The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 14

l4B THURSDAY, JUNE 3,2004 LocalState THE TIMES shreveporttlmes.com Telecommunications measure would set limits on governments Cajunbot rolls up Capitol steps A Online 4 lvVvl ffl NL. ,4 yf AP By Mike Hasten mhastengannett.com BATON ROUGE Cajunbot, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's self-guided, computer-driven all-terrain vehicle, climbed the Capitol steps Wednesday to greet Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who lauded it as evidence of what can be done when the public and private sectors work together. "Cajunbot runs on gasoline, but it is fueled by brainpower," Blanco told the gathering of state officials and ULL students, faculty and alumni gathered on the steps. "This was created as a way to protect our troops and has put Louisiana on the map" in technology development.

"What you're doing is important to Louisiana's future," Blanco told the university research team that designed the vehicle. This is a fine example of innovation and new technology." Sally Clausen, president of the University of Louisiana System, called the vehicle "a technological wonder." The crowd cheered as the vehicle, this time driven by a student using a device similar to a computer game controller, traveled up a sidewalk near Huey Long's statue and gravesite, crossed a parking lot, Gov. Kathleen Blanco walks up to meet Cajunbot on Wednesday on the steps of the state Capitol in Baton Rouge. The unmanned robotic vehicle, developed by University of Louisiana-Lafayette, competed in the Grand Challenge, a 200-mile race across the California desert. Blanco proclaimed Wednesday as Cajunbot day.

Senate panel hears bill endorsed by Lafayette officials. By Mike Hasten mhastengannett.com BATON ROUGE Legislation that originally sought to block Louisiana municipalities' efforts to develop telecommunications systems was unplugged Wednesday in favor of a bill that would set some restrictions but would not stop it. Although it applies statewide, the original legislation primarily was aimed at stopping Lafayette's progress toward providing Internet, telephone and cable TV access to customers of the Lafayette Utility Systems. A substitute bill, hammered out -by Senate staff, Lafayette, BellSouth and Cox Cable representatives, was presented to the Senate Commerce Committee. Lafayette officials endorsed the amended version, which Public Service Commission Secretary Lawrence St.

Blanc described as "providing a level playing field" on which private companies and local governments can compete for customers. Lafayette Mayor-President Joey Durel said the measure would give "municipalities an opportunity to do something good for their citizens." The amended version calls for local governments to submit to the same PSC provisions as private providers and to pay the same taxes that pri- Legislature 004 vate businesses would have to pay. LUS director Terry Huval said it makes sense to require municipal systems to pay the same fees as a private company so local governments aren't driving private companies out of business by being able to provide services cheaper just because they aren't paying fees. When Sen. Francis Heitmeier, D-New Orleans, raised numerous objections and wanted restrictions on the use of taxpayer or ratepayer funds to pay for providing service, Durel protested "everybody's a taxpayer" so any investment in providing service would be taxpayer money.

The committee approved Heit-meier's proposal that no public funds could be used past the initial development and included a provision that any violation would invalidate the legislation. Sen. Noble Ellington, D-Winnsboro, said that Heitmeier's provision on his Senate Bill 511 would render it ineffective, so there wouldn't be legislation. Durel added that the restriction would prohibit providing services unless "we can get customers to pay their bills a year in advance, and that's not going to happen." At the suggestion of committee Chairman Sen, Ken Hollis, the panel cruise the Mississippi River from New Orleans. The Delta Queen, which has four-day, round-trip cruises between New Orleans and St.

Francisville, is the only ship meeting the restriction. "The cost to replicate the Delta Queen is between $100 million and $125 million, so we don't think anyone would replicate this ship just to have gaming," Murray said. The bill got a 5143 vote, with 1 1 members absent The bill would have allowed gaming only while the ship is under way, which would mean there would be no dockside Senate tries to restore Riverboat gaming license for Delta Queen fails By John Hill jhillbrgannett.com BATON ROUGE A bill to grant a riverboat gaming license to the Delta Queen steamboat cruise ship, marking Louisiana's 16th gaming boat license, failed narrowly Wednesday in the state House of Representatives. House, Bill 1719 by Rep. Ed Murray failed by two votes to get the 53-vote majority necessary.

The New Orleans Democrat said he would try again. The bill would have allowed 110 gaming spaces on ships carrying a minimum of 400 passengers that replace ground combat forces. Of 106 applicants, ULL is one of 13 selected to compete on a 200-mile course through desert and mountainous conditions between Barstow, and Las Vegas. None of the vehicles completed the course and claimed the $1 million prize. But Cajunbot, a converted six-wheel all-terrain vehicle, has been invited to compete in November 2005 for a $2 million prize.

helmet law under 21 can't go to a casino or purchase alcohol, so they are accustomed to restrictions. "In an ideal world, everyone should wear a helmet," Chaisson said, but political reality has shown the bill might not get through the House. Even Adley said he likes the provisions in Chaisson's bill that would require motorcycle riders to pass a driving course and get a tag that attaches to their license plates showing they have completed training in riding and safety. Those over age 21 must have a minimum of $10,000 medical coverage if they ride without a helmet. Sen.

Nick Gautreaux, D-Abbeville, argued for the final version of the bill that would require all riders to wear helmets. "If we save one person's life, we've done our job." The bill now goes to the House for consideration. 'V pre-Ow rolled up a set of steps and spun in place to face the governor. University researchers answered a U.S. Defense Department call last year to compete in a national contest to develop an unmanned vehicle that can read terrain, maneuver over long distances using satellite location signals and negotiate turns without contact with humans.

The military is trying to develop autonomous "thinking" vehicles to "It's the high-risk group we're trying to reach." Sen. Joel Chaisson, D-Destrehan told the Senate that if it's safer for an riders to wear helmets, all should. His amendment was approved 26-1 despite Chaisson's warning that "a vote for this amendment is a vote to kill the bill." Sen. Robert Adley, D-Benton, argued that the law should stay at age 18. He said 19- and 20-year-old soldiers who return from Iraq after risking their lives shouldn't be told they have to wear a helmet to ride a motorcycle.

"At 18, you can be tried for murder, get married and buy a home." Chaisson countered that anyone 3 i 1 Louisiana Legislature: www.legis.state.la.us later stripped that amendment when Ellington pointed out that without the bill, cities and parishes could do whatever they want. He indicated he wouldn't continue pushing the legislation with that amendment. Durel said that he'd be happier if the Legislature didn't approve Ellington's bill but that he could live with the provisions because Lafayette could proceed with the possibility of providing Internet services to its utility customers. Huval said the city has had a fiberoptic ring around the city the past five years. Using it would be a valuable economic development tool.

Mike Stagg of Lafayette was the only opponent to speak against the legislation. "As it exists now, there is no prohibition" against a city developing an Internet system however it wants, he said. "That's the way it should be. Municipalities should have the right to control their own destiny. This is infrastructure investment," like building a road, Stagg said.

The bill now goes to the Senate for debate. It also would have to go through the House of Representatives and be approved before the end of Uie session June 21 for the bill to become law. gaming at any stop. Rep. Charles DeWitt, D-Alex-andria, proposed then withdrew an amendment that would have barred any gaming company from obtaining more than five licenses in Louisiana.

That would prohibit Harrah's, which operates casinos in Shreveport, Lake Charles and New Orleans and Harrah's Louisiana Downs racetrack and slots casino in Bossier City, from obtaining any more licenses. "Most probably, they would end up owning this boat," DeWitt said. He vowed to attach the restriction to other gaming bills pending in the House of Representatives. online source By Mike Hasten mhastengannett.com BATON ROUGE State senators Wednesday voted to restore Louisiana's motorcycle helmet law over Sen. Joel Chaisson's objection that his bill would be killed in the House of Representatives.

Chaisson, D-Destrehan, urged senators to approve his bill as it came out of committee, raising from 18 to 21 the age required for wearing helmets when riding a motorcycle. "It's the high-risk group we're trying to reach," he said, even though his bill originally sought to require that all riders have helmets. Chaisson changed it, though, when the House soundly defeated legislation by Rep. Clara Baudoin, D-Care-ncro, which sought to require helmets for all ages. Sen.

Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, n. FINDING THE CAR YOU WANT FEELS PRETTY GOOD. my I No matter what kind of car you're looking for, cars.com can help you find it. With thousandss of new and used vehicles, cars.com is the place to research, locate, and even contact a dealer in our area. i it Find the right car for you: Powered by: Jdhfdimts NW Louisiana's leading.