A Senate Committee hears a constitutional amendment today from New Orleans Democrat J-P Morrell that will require a jury’s verdict in a felony trial to be unanimous for conviction. Louisiana and Oregon are the only states that allows for ten out of twelve jurors to agree on a guilty verdict. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says its unclear why Louisiana only requires 10 out of 12 jurors for a guilty verdict. He says some say it was established to diminish the affect African-Americans would have on a jury, but there’s another theory as well…
Marksville Representative Robert Johnson is the new House Democratic Caucus Chairman. The third-term legislator says his caucus has to look beyond short-term problems – including the massive budget deficit. Johnson says he believes constituents will see the hard work Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards has done in trying to get a budget that is fair for everyone….
Shreveport-Bossier will play host to both this year’s Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, with Miss USA confirmed for May 21st. It’ll be the first time both pageants have ever been held at the same location back to back, and Miss USA will air live on FOX at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum.
Bossier City mayor Lo Walker fondly remembers the first time the competition rolled into town, back in 1998.
Miss USA/Miss Teen USA will stay in the area for 11 days.
Today marks the start of spring in Louisiana. Our winter produced two snow events and a warmer than usual February. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the La Nina effect will dictate our weather the next few months, as it pushes all the rain and colder temperatures to the north…