Baton Rouge Police have arrested a 17-year-old and are searching for a second suspect in yesterday’s fatal shooting at the Mall of Louisiana that claimed the life of 17-year-old Martha Odom and wounded five others. Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse says the teen in police custody is Markell Lee.
Morse says four other people who were detained shortly after the shooting have been released.
The Louisiana Department of Health this week confirmed a case of measles in the New Orleans area. LDH says on April 17th while infected, the patient visited the Target and Walmart stores in Kenner. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says if you were in either one on that day, you should double-check your MMR vaccine history.
Two of the state’s largest teacher unions are supporting Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16th ballot. That would make a current two-thousand-dollar stipend for teachers permanent. Louisiana Federation of Teachers president Larry Carter says it could go away if the state needs to reduce revenue due to tough budget times.
The Louisiana Association of Educators also supports Amendment 3.
If you’re a fan of music from all around the world, Lafayette is the place to be this weekend, as this is Festival International weekend. Jesse Guidry, the vice president of communications at Lafayette Travel, says Festival International is one of Lafayette’s biggest tourist attractions every year, and visitors do more than attend the festival.
Cut 4 (05) “…around Lafayette.”
More than 50 countries are represented, and over 500 musicians are at this weekend’s cultural celebration.