News for Friday 053014
By Dave Graichen
Governor Bobby Jindal signed a couple of bills into law to support Veterans late Wednesday. One would increase information available to doctors to improve health issues that service members often deal with. The other would expand residential lease protections for military members and their families.
There's a new law waiting to be signed by the governor that would allow state lawmakers to carry concealed weapons in areas that any other peace officer could. That would include several locations labeled as "gun free" zones. If it is signed, they would be able to pack heat in public buildings , parades and polling places.
A vacation turned deadly for a 21 year old Pineville man. Authorities at Navarre beach Florida say Nathan Hughey drowned while swimming with his sister in rough waters. The sister was able to make it to shore safely. Hughey was a graduate of Pineville High School and was a student at Louisiana Tech University at the time of his death. The accident happened yesterday.
The city of Alexandria’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Alexandria City Complex, 2021 Industrial Park Road (under the big red roof).
Citizens are encouraged to bring in Household chemicals, Automotive chemicals, Garden and pool chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Household recyclables. Not welcome, Ammunition, tires, explosives, commercial waste and laboratory waste. Again the event is tomorrow 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alexandria city complex.
Gov. Bobby Jindal is going to sign into law today a bill called "The Right to Try" Act which would allow terminally ill patients to access experimental medications that could save their life. The Goldwater Institute designed this measure and External Affairs Vice President Victor Riches says The Right to Try Act enables people with very little time left to receive potentially life-saving medications that have been deemed safe by the FDA but are years away from being approved for market.
Governor Jindal has signed into law a bill that adds domestic abuse to the criteria for immediate divorce. The new law waives the 180 day waiting period for a divorce involving domestic abuse. It also makes spousal support mandatory.
The legislature has given final legislative approval to a law that would extend the drivers license renewal time to every 6 years instead of 4. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says he decided to
draft this legislation after hearing so many complaints about the wait time at the DMV. The 6 year fee would be increased, but over time it would end up being the same amount of money.
The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's office reports a high school teacher and track coach is under arrest for his alleged sexual involvement with a 16-year-old male student. They say 37-year-old Derrick Nesby of New Orleans, the educator from UL Bourgeois High School, was arrested and booked with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
A former worker at the Department of Children and Family Services faces up to 10 years in prison for using a state issued purchase card for personal use. 34-year-old Delrice Augustus has pleaded guilty in federal court to the crime. State Inspector General Stephen Street says Augustus defrauded DCFS out of as much as 200-thousand dollars. Augustus has admitted to using government purchase cards to buy home entertainment electronics, a dishwater, and other personal items.
Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been granted a delay in sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Helen Ginger Berrigan. Nagin was scheduled for sentencing June 11 on 20 counts of corruption, including bribery, conspiracy, money laundering and fraud. The new date is July 2nd.
The House has given final passage of a bill requiring women who are seeking an abortion to receive a pamphlet that explains the potential psychological effects of going through with the
procedure. The bill passed 87-0.
The Catfish Institute is raising concerns about the mislabeling of seafood products in restaurants. They say studies by media and consumer organizations find as much as 25 to 50 percent of seafood is mislabeled. Institute spokesperson Jeff McCord says this happens frequently with catfish. Often Vietnamese catfish-type species are offered on menus as catfish. However, it is against the law. Only an American species of channel catfish may be labeled as catfish for any marketing purposes, including menus.
Governor Jindal has signed a measure that will allow hunters in the state to use a sound suppressor on their guns for recreational hunting. The legislation will go into effect August 1. The bill's sponsor, Metairie Representative Cameron Henry says the use of silencers is better for the shooter's hearing and mitigates noise complaints.