The mother of the two siblings killed in a house fire in Bastrop Monday, now faces negligent homicide charges in their deaths. 4-year-old Tashae Johnson and her 3-year-old brother Clifton were killed in the fire after being left unattended in the home by 21-year-old Ciarria Johnson. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they believe the fire originated at a gas space heater inside the home…

cut 5 (07) “started the fire”

He says the two children were left alone in the home for hours before the fire broke out.

The Alexandria Zoo is under fire from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals after two endangered primates froze to death last week. A zoo employee left three cotton-top tamarins out in the cold, resulting in the death of two of the monkeys. Spokesperson, Brittany Peet says PETA is requesting the USDA to investigate the zoo…

cut 7 (10) “veterinary care”

Zoo officials say the employee in question, who was initially placed on administrative leave, has resigned.

A state lawmaker did not get the answers he was seeking in a closed door meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the potential health effects of an open tray burn of 15-million pounds of M-6 propellant in Webster Parish. The EPA say the propellants at Camp Minden are deteriorating and an open burn is the safest and fastest way to get rid of it. But Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says the state owns the explosives, so they should have the final say on the method of disposal…

cut 11 (11) “on it”

Despite the meeting, the E-P-A still plans on doing a trial burn.