A bill signing ceremony to include 17-year-olds in the Juvenile Justice System takes place today. The Policy Director for the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, Rachel Gassert, says 17-year-olds are not adults and shouldn’t be treated as such for even minor offenses…:
CUT 7 (10) “recidivism”
She says this law brings Louisiana in line with 41 other states that currently set the age of criminal responsibility at 18.

In the wake of the deadly shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub, Republican Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says the United States must do more to eliminate ISIS. He says these massacres like the one in San Bernardino will continue until these terrorists are eliminated…:
CUT 5 (07) “our soil”
Abraham says the battle against ISIS is one we can win.

The Zachary father of the eight-month-old baby girl who was left in a hot car will not be criminally prosecuted in her death. That decision was made by East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore, who says Marvin Mercer forgot to drop his daughter, Raylee, off at daycare on his way to work, because it’s not something he usually does…:
Cut 13 (10) “and 911”
He says this is nothing but a tragic accident.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Mississippi River levee in Baton Rouge last night to honor those victims and their families in the deadliest shooting in US history, at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Similar candlelight vigils and prayer services were held throughout the state, as the names of the 49 victims were read aloud.

Two people with ties to Louisiana were among the victims in the mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub. Twenty-seven-year-old Frank Hernandez, a former Lafayette Parish resident, was one of 49 killed and 39-year-old Leonel Melendez, a New Orleans native, is in a coma after he was shot in the head. Forum for Equality executive director Sara Jane Brady…
cut 7 (09) “…our community”
Governor Edwards and legislators held a prayer vigil at the State Capitol for the 49 people fatally shot by a man who has been desribed by authorities as a homegrown extremist. House Speaker Taylor Barras says dozens of people lost their lives while celebrating life…
cut 14 (12) “…to reconcile”

The giant sinkhole in Bayou Corne seems to have stabilized. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (25) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

The charges have been dropped against a man accused in the murder of a 21-year-old woman in Desoto Parish. Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says autopsy findings could not determine how Maranda Whitton died, so they had to release the suspect, 33-year-old Jarrod Earl Johnson of Logansport…:
CUT 4 (09) “somebody else”
He says they are still actively investigating this incident.

cut 15 (11) :…sound”
A vigil was held in the Rotunda of the State Capitol for the victims of the Orlando mass shooting. Governor John Bel Edwards says all of our hearts are broken…
cut 13 (10) “…senseless tragedy”
Edwards has ordered US and State of Louisiana flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Thursday.

Two people with ties to Louisiana were among the victims in the mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub. Twenty-seven-year-old Frank Hernandez, a former Lafayette Parish resident, was one of 49 killed and 39-year-old Leonel Melendez, a New Orleans native, is in a coma after he was shot in the head.

The standstill continues at the State Capitol over whether lawmakers should pass tax increases that would raise 600 million dollars in revenue, which is what the governor is seeking. The Edwards Administration says without that money there will be cuts to healthcare, education and the TOPS program. So far the House has approved 220 million dollars in tax increases but New Orleans Sen. Karen Peterson says that’s not enough…
cut 10 (10) “…this state”
Peterson says the Senate will not advance legislation that will correct some of the unintended consequences of the first special session, like taxing Girl Scout cookies and school lunch programs, until the House approves more revenue raising measures.But Bossier City Sen. Ryan Gatti says he’s not in favor of anymore taxes and would rather go into the budget and cut wasteful spending….
cut 12 (10) “…moving towards”

Governor Edwards and legislators held a prayer vigil at the State Capitol for the 50 people killed at an Orlando gay nightclub. House Speaker Taylor Barras says dozens of people lost their lives while celebrating life…
cut 14 (12) “…to reconcile”

The mass shooting in Orlando has saddened LGBT groups in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff palermo

Tests indicate the Bayou Corne sinkhole has stablized as we approach the four year anniversary of when the ground started giving way and swallowing up trees. Assumption Parish Director of Emergencey John Boudreaux says some of the mandatory evacuations have been lifted, but there is still an area under a voluntary evacuation…
cut 10 (07) “…is completed”
The company, Texas Brine, has been blamed for creating the sinkhole.

The Associated Press is reporting Louisiana has spent one-million dollars over the last three years fighting a lawsuit that seeks to get the court system to mandate air conditioning on death row at Angola. The story says it would cost about a million dollars for an air conditioning system that would satisfy a federal judge overseeing the case.

And there’s been no new developments in the search for a Baton Rouge school administrator, who is pregnant and hasn’t been seen since last week. Authorities believe her co-worker, who she had an affair with, has something to do with her disappearance.

A moment of unity was held in the State Capitol today as Governor Edwards and legislators honored and prayed for the victims of the Florida mass shooting. At least 50 people were killed when a gunman attacked a gay nightclub in Orlando. Governor John Bel Edwards says when freedom is threatened, all of our freedoms are threatened…
cut 12 (08) “…and hate’
Forum for Equality executive director Sara Jane Brady says the shooting demonstrates there’s still much hatred and prejudice aimed towards homosexuals…:
CUT 6 (10) “our expression”
It’s been reported New Orleans native, 39-year-old Leonel Melendez, is in a coma suffering after he was shot in the head. A former Lafayette resident, 27-year-old Frank Hernandez, is also said to be one of the 49 people shot dead by the gunman.

That large sinkhole in Assumption Parish has stabilized as we approach the four year anniversary of when the ground started sinking at Bayou Corne. But Assumption Director of Emergency Preparedness, John Boudreaux, says the sinkhole will continue to grow in size over the next few decades
cut 11 (09) “…slower progress”
The sinkhole currently covers 35 acres.

The Desoto Parish Sheriff’s office says they are still searching for answers in the death of a 21-year-old woman, as the murder charges against the suspect were dropped. Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says they originally booked 33-year-old Jarrod Earl Johnson of Logansport for the murder of Maranda Whitton, but they let him go after the autopsy’s findings…:
CUT 3 (10) “cause of death”
Whitton’s body was found in a pond near Logansport last Friday.

We are getting news that two people with ties to Louisiana were among the victims in the mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub. Twenty-seven-year-old Frank Hernandez, a former Lafayette Parish resident, was one of 49 killed and 39-year-old Leonel Melendez, a New Orleans native, is in a coma after he was shot in the head. Forum for Equality executive director Sara Jane Brady…
cut 7 (09) “…our community”

A vigil was held in the Rotunda of the State Capitol for the victims of the Orlando mass shooting. Governor John Bel Edwards says all of our hearts are broken…
cut 13 (10) “…senseless tragedy”
Edwards has ordered US and State of Louisiana flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Thursday.

The giant sinkhole in Bayou Corne seems to have stabilized. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (25) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

DeSoto Parish investigators are trying to determine how 21-year-old Maranda Whitton was killed. Her body was found in a pond near Longansport last Friday. Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says the coroner is waiting on more information before determing a cause of death, but in the meantime the investigation is ongoing…
cut 15 (06) “…on that”
33-year-old Jarod Johnson is a person of interest in Whitton’s death.

The sister of the New Orleans man who was in the nightclub that was the target of a massive deadly shooting in Orlando said on her Facebook page her brother is still alive. As of Sunday night the family hadn’t heard from 39-year-old Leonel Melendez, but Lauri Melendez says they learned he’s in a coma. Governor John Bel Edwards ordered flags at half-staff for the victims and families in the worst mass shooing in US history.

The massive sinkhole that formed about four years ago in Bayou Corne continues to show reduced activity and is close to becoming totally stable. Assumption Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness Director John Boudreaux says the hole is showing only slight growth right now. He says the deepest part has reached 174 feet and its filling up with soil from the sides…:
CUT 9 (07) “the depth”
He says experts believe the sinkhole won’t completely stop growing anytime soon, but the process will keep going slower.

The charges have been dropped against a man accused in the murder of a 21-year-old woman in Desoto Parish. Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says autopsy findings could not determine how Maranda Whitton died, so they had to release the suspect, 33-year-old Jarrod Earl Johnson of Logansport…:
CUT 4 (09) “somebody else”
He says they are still actively investigating this incident.

Members of the LGBT community in Louisiana are devastated about the targeted attack on a gay club in Orlando that claimed the lives of at least 50 and injured 53 more. Forum for Equality executive director Sara Jane Brady says the risk of things like this happening grows when political leaders try to marginalize the LGBT community…:
CUT 8 (05) “LGBT people”
A woman from Carencro posted on Facebook that her brother, 27-year-old Frank Hernandez, was one of the victims who didn’t make it.