A bill has been filed for the upcoming legislative session that would require same sex couples to face equal penalties for domestic violence. Author of the measure Marrero Rep. Patrick Connick says Louisiana and South Carolina are the only two states with the opposite sex distinction on the books. He says after speaking with the DA’s it was obvious something had to be done to protect all couples.
Cut 4 (06) “sexual orientation is”

Homosexuals report domestic abuse at a rate equal to or higher than heterosexuals, according to the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.
Governor John Bel Ewards has announced Major Kevin Reeves as the interim Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police. Reeves will replace Col. Mike Edmonson on Saturday when Edmonson retires following a travel scandal that raised questions about ovetime received by some troopers. Reeves has been with State Police for over 26 years.

Over the next 50 years, Louisiana could lose 3.6 billion dollars in homes, businesses and infrastructure if action isn’t taken to stop coastal erosion, according to a study from the LSU Economics and Policy Research Group. Researcher Stephen Barnes says Lake Charles has become a hub for commerce, but it faces 490 million dollars in business disruptions from land loss.
Cut 7 (10) “city center”

LSU has introduced its new men’s basketball coach, Will Wade. Wade spent the past two years as the VCU head coach and now takes over for Johnny Jones, who was 90-72 in five seasons at LSU. Wade says he’s always know there was something special with the Tigers.
Cut 14 (12) “it work”