SUPPORT COMING FROM -- WE SUPPORT SCIENCE AND ENERGYING
AT LOCAL SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE A BETTER PATH AND PREPARE THE NEXT
GENERATION. BECAUSE TOGETHER WE POWER LIFE.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE FRED B. AND RUTH B. ZIG
LER FOUNDATION. THE MUSEUM FOCUSES ON EMERGING
LOUISIANA ARTISTS AND AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTER
FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. AND THE FOUNDATION FOR CLEANSE
IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING, WITH SUPPORT FROM
VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
GET ON THIS LSU TRAIN AND RIDE WITH US.
THE FLAGSHIP'S MESSAGE TO STATE LAWMAKERS.
I KNOW OF NO BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY THAT CAN OPERATE
LIKE THEY DID IN 1991. BRINGING GAMBLING LAWS INTO
THE 21st CENTURY. THE BASICS ARE SIMPLE.
YOU NEED A FAST HORSE. HOW HORSE BREEDING IS BOOMING
IN LOUISIANA. HI, EVERYONE.
I'M ANDRE MOREAU. FIRST ON "SWI," THE STATE WE ARE
IN BOOMING IN LOUISIANA.
GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS HAS ORDERED FLAGS AT HALF STAFF TO
HONOR LOUISIANA GIANT TOM BENSON.
SINCE WEDNESDAY, MOURNERS HAVE PAID THEIR RESPECTS TO THE
SAINTS AND PELICANS' OWNER AND CAR MOGUL WHO DIED A WEEK AGO AT
THE AGE OF 90. DREW BREES AND SEAN PAYTON OF
THE SAINTS AND ANTHONY DAVIS OF THE PELICANS ARE AMONG 17
HONORARY PALLBEARERS. INVITATIONS ONLY FUNERAL
SERVICES TOOK PLACE FRIDAY AT ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL.
BENSON'S WIDOW GAYLE BENSON HAS ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE STATE'S
TWO PRO SPORTS FRANCHISES. THE ONLY TWO, IN FACT.
MR. B, REST IN PEACE. HERE ARE SOME OTHER STORIES
MAKING HEADLINES. HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE CLEAN
AIR? HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE CLEAN, SAFE
WATER? HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE THEIR
KRAUFISH WITHOUT ANY WATER ON THEM.
THAT'S HOW GREEN ARMY LEADER LIEUTENANT GENERAL RUSSELL
HONOREX-OPENED HIS TALK AT MONDAY'S BATON ROUGE PRESS CLUB.
HONORE IS WORKING TO CLEAN UP LOUISIANA AND IS URGING
JOURNALISTS TO WRITE AND TALK MORE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
HE'S PUSHING A NUMBER OF BILLS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
LOOKING TO BEEF UP LAWS ON AIR AND WATER POLLUTION.
HONORE SAYS JUST ASK PEOPLE WITH CANCER AND OTHER AILMENTS LINE
CHRONIC ASTHMA. WE GOT FAMILIES IN ST. ROSE
IN ONE HOUSE, THREE GENERATIONS WITH ASTHMA.
GRANDMA, MA, GRANDCHILD, 12 YEARS OLD, ALL WITH ASTHMA.
I CAN TAKE YOU TO SHOW THEM, TALK TO THEM.
WE DON'T HAVE A BILL ON AIR
MONITORING. PUSH THAT BILL HARD THIS YEAR.
THE RESETTLEMENT FOR THE REMAINING RESIDENTS OF ISLE
DEJEAN CHARLES IN TEREBONNE PARISH IS ONE STEP CLOSER.
IN WHAT THE STATE SAYS IS A FIRST OF ITS KIND INITIATIVE,
FEDERAL MONEY WILL PAY TO MOVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OFF THE
ISLAND TO AN AREA 40 MILES NORTH NEAR SCHRIEVER.
PRICE TAG $11.7 MILLION FOR THE 515 ACRES OF LAND, $48 MILLION
TO RESETTLE THE ALMOST TWO DOZEN FAMILIES.
THE STATE SAYS 98% OF THE ISLAND HAS WASHED AWAY SINCE THE MID
1950s FROM RISING SEA LEVEL AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES.
AN ANTI-HAZING BILL, WHICH WILL BE CALLED THE MAX GRUVER ACT IF
IT BECOMES LAW, IS ADVANCING TO THE FULL HOUSE OF THE
LEGISLATURE. THE MEASURE WOULD INCREASE
PENALTYING FOR HAZING. IT'S ALL PART OF THE AFTERMATH
OF THE DEATH OF LSU FRESHMAN MAX GRUVER LAST SEPTEMBER.
GRUVER DIED WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL COUNT OF SIX TIMES THE LEGAL
LIMIT. FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CHARGED.
PHI DELTA THETA FRATERNITY IS BANNED FROM LSU FOR 15 YEARS.
THE CALL BY SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY AND A DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUE TO HAVE
FACEBOOK'S CEO APPEAR BEFORE CONGRESS HAS LED MARK ZUCKERBERG
TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE DATA SCANDAL THAT EXPOSED THE
PROFILES OF MORE THAN 60 MILLION FACEBOOK USERS.
THE POLITICAL CONSULTING FIRM CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA, WHICH
WORKED FOR THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, HARVESTED PRIVATE INFORMATION
FROM ALL THOSE PROFILES TO ALLEGEDLY TARGET POLITICAL
MESSAGES. KENNEDY AND MINNESOTA'S AMY
KLOBUCHAR SAY THIS BREACH RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY RIGHTS
AND THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS.
ZUCKERBERG SAYS HE'S SORRY FOR FACEBOOK'S ROLE, WOULD BE OPEN
TO REGULATION AND WILL TESTIFY IF IT HELPS.
THE FDA HAS PUT POPULAR LAKE CHARLES BAKERY ANNA'S PIES ON
NOTICE FOR SELLING BAKED GOODS MADE IN A KITCHEN THE FDA SAYS
IS CONTAMINATED WITH FILTH. THEY SAY AN FDA INSPECTION OF
THE COMPANY IN JANUARY TURNED UP "SERIOUS VIOLATIONS."
THE AGENCY SAYS SO FAR THE BAKERY HAS FAILED TO CLEAN UP
ITS ACT. IN OTHER NEWS --
GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS TOUCHED ON A NUMBER OF TOPICS
DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE THURSDAY AT THE CAPITOL.
AMONG THEM HIS THOUGHTS ON ARMING TEACHERS AT SCHOOLS WITH
CONCEALED WEAPONS. I, FOR ONE, DO NOT BELIEVE IT
IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE TEACHERS WITH CONCEALED CARRY.
WE NEED TO FOCUS PRINCIPALLY ON SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, MAKING
SURE WE HAVE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF THEM IN EACH SCHOOL, THAT
THEY ARE PROPERLY TRAINED. LSU HAS ITS HIGHEST
ENROLLMENT IN HISTORY FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND AT THE SAME
TIME FACING MASSIVE CUTS FROM TOPS.
THE FLAGSHIP AND OTHER STATE UNIVERSITIES SAY THEY CANNOT
AFFORD NOT TO DANGLE. LSU PRESIDENT F. KING ALEXANDER
IS WITH US, BACK FROM A RECENT STATEWIDE TOUR CALLED LSU 2025
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. YOU TALK ABOUT LSU'S ROLE AND
ACCEPTING THE BUDGET CHALLENGES AND THE STATE CHALLENGES, NATION
WITD. THAT IS A LOT OF CHALLENGES TO
TAKE ON. THAT IS WHAT A FLAGSHIP
SHOULD DO. WE ARE LAND GRANT, SEA GRANT,
SPACE GRANT UNIVERSITIES. IF LSU ISN'T TACKLING THE STATE
BUDGET PROBLEMS, HEALTH PROBLEMS, POVERTY PROBLEMS,
AGRICULTURAL PROBLEMS, WHO IS GOING TO DO IT?
WE ARE MORE EQUIPPED AND WE HAVE THE BEST FACULTY WE BROUGHT TO
LOUISIANA FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE
WORLD TO TAKE ON THESE CHALLENGES.
WE WANT THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE US A STABLE BUDGET SO WE
CAN HELP THE STATE ADDRESS ALL THESE ISSUES.
YOU HAD THAT FOR ONE YEAR, A ONE-YEAR TOPS REPRIEVE.
YOU ARE FACES MASSIVE CUTS AGAIN.
HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THAT? RIGHT NOW WITH A STABLE
BUDGET THE GOVERNOR HELPED US ACQUIRE THIS YEAR.
THE BUDGET WAS STABLE TO THE EFFECT WE NEVER RECEIVED MORE
APPLICATIONS, NEVER HAD MORE ADMITS, QUALIFIED ADMITS TO OUR
UNIVERSITY FROM EVERY STATE. WE ARE 99% FROM CALIFORNIA, 140%
FROM NEW YORK. 10% UP IN LOUISIANA.
WE JUST WANT THE STATE TO GIVE US A STABLE BUDGET SO WE CAN
TELL PARENTS AND STUDENTS, LOOK, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT UNIVERSITY
RIGHT HERE. JUST STAY AT HOME AND BUILD OUR
ECONOMY. LET'S BUILD THE ECONOMY
TOGETHER. AS THEY DO IN FOOTBALL,
ALABAMA HAS MADE A HABIT OF DIPPING INTO THE STATE TRYING TO
ATTRACT STUDENTS WITH BETTER FINANCIAL FOOTING.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA ENROLLMENT HAS GONE UP TO
38,000. THEY WERE AT ONE TIME A MUCH
SMALLER SCHOOL THAN LSU, NOW MUCH LARGER.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM IF TOPS WORKED OUT AND IF THESE
ENROLLMENT NUMBERS COULD TRANSLATE INTO ACTUAL STUDENTS.
WHAT WOULD BE A GREAT NUMBER TO HAVE ON CAMPUS?
ON THE MAIN CAMPUS WE ARE ABOUT 30,000.
SYSTEMWIDE ABOUT 45,000. COULD YOU DO 35,000 ON THE
MAIN CAMPUS? WE COULD DO 35,000 ON THE
MAIN CAMPUS. WE NEED TO BOOST OUR OUT OF
STATE POPULATION TO HELP INCREASE THE SUPPORT FOR OUR
IN-STATE STUDENTS SINCE WE ARE NOT GETTING THE SUPPORT WE NEED
FOR OUR IN-STATE STUDENTS. SO WE ARE NOT SACRIFICING
IN-STATE KIDS FOR OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS.
WE ARE USING OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS WHO WANT TO COME BE A
PART OF LSU TO HELP SUBSIDIZE WHAT WE DO AS A UNIVERSITY AND
WHAT WE DO FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
SNIF YOU HAVE THE RISK OF LOSING STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
TO ADDRESS THAT SORT OF CONTINUOUSLY, IT PUTS A CLOUD
OVER THE UNIVERSITY YOU COULD DO WITHOUT.
SO TWO YEARS AGO WE LOST A LOT OF ASSISTANT PROFESSORS WHEN
THE BUDGET WAS SO UNCERTAIN. THIS PAST YEAR WITH A STABLE
BUDGET, WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE LARGEST NEW FACULTY COHORT IN
YEARS, 133 NEW FACULTY THAT CAME TO US WHICH MEANS OUR BRAND,
LSU'S BRAND IS STILL VERY STRONG, BOTH NATIONALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY. WE HAD FACULTY FROM OXFORD AND
SARBONNE IN PARIS. WE HAVE A STRONG NAME WE NEED TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AS A UNIVERSITY AND AS A STATE TO
BRING THE MOST TALENTED FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS TO COME TO
OUR STATE. ONE OF THE BIG THINGS
HAPPENING AT LSU IS THE FOUNDATION, THEY CALL IT A
TRANSFORMATIONAL CAMPAIGN, IT WOULD BE IF YOU RAISE $1.5
BILLION YOU SAY IS THE NUMBER NOW.
WHAT IS THE PROGRESS OF THAT AND WHEN WILL THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
COME WITH THAT? SO, WE ARE MAKING GREAT
PROGRESS IN THE QUIET PHASE IN THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
THE LAST ONE ENDED IN 2011. WE KIND OF TURNED THE LIGHTS
OFF. WE ARE UP TO FULL STEAM AS WE
ARE RAISING FUNDS. WE ARE HOPING TO ANNOUNCE WITHIN
THE YEAR THAT WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS A $1.5 BILLION CAMPAIGN
AND OUR NUMBERS ARE LOOKING VERY POSITIVE BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN
SOME VERY TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFTS.
AND WE ARE MOVING INTO THE CURRENT DAY OF HIGHER EDUCATION,
WHICH IS YOU HAVE TO RAISE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN FROM THE
TALENTED PEOPLE YOU HAVE GRADUATED.
HISTORICALLY LSU LAGGED BEHIND IN FUND-RAISING ABILITIES
AND GETTING OUT AND DOING IT FROM OTHER UNIVERSITIES
EXACTLY. THREE YEARS AGO IN ALUMNI GIVING
WE WERE LAST IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE AND 14 IN ALUMNI.
WE ARE NOW SEVENTH, TIED FOR SEVENTH
IT IS GOOD MOVEMENT. IT IS GREAT MOVEMENT IN JUST
A COUPLE OF YEARS WHAT IT SHOWINGS IS WE HAVE GREAT
LOYALTY, WE HAVE GREAT CAPACITY THAT OUR ALUMS -- OUR STARTING
SALARIES ARE TIED WITH CHAPEL HILL AND OHIO STATE, THE BEST IN
THE COUNTRY. MID CAREER EARNINGS ARE AMONG
THE BEST IN THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE A LOT OF LOYAL ALUMS AND
FRIENDS TO LSU. WE WANT THEM TO SUPPORT THE
STUDENTS OF THE NEXT GENERATION, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING THEM
TO DO. CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE, IF YOU
DRIVE DOWN NICHOLSON, YOU CAN SEE SO MUCH IS HAPPENING WITH
THE GATEWAY PROJECT. ALL THE OTHER MARY STUDENT
APARTMENTS ARE LONG GONE AND THIS WHOLE NEW COMPLEX HAS
EMERGED AND WILL SOON OPEN. THANKFULLY THOSE OLD MARY
APARTMENTS ARE GONE. THEY WERE RUN DOWN.
1,600 NEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE GOING UP.
THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REQUIRE FRESHMAN TO LIVE ON
CAMPUS. FRESHMAN WHO LIVE ON CAMPUS,
RETAIN BETTER, STAY BETTER AND GRADUATE MORE.
WE WANT THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES.
THE 1,600 NEW APARTMENTS IS THE SECOND LARGEST CAMPUS
RESIDENTIAL LIFE PROJECT IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT WILL HAVE GROCERY STORES AND STORES ON CAMPUS.
YOU HAVE EVERYTHING RIGHT THERE AT YOUR FEET.
YOU DON'T NEED TO LEAVE CAMPUS.
WHICH IS WHAT YOU WANT. EXACTLY.
IT IS IMPRESSIVE. THAT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT
ATTRACTS PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME AND LOOK FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WHAT IS THIS? IT IS IMPRESSIVE.
IT DOES AN AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS NOT USING A DIME OF STATE
FUNDS TO DO IT. THIS IS THE UNIVERSITY BEING
ENTREPRENEURIAL IN HOW WE APPROACH OUR EXPANSION AND HOW
WE APPROACH MODERNIZATION OF CAMPUS AND WE JUST WANT THE
STATE TO GIVE US A STABLE BUDGET AND QUIT KICKING -- HOLDING US
HOSTAGE EVERY TIME WE GO TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THERE ARE OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS WE CAN TALK ABOUT WE
WILL GET TO NEXT TIME LIKE THE LIBRARY.
IF YOU WERE STANDING BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE AT THIS MOMENT, WHAT
IS THE ONE SENTENCE WOULD YOU TELL THEM?
I WOULD SAY GET ON THIS LSU TRAIN AND RIDE WITH US AND GET
OFF THE TRACKS. WE ARE GOING FORWARD.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD MORE APPLICANTS AND MORE FACULTY COME
TO OUR UNIVERSITY. LET US DO WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED
TO DO. STABLE BUDGET.
FUND TOPS, FUND OUR UNIVERSITY. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING
BUT STABILITY. WHEN YOU HAVE MOMENTUM IT
SHOULD BE A SHAME TO DERAIL IT. EXACTLY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, GAMBLING IS ONE OF THE
BIG TICKET ITEMS THE LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING AT AND SOME CHANGES
COULD BE ON THE HORIZON. KELLY SPIRES HAS MORE.
THAT'S RIGHT. CASINOS, WHICH BY LAW HAVE TO
BE ON WATER, COULD MOVE TO LAND. RACETRACKS COULD SEE MORE ROOM
FOR SLOT MACHINES. THERE ARE OVER 30 BILLS BACKED
BY VARIOUS INTERESTS. IN THE 1990s, IT WAS DECIDED
THAT MAJOR GAMING WOULD BE CORNERED OFF TO RIVERBOATS.
THOUGH THEY THEN PUSHED TO TIE-UP TO SHORE BECAUSE RIVER
TRAVEL CAN BE DANGEROUS, NOT TO MENTION DECREASE PROFITS.
BUT NOW THE TIME MAY BE RIGHT FOR GAMBLING INTERESTS TO FIND
AN ARRANGEMENT THAT'S EVEN MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THEM.
FOR ONE, THE STATE'S IN A BUDGET CRUNCH AND SENATOR RONNIE JOHNS,
WHO IS CARRYING SOME OF THE BILLS FOR THE INDUSTRY, SAYS
THEY COULD HELP FIX IT. AS I LOOK AT OUR STATE BUDGET
TODAY, GAMING REVENUE MAKES UP $900 MILLION OF OUR BUDGET.
IT'S NOT SECONDARY BUSINESS IN THIS STATE ANYMORE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT BUSINESS. THEY PAY A LOT OF TAXES.
THE $900 MILLION FIGURE IS MADE UP OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF
GAMING, INCLUDING THE LOTTERY AS WELL AS VIDEO POKER.
FOR COMPARISON, OIL AND GAS SEVERANCE TAXES CONTRIBUTED TO
ABOUT $580 MILLION. GAMING PROFITING ARE TAXED AT
21%, HIGHER THAN OTHER STATES, BUT COMPETITION IN THE INDUSTRY
IS LIMITED. ONLY 15 RIVERBOATS ARE ALLOWED
TO OPERATE. JOHN'S MAJOR BILL, SENATOR BILL
316, WAS VETTED BY A COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY.
IT WOULD ALLOW THESE RIVERBOAT CASINOS, LIKE THE BELLE OR
HOLLYWOOD ON THE MISSISSIPPI IN BATON ROUGE, TO MOVE 1,200 FEET
INLAND FROM THEIR CURRENT BERTHS.
ANYONE WHO SAYS THIS BILL EXPANDS GAMING NEEDS TO GO BACK
TO READ IT. THEY NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THE
ISSUES IN THIS BILL. IT DOES NOT EXPAND GAMING.
IN THE 1990s, CASINOS WERE LIMITED TO 30,000 SQUARE FEET OF
GAMBLING SPACE. ANOTHER MAJOR CHANGE IN JOHN'S
BILL WOULD CHANGE THE REQUIREMENT TO 2,365 GAMING
SPACES. THAT'S GOING TO BE DEFINED AS
YOU'LL SEE IN THE BILL, WHERE THE MACHINE IS, THAT'S DEFINED
GAMING SPACE, WHERE THE STOOL IS, OR THE CHAIR, WHATEVER,
THAT'S A GAMING SPACE. HOWEVER, YOU MAY HAVE A CRAP
TABLE, WHICH THE TABLE ITSELF MIGHT BE A GAMING SPACE, BUT THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO STAND AROUND THAT TABLE WOULD HAVE
DEFINED GAMING SPACES ALSO. JOHN'S BILL COMES FROM A
LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE REPORT THAT STUDIED GAMING IN
LOUISIANA. IT MODERNIZES AN INDUSTRY
THAT HAS NOT HAD HARDLY ANY CHANGES SINCE 1991.
I KNOW OF NO BUSINESS, I KNOW OF NO BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTRY
TODAY THAT CAN OPERATE LIKE THEY DID IN 1991.
SENATOR KAREN CARTER PETERSON WAS ONE OF THE LONE OBJECTORS TO
TUESDAY'S BILLS. THREE SHREVEPORT CASINOS HAVE
FALLEN SHORT OF THEIR SELF-IMPOSED GOALS TO HIRE A
CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF MINORITIES.
IN EVERY ONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES THERE ARE THRIVING
SUCCESSFUL VENDORS THAT CAN SUPPORT YOUR AGENCIES, MEMBER
ENTITIES. SHE SAID HARRAH'S IN NEW
ORLEANS IS DOING IT RIGHT. WHEN YOU HAVE A CITY LIKE NEW
ORLEANS, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THE MAKEUP OF NEW ORLEANS AND WHAT
THE DEMOGRAPHIC ARE AND YOU HAVE A STATE AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THE
MAKE UP OF OUR STATE, EVERYBODY SHOULD JUST HAVE A FAIR SHOT,
RIGHT? A GROUP OF PASTORS FROM
TANGIPAHOA SAID TUESDAY THAT TAX REVENUE ISN'T ENOUGH TO PAY FOR
THE SOCIAL ILLS CAUSED BY GAMBLING.
PASTOR LOUIS HUSSER LEADS CROSSGATE CHURCH IN ROBERT.
WHERE DO THOSE PEOPLE GO TO STAY UNDER A ROOF, TO PUT FOOD
IN FRONT OF THEIR CHILDREN? THE PROBLEM IS THEY GO TO THE
CHURCHES. I HAVE SAT IN THIS OFFICE FOR 20
-- FOR 26 YEARS AT MY CHURCH. IF YOU COULD HEAR THE STORIES OF
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVES HAVE BEEN BRECKED, LET THE BOATS STAY ON
THE WATER. BECAUSE IF THEY CONTINUE
TO ASK AND GET, THIS IS AN INDUSTRY THAT IS DRIVEN BY GREED
AND GREED IS NEVER SATISFIED. OTHER BILLS WOULD CHANGE THE
SQUARE FEET OF GAMING SPACE REGULATION TO NUMBER OF
POSITIONS FOR SLOT AREAS AT RACETRACKS.
ANOTHER WOULD HELP TRUCKSTOP VIDEO POKER ESTABLISHMENTS BY
CHANGING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THEY HAVE TO SELL PER POKER MACHINE.
THE MEASURES STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE THEY MEET THE
GOVERNOR'S DESK. SOME COULD MEET MORE OPPOSITION
IN THE FULL HOUSE WHERE MEMBERS ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE, IN LINE
WITH FAMILY VALUES GROUPS. IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, THE
THREE BIGGEST EVENTS IN HORSE RACING, THE KENTUCKY DERBY, THE
PREAKNESS AND THE BELMONT STAKES, HAVE BEEN WON MORE TIMES
BY LOUISIANA JOCKEYS FROM ANY OTHER STATE.
FOR A STATE THAT LOVES ITS SPORTS, WE CERTAINLY FALL SHORT
IN CELEBRATING OUR HORSE RACING CHAMPIONS.
KELLY IS HERE WITH MORE ON THIS. THAT IS RIGHT, ANDRE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST JOCKEYING THAT LOUISIANA IS KNOWN FOR.
THE HORSE BREEDING BUSINESS IS A $1 BILLION A YEAR INDUSTRY THAT
GENERATES NEARLY $75 MILLION IN TAX DOLLARS FOR THE STATE
TAX DOLLARS FOR THE STATE COFFERS AND EMPLOYS 13,000
WORKERS. WITH THE STATE'S BIGGEST RACE,
THE LOUISIANA DERBY, COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, WE THOUGHT WE'D
LEARN A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT THE RACING IN THE BAYOU STATE
BEFORE WE PLACE OUR BETS. THAT'S PART OF THE BEAUTY OF
THIS BUSINESS AND THE INDUSTRY IS THAT THERE ARE SO, SO MANY
VARIABLES, REALLY PRETTY COMPLEX.
THE BASICS ARE SIMPLE. YOU NEED A FAST HORSE, BUT TO
GET THERE IS NOT EASY. VAL MURRELL CALLS HORSE
RACING A THINKING MAN'S GAME. THERE ARE STATS TO ANALYZE
PEDIGREES TO EXAMINE, ODDS TO CONSIDER.
MURRELL AND HIS FAMILY RUN THE STATE'S PREMIER THOROUGHBRED
FARM. CLEAR CREEK STUD IN FOLSOM,
LOUISIANA. YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE A RUNNER
IS GOING TO COME FROM. IT'S NOT LIKE THE MOST WEALTHY
PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE GOING TO BE SUPER SUCCESSFUL OVER THE
OTHERS. THERE'S NUMBERS AND I DON'T LIKE
TO SAY IT'S LUCK. IT'S JUST ALL THOSE VARIABLES
WILL COME TOGETHER AND AN INDIVIDUAL IS SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT
SPENDING A GAZILLION DOLLARS TO GET THERE, BUT THEY MADE IT.
IF YOU'RE NEW TO HORSE RACING,
YOU MIGHT NEED A TRANSLATOR TO HELP YOU OUT.
THERE ARE AT LEAST SIX DIFFERENT WORDS FOR WHAT A LAYPERSON MIGHT
JUST REFER TO AS A HORSE. WHEN A BOY HORSE IS BORN, IT'S
CALLED A COLT, UNTIL IT'S FIVE YEARS OLD, THEN IT'S A HORSE.
WHEN IT'S RETIRED TO BREEDING, THEN IT'S A STALLION.
A FEMALE IS A FILLY UNTIL SHE IS FIVE YEARS OLD.
THAT'S CONSIDERED A MARE AFTER FIVE.
AND ON THE RACETRACK, SHE'S IDENTIFIED AS A FILLY UNTIL
SHE'S FIVE. AND NORMALLY WHEN YOU BREED
THEM, A MARE, OR A FEMALE, SHE BECOMES A BROADMARE WHEN SHE'S
IN FOAL. AND YOU MIGHT KNOW WHAT A
HORSESHOE IS, BUT HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A FARRIER?
A FARRIER IS A PERSON WHO IS VERY TALENTED.
HE TRIMS HORSE'S FEET AND HE SHOES HORSES.
THAT IS A GREAT ART BECAUSE THERE ARE NO TWO HORSES THE SAME
AND LAST TIME I CHECKED, THERE ARE FOUR FEET ON EACH HORSE AND
VERY SELDOM DO YOU HAVE TWO OF THE SAME ON ALL FOUR FEET.
SO THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT, EVALUATE IT AND TRIM AND SHOE
ACCORDINGLY. IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
LANGUAGE IN THE HORSE BUSINESS. JUST LIKE IT IS IN THE OIL AND
GAS BUSINESS OR PROBABLY THE SUGAR CANE BUSINESS.
OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT YOU AND I ARE
NOT FAMILIAR WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.
TOM EARLY IS RETIRED FROM A 38-YEAR CAREER WITH THE
ASSOCIATION. ANOTHER WORD TO KNOW,
PARIMUTUAL. A PARIMUTUAL TRACK IS WHERE
PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY BETTING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
THE SIMPLEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS ALL OF THE MONEY BET ON THE
LOSERS IS DIVIDED UP AMONG THE WINNERS, SO YOU'RE NOT BETTING
AGAINST THE TRACK. YOU'RE BETTING AGAINST YOUR
FELLOW BETTORS. THERE'S FOUR PARIMUTUAL
TRACKS IN LOUISIANA. THE FAIR GROUNDS IN NEW ORLEANS,
DELTA DOWNS IN VINTON, LOUISIANA DOWNS IN SHREVEPORT AND
EVANGELINE IN OPELOUSAS. ON RUSSIAING DAYS THERE'S AT
LEAST THREE "LOUISIANA BRED" RACES
OFFERED. YOUR HORSE HAS TO HAVE BEEN
BORN, "FOULED," IN LOUISIANA, AND THE MARE, THE MAMA HORSE,
HAS TO LIVE IN LOUISIANA AND CAN ONLY BE BRED WITH OUT-OF-STATE
HORSES EVERY OTHER YEAR. AND ONE OF OUR OWN IS RACING
WITH THE CREAM OF THE CROP THIS YEAR.
GIVEMEAMINIT IS RUNNING IN THE LOUISIANA DERBY AND HE'S
RUNNING IN GRADE 1 COMPANY IN OTHER STATES AND HE'S BEEN A
VERY NICE HORSE. AND HOPEFULLY HE DOES WELL IN
THE LOUISIANA DERBY. GIVEMEAMINIT IS FATHERED BY
THE MOST FAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIVING LOUISIANA HORSE, STAR GUY
TAR. HE LIVES AT CLEAR CREEK STUD AND
THE BAR IS NAMED AFTER HIM. OUR FINAL TERM SOUNDS BAD, BUT
IS EXCITING. BREAKING A MAIDEN.
WINNING YOUR FIRST RACE. YOU ARE A MAIDEN UNTIL YOU WIN
THAT FIRST RACE, NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE.
JUST AS RACING SEASON IS GETTING GEARED UP WITH
QUALIFYING EVENTS THAT EARN HORSES POINTS ON THE ROAD TO THE
KENTUCKY DERBY, BREEDERS ARE IN THEIR BUSY SEASON AS WELL
WE HAVE 65 FOALS ON THE GROUND AT THIS POINT, 65 MORE TO
GO. DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, YOU ARE
BREEDING MARES TO GET THEM BACK IN FOAL.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE MAGIC COMBINATION OF SPEED AND
STAMINA. THERE ARE SPEED HORSE, SIX
FURLONGS, AND RUNNING HORSES THAT RUN A MILE OR CLASSIC
DISTANCES OF THE DERBY OF A MILE AND QUARTER A BETTER.
UTOPIA IS THE ONE TO HAVE THE SPEED TO CARRY THOSE DISTANCES.
THAT IS NOT EASY TO FIND. THEY AGREE THEY ARE ALL IN
THE BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PASSION FOR THE ANIMALS.
THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND THAT FEELING IF YOU ARE NEW TO
HORSES -- A GOOD WAY TO DO THAT, I
THINK, IS TO GO TO THE RACES. NOW OTHER THAN GIVEMEAMINIT,
THERE ARE TWO OTHER HORSES WITH HOME STATE TIES IN THE LOUISIANA
DERBY. LONE SAILOR IS OWNED BY THE
BENSON FAMILY AND TRAINED BY NEW ORLEANS NATIVE AMOS.
THE PREAKNESS WINNING DUO, KEITH AND KEN BRING THE FAVORITE,
MYBOYJACK AND WITH GIVEMEAMINIT ALL THESE OF THOSE HORSING ARE
STRONG CLOSERS, KNOWN TO SPEED UP IN THE LAST PART OF THE RACE.
IT IS A BIT OF A LONG SHOT, BUT MAYBE WE CAN CROSS OUR FINGERS
FOR A HOME STATE TRIFECTA. THAT STORY IS FASCINATING.
THANK YOU. OTHER THAN THE DERBY, SATURDAY
INCLUDE THE CRESCENT CITY DERBY AND OAKS, SHOWCASING LOUISIANA
SATURDAY MARCH 24 IN WASHINGTON, HUNDREDS OF
CONFIDENT. WHEN WE BUILD THOSE
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