Proposals to raise the state’s gasoline tax is getting pushback from the conservative political advocacy group, Americans for Prosperity. Halen Doughty has more…:
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Th Ascension Parish council has voted to call for the resignation of Parish President Kenny Mattassa. A grand jury recently indicted Matassa on charges of public bribery for allegedly offering favors to a man if he’d drop out of a race for office in Gonzales. Council members voted 6-4 in favor of calling for Mattasa to step down. He bonded out of jail on a $5000 bond.

Now that the governor has released his plan for how he’d like to see criminal justice reformed in Louisiana, the recommendations are now in the hands of lawmakers. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger, who sits on the task force that put the plan together, says bills will be filed that would put Louisiana where it needs to be in terms of prison population…:
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The recommendations include changes to drug and property crimes, altering probation and parole supervision, simplifying the criminal code, and narrow sentencing ranges.

Greater Ouachita Water Company is looking for a buyer. Ouachita Parish Police Jury President Scotty Robinson says GOWC’s roughly 25-thousand customers have been dealing with discolored water and billing errors for years. He says OPPJ has a say in who the buyer will be because they have a member on the water company’s executive board…:
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After years of dealing with these issues, he believes many customers would welcome a change.

The governor’s recommendations on criminal justice reform are now in the hands of lawmakers. Jeff Palermo reports…:
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Some state leaders have said one of the only ways to get the revenue needed to repair the state’s roads and bridges, is to consider some type of gas tax increase. But Americans for Prosperity State Director John Kay says structural changes should be made, not taxes increased…:
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Cancer patients are warming up more to the idea of palliative (pay-lee-ay-tive) care — focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. That’s according to a study out of Tulane, and researcher Michael Hoerger (Her-ger) says after learning about the benefits of palliative care, 75-percent of participants were more likely to seek it out…:
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He says the goal of this type of care is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Catholics who abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent get a pass today. Father Frank Coens of St. Paschal Catholic Church in West Monroe says the St. Patrick’s Day exception dates back to an old Irish tradition..:
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He recommends that if Catholics do eat meat today, make some type of other Lenten personal sacrifice.

Now that the governor has released his plan for how he’d like to see criminal justice reformed in Louisiana, the recommendations are now in the hands of lawmakers. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger is a member of the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Task Force. He hopes the legislature realizes that this plan is one that actually fights crime…:
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He says legislation will be offered that will get the state where it needs to be in terms of prison population.

The conservative political advocacy group, Americans for Prosperity, is pushing back against proposals to increase the state’s gasoline tax. State Director John Kay says they stand against any increase on the gasoline tax, no matter how big or small, because Louisiana taxpayers have already seen their taxes go up enough…:
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Proponents say a gas tax increase would be the only way to get all the money needed to fix the state’s road and bridge backlog.

A Tulane study finds cancer patients are more likely to receive palliative (pay-lee-ay-tive) care after learning more about it. Researcher Michael Hoerger (Her-ger) authored the study and says there are a lot of misconceptions about palliative care. He says the purpose of this study is to dispel some of the rumors…:
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He says after learning about the benefits of palliative care, 75-percent of participants were more likely to seek it out.

All 12 jurors have been sworn in for the trial of one of the former Marksville city deputies accused of shooting and killing a 6-year-old autistic boy, and injuring his father. Derrick Stafford’s trial is slated to begin on Monday.

All 12 jurors have reportedly been sworn in for the murder trial of Derrick Stafford, which begins Monday in Avoyelles Parish. Stafford is a former Marksville City Marshall accused of fatally shooting a 6-year-old autistic boy during a 2015 traffic stop. It’s been reported that both the prosecution and defense are challenging some of the jury selections, reportedly over race, which is expected to be a big issue in the case of a black cop allegedly shooting white child.

The state has set a new record for seat belt usage. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Proposals to reduce the state’s incarceration rate have been released by the Justice Reinvestment Task Force. Governor John Bel Edwards says we’re a long way from mission accomplished, as the proposals will be taken up in the upcoming regular session.

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The recommendations seek to focus prison beds on those who are a real threat to public safety.

Catholics can eat meat this Friday because it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Fr. Frank Coens says that’s because of the old Irish tradition of eating corned beef and cabbage during the feast of St. Patrick. But he says if you’re going to eat meat, it’s good to find another way to do penance.

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He says the exception doesn’t just apply to Irish Catholics.

A group ommissioned by Governor Edwards has released its recommendations to reduce Louisiana’s highest-in-the-world incarceration rate. Department of Corrections Secretary James Leblanc says they are presenting 26 ideas borrowed from other states that reflect compromise and innovation…:
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The proposals will be debated by lawmakers in the upcoming regular session.

Catholics who abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent get a pass on St. Patrick’s Day, sort of. Father Frank Coens of St. Paschal Catholic Church in West Monroe says the St. Paty’s Day exception dates back to an old Irish tradition..:
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He recommends that if Catholics do eat meat tomorrow, make a point to make some type of other Lenten personal sacrifice.

A new record has been set in the Pelican State for seat belt usage. Based on a study from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, 88-percent of drivers and passengers are buckled up, which is up two-percent from the previous year. The commission’s executive director is Doctor Katara Williams …:
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Usage rates were up in each region of the state, except for the Alexandria and Monroe areas.

A Walker police sergeant has been suspended for three days without pay after hanging a noose in the department’s squad room. Walker Police Capt. John Sharp said it was a piece of twine that had a cookie tied to it. He says there’s a law on the books that prohibits the display of a noose in public to intimidate a person or persons…:
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The Governor’s Justice Reinvestment Task Force releases their proposals to lower the state’s incarceration rate. The recommendations seek to focus prison beds on those who pose a serious threat to public safety, but Governor Edwards acknowledges there are some people who need to be in jail for a long time.

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The proposals will go into legislation to be considered in the upcoming regular session.

A Walker Police sergeant has been suspended after hanging a noose with a cookie on it in the squad room. Capt. John Sharp says the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office will likely lead the investigation and decide if charges should be filed.

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The unnamed sergeant was suspended for three days without pay.

Federal charges have been filed against an illegal immigrant who is accused of fatally shooting a Baton Rouge teen on his birthday. 49-year-old Octavio Posados was picked up in Lake Charles after allegedly shooting 16-year-old Darius Plummer in his home. The federal complaint is reportedly for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal reentry into the country by a removed person, Posados is also facing a murder charge in Easton Baton Rouge Parish.

St. Patrick’s Day is an exception to the rule that says Catholics can’t eat meat on Fridays during Lent. Fr. Frank Coens says the exception comes from the Irish tradition of eating corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day. He says you need a good reason to break the penance of abstaining from meat.

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He says the exception doesn’t just apply to Irish Catholics.

Today the governor released his final recommendations of the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Task Force, and plans for criminal justice reform to be taken up during the upcoming legislative session. Department of Corrections Secretary James Leblanc says if enacted, these proposals would put us second in the world…:
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Leblanc says their recommendations include changes to drug and property crimes, altering probation and parole supervision, simplifying the criminal code, and narrow sentencing ranges.

The Hammond Police Department says a man is behind bars for allegedly beating his grandmother with a hammer. They say 53-year-old Jerome Johnson is also accused of stealing the victim’s vehicle following the assault. 86-year-old Emma Richburg is in critical condition. Johnson is charged with attempted murder, armed robbery and theft of a motor vehicle.

One of the Lenten sacrifices made by Catholics between Mardi Gras and Easter is not to eat meat on Friday, but you’ll get a pass tomorrow. Fr. Frank Coens of St. Paschal Catholic Church in West Monroe says the St. Patrick’s Day tradition is to have corn beef and cabbage. He says if you do plan to eat meat tomorrow, find some other penance to do instead..:
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A police officer in Livingston Parish has been suspended for three days without pay after hanging a noose in the department’s squad room. Walker Police Capt. John Sharp says the makeshift noose was hung on a pipe in public view…
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It is against state law to display a noose in public to intimidate.