News for Wednesday 043014
By Dave Graichen
Tomorrow is the National Day Of Prayer, an annual event that dates back to the early 1950’s. Among the activities, Three churches, Pentecostals of Alexandria, Calvary Baptist and Zion Hill Baptist, jointly organized a prayer event at the Alexandria Mall at noon. A quick community-led prayer gathering is set for 12:20-12:40 p.m. on the steps of Pineville City Hall and a multi-church community prayer event is set for 6:30 p.m. at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville.
State officials are looking into allegations that Ball Police Chief Melvin Williams sexually harassed a Male Ball police officer, by sending explicit texts. Williams said he expects to be exonerated by the AG’s office. He said the allegations are “politically motivated.”
Dale Skinner, high school principal in Natchitoches Parish since 2010, was elected as the district’s next superintendent Tuesday. The 74 year old Skinner of Zwolle, was chosen after three rounds of voting by the Natchitoches Parish School Board, eliminating fellow finalists Eddie Jones of Florien and Ruth Kay of Provencal. He received eight votes and Kay one in the final vote, which included two abstentions. He’ll take the place of Derwood Duke, who announced in January that he would retire effective today.
In response to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's call for immediate resignation of US Representative Vance McAllister. The 5th District congressman told Cantor he will not resign before his eight month term is finished, since that would make the second time in in less than a year that the 5th Congressional would be without representation.
A propose law that would allow concealed carry permit holders to bring their gun into certain restaurants that sell alcohol was approved by a Senate committee, Tuesday. House Bill 72 is co-authored by Bossier City Representative Jeff Thompson. He says people should be able to protect themselves at all times. The bill, which has already passed the House, now heads to the Senate floor.
Law enforcement groups and leaders from throughout the state gathered in Baton Rouge Tuesday to collectively oppose a bill that seeks to legalize medicinal marijuana. The legislation by New Iberia Senator Fred Mills is on a Senate committee agenda today.
An effort to put limits on “payday” loans in Louisiana died Tuesday in the state Senate after some twists and turns. Senate Bill 84 fell six votes short on a 20-17 vote. The bill needed 26 votes after Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, dealt supporters a blow by declaring it required two-thirds’ approval.
A Washington man is facing drug charges for being in possession of nearly 1000 bags of synthetic marijuana. The St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office arrested 25-year-old Xavier Bush, Jr. after a
deputy seized five trash bags of various baggies from the trunk of his vehicle during a traffic stop. Bush is currently being held with no bond.
A bill that would toughen the penalties for heroin dealers in Louisiana passed out of a House committee Tuesday. Senator Dan Claitor's bill was amended and would now make the minimum
sentence for heroin distribution 10 years and the maximum would be 50 years. It now heads to the House floor.
Victims of domestic violence could not be discriminated against in housing under a measure that is on the way to the full state Senate. The Senate’s Committee on Judiciary A approved the legislation, one of a package of bills aimed at the growing domestic violence problem in the state. Under Broome’s bill, it would be unlawful to refuse to rent or sell any dwelling based solely on the individual is a victim of domestic abuse. The domestic abuse provision would be added to current law which deals with discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, and national origin.
Legislation that started out as a way to bring back the electric chair as a way of executing a death row inmate was dramatically changed before it was approved by a House committee. The author of the bill, Metairie Representative Joe Lopinto, amended the legislation so that the state can keep secret the type of drugs they use to perform an execution. Louisiana and other states are seeking other ways to perform executions, because the makers of the drugs that are used in a
lethal injection are no longer distributing their product because of negative publicity. Lopinto's bill heads to the House floor for more discussion.
A senate bill that expands the state's ban on cockfighting was approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee, but not before some interesting testimony by a self-proclaimed cockfighting enthusiast. James Demourelle of Ville Platte told lawmakers that Jesus didn't have a problem with cockfighting. Lawmakers didn’t buy the argument. The bill passed and heads to the House floor.
The University of Louisiana at Monroe's Kitty Degree School of Nursing has been ranked as the ninth best nursing school in the United States by CollegeAtlas.org in its "A-List". ULM was the only school in the state to make the top 10, and was one of only two schools in the south to make the list.
Legislation that would establish the legal framework for surrogate births in Louisiana won quick approval by a Senate committee on Tuesday. HB187 applies only to a legally married man and woman who need a surrogate to carry their biological child because of medical problems. The couple would be the legal parents of the child. The parties would enter into a contract which would have to be approved by a court in advance of the embryo transfer.
LSU fans could be getting more Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium. Athletic Director Joe Alleva says he's made it clear to the SEC that night games in Death Valley are an important tradition that should
to be recognized. The league is said to be in talks with networks to work to make that happen.
New Orleans Pelicans owner Tom Benson has given his full support regarding NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's lifetime ban of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in light of racial comments. He will ask the rest of the NBA owners to vote, forcing Sterling to sell his three fourths majority of the team.