News for Friday 042916

By Dave Graichen

Governor John Bel Edwards says priority number one for him right now is stabilizing the budget, because we must focus on moving Louisiana forward. He says there are many policy related issues that are going to be on the back burner until we can deal with the present crisis, the $600 million dollar budget shortfall. The governor says he doesn’t see any way they could avoid a second special session.

A poll commissioned by the Louisiana Cannabis Association reveals 72 percent of Louisiana voters are in favor of the medical marijuana legislation. Just 13 percent surveyed by JMC Enterprises opposed patients’ usage of medical marijuana. A bill to extend use of medical marijuana to those with serious medical conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, seizure disorders and epilepsy passed through the Louisiana State Senate.

A Senate committee has approved the bill to prevent members of the LGBT community from being fired or turned down for jobs because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter authored the legislation. He says we need to protect people from discrimination. The measure passed on a 4-2 vote and now heads to the Senate floor for more debate.

The House has approved two more pro-life measures. One of the bills, authored by Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds, prohibits women from getting abortions just because a child will have a genetic disorder. Edmonds says life is hard, and women shouldn’t be able to abort their babies just because it would be easier. Edmond’s bill passed 75-1. Another proposal by Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson would outlaw a procedure commonly used in second trimester abortions. Johnson’s bill was approved unanimously. Both measure now head to the Senate.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said stalled community college projects in Winnsboro and St. Tammany can restart, but others in Alexandria, Baton Rouge and Westwego will remain mothballed for now. The projects in Winnsboro and St. Tammany were well under way when construction was halted and the governor says no more money will be required to complete those projects. For now,  Edwards says he wants to direct what's available in the state's limited borrowing capacity toward infrastructure projects. In doing so, the governor deferred maintenance on existing college and university campus buildings.

The man who allegedly shot former Saints player Will Smith has been indicted on charges of murder and attempted murder. Cardell Hayes pleaded not guilty and his bond is 1.75 million dollars. His attorney said in court today that the prosecution is trying to jam an indictment down his client’s throat. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the DA is just going through the procedure according to the law. Hayes was also indicted on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated damage to property to go along with the murder and attempted murder charge.

Two people are dead following a shootout in Calcasieu parish. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says officers met Cody McAdams in a field, while he was attempting to kidnap his estranged wife Brandy and their 5-year-old child. Mancuso says McAdams fired several shots at the deputies before the officers returned fire, then he shot and killed his wife before turning his gun on himself. The young girl is unharmed. Mancuso says Brandy had filed several domestic violence charges against McAdams.

A Vermilion Parish teacher is behind bars accused of rape. They say James Harber, a 7th grade teacher at JH Williams Middle School, was booked by Abbeville Police with two counts of second-degree rape and one count of first-degree rape.

Sports..

Tonight is rounds two and three of the NFL draft, and several former LSU Tigers are expected to be selected. NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier believes linebacker Deion Jones will go early in round two. Detillier believes defensive back Jalen Mills will go in the second round, as well. Detillier also believes four year starter Vadal Alexander will be a third round pick and could be a productive offensive guard in the NFL. Hear the Draft on 1410 ESPN 

The LSU Baseball team is in Oxford, MS to play Ole' Miss. Tonight is game two. they lost last night's game 7-6 You can hear the game tonight on 970 KSYL

News for Wednesday 042716

By Dave Graichen

One of the largest employers in CenLA announces mass layoffs are coming. Houston-based Union Tank Car Company (UTLX) said it expects to lay off about 224 employees beginning June 24th at its Alexandria facility. Jim Clinton is the CEO of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance says the company will cut its production in half due to market conditions. He says UTLX is a strong company that shouldn’t have a problem adding staff once the economy rebounds. UTLX said they will continue to employ about 350 people. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says it will conduct orientation sessions for affected employees next week.

A pro-voucher group is attacking John Bel Edwards in a new TV ad as they are criticizing the first year governor for cutting six million dollars from the state’s voucher program. Louisiana Federation for Children president Ann Duplessiss says 71-hundred students receive vouchers, but not all of them will get one next year, if the governor has his way. Governor Edwards says the ad is blatantly false and says every student currently receiving a voucher will continue to receive one.

A Senate committee has approved legislation dealing with police body cameras and what footage should be exempted from Louisiana’s public record laws.  Author of the bill, Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns, says there needs to be some privacy safeguards but, there must also be real transparency. Then there’s the cost of storing the data. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said storing and managing the data from body cameras is costing his department more than $2 million annually.

Louisiana lawmakers are working to regulate drones. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor has legislation that prevents people from using drones for stalking, voyeurism, and other crimes. He says technology is advancing, and regulation of drones is needed to keep up with the times. Claitor says you shouldn’t be able to do something with a piece of technology that would wouldn’t do with your physical person. So far, the drone regulation bills have received very little opposition.

A bill that would require movie theaters to install metal detectors is scheduled to be heard in the House Criminal Justice committee today. Shreveport Rep. Barbara Norton wants to ensure movie goers are safe. Norton says she’s received many positive phone calls supporting this proposal. Last summer a gunman walked into a Lafayette movie theater and killed two people and injured nine. Norton says nothing changes until you put something in place. She says it would not cost theater operators a lot of money to install a detector or use a metal detecting wand.

State legislators are dealing with the repercussions of a Supreme Court ruling that says juveniles cannot be sentenced to life in prison without the chance for parole. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny’s would ensure that underage criminals with life sentences would become eligible for parole after 35 years behind bars. Martiny’s bill also mandates that the juvenile maintain a good behavioral record and participate in educational programs to qualify. He says the purpose of the bill is not to get criminals out of jail, but lawmakers have to do something because of the court ruling.

This year’s National Health Security Preparedness Index finds Louisiana is the least prepared state in the nation to respond to a major health emergency. The state scores 5.6 out of 10 on the index. Bob Johannessen with the Department of Health and Hospitals says emergency preparedness in the state has greatly improved since Hurricane Katrina. However, there are more areas than not in Louisiana that have health care shortages.

Former Louisiana Tech star Vernon Butler is in Chicago as he is one of 25 players attending the NFL draft after receiving a personal invitation from commissioner Roger Goodell. Butler is confident he’ll hear his name called when the first round takes place tomorrow night. Butler was a standout player on Louisiana Tech’s defensive line the last two seasons as he recorded over 100 tackles. NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier believes Butler will go late in the first round.

News for Monday 042516

By Dave Graichen

There are more layoffs coming to Louisiana’s oil and gas sector. LSU economist Loren Scott says the industry has been devastated by the low gas prices we’ve seen since August of 2014. He says major companies are cutting back their drilling budget dramatically. Scott says a lot of big companies are planning to stop drilling all together in the Gulf.

A bill to increase the fines for moving violations when a child under the age of 15 is in the car is being debated in the House Transportation Committee today. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis says she authored the proposal when several constituents called her after a child was killed in a car accident. Davis says children under age 15 need to be protected because until that age, they cannot be in control in a vehicle. She believes the increased fines will help stop dangerous driving with children in the car. Davis says she doesn’t expect much opposition to the bill.

Louisiana’s third “Buckle Up in your Truck” campaign has just begun. Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, John Leblanc says the goal of the campaign is voluntary compliance. He says wearing a seat belt is especially important in a pickup because those vehicles are taller than others. Leblanc says 8 people have been killed in pickup truck accidents in the state since the first of the month.

A bill that would prohibit an employer from firing or refusing to hire an individual based on their sexual orientation or gender identity will be heard in the House Civil Law committee today. Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana says this needs to be done because discrimination against gay and transgendered people is common place. Opposition is expected to come from pro-business groups. State director of the National Independence Business Dawn Starns says business owners are concerned this legislation will lead to frivolous lawsuits

A bill that forces the LHSAA to end its public-private school playoff split will be heard on the House floor today. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says his bill would prohibit schools from receiving public funds, if they belong to an athletic organization with split playoffs for select and non-select schools. Talbot says the LHSAA’s current playoff split is discriminatory. The split began in football playoffs in 2013, and it is set to expand to include basketball, baseball and softball starting in 2016-17.

A report by the National Center for Health Statistics finds the suicide rate in the US has increased dramatically since 1999.  The report finds the suicide rate of women increased to 45-percent and males increased by 16-percent. LSU Health New Orleans Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Michelle Moore says the gap is narrowing between the genders. In the past week, two male students at Mandeville High School killed themselves within 48 hours of each other.

Law enforcement is getting help in learning how to handle cases of animal cruelty from the Humane Society. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson, says they are teaching law enforcement officers about advances in technology, such as new developments in forensic pathology that can help determine what happened to animals that are brought in after abuse.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is launching educational TV shows for kids in French. LPB’s program director Jason Viso says they are partnering with the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana to help more kids learn in Frence. He says they have started showing several different kids’ shows that are in French. The shows are airing on LPB 2 between 3pm and 5pm Monday through Friday and also on the weekends.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has announced that two Northwest Louisiana men have been arrested on child pornography charges. 54-year-old James Lucius of Bossier City is charged with 500 counts of possession of child pornography involving juveniles under age 13. 24-year-old Stephen Harris of Shreveport is facing one possession charge for child pornography.

A man who was being held at a Baton Rouge hospital reportedly committed suicide after he was accused of abducting a pregnant woman. Baton Rouge Police confirmed the incident took place this Saturday morning, and the alleged abduction happened Friday night in New Orleans.

Shreveport police have arrested a 35-year-old man who is accused of fatally shooting a 55-year-old woman and a injuring a 25-year-old man during a drive-by shooting. Gina Foster was pronounced dead at the scene. Carlos Franklin surrendered to authorities and faces murder and attempted murder charges.

5th ranked LSU avoided a sweep to Mississippi State by beating the Bulldogs 11-8 on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers scored all of their runs in the three middle innings, after falling behind 3-0. Coach Paul Mainieri is happy his team pulled off the victory after tough losses on Friday and Saturday nights.

News for Thursday 042116

By Dave Graichen

Work should begin next month on the final phase of road improvements in the Coughlin Industrial Park in Pineville. The Rapides Parish Police Jury awarded  a contract for close to $458k to Diamond B Construction Co. The Coughlin Industrial Park is home to various industrial facilities, including Procter & Gamble and Plastipak Packaging. The new project will include roadway improvements to Cenla Drive, Pardue Road and Todd Hollingsworth Road. The construction should be completed in about 2 and a half months.

The House failed to pass legislation that would allow motorcyclists 21 and over to choose whether or not to wear a helmet. Lawmakers who were against the bill expressed safety as their main reason for voting against the bill. There were also concerns of increased insurance premiums. Even though the bill didn’t pass it can be brought up again for another vote.

A bill that would expand the number of diseases that could be treated legally with medical marijuana was approved in the Senate here Wednesday after falling one vote short Tuesday. Senate Bill 271 by Sen. Freddie Mills, R-Parks, drew passionate debate from both sides over two days. Mills, a pharmacist, said he cried while praying Tuesday night after receiving "email after email from parents who ask why they can't get this to help their children." But opponents like Sen. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, said they were horrified that Louisiana would expand legalization of the drug in any form. Mills' bill allows only for doses in an oil form.

The House Education Committee approved a bill to allow high school students to participate in a national survey on sexual risks. The survey asks questions such as how many sexual partners someone has had, at what age the respondent became sexually active, and what methods they take to prevent pregnancy. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds opposed the bill because he says this issue should be discussed at home, not in school. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says there is no sexual education in Louisiana public schools and Louisiana has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country. The bill now moves to the House floor.

A bill that would prohibit state employers from asking job applicants about their criminal record until after the interview process moves to the full House. The bill passed out of the House Governmental Affairs committee, despite objections from republican lawmakers. Baton Rouge Rep. Denise Marcelle is the author of the bill and she says the purpose is to get the person with a criminal record an interview and a chance to explain their story…

Harry Morel, the former District Attorney in St. Charles Parish, plead guilty to obstruction for harassing a witness in an attempt to destroy evidence for a federal grand jury that targeted the longtime prosecutor. The charge stems from an investigation into allegations Morel requested sexual favors in an exchange for lenient plea deals from female defendants. FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeff Sallet says Morel held the freedom, and the lives, of these defendants in his hands.

Legislation to prevent second trimester abortions, where doctors use forceps to abort a fetus moves on to the full House. Lafayette Doctor Damon Cudihy says this inflicts extreme pain on the unborn child. But Pro-choice attorney Ellie Schilling says this is the safest way to perform a second trimester abortion. Schilling also says the law would most certainly be declared unconstitutional.

Family members confirm that the oldest man in the nation, Felix Simoneaux Jr. of LaPlace, died Tuesday at the age of 110. It is believed that Simoneaux was the oldest man in the country for three months, according to a group that verifies such claims. Simoneaux, who was born in 1905, was going to turn 111 on May 24th. He suffered a small stroke last week.

Shreveport firefighters rescued a horse that slipped into flooded waters and was swept away. They say 5-year-old Butter was eating grass when she skid into a drainage ditch with a swift current. Rescuers lassoed Butter and pulled her to safety, and a vet called to check for injuries said the horse was banged up but nothing was broken.

The US Treasury has announced anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman will appear on the $20 bill. Summer Steib with the LSU Women’s Center says the original plan was to replace Alexander Hamilton with a woman on the $10 bill, but the new Broadway hit “Hamilton” Harriet Tubman was an African American abolitionist who worked to rescue slaves in the late 1800s. Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Helen Keller were other candidates for the newly-designed currency.

Roy King, the band director of the Golden Band from Tigerland for the last five years, is out of job today. LSU put him on administrative leave earlier this month to conduct an internal investigation and he was notified of his dismissal in a letter from the university. King’s attorney, Jill Craft, says King was shocked when he was notified. LSU says they’ve provided King with a letter outlining the reasons for his firing and it’s based on an investigation that found King did not follow policies, procedures and financial safeguards meant to protect the Tiger Band and LSU. Craft says the worst part is that King was notified of his termination via letter, which she says is unbelievable after 18 years of service to the university.

Two people have died after a mosquito-abatement airplane crashed in the woods near the Slidell City Airport lTuesday night. Slidell Police Sgt. Daniel Seuzeneau says two planes were finishing up their rounds and landing at the airport when one plane began flipping, struck a powerline, and went down into a wooded area. Seuzeneau says the downed powerlines caused small fires around the crash site. He says once fire fighters put out the blaze, they discovered the bodies of the two pilots.

News for Tuesday 041916

By Dave Graichen

Governor John Bel Edwards’ monthly one-hour radio show begins today on the Louisiana Radio Network. The show will air on 15 radio stations and it will allow the governor to speak with Louisianans one on one to address their concerns in the state. Edwards’ press secretary, Shauna Sanford, says Louisianans are well aware of the pressing problems facing the state. She says this show allows them to address those issues. You can hear the program starting at 2 this afternoon on Talk Radio 970 KSYL.

Governor John Bel Edwards announces enrollment for the state’s expanded Medicaid program will begin June 1st. Edwards told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee that expanding Medicaid will benefit the state greatly by cutting healthcare costs and improving health outcomes.  He says over 300-thousand Louisiana residents will be eligible for enrollment June 1^st. Edwards says the expansion will also save the state much-needed dollars in critical budget times.

It’s been 100 days today since Governor John Bel Edwards took office. LSU Political Science professor Wayne Parent says Edwards did not get to enjoy a “honeymoon” at the beginning of his term, like other governors have, because of fiscal issues facing the state and an uncooperative legislature. Edwards has followed through with his campaign promise to expand Medicaid. The governor also said he would increase the state’s minimum wage, but that proposal will face stiff opposition from House Republicans.

The governor is slowing down on the building and expansion of facilities on Louisiana’s community college campuses, because of a lack of dollars in the state’s construction budget. Over half of the projects on the 280-million dollar list for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System have been put on hold.

Legislation that establishes a legal framework for surrogacy births is heading to the House floor. Under current law, a child born to a surrogate is considered the infant’s mother. Metairie Rep. Joseph Lopinto wants to change the law so the genetic parents are immediately the legal guardians of the child. President of the Louisiana Family Forum Gene Mills says they oppose third party gestational surrogacy. He says adoption is God’s way of providing parents to a child in need with a family but surrogacy disrupts that.

The Louisiana Survey finds 53-percent of residents surveyed are still opposed to same-sex marriages even after last year’s historic Supreme Court ruling. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab Michael Henderson says this percentage has decreased over the past three years. He says the survey also found 52-percent support religious freedom laws.

That same survey showed 73-percent of Louisianans believe the Confederate monuments should stay up. Henderson says even 47-percent of black residents think the monuments should not be removed. Henderson says unlike the removal of the monuments, about half of residents are opposed to the state issuing specialty licenses plates displaying the Confederate battle flag.

A crop-duster pilot was killed in a crash is West Carroll Parish at around 9:15 yesterday  morning. Authorities says Daniel Morgan was found dead when E-M-S responded to the crash site. Sheriff Jerry Philley says it’s possible Morgan could’ve clipped a tree top before crashing. Philley says the Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating the incident.

Dozens of dead sea turtles are washing up along the Gulf Coast and biologists are not sure why. Director of the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies, Moby Solangi says it’s a big concern because the Kemps Ridley sea turtles that are stranding early in the season are the most endangered sea turtles in the world.

After a slow start in conference play, LSU finds itself just one game back of Texas A&M for first place in the SEC West. The Bayou Bengals are 9-6 in the SEC and Coach Paul Manieri likes where his team is at. Last year, LSU was 10-5 at halfway point of league play and won the SEC regular season title.

News for Friday 041516

By Dave Graichen

Robert Wolf, an Alexandria Realtor involved in numerous developments over a career that spanned more than half a century, has died.  Wolf was a past president of the Alexandria-Pineville Board of Realtors and the 1984 winner of the board’s Realtor of the Year award. A Mass of Christian Burial for Wolf is set for 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Park under direction of John Kramer & Son. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. until time of the service Saturday at the church. Robert Wolf was 85.

The FEMA/state disaster recovery centers in Colfax and Winnfield will permanently close at 6 p.m. Saturday. Those centers, which serve last month’s flood and storm victims, will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through today and Saturday before closing for good. ,

The Louisiana National Guard at Camp Minden successfully conducted their first test burn of 88 pounds of M6 propellant. Col. Pete Schneider says over the next 30 days they’ll ramp up different amounts until they reach the full capacity of about 800 pounds. He believes it’ll take about a year to burn all of the propellant that was improperly stored by Explo Systems.

Schneider says the burn is environmentally friendly.

At the request of Gov. John Bel Edwards, Louisiana senators Thursday rejected the public school financing formula proposed by the state education board for next year, which included a $44 Million spending boost. Lawmakers in the current budget year raised funding for K-12 public schools by $44 million outside of the annual financing formula. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, or BESE, proposed to roll that money into the formula for the 2016-17 school year, to make it a permanent increase.  The Governor however said the state can’t afford that amid ongoing budget. The Senate Education Committee agreed without objection Thursday to the reluctant request of its chairman, Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, to reject the formula.

The funeral for WWL Saints Color Analyst and former LSU and Saints player Hokie Gajan, who passed away at 56 from cancer, is today in Madisonville. Sportswriter and Gajan’s former LSU teammate John Ed Bradley say he remembers first meeting Hokie in 1974 when they played each other in a high school football game. He says Gajan was a terror on the field and an overall great guy.  He says Gajan was an original and will be greatly missed by everyone whose lives he touched.

A bill to prevent the removal of confederate monuments did not get out of a House committee Thursday. The legislation would create a seven-member statewide board that would get to decide if a monument more than 30 years old should be removed. New Orleans Representative Joseph Bouie says it is currently left up to local municipalities to decide what they want to display, or not display, in their city. He says each city should be able to decide what kind of monuments they want to have.

The forecast team at Colorado State University calls for the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season to be near-average. Research scientist Phil Klotzbach, lead author of the report, says they predict there will be 12 named storms. Klotzbach says the El Nino is dissipating which is why they are predicting a more active season than in 2015, but northern Atlantic Ocean temperatures are still cooler than average. Klotzbach says their next forecast will be out the day hurricane season begins on June 1st.

A bill to increase the fines for not wearing a seatbelt has been approved by the House. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says the current fine of $25 is one of the lowest in the country, and even with an increase to $50 for a first offense, the fine is still lower than many other states. The measure passed on a 62-34 vote and now moves to the Senate.

A measure that would allocate 7% of medical marijuana sales to the state ag department cleared it’s first hurdle out of committee today and heads to the House floor. The bill lists fees that would be charged to the state sanctioned medical marijuana grower. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says he needs new money otherwise he wouldn’t be able to pay for required inspections, lab testing and over site that is mandated in the medical marijuana law.

Tax Season is coming to a close, as Tax Day is this Monday. That means there are just a few days left to file federal taxes. Baton Rouge tax preparer Letti Lowe-Ardoin, with the Louisiana CPA society, advises people not to rush, because simple mistakes can be made. Ardoin says people can also miss out on deductions and tax exemptions if they rush through filing. And a reminder, Victims of the recent flooding in the state are eligible for an extension, and those dates can be found at I-R-S-dot-gov.

Governor John Bel Edwards will launch a monthly call-in radio show to air on the Louisiana Radio Network. The show will be broadcast statewide, and listeners will have the opportunity to call in and talk one on one with the governor. The show will air the third week of each month. Here in Cenla you can hear the show on 970 KSYL. The first show is next Tuesday at 2pm.

A 17-year-old student has been arrested after another bomb threat circulating on social media was made against Ponchatoula High School. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards says when the boy was questioned, he admitted to sending multiple threats. He was arrested and charged with two counts of falsely stating that a bomb had been placed on school grounds and two counts of terrorizing.

Another baby whooping crane has joined the family of endangered birds in Louisiana, as two eggs have hatched in Jefferson Davis Parish this week. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist, Sara Zimorski, leads the whooping crane project that has been working since 2011 to reestablish the birds in Louisiana. Zimorski says this the first whooping crane hatching in Louisiana in 77 years.

A mother from Baton Rouge who cops say was driving drunk with her 9-year-old in the vehicle at the time, nearly crashed into a marked police unit. BRPD says 42-year-old Chiquita Chriss was discovered to have a BAC of nearly three times the legal limit. She was booked for DWI and reckless operation.

The Saints regular season schedule will be released at 7 PM tonight along with the rest of the NFL teams. New Orleans will play their division rivals twice, and they’ll also have games against the Rams, Seahawks, Lions, Cardinals, 49ers, Giants and teams from the AFC West.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has called for a special meeting so member principals can vote on a new playoff proposal.  In January, principals voted to expand the public-private school playoff split to more sports than just football. School Relations Committee chairman, Mike Boyer, says the expanded split is causing problems for the LHSAA, so they want to give principals another option. It has not been determined when this special meeting will take place.

Saturday afternoon at 3 PM it’s the LSU spring game and we’ll get an idea if the passing game has really progressed. Brandon Harris is the returning starter at quarterback. Purdue transfer Danny Etling is the new back-up QB and Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says fans can see for themselves on Saturday is he’s really a contender for playing time the fall. Worsham says the most interesting aspect of Saturday’s spring game is what will new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda’s defense look like.

News for Wednesday 041316

By Dave Graichen

The writing was on the wall and yesterday it became official. Dr. Joe Aguillard, former president of Louisiana College in Pineville, has been stripped of the president emeritus title by the school's Board of Trustees. The action cuts ties between the college and Aguillard, who served as president from 2005 until 2014. He was removed from his tenured faculty position earlier this semester.

Governor John Bel Edwards told lawmakers yesterday that deep cuts would be spread over several state services under the latest budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. The plan says DHH would be reduced by $408 million, TOPS by $183 million, higher ed $46.1 million and 55 million slashed from K-12 public education. Edwards says another special session could come as soon as June 7th..

A bill that would require businesses to pay men and women the same for similar work passed in the Senate with a 28-10 vote. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says studies show in Louisiana a woman makes on average 65-cents to every dollar a man earns. The measure now heads to the House, where it’s expected to face tough opposition.

A bill that allows clergy members to refuse to conduct a same-sex marriage passed in a Senate committee. Opponents are concerned about the potential for backlash as religious freedom bills approved in other states have received. But Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says those bills are much broader than his proposal, which is strictly limited to churches and religious leaders. The Governor supports the bill.  But he says pastors are already protected under Louisiana law. The bill now moves to the House floor.

A bill that would allow motorcyclists aged 21 years and older the option to wear a helmet now heads to the full House. Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission John LeBlanc says if this bill becomes law, he anticipates 128 more deaths over the next 10 years. Governor John Bel Edwards also opposes the legislation.

A Senate committee approves legislation that would increase the age to 18 for a suspect to be prosecuted as an adult. Currently, individuals 17 and over are put into the adult criminal system once charged with a crime. Criminal justice expert Ed Mulvey says a 17 year-old offender is better off in the juvenile justice system. The legislation will now move to the full Senate. 17-year-olds who commit serious offenses could still be tried as an adult.

Many people are remembering the great life of former LSU and Saints running back Hokie Gajan, who passed away from cancer late Monday night at the age 56. LSU’s all-time leading rusher Charles Alexander played with Hokie for two years in college and says Gajan was the ultimate teammate. Gajan announced he’d been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer near the end of 2015. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The Governor’s Office says a more than $1.7 million dollar disaster grant has been given to the state to help provide temporary jobs in the Louisiana parishes devastated by the recent storms and flooding.

A recent discovery could change the whole dynamic of the Will Smith murder case. Police say a loaded 9mm gun was found in the former-Saints defensive end’s vehicle. Legal analyst Chick Foret says this could help alleged shooter Cardell Hayes’ defense that he was not the aggressor. Surveillance video also shows that a hit and run that took place prior to the shooting appears to be Smith rear-ending Hayes before driving off.  Foret says there are still a lot of unanswered questions about the circumstances of the incident, especially now that we know there was a gun in Smith’s vehicle.

A Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputy has been fired following his arrest for allegedly touching a woman in a sexually inappropriate manner while he was on duty. In a release, the sheriff’s office says they received a complaint that Deputy Cody Onxley, while at work, went to the home of the victim under false pretenses and touched her during the encounter. Onxley was charged with sexual battery and malfeasance in office and was terminated from his job.

A bill that would allow the sale of raw milk from farmers to consumers is once again set to be heard by lawmakers today, after two failed attempts. Testimony is scheduled for debate in the Senate Health and Welfare committee today. The sale of raw milk stirs up major controversy across the US and has sparked heated debates in the last two years it was brought up to Louisiana lawmakers. Food safety has been cited as the major reason the sale of raw milk on farms is banned.

The Pelicans disappointing season ends tonight. The expectation was another trip to the playoffs, instead a mountain of injuries crushed the team’s playoff chances.

News for Friday 040816

By Dave Graichen

Two bills that attempt to resolve funding problems for TOPS have been approved by the Senate Education Committee. One of the bills would cap the award amount at the current level and would no longer meet tuition increases. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue says this bill is similar to one that passed last year.  The other approved TOPS funding bill would reduce the amount each TOPS recipient receives in the event the state cannot fully fund the program. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish says this ensures that all of the students who earn TOPS get at least part of their scholarship. Both of these measures now head to the Senate floor.

A Natchitoches Parish man who helped many farmers get their cattle to higher ground during the recent flooding was killed yesterday while preparing to herd more cattle while on horseback. Witnesses say 32 year old Todd Roque was attempting to cross Bayou Brevelle, near Melrose, when the horse apparently got spooked and threw him into the water. His body was recovered a short time later. Roque was the father of two.

Saturday is election day. Here in Rapides Parish, all 17 elections are tax referendums, including a proposed new half-cent sales tax to provide pay hikes for school employees. In all, 13 of the referendums are for schools, two are for road districts, and two are for fire districts. There are no candidate elections in Rapides Parish. The other area parishes with elections on Saturday are Allen, Evangeline, Natchitoches, Sabine, Vernon and Winn. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Saturday.

A water boil advisory is in effect for the town of Urania. A water main between the water plant and the town broke, resulting in the boil advisory. Until further notice, residents in Urania should disinfect their water before drinking it.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday he and state Rep. Jack McFarland don’t yet have the votes to pass a bill that would require Medicaid recipients to provide a copay for services.

McFarland, R-Winnfield, voluntarily deferred House Bill 492 from its House Health and Welfare Committee hearing Thursday after it became clear the bill wouldn’t clear the panel. Providers have lobbied members against copays, saying most will be uncollectable and amount to a Medicaid rate reduction. The Governor believes copays would promote “personal responsibility” and encourage Medicaid patients to seek treatment at primary care providers rather than emergency rooms. McFarland said he plans to bring the bill back for debate before the end of the legislative session.

A bill that would extend the waiting period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours has been approved by the House. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says women have a lot to consider when making this decision. The waiting period does not apply to women more than 150 miles from an abortion clinic.

Louisiana Tech women’s basketball coach Tyler Summit has resigned. There’s been speculation about inappropriate behavior involving Summit and in his statement, the married 25 year-old says he is profoundly disappointed in himself for engaging in a relationship that hurt the people he loves and respects the most.

The massive March flooding across the state has cost the agriculture industry up to 15 million dollars. That’s according to LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry, who says corn was impacted the most, as about 40-thousand acres were covered in water and some fields are still underwater. Guidry says about 3 to 4 million dollars in corn was lost.

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival begins today but it wasn’t a great year for strawberries, because of the massive flooding in Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes last month. Strawberry farmer Eric Morrow says 90% of his crop was damaged and he won’t have much to show for this year’s harvest. Morrow says the rain came at the wrong time and ruined a lot of green fruit.

A bill that adds parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities as a firearm free zone passes out of a House Criminal Justice Committee on an 8 to 6 vote. The legislation faces opposition from gun rights supporters.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is monitoring the deer population for chronic wasting disease, which has been confirmed in Arkansas and Texas. Dr. Jim LaCour with DWF says the disease is a fatal, progressive neurological disease that affects deer, including the white-tailed deer in Louisiana. A big concern is that deer infected with CWD can spread the disease, before symptoms develop.

A Natchez Mississippi man is now in custody after fatally shooting his estranged wife and another man multiple times in their Vidalia home while the woman’s two children slept nearby. Vidalia Assistant Police Chief Bruce Wiley says witnesses saw the suspected gunman fleeing the home in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Wiley says 35-year-old Curt Thornton was arrested after a Mississippi police officer pulled Thornton over for riding his motorcycle without a helmet.

News for Wednesday 040616

By Dave Graichen

Another national rating agency has dropped Louisiana’s credit rating by one notch, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy. This is the second rating downgrade in just two months, as Moody’s Investor Services lowers the state’s rating in February. These rating determine interest rates so borrowing money could become more expensive for Louisiana.

The APD reports, four men still are at large after arrest warrants were served Tuesday morning on members of the Alexandria based “Triple M Murder Team,” a gang that indictments issued last week accuse of being responsible for murders and other violent crimes dating back to 2010. Ten people were arrested, but six of them already were jailed “in various facilities” on other charges. The complete story and a list of those arrested can be found in today’s town talk.

Alexandria city employees will get 3 percent pay raises in the new fiscal year that begins May 1. The 3 percent, across-the board raises are included in the 2016-17 budget that was submitted by Mayor Jacques Roy and approved yesterday by the City Council.

Five more parishes are now eligible for disaster assistance for residents affected by recent severe storms and flooding. They are Catahoula, East Carroll, Franklin, Lincoln and St. Helena. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says some residents in disaster declared parishes are also eligible for disaster unemployment insurance, but the deadlines to enroll are approaching.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says, as so many people in Louisiana are working to put their lives back together following devastating flooding, residents are urged to beware of price gouging. He says it is outrageous and unlawful for merchants to wrongfully profit from the horrific events.

A state lawmaker tells higher education officials not to expect any additional revenue and they need to come up with a plan on how to educate our future workforce with existing dollars. Covington Representative John Schroeder says higher education should restructure itself based on the dollars that are available now. Schroeder says after raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the special session, he doesn’t see legislature passing any more tax increases.

During a rally yesterday of people with developmental disabilities, Governor John Bel Edwards told the crowd that lawmakers would be back for a second special session to raise more revenue.

House Transportation also voted in favor of the REAL ID license bill after almost 2 hours of debate. The vote was 10-5 and now heads to the House floor. A similar bill has already passed in the Senate.

5^th district US Congressman Ralph Abraham arrives in Cuba today seeking to make Louisiana a trade partner with the island once the U.S. lifts the trade embargo. The Richland Parish Republican says exporting Louisiana rice to Cuba would make a lot of sense for both sides. 

Abraham says beef, poultry, corn, and soybeans will hopefully follow shortly after they secure a deal to send Louisiana rice to Cuba.

The House Education Committee meets today to discuss a variety of proposals that would change the TOPS Scholarship Program as we know it. Kenner Representative Julie Stokes has a bill that would make the scholarship a loan that students would have to pay back if they drop out or fail classes. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey has a proposal that would raise the GPA requirement to retain the scholarship once a recipient is in college. The bill would raise the minimum GPA from a 2.3 to a 2.5 for the first year, and from a 2.5 to a 2.75 for the last three years.

A rally in support of legislation to have 17-year-olds charged as juveniles rather than adults takes place on the State Capitol steps today. Meg Garvey with the Youth Justice Coalition says Louisiana is one of only 9 states that routinely prosecutes 17-year-olds as adults. Garvey says a 17-year-old in the juvenile justice system could help kids get back on the right track, as studies show convicted teens are 34 percent less likely to reoffend.

A Senate Committee has unanimously approved a proposal that would ban the sale of aborted fetal tissue. The bill would create a $5-thousand fine and mandatory 10 year prison sentence for people who sell or transfer organs or other body parts from aborted fetuses.

A bill that would allow pets to be buried with their owners failed to get approval from a Senate committee Tuesday. Gerald Melancon, with the Louisiana Cemetery Board, says this proposed law would give cemeteries problems, if the owner never wanted to be buried with the pet, but the family wants it to happen. The author of the bill says he’ll bring the legislation back again next year.

LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson says the school is debating whether or not it will grow medical marijuana. Lawmakers gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to produce the prescription drug. Richardson says they are considering their options. He says several bills on medical marijuana in this regular session outline the regulations that could help them make a decision.

Seat belt fines would double on a first offense under a bill that advances out of the House Transportation Committee. New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger says under this legislation, the maximum fine would be 75 dollars. He feels this would help more people buckle up. The bill moves to the full House.

News for Monday 040416

By Dave Graichen

Seven Louisianans have died in crashes between cars and trains within the last three months. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission urging drivers to always obey alerts at railroad crossings. Spokesperson Mark Lambert says one of the major causes, motorists get impatient and drive around the railroad crossing arms.

During the month of March Shreveport received 12.8 inches, which is the highest amount since 1945 and Monroe set a record with 24.4 inches of rain. Jason Hansford with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says many bayous and rivers are still at flood stage. He says we likely won’t see these levels again during our lifetime.

Police are looking for a man after a search warrant led to a gruesome discovery in a Slidell home. Sgt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the Slidell Police Department says 31-year-old Joshua Roques is wanted on multiple charges, including cremating human remains, opening graves and mutilating human remains. He says they believe he may be trying to flee the state.

Compliance could be a problem for businesses and vendors as new sales tax laws are now in effect. Jason Decuir, an attorney with Ryan’s tax service, says if vendors don’t collect the right amount of taxes, it will cause problems with the state trying to solve the budget deficit. He says this is difficult for some businesses, because many haven’t had to collect sales taxes on certain items before. Decuir says some businesses will find it difficult to collect the right amount of tax.

Amazon has informed Amazon Associates in Louisiana that it’s ending its relationship with them because of a law that now allows the Department of Revenue to collect internet sales tax on purchases. Amazon Associates have their own personal blogs or sites and provide links to Amazon products for consumers to purchase.

We are through three weeks of the regular legislative session and it’s been a slow start. The biggest piece of legislation so far has been the minimum wage bill clearing the Senate Labor Committee. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says legislators were burnt out after a tough special session. The regular session concludes June 6.

This season’s corn crop is off to a soggy start after record amounts of rainfall during March. LSU Ag Center corn specialist Dan Fromme says it’s been a challenging year so far. He says we’ve seen rain in excess of 20 inches and some corn fields are still underwater. Fromme says this will have a significant impact on the economy. He says the corn that came up early on in the year has been sitting in water for a while. Fromme says there are still a few weeks left to plant corn and the hope is for dry weather.

Three proposed bills aim to help ex-prison inmates reintegrate into society are set to be heard on the House floor this week. One would create a certificate of employability that former-felons could show potential employers. Holly Harris, Executive Director for the US Justice Action Network, says people getting out of jail need opportunities to help reduce the recidivism rate.

Another proposal would establish three new “reentry courts” in the state, in addition to 9 that are already in place. The new programs would be established in Houma, Lake Charles, and Livingston. Harris says these programs are essential to criminals who are trying to get their lives back on track.

There are only two weeks left until Tax Day, which is April 18, and time is running out to file federal taxes. IRS Spokesperson Lea Crusberg says usually April 15th is the deadline, but those who like to wait until the last minute have a couple of extra days to work with. Crusberg advises people not to get in a hurry filing taxes, because careless mistakes can be made, like forgetting to sign or putting the wrong social security number on their return. She says filing taxes electronically can help avoid these errors. Crusberg says people who make less than $62-thousand a year are eligible for free electronic filing.

Governor John Bel Edwards has told state Democratic Party leaders to get behind Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell in the US Senate race.  UL Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says Edwards endorsement of the populist politician from north Louisiana is a real boost for his campaign. Edwards says Campbell has shown he can win elections when people don’t believe a Democrat can or should win. But Cross says Edwards endorsement does not guarantee a spot in the runoff, because this will be a race that will focus on national issues.

Ascension Parish authorities report an off-duty state police detective shot and wounded a man who allegedly broke into his unmarked car and then threatened to shoot him. Sheriff Jeff Wiley said a neighbor woke the detective about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, saying someone was breaking into the officer’s car. He said the neighbor then called the sheriff’s office. Investigators said the detective chased and caught the man, who had several valuable items. Authorities said they struggled and the man allegedly said he was ready to use his gun and reached for his pants pocket. They say that’s when the detective shot him once in the abdomen. He’s recovering at a local hospital.

State police are investigating a fatal crash in which a Lafayette Parish sheriff’s patrol car hit and killed a man who was standing in a road late at night. Master Trooper Brooks David (DAHveed) said Saturday that the crash killed 34-yearold Grant Hamilton of Lafayette. He said Hamilton was standing in the eastbound lane of Louisiana Highway 98 when Deputy John Malveaux was driving his fully marked car down the highway for a non-emergency call about 11:45 p.m. Friday. David said Hamilton died shortly after arrival at a hospital.