LRN newscast 14:30 03-26-15

The Terrebonne DA says a grand jury has cleared a deputy who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy near Houma last September…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

A Lafayette man who called in a bomb threat that shut down UL-Lafayette last summer has pleaded guilty in federal court to the crime. Devin Haywood faces up to 10 years for that, and up to 20 years for trying to rob a bank during the police search for the bomb.

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An 11-year-old boy in Rapides Parish has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to School Board policy. His parents say the rules are unfair and discriminatory and want a policy that is equal for both genders. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman says they have a case…
CUT 7 (10) Q: “and unfair”

The Independence Bowl in Shreveport is once again without a sponsor. Duck Commander will not be returning, but officials are optomistic that a hotel tax, which narrowly failed last year, would help the ongoing revenue for the bowl…
CUT 5 (11) Q: “develop this area”
That’s Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler.

PM LRN Newscall March 26

An 11-year-old boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to Rapides Parish School Board policy. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

==================

The Terrebonne DA says a grand jury has cleared a deputy who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy near Houma last September. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

===================

Shreveport’s Independence Bowl finds itself, once again, without a sponsor. Duck Commander, who was the title sponsor of last year’s game, will not return as the title sponsor this year. Mayor Ollie Tyler says she is determined to help the I-Bowl foundation find a new sponsor…

CUT 3 (06)  “us economically”

Last year’s game was played under a letter of intent between Duck Commander and the Independence Bowl and not a contract. This isn’t the first time the bowl has had sponsorship issues. The 2008 game was played without a sponsor. Tyler says this game is not only important for Shreveport, but the entire area…

CUT 4 (08)  “areas benefit”

Tyler says a hotel tax, which narrowly failed last year, would provide much needed, ongoing revenue for the Independence bowl. She says the measure could be back on the ballot this fall. Tyler feels the passage of this occupancy tax will be significant in landing a new title sponsor…

CUT 5 (11)  “develop this area”

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An 11-year-old boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to Rapides Parish School Board policy. Ashton Bodiford’s hair falls past the middle of his back. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman, who is not involved in this case, says it’s time for courts to recognize that students should be able to have a greater range of appearances…

CUT 6 (06)  “with the student”

Esman says courts have ruled that schools are within their rights to have appearance policies like this. Bodiford was told he could not return to school until his hair was cut to meet the requirements. His parents say the rules are unfair and discriminatory and want a policy that is equal for both genders. Esman says the 5th grader should not be penalized just because someone doesn’t like the way he looks…

CUT 7 (10)  “the victim”

Policy requires male students to keep their hair no longer than chin length in the back and no longer than three inches on top. Bodiford’s parents hope to address the issue at next month’s school board meeting. Esman says, because of previous court rulings, the family has a hard road ahead…

CUT 8 (10)  “and unfair”

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The Terrebonne DA says a grand jury has cleared a deputy who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy near Houma last September. They returned a ruling of “no true bill” which means there wasn’t evidence presented that indicated Deputy Preston Norman committed a crime in the death of Cameron Tillman. Carlos Lazarus is the First Assistant DA in Terrebonne…:

CUT 9 (09)  “or another”

The FBI is also investigating this case. Family members of Tillman assert the juvenile did not have a weapon but the sheriff’s office say he was holding what looked exactly like a .45-caliber pistol. Lazarus says it was a pellet pistol…:

cut 10 (10) “you can not tell the difference”

The sheriff’s office says Norman and other deputies were responding to a call of children brandishing guns at an abandoned house where the incident took place. Lazarus says he showed the jury pictures of the weapon the juvenile was holding and a real .45-caliber pistol and said they are identical…:

cut 11 (11)  “what he should do”

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One of the four Louisiana National Guard soliders, who was killed in a helicopter crash on March 10th near Pensacola, Florida, is laid to rest today in Alexandria. Chief Warrant Officer 4, David Strother, leaves behind a wife and a son, a stepdaugther and mother. Louisiana National Guard Captain Kreg Stiles says Strother was a great American and human being…

cut 12 (09)  “him justice”

Strother served in the National Guard from 1988 to 2007 and then returned in 2009 and served until his death. He had over 24-hundred flight hours, including 700 combat hours. Stiles says Strother was born to serve our country and born to fly…

cut 13 (10)  “duplicate that”

Strother was a Black Hawk pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan. His remains returned to central Louisiana last week and Captain Stiles says Strother’s family and friends have been impressed with the outpouring of support from the residents of central Louisiana…

cut 14 (10)  “completely amazing”

13:30 Newscast, March 26th, 2015

The Terrebonne Parish DA says a grand jury returned a “no true bill” in the case of a sheriff’s deputy shooting and killing of 14-year-old Cameron Tillman last September. Jurors clear deputy Preston Norman who shot the boy in an abandoned house near Houma. Carlos Lazarus is the First Assistant DA in Terrebonne. He says he showed the jury pictures of the weapon the juvenile was holding and a real .45-caliber pistol and said they are identical…:
CUT 11 (11) “what he should do”
The FBI is also investigating the case.

20-year-old Seth Fontenot remained in jail this morning after a Lafayette jury returned a guilty manslaughter verdict in the case of the death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault and the injuring of two others. Prosecutors were trying for first-degree murder which carries a life sentence. Fontenot now faces up to 40 years.

The West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office said a woman kidnapped from East Baton Rouge was found in the wreckage of a crash which claimed the life of her captor Thursday morning. They say the woman was airlifted to the hospital after the wreck. Deputies said the woman told them she was kidnapped last night. This is a developing story.

An 11-year-old boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to Rapides Parish School Board policy. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

 

12:30 Newscast, March 26th, 2015

The Terrebonne DA says a grand jury has cleared a deputy who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy near Houma last September. They returned a ruling of “no true bill” which means there wasn’t evidence presented that indicated Deputy Preston Norman committed a crime in the death of Cameron Tillman. Carlos Lazarus is the First Assistant DA in Terrebonne…:
CUT 9 (09) “or another”
Lazarus says the weapon the juvenile had was identical to a .45 caliber pistol which is what he showed the jury. The FBI is also investigating.

Duck Commander has decided they won’t sponsor this year’s Shreveport Independence Bowl. Mayor Oillie Tyler says they need to pass a hotel occupancy tax that would really help in landing a new sponsor which would be good for the entire region…:
CUT 4 (08) “areas benefit”

An 11-year-old boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to Rapides Parish School Board policy. Ashton Bodiford’s hair falls past the middle of his back. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman, who is not involved in this case, says it’s time for courts to recognize that students should be able to have a greater range of appearances…:
CUT 6 (06) “with the student”
Esman says courts have ruled that schools are within their rights to have appearance policies like this.

Today is the last day for someone to claim a million dollar prize from a Powerball ticket that was sold in Minden. Louisiana Lottery officials are encouraging folks to check old tickets because you could be a millionaire.

 

LRN Sportscast 11:40 March 26

The Pelicans lost their fourth straight last night as the Houston Rockets soared past New Orleans 95-93. Tyreke Evans had 28 points, Anthony Davis had 24 poitns, but Eric Gordon failed to make a field goal in 42 minutes on the floor. New Orleans is three and a half games back of O-K-C for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and there’s just 11 games left.

Shreveport’s Independence Bowl finds itself, once again, without a sponsor. Duck Commander, who was the title sponsor of last year’s game, will not return as the title sponsor this year. Mayor Ollie Tyler says she is determined to help the I-Bowl foundation find a new sponsor…:
CUT 3 (06) “us economically”
Tyler says a hotel tax, which narrowly failed last year, would provide much needed, revenue for the Independence bowl. She hopes the item will appear on the ballot again this fall.

Tough ending to the season for Louisiana Tech as they were eliminated in the NIT as the Bulldogs lost to Temple 77-59.

But ULM has reached the CBI championship. Tylor Ongwae and Majok Deng each had 22 points as the Warhawks flew past Vermont 71-65. Louisiana-Monroe will now face Loyola of Chicago in a best of three title series, which will begin on Monday in the Windy City.

Tonight U-L Lafayette hosts Evansville in the semifinals of the CIT. Tip-off in the Blackham Coliseum is set for 7:30.

In college baseball yesterday…Northwestern State defeated Mississippi Valley four to one and Nicholls State knocked off U-L Lafayette three to one. The Cajuns committed four errors in the contest. It’s the first time in program history that Nicholls has won games over LSU and U-L Lafayette in the same season.

LSU begins a three-game series tomorrow night against Kentucky at the Box.

11:30 Newscast, March 26th, 2015

The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says a kidnapped woman was found after her captor died in a crash this morning. The woman was injured in the wreck and was flown to a hospital. We’ll have more on this as it develops.

The Terrebonne DA says the deputy who shot and killed a 14-year-old near Houma last September has been cleared by a grand jury. They say there was not enough evidence to show that Deputy Preston Norman committed a crime in the death of Cameron Tillman. The FBI is also looking into this case.

Shreveport’s Independence Bowl finds itself, once again, without a sponsor. Duck Commander, who was the title sponsor of last year’s game, will not return as the title sponsor this year. Mayor Ollie Tyler says she is determined to help the I-Bowl foundation find a new sponsor…:
CUT 3 (06) “us economically”
Tyler says a hotel tax, which narrowly failed last year, would provide much needed, ongoing revenue for the Independence bowl.

20-year-old Seth Fontenot remained in jail this morning after a Lafayette jury returned a guilty manslaughter verdict in the case of the death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault and the injuring of two others. Prosecutors were trying for first-degree murder which carries a life sentence. Fontenot now faces up to 40 years. He was also was convicted of two counts of aggravated battery.

The Louisiana SPCA is offering a reward of 13,000 dollars for information about a gruesome 12-second video of five men beheading a live goat. CEO Anna Zorilla says the men in the video are laughing and cheering as the beheading went on…:
CUT 13 (10) “behead the goat”
Zorilla says the video was sent to the SPCA from a New Orleans University police officer, but they are not sure if the beheading actually occurred in the Crescent City or Louisiana which is why the reward is so high.

 

10:30 Newscast March 26th, 2015

The Terrebonne Parish DA says a grand jury returned a “no true bill” in the case of a sheriff’s deputy shooting and killing of 14-year-old Cameron Tillman. Jurors clear deputy Preston Norman who shot the boy in an abandoned house near Houma.

An American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety study shows that distraction in teen crashes is worse than previously thought. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

State Police say a man and a woman held a 17-year-old girl against her will in New Orleans and forced her to perform sex acts. A news release says the juvenile was exploited for the pimp’s financial gain in the French Quarter area through online ads. 21-year-old Kayla Griffin and 36-year-old Lance Everson were arrested.

A leak in one of the 97 igloos storing the 16 millions pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden in Webster Parish has resulted in the recommendation of the emergency destruction of its contents. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says as the disposal of the remaining M6, the evaluation team has looked at many different methods other than an open burn…:
CUT 9 (10) “going forward”
Reynolds says he expects an announcement on the method of disposal of the propellant any day now.

 

09:30 Newscast March 26, 2015

A jury in Lafayette has found Seth Fontenot guilty of manslaughter, but not first degree murder prosecutors were seeking. Michelle Southern reports…:

cut 3 (28) “reporting”

Monroe Police has arrested a man accused of breaking into a surgical hospital and stealing medication. They say Rodney Sims forced entry into the facility, broke into a vending machine, and went through the medicine cabinet. When authorities located Sims, he tried to flee and a scuffle ensued injuring an officer. Sims was found to be in possession of medicine that was taken from the facility. Sims is charged with simple burglary, battery on a police officer, and aggravated escape.

Haughton Representative Henry Burns wants to make it a law that a designated driver be present at certain locations that sell alcohol. He says he’s been a DD before and knows first hand that sometimes libations get a little out of hand…:

cut 11 (11) “other people’s safety”

Burns is still working on the final details, but believes that it should be illegal to sell alcohol to a designated driver.

A 13,000 dollar reward is being offered by the Louisiana SPCA for information about a gruesome 12-second video of five men beheading a goat. CEO Anna Zorilla says the video was sent to the SPCA from a New Orleans University police officer, but they are not sure if the beheading actually ocurred in the Crescent City or Louisiana

cut 15 (08) “what happened”

The video shows a man beheading a goat with a sword while others are laughing and cheering.

08:30 Newscast March 26, 2015

A state legislator wants to make it a law that a designated driver be present at certain locations that sell alcohol. Scott Carwile reports…:

cut 2 (31) “reporting”

State Police say a Shreveport man is dead after crashing his motorcycle in Natchitoches Parish. They say 67-year-old Dale Killough lost control of his bike and was ejected when his motorcycle hit a ditch and overturned. Killough, who was wearing a helmet, was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

A leak in one of the igloos storing the 16 millions pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden in Webster Parish has resulted in the recommendation of the emergency destruction of its contents. As far as the disposal of the remaining M6, Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says the evaluation team, lead by the Louisiana National Guard, is still reviewing the bids that were submitted…

cut 8 (08) “that decision”

Reynolds believes an open burn is off the table.

Distraction in teen crashes is worse than previously thought according to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study. Spokesman Don Redman says parents should sit down with their teen drivers and talk about the dangers of using their cell phones while behind the wheel. He also suggests that parents restrict the number of passengers their teens are allowed to drive around…

cut 6 (09) “in the vehicle”

The study found that distraction was a factor in nearly 60-percent of moderate-to-severe teen crashes.

07:30 Newscast March 26, 2015

An American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety study shows that distraction in teen crashes is worse than previously thought. Researchers analyzed the six seconds leading up to a crash in nearly 1,700 videos of teen drivers taken from in-vehicle event recorders. AAA spokesman Don Redman says teen drivers and cell phones have proven to be a more dangerous combination than anyone realized…

cut 5 (10) “into someone”

The study found that distraction was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes.

A Lafayette jury has convicted Seth Fontenot of manslaughter in the shooting death of 15-year old Austin Rivault. He was also convicted of two counts of aggravated battery for wounding two other teenagers who were with Rivault. Fontenot shot the teens in February 2013 when he thought they were breaking into his truck. He claims he only fired to scare the teens, not to hurt them. Fontenot faces up to 40-years in prison on the manslaughter conviction.

A leak in one of the 97 igloos storing the 16 millions pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden in Webster Parish has resulted in the recommendation of the emergency destruction of its contents. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says moisture build up creates a chemical reaction the could cause the M6 to “auto-ignite”…

cut 7 (12) “somewhere else”

Reynolds says he expects an announcement on the method of disposal of the remainder of the propellant any day now.

The Louisiana SPCA is offering a 13,000 reward for information about a gruesome 12-second video of five men beheading a goat. CEO Anna Zorilla says the graphic video shows the culprits standing in a circle around a plastic swimming pool, with a string tied around the goat’s neck and then one of the men beheads the goat with a sword…

cut 14 (09) “and video”

Zorilla is hopeful someone will come forward soon.