensate them for some or all of their losses, emphasizing that the delays stem from Washington not Baton Rouge.
Louisiana has a gambling problem
By Sarah Gamard
BATON ROUGE — Statistics show that gambling addiction in Louisiana is affecting more people than ever, up more than 8 percent in the past eight years, but that it is off the radar.
Janet Miller, the executive director for the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling, told the Louisiana Gaming Control Board Thursday that she came before it to raise awareness for March Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
Read the story in The Shreveport Times
State legislation proposed to close loophole in domestic violence situations involving same-sex couples
By Katie Gagliano
Proposed legislation prefiled for the 2017 Legislature by State Rep. Pat Connick, R-Marrero, aims to close a longstanding loophole in Louisiana’s domestic violence statutes by including same-sex couples.
House Bill 27 would alter the state’s civil and criminal statutes by opening harsher sentencing possibility for abusers in same-sex cohabiting relationships and by providing key public welfare assistance options to same-sex victims.
Toy guns in schools? That would be a crime under this proposed Louisiana law
By Rose Velazquez
BATON ROUGE — Louisiana students as young as kindergarteners who take toy guns to school could face criminal penalties under a bill filed for the Legislature’s spring session by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton. House Bill 43 would ban the possession of “imitation firearms, projectiles or ammunition” in Louisiana schools, at school-sponsored events or within 1,000 feet of campuses.
LSU Manship School Statehouse Bureau 