A Zachary man is behind bars and faces second-degree battery and hit-and-run charges after the severe beating of a 59-year-old cancer patient in Ascension Parish Sunday night. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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A state Legislative Auditor’s report to lawmakers says – like it or not – we need higher gas taxes for roads and bridges…and high fees for electric vehicles too. Jeff Palermo explains.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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He leads in polls by a huge margin, but Senator John Kennedy is taking fire for not debating his Democrat challengers. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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The suspect from Sunday’s violent road rage incident in Ascension Parish is in custody. Sheriff Bobby Webre says the victim 59-year-old Scott Gray, who has stage IV cancer was severely beaten and 37-year-old Bryan Cage of Zachary turned himself in after the incident made headlines.
Cut 4 (09) “…but doing ok.”
Webre says this case involved teamwork from law enforcement in Ascension, Livingston, and East Baton Rouge parishes and he credits the community for their tips that led to Cage’s arrest. Webre says so far Cage is charged with second-degree battery and hit and run which is a felony. Webre says this was not Cage’s first run-in with the law.
Cut 5 (12) “…looks like.”
Webre says there could be more charges added and Cage might not be the only one facing prosecution.
Cut 6 (12) “…ongoing investigation.”
In addition to cancer, Gray lost a leg from a motorcycle accident some 20 years ago.
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In a report to state lawmakers, the Legislative Auditor’s Office says Louisiana needs to consider higher road usage fees if it wants to stay ahead of the rising cost of maintaining roads and bridges. Gina Brown is a Performance Audit Manager with the Legislative Auditor. She says the state could lose well over $500-million in road use fees and gasoline taxes for roads over the next ten years…:
Cut 7 (13) “…are using less gas.”
Brown says it’s projected that around one-third of all vehicles in Louisiana will be electric within 10 years. That will mean less gas bought at the pump and less gasoline roads tax. Last year the state imposed a road usage fee of $110 yearly for owners of all-electric cars and $60 for EV hybrid vehicles. Brown says that’s not enough…:
Cut 8 (13) “…96 dollars a year.”
Brown says the real problem with the EV road uses taxes is they are paid voluntarily when filing state income tax, and many will NOT report or pay.
Motorists driving regular gas powered vehicles pay their share by way of 20-cents per gallon taxed at the pump. That hasn’t been increased in over 20 years. Brown says that also needs to be raised to help meet the $15-billion backlog in road and bridge projects statewide. She says other states, like Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas, index their fuels tax to inflation…:
Cut 9 (12) “…mean for Louisiana.”
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Incumbent U.S. Senator John Kennedy is taking fire from critics and some media outlets for not committing to debate his challengers in that race. During an interview on 710 AM KEEL in Shreveport, Kennedy was asked directly if he was dodging debates. He says not all debates are ones worth doing…:
Cut 10 (11) “…an axe to grind.”
Kennedy has been loudly criticized by Democrat challengers Luke Mixon and Gary Chambers for not agreeing to a debate or candidates forum. With four weeks until the election, polls show Kennedy with well over 50-percent. Mixon 16-percent and Chambers 8-percent. He says the Baton Rouge Advocate invited him to an event this Monday on pretty short notice…:
Cut 11 (11) “…people coming out.”
The KEEL hosts pointed out debates are often hosted by partisan groups that hope Kennedy will make some gaffe that can be exploited. Kennedy says he has spent as much time as possible simply getting around Louisiana, to talk directly with voters before the election and it’s taken some toll on him…:
Cut 12 (07) “…I couldn’t talk.”
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In Lake Charles, Judge Clayton Davis formally sentenced Kevin Daigle to death for the 2015 fatal shooting of Louisiana State Police trooper Steven Vincent. Vincent encountered what he thought was a stranded motorist on a rural road when Daigle fatally shot him in the face.
Cut 13 (11) “…system prevails.”
There has only been one death sentence carried out in Louisiana since 2002, and Vincent expects a lengthy appeal process to delay the execution of the sentence. He says he hopes to see the justice system run its course…
Cut 14 (09) “…would happen.”
Seven years since the shooting, Chief Vincent highlights the importance of remembering the victims of violent crimes and their families…
Cut 15 (12) “…be forgotten.”
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LSU will host seventh-ranked Ole Miss for a chance to take control of the SEC West tomorrow. The Tigers suffered a 40-13 loss to eighth-ranked Tennessee in Tiger stadium just two weeks ago, but wide receiver Kayshon Boutte says the team needs to learn from their last game and take advantage of the opportunity…
Cut 16 (09) “…weeks ago.”
Boutte was a preseason All-American and projected first-round pick in the NFL draft but got off to a slow start to the season in Coach Brian Kelly’s new system. He says it’s taken time for him and first-year transfer quarterback Jayden Daniels to build chemistry with one another, but it looks like the two are finally getting on the same page…
Cut 17 (12) “…everything connecting.”
Kickoff in Death Valley is at 2:30 tomorrow.
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The Ragin’ Cajuns will host Arkansas St this weekend as they look to continue their momentum from the 23-13 midweek win against Marshall last week. The Red Wolves sit two spots behind the Cajuns in the race for the Sun-Belt West, but Head Coach Michael Desormeaux says they’re a better team than the record shows…
Cut 18 (19) “…ready for that.”
The Ragin’ Cajuns take the home field at 4:00 tomorrow.
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Louisiana Tech looks to bounce back from a 47-27 defeat at the hands of North Texas last weekend in which they allowed 475 rushing yards to the Mean Green. They’ll host the 3-3 Rice Owls in what Head Coach Sonny Cumbie described as an important opportunity for the Bulldogs…
Cut 19 (13) “…at home”
The Bulldogs are in the middle of the pack in Conference USA with a 2-4 record. The difference maker for the team this season looks to be the support of the home crowd. LA Tech is winless on the road this season but undefeated at home. Coach Cumbie says he’s looking forward to getting back in front of the home crowd, but this is something the team needs to address if they want to succeed down the stretch…
Cut 20 (14) “…four quarters.”
Kickoff this Saturday is at 2:00