In the shooting of former NFL player Joe McKnight in Jefferson Parish, 54-year-old Ronald Gasser is charged with manslaughter. So what might this trial look like? Legal analyst Tim Meche says the Jefferson Parish D-A’s office could let a grand jury have a say…:
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Beyond that, Meche says if Gasser makes a good case that he was scared of McKnight, he could be found not guilty.

The first day of the murder trial of former-Saints star Will Smith was filled with emotional testimony. Current and former Saints players Drew Brees, Steve Gleason, Roman Harper, and Jahri Evans were in the courtroom. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says Cardell Hayes’ defense team has an uphill battle because of the popularity of the victim..:
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Hayes faces life in prison if convicted.

The Department of Children and Family Services is excited to announce Louisiana broke a record for the number of children adopted in a year. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Multiple officials confirm that President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be in Baton Rouge on Friday. The visit will happen just one day before voters go to the polls in the US Senate election in Louisiana. Saturday, Mr. Trump tweeted that State Treasurer John Kennedy is his choice for US Senator. State Police says they were informed by Secret Service of Mr. Trump’s visit, but were not given details.

Former and current Saints players showed up for the first day of Will Smith’s murder trial. Halen Doughty has more…:
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Congress is set to approve a package this week that contains $1.2 billion dollars in additional funds for flood relief for Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards says they are making great progress in getting what the state needs from the federal government to recover from the historic flooding in March and August. He says they plan to return to Washington in the spring to ask for additional assistance to complete the package.

Louisiana broke the state’s record for the number of foster children adoptions within a year. 735 children were adopted by 532 families between October of 2015 and September of 2016. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says she couldn’t be more thankful for these families…:
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She says while it’s exciting so many children found foster homes, many are still without a family.

According to the AAA Foundation report on drowsy driving, you double the chances of getting into a wreck if you only get 5 to 6 hours of sleep. Spokesperson Don Redman says being tired behind the wheel is a form of impairment…:
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He and the risk of crashing increases by 11 if you get less than four hours of shut eye.

What might the trial of Ronald Gasser look like now that he’s been charged with manslaughter in the death of former NFL player Joe McKnight? Legal analyst Tim Meche says if Gasser can explain a reasonable fear to the jury, he could be found not guilty…:
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Meche says the Jefferson Parish D-A’s office could also let a grand jury have a say.

The first day of the murder trial for Cardell Hayes, accused of killing former Saints star Will Smith, was filled with emotional testimony. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says the biggest surprise was that former New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister took the stand early as a character witness for Smith…:
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Saints quarterback Drew Brees was among other celebrities there supporting Smith’s family.

AAA warns against drowsy driving this holiday season. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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President-elect Donald Trump is expected to visit Baton Rouge in support of US Senate candidate John Kennedy on Friday. State Police say they were notified by Secret Service of Mr. Trump’s visit, but did not receive details of the agenda.

54-year-old Robert Gasser has been charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of former NFL player and ex John Curtis star Joe McKnight. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says they waited to make an arrest, so they can talk with more independent witnesses and Normand defended the handling of the case, even though there were groups calling for Gasser’s arrest last week…
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Normand says there’s a chance the charge could be upgraded or downgraded based on further evidence.

It’s been a long day of testimony in the Will Smith shooting trial. In opening statements, Prosecutors say Cardell Hayes did not act in self-defense when he shot Smith last April. Hayes’ defense team says it was Smith who was the aggressor. The widow of Smith, Raquel, took the stand and denied claims that her husband approached Hayes’ Hummer with a handgun in his hand.

A Monroe woman is facing multiple charges after she was caught shoplifting with her children. Detective Chris Bates with Monroe Police says 33-year-old Shirley Mayes and her 9-year-old and 14-year-old were caught stealing from the Monroe Walmart…:
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Bates says Mayes faces charges of misdemeanor shoplifting, criminal conspiracy, and three counts of contributing to child delinquency.

After safety concerns about wild horses roaming the Fort Polk army base in Vernon Parish, the first round of horses have been moved to the Dallas-Forth Worth area. Fort Polk Spokesperson Troy Darr says contact the Humane Society of North Texas for more information on the welfare of the horses.
Cut 5 (09) “and happy.”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office charges 54-year-old Ronald Gasser with manslaughter in the shooting death of former NFL player Joe McKnight.

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Will Smith’s wife Racquel testified in the first day of the former-Saints star’s murder trial today, saying her worst nightmare happened for no reason. Prosecutors say Cardell Hayes did not act in self-defense when he shot Smith last April after a car accident, but Hayes’ defense team says Smith was the aggressor. Racquel says she doesn’t want sympathy, she wants justice.

At a budget hearing this morning at the State Capitol, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told lawmakers not only does the state have to address a $313 million deficit for this fiscal year, there’s another $300 million shortfall looming. He says that means state agencies will face more budget cuts.

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Dardenne says once again higher education and healthcare are on the chopping block.

Fort Polk has moved 50 horses off their land in Vernon Parish because of safety concerns. Troy Darr with Ft. Polk says the wild horses aren’t safe on the Army training grounds.

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The horses were sent to the Humane Society of North Texas.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says his office is charging 54-year-old Ronald Gasser with manslaughter. He’s the man accused of killing former NFL player and John Curtis star Joe McKnight in a road rage incident last week. Normand explained the charge against Gasser…:
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Normand also defended the investigation into case as he says they waited to book Gasser, so they can get more witeness statements.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says it appears the state’s budget deficit has grown to 600-million dollars, which means some of their spending proposals for next fiscal year will not please everyone….
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The House Appropriations Committee is holding three days of budget meetings to get an update on the state’s finances.

It was a day of opening statements and emotional testimony in the Will Smith murder trial. Michelle Southern reports…:
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This afternoon, Will Smith’s widow, Racquel, took the witness stand and pointed in the direction of Hayes as the man who killed her husband.

There are reports that President-elect Donald Trump will be in Baton Rouge on Friday afternoon. Mr. Trump will apparently visit the Bayou State to show his support for Treasurer John Kennedy in the U.S. Senate race. Trump visted Baton Rouge earlier this year and over 10-thousand people came to the event at the Baton Rouge River Center.

The man who admitted to shooting former-NFL player Joe McKnight is now behind bars. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand defends their decision not to arrest 54-year-old Ronald Gasser immediately, even though groups were calling for his arrest last Thursday.

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Gasser has been charged with manslaughter.

With $300 million shortfalls looming in this fiscal year and the next, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says higher ed and hospitals are once again on the chopping block. He says these agencies need to be setting priorities and preparing for realistic cuts.

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Dardenne says agencies should prepare for more mid-year cuts.

A Monroe woman is behind bars after she and her two children allegedly tried to steal $575 worth of clothes from Walmart. Chris Bates with Monroe PD says 33-year-old Shirley Mayes’ 9-year-old child tried to flee on foot when police arrived.

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Mayes faces charges of shoplifting, criminal conspiracy, and contributing to child delinquency.

The first round of wild horses have been moved off Fort Polk land because of safety concerns. Troy Darr with Ft. Polk says the plan to keep moving the horses off the land and sending them to the Humane Society of North Texas.

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Roughly 650 horses are still at Fort Polk.

It was a day of opening statements and emotional testimony in the Will Smith murder trial. Michelle Southern reports…:
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The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, the man accused of fatally shooting former NFL player and John Curtis star Joe McKnight on Thursday afternoon in a road rage incident. Sheriff Newell Normand held a press conference earlier this morning announcing Gasser is charged with manslaughter. Normand also expressed his disappointment in the behavior of the public who rushed the department to make an arrest without a thorough investigation.

A 33-year-old Monroe mother has been arrested for shoplifting with her two children. Detective Chris Bates with the Monroe Police Department says Shirley Mayes was encouraging her 9-year-old and 14-year-old to steal things while she checked out a few items.
Cut 13 (10) “watched on.”

The value of the items the family tried to steal is reportedly 575 dollars.

After safety concerns about wild horses roaming the Fort Polk army base in Vernon Parish, the first round of horses have been moved to the Dallas-Forth Worth area. Fort Polk Spokesperson Troy Darr says contact the Humane Society of North Texas for more information on the welfare of the horses.
Cut 5 (09) “and happy.”

Fort Polk will rehome the horses in groups of 10 to 30 over the next three years or until they’re all gone.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office charges 54-year-old Ronald Gasser with manslaughter in the shooting death of former NFL player Joe McKnight in a road rage incident last Thursday. Emelie Gunn has more…

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It was a day of opening statements and emotional testimony in the Will Smith murder trial. Michelle Southern reports…:

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Fort Polk has moved the first round of horses off their land because there are safety concerns about wild horses roaming the Vernon Parish army base. Fort Polk spokesperson Troy Darr says they sent 50 horses to the Humane Society of North Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He says they plan to rehome the remaining 650 horses in the same manner.

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Advocates have expressed concerns that the horses could be sent to kill buyers or unfit owners, and the groups have called on Fort Polk to let the horses stay on their land. But Darr says the horses aren’t safe on the Army training grounds.

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Darr says the activists’ fears were eased when they announced where the horses were going. He says anyone interested in the welfare of the horses should contact the Humane Society of North Texas.

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Fort Polk will rehome the horses in groups of 10 to 30 over the next three years or until they’re all gone.

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Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand held a press conference this morning to announce the arrest of 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, the man accused of killing former NFL player and John Curtis star Joe McKnight in a road rage incident last week. Normand explained the charge against Gasser….

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Authorities say Gasser admitted to shooting McKnight in a busy intersection last Thursday. He was questioned that day and released. Normand says his detectives took their time to with the investigation, conducting 160 interviews and working with 70 business owners to receive video footage.

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Normand says they took their time with the investigation because of different eyewitness accounts of the shooting. He defends the sheriff department’s decision for not arresting Gasser immediately, even though there were groups calling for Gasser’s arrest last Thursday….

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Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne paints a bleak fiscal picture to lawmakers during a budget hearing this morning at the State Capitol. Dardenne says not only does the state have to address a $313 million deficit for this fiscal year, there’s another $300 million shortfall looming. He says that means state agencies will have to cut back even more.

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Dardenne says once again higher education and healthcare are on the chopping block. He says these agencies need to be setting priorities and preparing for realistic reductions.

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Dardenne says the administration plans on presenting next year’s budget to legislators in February, and some of the proposals won’t be easy to swallow.

cut 11 (11) “are spent”

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A Monroe woman is facing multiple charges after she was caught shoplifting with her children. Detective Chris Bates with Monroe Police says 33-year-old Shirley Mayes and her 9-year-old and 14-year-old were caught stealing from the Monroe Walmart.

cut 12 (11) “total amount”

Bates says security footage shows Mayes encouraging her children to steal items while she checked out the rest of the things in her buggy.

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The value of the items the family tried to steal is reportedly $575. Bates says the 9-year-old child tried to flee on foot when police arrived.

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Bates says Mayes faces charges of misdemeanor shoplifting, criminal conspiracy, and three counts of contributing to child delinquency.

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The 54-year-old man who killed former NFL player Joe McKnight in Jefferson Parish in what’s being described as a road rage incident, has been charged with manslaughter. Ronald Gasser stayed on scene when it happened last week and claimed self defense. He was later released which caused outrage by many, but Sheriff Newell Normand is not deterred…:
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He says they felt that manslaughter was the charge that most appropriately fit the evidence at this time. The case remains under investigation.

The Will Smith case began today and in the opening statements, the attorney for Cardell Hayes said his client was afraid of the former New Orleans player and acted in self defense. But prosecutors maintained that Hayes was acting out of anger and murdered an unarmed man. Quarterback Drew Brees is among those in court today in support of Smith’s family.

Several hundred horses and donkeys living in and around Fort Polk will be taken to Texas for adoption. That’s according to base spokesman Troy Darr. When the issue of the animals first came up, advocates said the horses should be left alone. But Darr says it wasn’t safe for them to be on Army training grounds…:
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The plan is to move them in small herds over the next two years.

A Monroe woman is facing multiple charges after she was caught shoplifting with her children. Detective Chris Bates with Monroe Police says 33-year-old Shirley Mayes and her 9-year-old and 14-year-old were caught stealing from the Monroe Walmart…:
cut 12 (11) “total amount”
Bates says Mayes faces charges of misdemeanor shoplifting, criminal conspiracy, and three counts of contributing to child delinquency.