Lafayette Strong: Unite.Honor.Heal, a ceremony to celebrate the lives of the victims of the theater shooting last week, will be held tonight. Emelie Gunn has more on what the community has planned…

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East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says it’s likely that the criminal charges against LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings could be dropped. Michelle Southern reports…:

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According to a new report from the National Partnership for Women and Families, more than 45% of the private sector workforce in Louisiana cannot earn paid sick days. Scott Carwile reports…:

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Good Houskeeping magazine has named Nachitoches as one of the 50 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America. The publication selected one town from each state to make up their list. Samantha Bonnette, Public Relations Director for the city of Nachitoches, says they are excited to be part of this list…

cut 4  (10)  “more pleased”

Natchitoches was recently named Best Southern Small Town by readers of USA Today and 10Best-dot-com. Bonnette says they are proud to be on this list that features some real high quality small towns across the country…

Cut 5  (07)  “it’s just amazing”

Other small towns on the list include Breckenridge, Colorado, Sedona, Arizona, and Cooperstown, New York.  Bonnette says she can see how Good Housekeeping picked Natchitoches for this list…

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Lafayette Strong: Unite.Honor.Heal, a community gathering to reflect on those lost and injured in The Grand movie theater shooting, will take place tonight at Blackham Coliseum. Lafayette Government Spokesperson Cyrda Wingerter (Sid-ruh Wing-er-ter) says they are expecting a big crowd…

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Wingerter says there will be music, artistic opportunities to create prayer flags, and recognition of people involved, including those caring for victims after the tragedy. She says they want the gathering to portray the culture and spirit of Lafayette.

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Wingerter says the healing ceremony will provide resources and crisis professionals for those struggling with last week’s tragic event.

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East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says it’s likely that the criminal charges against LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings could be dropped. The QB and two other Tigers are accused of breaking into an apartment in June to retrieve items which belonged to Jennings. Moore says the tenant has contacted his office:

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LSU Coach Les Miles says the status of the players fully depends on the schedule of the DA. Moore is not giving a timetable on making a decision but did say that all he needs at this point is paperwork on what the complainants told cops the night of the incident..:

cut 11 (09) “a week or two” 

The team reports for fall camp on August 5th. Jennings, defensive tackle Maquedius Bain and safety Dwayne Thomas were all charged with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling then were suspended from the team. Moore says since then, the people renting that apartment have asked that the charges be dropped…:

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According to a new report from the National Partnership for Women and Families, more than 45% of the private sector workforce in Louisiana cannot earn paid sick days. Spokeswoman Vicky Shabo says when people can’t take paid time away from work, they often jeopardize their job or their ability to make ends meet…:

Cut 13 (10)  “for public health”

Shabo says for a typical family in the United States without paid sick days, 3.5 days lost to illness are equal to the family’s entire monthly grocery budget. She says about 90 percent of workers in restaurants can not earn a single paid sick day…:

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The National Federation of Independent Business opposes any kind of mandate which would require employers to offer paid sick time. State Director Dawn Starns says they found 75% of employers already offer some form of paid sick leave and the government should not be telling people how to run their business…:

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Starns says many businesses are already doing what they can to help their employees. She says owners should be able to have flexibility when it comes to running their operation…:

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After going seven and nine last season, the Saints are ready to turn the page as they begin training camp today. The roster has been overhauled since the last time New Orleans played a game and that includes the release of the team’s top pass rusher Junior Galette. General Manager Mickey Loomis believes all the changes made will result in more wins this season

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Coach Sean Payton says they wish Galette well and it was not an easy decision to let him go….

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The LSU football team is a week away from starting fall camp. Coach Les Miles believes he’ll get better play from the quarterback position, as he expects a battle between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris for the starter’s role…

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Jennings has been suspended from team activities because he was arrested in June, but it’s likely the charges could be dropped. Miles says competition in practice between Jennings and Harris will determine who will start…

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Lt. Clay Higgins of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office and his CrimeStoppers videos are officially all over the place with more and more national exposure piling on. Michelle Southern reports…:

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The East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man from Clinton is charged with a hate crime for allegedly pulling down the pants of a 12-year-old and making racial slurs towards him at a gas station. Emilie Gunn reports.

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The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Deville mother accused of filing a false kidnapping report. Lt. Tommy Carnline says 24-year-old Ashley Ballard reported the incident happened as she was walking down the road with her four children…

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Carnline says Ballard claims four men in a car knocked her down and kidnapped her 2-year-old child. Ballard says she was able to recover the child in a ditch down the road. Carnline says investigators began canvassing the area searching for the car, but things weren’t adding up…

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He says Ballard gave inconsistent statements leading them to determine the alleged kidnapping never took place. Ballard is charged with filing a false police report. Carnline says they have yet to determine Ballard’s motive in filing the false report. He says the Sheriff’s office always wants to err on the side of caution and they treat every call like it’s a legitimate call…

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Lt. Clay Higgins of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office and his CrimeStoppers videos are officially all over the place after getting exposure on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this week. In the latest video, Higgins, aka “The Cajun John Wayne,” calls out someone who robbed a local supermarket…:

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The video, which is also making the rounds from CNN to Fox News, has over 1.3 million views on YouTube. Lt. Higgins tells us this crime is being seen by people from all over the world and remarks in the video, “Congratulations son, I’m about to make you famous,”…:

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After playing the video, Fallon told the audience that he believes Lt. Higgins should run for president. Lt. Higgins says creating these Crimestopper videos and getting the word out about crimes happening in the Acadiana region, even on this national stage, is his job…:

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Legislation that will increase benefits for veterans has been unanimously approved by the US House.  Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham of Richland Parish authored the measure which is his first to be approved by The House. He says under the bill vets will receive a cost of living adjustment tied to social security.

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Abraham says this is the least we can do and more should be done for our veterans. He says reforming the V-A is his top legislative priority.

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The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration. Abraham says if this becomes law, the benefits will begin in December. He says vets regularly come into the the office and tell him what a struggle it is to make ends meet in this economy.

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State Police say two people from Houston were busted for allegedly cheating at Lake Charles casinos in two separate incidents. Sgt. James Anderson says 44-year-old Long Nquyen and 41-year-old Thu Vo were both playing Mini-Baccarat…:

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The man and woman were each charged with counts of cheating and swindling and were booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. Anderson says people who gamble should know that surveillance operators at all of Louisiana’s casinos are very observant and proactive…:

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Anderson says the suspects thought they could get away with placing bonus wagers after already seeing the dealer’s winning hand, but they were being watched the entire time. Anderson says if you cheat, you will be caught and face stiff penalties…:

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