Memory and witness identification experts will now be allowed to testify in criminal trials in Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

LSU scientists estimate the 2019 Dead Zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico will be the second largest since measurements began in 1985. The dead zone is a low oxygen area in the Gulf that threatens living resources, like fish, shrimp and crabs. Agricultural practices in the Midwest created the dead zone some 50 years ago.

Legislation awaiting the governor’s signature calls on college campuses and student organizations to immediately report hazing incidents or face strong penalties. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry’s legislation would allow campus police to investigate off-campus hazing allegations…
cut 14 (12) “…perpetrators are”
The measure also requires universities to document in writing each step taken when they respond to a hazing complaint.

The budget that’s heading to the governor’s desk contains 47-million dollars more for public colleges and universities than the current fiscal year. Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says lawmakers were attentive to the needs of postsecondary education…
cut 9 (10) “…to do that”
Reed says the focus of higher ed will continue to be on affordability, innovation and expansion of talent development in Louisiana.

Governor Edwards signs legislation allowing eyewitness identification experts the right to testify in criminal trials. The reform specifies that those experts can be called in to potentially speak about the unreliability of eyewitness identification when there is no physical evidence that corroborates an accuser’s account. Innocence Project New Orleans Staff Attorney Kia Hayes pointed out one such situation where a victim’s recollection of a perp’s face might be questionable… 

Cut 7 (09) “…face”

The battle to deter hazing on college campuses continues with a bill on the way to the Governor’s desk authored by Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry.  It revises the state’s current anti-hazing laws based on the recommendations of law enforcement.  Landry says among the changes is the amount of time given to organizations to report hazing activity to law enforcement. 

Cut 12 (10)   “…week grace period.” 

Governor Edwards signs legislation to extend foster care from 18 21-years-old. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

Governor Edwards signs legislation allowing eyewitness identification experts the right to testify in criminal trials, a policy in line with most of the rest of nation.

Innocence Project Staff Attorney Kia Hayes says previously, the defense was barred from presenting experts who may call into question the reliability of individuals identifying an alleged perpetrator…

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The law passed the legislature unanimously

A cold front will bring the Bayou State cooler temperatures and lower humidity for the next few days. Davyon Hill with the National Weather Service Shreveport  says the cold front will drop high temperatures into the 80s tomorrow and the morning lows through Friday will be cool. He says you’ll feel the difference when you walk outside…

Cut 4 (11) “…north Louisiana” 

Legislation barring kids under the age of 16 from getting married awaits Governor Edwards signature after a last second push got it over the finish line before the end of the session. Kids aged 16 and 17 will need judicial approval and parental consent before getting married. New Orleans Representative Stephanie Hilferty says  each perspective spouse will be interviewed separately by the judge, so they can vet out any potentially dangerous scenarios…

Cut 11 (09) “…free will.”

The 2019 LSU baseball season finished with a heartbreaking 5-4 loss in 12 innings to Florida State. Devin Fontenot suffered the loss, but it’s hard to blame him for the defeat. Fontenot entered with one out in the sixth inning and pitched six innings of no-hit baseball before allowing a single in the 12th inning. LSU coach Paul Mainieri says it was a great effort by his hard throwing right-hander

Cut 15 (13) “go forward”

A proposal to abolish the death penalty failed to pass this year, but proponents are more optimistic about its chances going forward, citing the progress it made this year. New Iberia Representative Terry Landy says his bill got further this year than ever before, proof that legislative opinion may be shifting…

Cut 4 (12) “…conversation.”

Louisiana has not carried out an execution since 2010.

Legislation barring kids under the age of 16 from getting married awaits Governor Edwards signature after a last second push got it over the finish line before the end of the session. New Orleans Representative Stephanie Hilferty says the legislation is designed to push back against human trafficking that is often facilitated when older men marry young girls.

Cut 10 (07) “…states.”

The 2019 LSU baseball season finished with a heartbreaking 5-4 loss in 12 innings to Florida State. The Seminoles star third baseman Drew Mendoza singled home the winning run. LSU rallied back from a three-run deficit to tie the game at four, but could never get over the top. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri says it was a great college baseball game

Cut 14 (12) “…hearts out.” (2x)

A cold front in June will bring the Bayou State cooler temperatures and lower humidity for the next few days. Davyon Hill with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says it’s rare to see a cold front in Louisiana in June

Cut 3 (12) “…exceptions.”

Hill says the cold front will drop high temperatures into the 80s tomorrow and the morning lows through Friday will be cool.

The 2019 LSU baseball season finished with a heartbreaking 5-4 loss in 12 innings to Florida State. Star third baseman Drew Mendoza singled home the winning run. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri could have walked Mendoza, but decided to go after the Seminoles veteran number three-hitter…
Cut 13 (13) “on the ball.”
The loss ends the career of Antoine Duplantis as LSU’s all-time hits king finishes with 359 hits.

The death penalty is still in play in Louisiana, despite an effort in the legislative session to abolish lethal injections. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry says he’s encouraged about the effort’s momentum…
cut 5 (11) “….their mind”
Landry believes a bill to abolish the death penalty will pass next year.

Governor Edwards is expected to sign into law a measure that requires teenagers to be at least 16-years-old before they get married. The bill sailed through the Senate but ran into opposition in the House after influential religious groups raised concerns about barring teens who get pregnant from having to have a child out of wedlock. New Orleans Representative Stephanie Hilferty says that opposition prompted a compromise…
Cut 12 (11) “…16.”
Kids aged 16 and 17 will need judicial approval and parental consent before getting married.

Iberville Sheriff Brett Stassi has fired one of his deputies, who was accused of recording on his cellphone a woman having sex with a one-year-old child. Shaderick Jones has been charged with principal to first-degree rape and child porn. Authorities say there could be more victims. The woman in the videotape was also arrested and told detectives that she committed the act in exchange for not getting arrested on a traffic ticket charge.

LSU baseball could not keep its season going last night as Florida State punched its ticket to the College World Series with a five to four win over the Fighting Tigers in 12 innings. It’s the fourth time since 2012 that the Bayou Bengals’ season ended on their home field.

Governor Edwards signs legislation to extend foster care from 18 to 21-years-old. Kevin Barnhart has the story….
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Several high profile bills failed to gain legislative approval in the recently completed legislative session. One of them was a proposal to abolish the death penalty. But New Iberia Representative Terry Landry says opinions are changing on this issue and he has a bold prediction for next year…
cut 6 (09) “…my heart”
Louisiana has not carried out an execution since 2010.

A proposal that would prohibit teenagers under the age of 16 from getting married is awaiting the governor’s signature. New Orleans Representative Stephanie Hilferty says the proposed law also calls for 16 and 17-year-olds to receive judicial approval and parental consent before getting married. Hilferty says each prospective spouse will be interviewed separately by the judge, so they can vet out any potentially dangerous scenarios…
Cut 11 (09) “…free will.”

cut 30 “…crowd at the Box”
That’s how it sounded at Alex Box Stadium last night as Florida State dogpiled in the infield after beating the Tigers 5-to-4 in 12 innings to sweep the Super Regional Series. LSU was ranked number one in the preseason but fails to make it to Omaha for a second straight year.

After a controversial legislative battle that drew international attention, Louisiana is set to bar kids under the age of 16 from getting married.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A proposal to abolish the death penalty failed to pass this year, but proponents are optimistic about its chances going forward. New Iberia Representative Terry Landy says his bill got further this year than ever before…
Cut 4 (12) “…conversation.”
Landry says incoming lawmakers, set to replace a third of the legislature that is term-limited, could be more progressive in their views on this issue.

Governor Edwards signs legislation that increases the maximum foster care age from 18 to 21-years-old. The Department of Children and Family Services says by expanding the program, they can help foster care teens transition into adulthood…
cut 7 (09) “…so much support”
That’s DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters who says the state received a three-million dollar grant to extend its foster care program.