In a collaborative effort over a two-week period, the multi-agency Central Louisiana Violent Crime Abatement Team has made nearly 200 arrests. State Police Master Trooper Casey Wallace says 19 different law enforcement agencies in the central part of the state put their heads together and were able to build a plan to apprehend as many violent offenders as possible…:

CUT 07(11)      “…went out there and did.”

He says they have already seen a decrease in drug overdoses, maybe because they’ve also seized so much meth, fentanyl, ecstasy and other narcotics.

An Airman at Barksdale air Force base has been arrested for allegedly distributing child pornography. Bossier Sheriff’s deputies says images obtained while investigating 23-year-old Matthew Daigle were disturbing. All his digital devices have been seized for the ongoing investigation.

Two Evangeline Parish deputies are under arrest for allegedly bringing drugs and other contraband items into the parish jail. They’re charged with Malfeasance and abuse of Office.

Governor Edwards signs a bill requiring all Louisiana nursing homes to have and submit to the Department of Health an emergency preparedness plan. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says last year’s debacle with Hurricane Ida evacuations to an unfit facility brought about several deaths, and that’s why he brought the bill. He says nursing homes will have to submit their plans to LDH by March 1^st of every year…:

CUT 14(10)      “…transparency.”

A new development in the Hurricane Ida nursing home story: Bob Dean the Baton Rouge businessman who owns the homes in question and ordered the moving of over 800 residents to that warehouse, has been officially charged with felony cruelty to the infirm, Medicaid fraud and obstruction of justice. Dean’s licenses to operate those nursing homes were revoked months ago. More than a dozen residents of his homes died after that evacuation plan.

Governor Edwards has signed legislation that requires every nursing home in the state to have an emergency preparedness plan approved by the state department of health. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says the previous says law required nursing homes to have an emergency preparedness plan, but it did not require approval from L-D-H….

Cut 13 (06) “…the inspection.”

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Friends and fans are still reacting to the sudden death of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jaylon Ferguson at the age of 26. The St. Francisville native starred at West Feliciana high school. His coach there, Robb Odom, says Ferguson was one of the building blocks of the program as it climbed from contending during his high school career to winning the 3A state title in 2017. Ferguson set the tone in the locker room and on the field, serving as a leader and role model for his teammates.

Cut 10 (12) ”…the community.”

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A recent operation by the Central Louisiana Violent Crime Abatement Teams results in over 150 arrests. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A 15-year-old male was shot and killed in Lafayette last night. At around 10:40 pm, Lafayette Police responded to a call regarding aggravated battery by shooting. When officers arrived they found the victim critically injured. He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital before he was pronounced deceased. If you have any information, please contact the LPD or Lafayette Crime Stoppers at 337-232-TIPS.

State Police announces a multi-violent crime enforcement operation results in 171 arrests across central Louisiana. There were 278 total charges, 140 were for drug charges and Master Trooper Casey Wallace says first responders have already seen a difference…
cut 8 (07) “…to one”
The operation also seized a number of illegal drugs including methamphetamine, PCP, ecstasy, and fentanyl.

Louisiana Tech and the Baltimore Ravens are mourning the death of linebacker Jaylon Ferguson, who died at the age of 26. His coach at West Feliciana High School, Robb Odom is in shock…
cut 9 (13) “…light up a room
The Saint Francisville native is the NCAA’s all-time sack leader. A cause of death has not been released.

Louisiana lands a blow in the fight against workplace discrimination. David Grubb explains…
Voicer 3 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Governor Edwards has signed legislation requiring every nursing home in the state to have an emergency preparedness plan approved by the department of health. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says it’s in response to last year’s botched evacuation involving seven nursing homes owned by Bob Dean…

Cut 12 (11) “…happen again.”  

Over 800 nursing home residents were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish prior to Hurricane Ida and more than a dozen died as a result.

Health officials say Louisiana is experiencing its sixth surge of COVID. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says even though the dashboard Tuesday indicated close to 29 hundred new cases he says the number is misleading because home tests are not required to be reported to the department.

Cut 7 AM (09) “…right now.”

In a collaborative effort over a two-week period the Central Louisiana Violent Crime Abatement Team made just under 200 arrests after a very successful detail. Master Trooper Casey Wallace says several of law enforcement agencies worked together to identify and apprehend a number of criminals.

Cut 6 byproduct of the arrests. :12

Louisiana has received more than $100 million in federal housing assistance to assist over 20-thousand residents with past rent dating back as far as April 2020. Gina Campo, Deputy Executive Director with the Office of Community Development for more info visit LA COVID housing – dot com

Cut 4  (07) “…people as possible.”

Louisiana has received more than $100 million in federal housing assistance to assist over 20-thousand residents with past rent dating back as far as April 2020. Gina Campo, Deputy Executive Director with the Office of Community Development says the program will assist those who are in danger of being evicted.

Cut 3 (10) “…guidelines.”

The website is laCOVIDhousing.com

Health officials say Louisiana is experiencing its sixth surge of COVID. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says this surge differs from previous ones because we aren’t seeing an increase in hospitalizations and deaths.

Cut 9 (08)  “…blip right now.”

Kanter says of those hospitalized with COVID, 63 percent are not fully vaccinated, and 87 percent have not been vaccinated nor boosted.

New Orleans Representative Candace Newell’s CROWN Act is officially law. The law prohibits intentional discrimination based on hairstyles. Research shows 80 percent of Black women have endured some type of discrimination based on their hair in the workplace. Newell says the law sends a strong message.

Cut 10 (12) “…your character.”

Law enforcement officials say we are in the midst of the 100 Deadliest Days of summer. Trooper Christian Reed says from Memorial Day to Labor Day there’s a 15 percent increase in traffic fatalities among drivers ages 16 to 19. Reed says no law enforcement officer ever wants to tell a parent about the death of their child.

Cut 15 (11)  “…tragic happens.”

Governor John Bel Edwards signed several bills into law yesterday, one of them prohibits law enforcement from releasing the mug shots of suspects arrested for non-violent offenses. New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis says he brought the legislation because mug shots are hardly ever retracted if a person was found innocent…
Cut 5 (09) “…digital Scarlet Letter.”
Duplessis says once a non-violent offender is convicted of the crime they were arrested for, then the mugshot would be made available to the public.

The governor also signed legislation that would prevent employers or those who provide housing from discriminating against an individual because of their natural or protective hairstyle. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell is the author of the Crown Act…
cut 11 (12) “…legislation statewide”
Previous attempts to pass this legislation in Louisiana failed.

The Louisiana Department of Health says the state is in its sixth COVID surge…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana Tech is mourning the death of former football star Jaylon Ferguson, who died at the age of 26. The Saint Francisville native is the NCAA’s all-time sack leader as he racked up 45 sacks and was known as the “Sack Daddy.” He was set to begin his fourth season with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have not released any details on Ferguson’s death.

The Governor signs into law a bill prohibiting the publication of most booking photos; aka “mug shots” before a conviction. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

State Police announces a multi-violent crime enforcement operation results in 171 arrests in Rapides, Natchitoches and Grant parishes. There were 278 total charges, 140 were drug charges, 28 weapon charges and 57 other felony charges. 31 illegally possessed firearms were seized.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on a person’s natural, protective or cultural hairsytles like afros, dreadlocks, twists, locs, braids and cornrow braids. Similar attempts to pass this measure failed in the past. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says she had some hard conversations with some of her House colleagues in order to pass this bill…
cut 12 (11) “….of something”
Newell says for Louisiana to reach its potential more difficult conversations will have to take place.

Law enforcement refers to this time period as the 100 Deadliest Days of summer as there tends to be an increase in deaths among younger individuals. State Trooper Christian Reed has this advice for young drivers…
cut 14 (06) “….a vehicle”

The CROWN Act has officially become law. Sponsored by New Orleans representative Candace Newell, the law prohibits intentional discrimination based on hairstyles, particularly those that are natural or protective. Research has shown that 80 percent of Black women have endured some type of discrimination based on their hair in the workplace. Newell says this sends a strong message.
Cut 10 (12) “…your character.”

Another bill signed into law will result in law enforcement no longer releasing the booking photos of suspects arrested for nonviolent offenses.
cut 6 (09) “…we’re trying to strike”
New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis says publicizing a mug shot will be OK if the subject is a wanted fugitive, considered dangerous and/or a threat to public safety.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announces policyholders with Lighthouse Excalibur, Maison and Southern Fidelity can be insured by Louisiana Citizens for 60 days after they are cancelled by their current insurance provider. Donelon says failed insurers Lighthouse Excalibur and Maison will cancel their Louisiana policies on June 30th, but these policyholders will have coverage through July and August. He says Citizens can also provide coverage for 60 days for Southern Fidelity policyholders who see their current coverage canceled on July 15th.

State health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says the state is experiencing its sixth COVID surge as the state reported 28-hundred new cases yesterday. But Kanter says unlike previous surges, there’s not been a dramatic increase in COVID hospitalizations or deaths…
cut 8 (12) “…time around”
The state reported five more COVID deaths yesterday.