Minden Police make two arrests from this past weekend’s mass shooting that was gang-related. Teiko Foxx has the latest.
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Further efforts to make home and auto insurance more affordable for Louisiana consumers will be before the state legislature when they convene April 10th. Kevin Gallagher reports a watchdog group hopes they’ll make real, substantial change…:
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Minden Police have made two arrests in the shooting of at least four people at a gathering Sunday night. The shooting happened at Ewell Park Recreation Center. Police Chief Jared McIver says his officers responded quickly.
Cut 3 (10) “…laying everywhere”
20-year-old Reginald Moore of Heflin and 22-year-old Jamontae Holyfield of Homer were taken into custody and charged with four counts of attempted second-degree murder. Holyfield was also charged with four counts of attempted carjacking. Three males and one female were injured and at least one was flown to Ochsner LSU Health Hospital in Shreveport after the incident.
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Detectives discovered the shooting involved multiple gangs. McIver says this has been an ongoing problem before he took office.
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The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.
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Addiction specialists are praising the FDA’s approval of over-the-counter Narcan to help with the ongoing opioid crisis. Director of Addiction Psychiatry at LSU Health New Orleans, Dr. Lee Michals is hopeful with Narcan more widely available the number of overdose deaths will decrease.
Cut 6 (11) “…when it’s needed.”
The nasal spray can reverse an opioid overdose. And as with any medication Michals says you should learn how to use it properly before it’s needed.
Cut 7 (11) “…on hand.”
As for who should have Narcan on hand, Michals says if you have a friend or family member with an opioid addiction it’s imperative and even if you don’t it’s like a fire extinguisher always better to have it available than not due to the widespread use of opioids. And even though Narcan will be over-the-counter-soon, Michals says don’t be afraid to ask your physician for a prescription.
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The FDA says in the U.S. there were more than 100,000 reported fatal overdose deaths from October 2021 to October 2022.
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With the state legislature going to work in just over a week, a non-profit insurance watchdog group shares its hopes and concerns for consumer-oriented insurance reforms. Ben Riggs is the executive director of Real Reform Louisiana. He says his group is hoping to see substantive help for consumers, rather than bills to make a more business-friendly environment for insurance companies…:
Cut 9 (11) “…and small businesses.”
Riggs says some of the bills proposed by Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon at a March 12th meeting with the industry would force policyholders to pay their legal expenses even if they WIN in court, and would force policyholders to actually go to court twice in some cases. He says Louisiana needs to be on the taxpayers’ side…:
Cut 10 (10) “…consumers and taxpayers”
Riggs says tort reforms passed in recent years were touted as a way to reduce auto insurance rates, but they have failed to do so. In fact, auto coverage rates have increased. He says his group does like a bill that would forbid setting auto rates based on gender. Currently, women pay higher rates than men (in most cases) and Riggs says that’s not right…:
Cut 11 (12) “…those in gender”
Riggs says Real Reform Louisiana lobbies to “deliver real reform that levels the playing field, increases competition, and lowers costs.
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State Police has arrested the driver of a log truck that slammed into a state department of transportation vehicle in DeSoto Parish killing a DOTD worker. Trooper Jonathan Odom says 42-year-old Charles Barker of Florien was not attentive behind the wheel
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The crash occurred on U-S Highway 171 on January 25th. Barker and two DOTD workers suffered moderate injuries, while 35-year-old Christopher Gray of Lake Charles died at the scene. Odom explains why Barker was charged with negligent homicide…
Cut 13 (10) “…of someone else”
Gray was standing behind a DOTD dump truck when he was killed. The crew was performing road surface improvements to the highway.