President Trump announces he will sign an emergency declaration to pursue the border wall. The declaration will likely be immediately challenged in Congress but would require an unlikely two-thirds override vote in both chambers. At that point, Senator John Kennedy says he expects the battle to shift to the courts.
Cut 11 (09) “…Ninth Circuit”
Kennedy says he would not vote to oppose the President’s State of Emergency.
Thursday’s arrest of 9 frat members at LSU over allegations of hazing comes after the passage of the Maxwell Gruver Act that was put into place to combat the activity by handing out harsher punishments for future incidents. East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore says this isn’t the only hazing case to come up since the act’s passage.
Cut 14 (08) “…kind of go along.”
After a year-long investigation, State Police have arrested fifteen suspects in connection with a Mardi Gras 2018 incident known as a ride out where participants would stop up highways and ride recklessly. Senior Trooper Melissa Matey says ride outs of this nature have taken place in other cities across the country but is hopeful this investigation will keep another one from happening during this year’s Mardi Gras.
Cut 6 (10) “…please call 911.”
The Ethics Board is reconsidering its decision to bar candidates from using campaign funds to pay for childcare this morning. In November, a female Baton Rouge candidate requested authorization and was denied as the board overruled a 2000 decision that allowed a man to use campaign funds for childcare. UL-Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says the optics of the decision make it look like the board is trying to prevent moms from running for office.