2:30 PM Newscast
Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa is in the clear of bribery accusations that have been lingering over his administration for nearly two years. Matassa has maintained his innocence, claiming the $1200 loan and employment opportunity offered to Lawson was twisted. Matassa’a attorney Lewis Uglesby explains why he believes the situation got the amount of attention it did.
Animal activists are shocked as n Opelousas man will avoid jail time and will not be required to pay any fines after pleading guilty to Felony Cruelty to an Animal. Jermaine Doucet was accused of torturing an award winning race horse. The horse was found in June of 2017, in severe pain and malnourished. Vets on scene determined the horse needed to be put down immediately. Humane Society of Louisiana Executive Director Jeff Dorson says Animal Cruelty generally comes with a 1,000 to 5000 dollar fine, and one to ten years in jail. The animal rights activist says after two Bastrop men avoided jail time for slitting a dog’s throat on Snapchat, he’s concerned about a growing trend of under sentencing animal abusers in Louisiana.
The White House announced it is considering 200 billion dollars in new Chinese tariffs, potentially raising the import cost on a broad range of goods by 10 percent. The initial exchange of blows in the trade war have many Louisiana industries that are reliant on trade worried, but Senior Director at National Retail Federation Bethany Aronhalt says these tariffs hit a little closer to home for most folks.
The LHSAA’s recent punishment handed down to McKinley High for recent violations comes with quite the price tag: a fine just shy of $50K. The ruling also saw coach suspensions and a ban on the school participating in post season competition for all sports for the next two school years. High school sports writer for the Advocate newspaper, Robin Fambrough, speaks on the nature of the violations.
Cut 12 (09) “…paperwork things.”