The Justice Reinvestment Task Force Commissioned by Governor John Bel 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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Governor Edwards says while the recommendations are a good start, we’re a long way from mission accomplished…:
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The proposals from the task force will be put into bills that will be considered in the upcoming regular session.

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, Doctor Katara Williams says there was a seven-percent decline in drivers and passengers who use their seat belt in central Louisiana…:
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Catholics who are abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent get a pass on St. Patrick’s Day, sort of. Father Frank Coens of St. Paschal (Pascal) Catholic Church in West Monroe says giving up meat is a type of penance Catholics practice during Lent. He 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 tomorrow, make a point to make some type of other Lenten personal sacrifice.

Proposals to reduce Louisiana’s highest-in-the-world incarceration rate have been released by the Governor’s Justice Reinvestment Task Force. Halen Doughty has more…:
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Former legislator Elbert Guillory will lead an outreach effort to bring more minorities to the GOP. Guillory became the first black Republican state senator in 2013 when he switched from the Democratic Party. He says his hope is to convince African-American voters the Republican Party has their interest in mind.
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88-percent of drivers and passengers are buckled up in Louisiana, which is up two-percent from the previous year. That’s according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Executive director, Doctor Katara Williams says the increase is mostly attributable to more African-American and Hispanic drivers and passengers are buckling up. She says Hispanic usage rates rose 10-percent…:
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Usage rates were up in each region of the state, except for the Alexandria and Monroe areas.

Lawmakers are discussing legislation that would raise the state’s gasoline tax 17-cents per gallon, which would generate over 500-million dollars that can be used to improve roads. Franklin Representative Sam Jones would like to see the issue go to the voters this fall, because there are unmet transportation needs around the state…
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A gasoline tax will be discussed more in the upcoming session.

The Justice Reinvestment Task Force Commissioned by Governor John Bel Edwards releases their recommendations to reduce Louisiana’s highest-in-the-world incarceration rate. Department of Corrections Secretary James Leblanc says if enacted, these proposals would put us second in the world:
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Governor Edwards acknowledges there are some people who need to be in jail for a long time, either for the nature of the crime or their threat to public safety…:
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The recommendations will be addressed in the upcoming legislative session.

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.

The state has set a new record for seat belt usage. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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It was a long game at Alex Box Stadium and for the second time this season UNO defeated LSU. The Privateers upset the Tigers seven to four in 15 innings. It’s the first time since the 2008 season that UNO has defeated LSU twice in one season, and this was longest game in the history of the new Alex Box Stadium.

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. It says the proposals would ensure consistency in sentencing and release practices, focus prison beds on those who pose a serious threat to public safety and clear away barriers to successful reentry into the community and the workforce, to name a few. They estimate that if the ideas were enacted, the prison population would drop 13 percent over the next decade, and save $150 million dollars.

On his monthly call-in radio show, the Governor Edwards said he’s grateful for the more than three and a half decades of service by State Police Col Mike Edmonson. The Superintendent announced his retirement Wednesday which will be effective a week from tomorrow. Edwards says, from there, he will appoint an interim head Col…:
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The retirement announcement comes as multiple agencies are investigating LSP’s travel spending.

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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Chief David Addison requested the Attorney General’s office to investigate.

Former state lawmaker Elbert Guillory, who is black, has been tabbed to recruit more minority voters to the Republican Party. Guillory says his pitch to traditional non-Republicans is that the G-O-P is more concerned about creating jobs and tackling crime…
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Guillory switched parties in 2013 and became the first black state senator in Louisiana’s history.

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.

It’s March Madness time, and a survey conducted by a staffing firm found companies who hold bracket competitions have happier employees. Michelle Southern reports…:
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It was a late night for a few baseball teams around the state last night. LSU and UNO played 15 innings and the Privateers beat the Tigers seven to four. It was the longest game in the history of the new Alex Box Stadium. UL Lafayette and Louisiana Tech went 13 innings and the Bulldogs defeated the Cajuns six to five.

The governor’s task force aimed at reducing the state’s incarceration rate released it’s recommendations for the state legislature. The panel believe its comprehensive plan that will be discussed at the capitol today will reduce the state’s prison population by 13 percent over the next decade and save taxpayers 305-million dollars.

Former state lawmaker Elbert Guillory, who is black, has been chosen by the Louisiana GOP to lead an outreach effort to bring more minorities to the Republican Party. Emelie Gunn has more….
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Legislation is expected to be filed for the upcoming regular session that would raise the state’s gasoline tax by up to 17-cents. Republican Representative Steve Carter of Baton Rouge is heavily involved in thos discussions, because his constitutents are particulary concerned about traffic conditions…
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If the state’s gas tax was increased by 17-cents, it would mean an extra 500-million dollars a year to fund the state’s transportation needs.

With March Madness kicking off today, a staffing firm finds that nearly one in four companies organize activities tied to sporting events and it actually boosts morale. Office Team District President Brandi Britton says managers who do things like hold a bracket competition tend to have happier employees…:
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With the legislative session approaching, lawmakers are working on a bill that would raise the state’s gasoline tax for the first time in 30 years. Democratic Representative Sam Jones of Franklin says he would like to see a proposed gas tax increase go before the voters this fall, but the discussion continues over how many additional tax cents the tax hike should go.
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Some of the worst traffic congestion in the country is in the Capital City. That’s why Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter supports a higher gas tax…
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Officials say every penny the gasoline tax goes up, an additional 30-million dollars can be spent on transportation needs.

Former legislator Elbert Guillory will lead an outreach effort to bring more minorities to the GOP. Guillory became the first black Republican state senator in 2013 when he switched from the Democratic Party. He says his hope is to convince African-American voters the Republican Party has their interest in mind.
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Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere says Guillory can help the GOP reach one-million registered voters in the state.

It’s the first full day of the NCAA Tournament and workers could be districted by March madness. Office Team District president Brandi Britton says employers should capitalize on major sporting events to bring employees together and have more fun at work…
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Britton says their survey shows 66-percent of employees feel that celebrating sporting events can boost their overall hapiness at work.

State lawmakers are putting together a bill for the regular session that would increase the state’s gasoline tax for the first time in decades. Halen Doughty has more…
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A study from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission finds the state’s seat belt usage rate is at an all-time high of 88-percent. That’s nearly a two-percent point increase over the previous year. The report shows the increase is mostly attributable to more minority drivers and passengers buckling up.

Governor Edwards must find a new leader for State Police. Colonel Mike Edmonson’s last day as superintendent is March 24th as he is retiring with the department under fire for a travel scandal. Edwards says Edmonson also oversees the Office of Motor Vehicles, the Fire Marshal’s office, and highway safety…
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Workplace productivity might be down today, because it’s the first full day of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament. Office Team District President Brandi Britton says employers who incorporate fun activities surrounding March Madness can promote healthy mix of work and play, but managers still need to be organzied about it…
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