After serving nearly 45 years in prison, Vincent Simmons is going home. Simmons, who is Black, was convicted of the attempted aggravated rape of 14-year-old white twin sisters in 1977. Avoyelles Parish District Attorney Charlie Riddle says with today’s sentencing guidelines it would reduce the 100-year sentence against Simmons, and it’s time to move on.

Cut 12 (11) “…can be released.”

A recent ruling says key evidence was not shared with the defense.

Governor Edwards will renew the Public Health emergency order today and says there will be no mention of face masks in the order and the department of health’s guideline for K-12 schools will relax indoor masking. But masks are still required in healthcare settings.

Cut 15 (10)  “…whatever.”

Shreveport area Congressman Mike Johnson says it’s time to permanently make Fentanyl a Schedule I controlled substance. Kevin Gallagher reports on his bill to do just that:

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

Due to the ongoing drought, a statewide burn ban is in effect. The State Fire Marshal’s Office along with Agriculture and Forestry issued the ban that remains in effect until rescinded. A spokesperson for the Fire Marshal says firemen have been overwhelmed with burns that accidentally get out of control due to the drought.

None of the maps that are advancing in the redistricting session increase the number of majority-minority districts, which Governor John Bel Edwards calls problematic….
cut 1 (31) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

Third Judicial District Attorney John Belton met with the Legislative Black Caucus yesterday to provide an update on the Ronald Greene case. Afterward, Belton told the USA Today Network that he believes the Troopers who arrested Greene committed a crime, but he’s letting the U-S Justice Department to pursue the case because they have more resources.

After serving nearly 45 years in prison, Vincent Simmons is a free man. Simmons, who is Black, was convicted of the attempted aggravated rape of 14-year-old white twin sisters in 1977. Avoyelles Parish District Attorney Charles Riddle says Simmons was granted his release from Angola after a judge declared he should have a new trial…
Cut 10 (7) “…constitutional issue.”
The women who accused Simmons of the crime say he’s still guilty.

District 4 Louisiana U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson proposes to permanently make illicit Fentanyl a Schedule I controlled substance. Johnson says Congress temporarily classifies fentanyl as a Schedule One narcotic multiple times each year and that’s counter-productive…:
Cut 7 (09) “…in America now.”
Johnson says to reverse the fentanyl crisis, a full-court press is needed.

The Republican led Louisiana Legislature is poised to approve a Congressional district map that maintains the status quo of one majority-minority district. Governor John Bel Edwards calls those maps problematic, because 33-percent of the state’s population is Black…
cut 5 (12) “….African American districts”
But Republicans say a second majority-minority district, would actually dilute the African-American vote lessening the chances of a minority being elected in any of the state’s congressional districts.

Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson has filed legislation that he says will help law enforcement agencies get control of the fentanyl crisis. Johnson says his bill would permanently classify illicit fentanyl as an illegal deadly substance under federal law…
cut 9 (09) “…that regard”

After nearly half a century in prison, convicted rapist Vincent Simmons is being released. David Grubb has the story.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Third District Attorney John Belton told Greg Hilburn with the USA Today Network that he absolutely believes the Troopers involved in the Ronald Greene arrest in Union Parish committed a crime. Belton says he has not prosecuted the case because the U-S Justice Department has more resources. Belton met with the Legislative Black Caucus yesterday.

Even though Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is on the downswing from the latest surge of COVID cases, he plans on renewing the public health emergency order for another 28 days, but it will not include any mention of masks. Edwards says the state department of health will give additional guidance for K-through-12 schools today…
cut 13 (11) “…mandates either”

And when it comes to the redistricting session, Governor Edwards says congressional maps that do not create an additional majority-Black district are very problematic. Edwards says the 2020 Census indicates one-third of the state is Black, so two of the state’s six congressional districts should be majority-minority…
cut 6 (09) “…as well”
Opponents argue a second majority-minority district would actually dilute the Black vote in those districts.

Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson has introduced the Cease Overdose Act. Johnson says it would remove the need for Congress to reauthorize illicit fentanyl’s classification as a deadly substance every couple of months. Johnson says his legislation is needed because fentanyl overdoses recently became the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45…
cut 8 (07) “…lethal dose”

Vincent Simmons is out of jail after spending nearly 45 years in prison after he was convicted of attempted aggravated rape of 14-year-old white twin sisters in 1977. An Avoyelles Parish Judge ruled that Simmons should get a new trial after determining he did not receive a fair trial. Avoyelles District Attorney Charles Riddle…
cut 11 (12) “….in his possession”
Riddle says he and the accussers are okay with Simmons leaving prison because he’s already spent 44 years behind bars.

Congressional maps approved by the House and Senate in the redistricting session fail to add a majority-minority Black district and Governor John Bel Edwards calls them problematic. But until they reach his desk Edwards will not say if he will veto them.
Cut 4 (10) “…are fair.”
Edwards says the 2020 Census indicates one-third of the state is Black which has changed the state’s demographic makeup from the previous ten years, so two of the state’s six congressional districts should be majority-minority.

During a Monday afternoon press conference, the governor also gave an update on the state’s response to COVID. He says Louisiana is on the downswing of the latest surge, as the last three Mondays have seen a decrease in cases, but the state is still reporting a lot of deaths…
cut 14 (08) “….lagging indicator”
The state reported 41 more COVID deaths yesterday.

Shreveport area Congressman Mike Johnson says it’s time to permanently make Fentanyl a Schedule I controlled substance. Kevin Gallagher reports on his bill to do just that:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Governor Edwards says he won’t discuss if he plans to veto any of the maps that have passed in the House and Senate so far, but he did say they appear to be problematic. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

__________________________________

Shreveport area Congressman Mike Johnson says it’s time to permanently make Fentanyl a Schedule I controlled substance. Kevin Gallagher reports on his bill to do just that:

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

_____________________________________

After nearly half a century in prison, convicted rapist Vincent Simmons is being released. David Grubb has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

____________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says congressional maps approved by the House and Senate in the redistricting session fail to add a majority-minority Black district and he believes them to be problematic. But until they reach his desk Edwards won’t comment if he plans to veto them.

Cut 4 (10)  “…are fair.” 

Edwards says the 2020 Census indicates one-third of the state is Black which has changed the state’s demographic makeup from the previous ten years and that a third of all voting districts should reflect that.

The House and Senate have both passed Republican-drawn Congressional maps which maintain one Majority-Minority district. The maps have yet to reach the governor’s desk, from the session that must end by Sunday. Edwards says he does see those maps to have issues when it comes to the Voting Rights Act.

Cut 5 (12) “…African American districts.”

Edwards says there have been a number of bills and/or amendments presented to show that a second majority-minority district can be done.

Cut 6 (09)  “…as well. “

The governor says he is hopeful the district maps will be amended to reflect the state’s population appropriately before they reach his desk.

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District 4 Louisiana U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson proposes federal law to permanently make illicit Fentanyl a Schedule I controlled substance. Talking with LRN, Johnson says Congress currently has to go back periodically and reauthorize the drug’s temporary Schedule I status; which is counter-productive…:

Cut 7 (09) “…in America now.”

Federal law states that substances on the Schedule I list have “no medicinal value whatsoever.” Johnson’s “CEASE Overdose” act would make that designation for illicit (or non-prescribed) Fentanyl permanent. He says law enforcement needs all the help they can get combating the very dangerous drug…:

Cut 8 (07)  “…a lethal dose.”

Johnson says there is no good reason why congress must reauthorize Fentanyl’s illicit status over and over again. He says Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs flow freely across the wide-open southern border, and his bill is only a small part of what he calls a “full court press” in fighting it…:

Cut 9 (09)  “…in that regard.”

Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. topped 120-thousand in 2021; an increase of 40-percent over the previous year. Johnson says Fentanyl accounts for the majority of those.

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After serving nearly 45 years in prison, Vincent Simmons is going home. Simmons, who is Black, was convicted of the attempted aggravated rape of 14-year-old white twin sisters in 1977. Now, a judge has granted a new trial, says Avoyelles Parish District Attorney Charlie Riddle.

Cut 10 (7) “…constitutional issue.”

Over the years, lawyers for Simmons have restated their claim that he did not receive a fair trial and that there were problems with both the physical evidence and witness testimony presented at that time. The judge’s ruling only addressed a single constitutional issue dealing with how evidence was shared with the defense.

Cut  11 (12)  “…in his possession.”  

That new trial won’t take place, as Riddle has decided not to re-try Simmons and has dismissed the charges against him. Riddle said that after all this time, and with today’s sentencing guidelines likely to reduce the 100-year sentence against Simmons, it’s time to move on.

Cut 12 (11) “…can be released.”

Simmons will be set free after his processing is complete at Angola State Penitentiary.

____________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards gave some encouraging news that Louisiana is definitely on the downswing of the Omicron surge. Edwards says he plans to renew the Public Health Emergency proclamation, but it will not have any mention of face masks. And the department of health will give a briefing today on new CDC guidelines for K-12 schools.

Cut 13 (11) “…mandates either.”

Edwards says cases the last three Mondays have decreased significantly each week but there’s still plenty of COVID out there.

Cut 14 (08)  “…lagging indicator.”

On Monday the state reported 41 COVID deaths.

As for hospitalizations, they remain four times as high as they were before the Omicron surge started and Edwards says we still have a lot of improving to do pandemic wise, on Monday the state indicated 1,135 were in the hospital with COVID.

The governor reminded residents that they are still required to wear face masks in a healthcare setting.

Cut 15 (12)  “…the Federal government.”

Edwards said the state’s positivity rate had from the mid-’30s this time last month to now 8-percent.

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It’s not quite the glory days of the early 90s, but Tulane basketball is on the comeback. In his third season, Ron Hunter has the Wave at 11-11, and 8-5 in the American Athletic Conference. Saturday, Tulane improved to 6-1 at home in conference play with a thrilling 92-83 overtime win over Temple, its first home win over the Owls since 1992.

Cut 16 (11)  “…hanging in there.”

Prior to Hunter’s arrival in 2019, Tulane hadn’t won more than six conference games since joining the American. With five games remaining, the Wave has a chance at a first-round bye in the AAC tournament and their first postseason bid since of any kind since 2014. Hunter says his team is finally maturing…

Cut 17 (15) “ …a veteran team.” 

In Thibodaux, the Colonels of Nicholls State are trying to make their first postseason appearance since 1998. After topping Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for their fifth straight win, the Colonels are just a game and a half back of UNO in the standings. Coach Austin Claunch says the energy at Stopher Gymnasium has been a big reason for the surge, and that needs to continue with games against McNeese and Houston Baptist this week.

Cut 18 (10) “ …that we bought.” 

_____________________________________________

The Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball team is struggling. They’ve lost three in a row and eight of their last ten and there’s talk among the fan base about head coach Bob Marlin’s job security. Marlin says he’s not paying attention to that noise

Cut 19 (25)_“getting it done.” 

U-L Lafayette is at ULM on Thursday.

Cynthia Perkins pleads guilty to second-degree rape, production of child pornography, and conspiracy mingling of harmful substances. Attorney General Jeff Landry says she waives her right to an appeal. She is the wife of Dennis Perkins, former Living Parish Sheriff’s Deputy who faces multiple sex charges involving children and rape. Cynthia Perkins’ sentencing is scheduled for Friday.

Due to extremely dry conditions, the Fire Marshal’s Office along with Agriculture and Forestry has issued a statewide burn ban. Fire Marshal Office Spokesperson Ashely Rodrigue says the ban goes into effect Tuesday morning and remains until rescinded.

Cut 12 (11) “…their property.”  

Rodrigue says firefighters have been overwhelmed recently with brush fires due to cigarette droppings and open burns that have gotten out of control.

U-S Senate candidate Gary Chambers announced today that his campaign has raised nearly six hundred thousand dollars since its launch last month. For a relative unknown like Chambers, that’s no small feat, says UL-Lafayette professor of political science, Dr. Pearson Cross.

 Cut 6 (11) “…eye-opening sum.” 
The Super Bowl commercials are a favorite topic the day after the game and Google Trends Expert Gina Shalavi (Shall-ah-vee) says at YouTube.com/adslist you can see everything Super Bowl-related to advertising and this year they noticed a growing trend when it comes to viewing ads online.

Cut 5 (10) “…room devices.”

Visit Louisiana-Radio-Network.com for a list of the Top Ten ads from the Super Bowl.