Louisianians are being encouraged to quit smoking during the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout today…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A man’s 2011 road-rage related vehicular homicide conviction over the crash that killed five people on I-10 in Baton Rouge, was reduced by an appeals court to negligent homicide. The three-judge panel said there was nothing that pointed to David Leger’s intoxication as a contributing factor in the crash. DA Hillar Moore says his office will appeal.

There have been many wrecks recently between Lafayette and Baton Rouge on I-10, and DOTD says there were over 2400 from 2014 through 2016. Secretary Shawn Wilson says the majority are caused by tailgating or distractions:
Cut 5 (11) “their life”
He says 55-percent of these crashes happened when a car rear-ended another, and 22-percent when a vehicle runs off the interstate.

Law enforcement in the top half of the state has a new crime fighting tool: the North Louisiana Forensic Sciences Center in Shreveport. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says the ability to conduct DNA tests in the new facility will save time and money in investigations…:
Cut 9 (07) “less expensive”
The lab will serve 29 parishes.