Embattled St. Tammany Parish Coroner, Christopher Tape, who was accused of child sexual assault, but never tried on a technicality in New Mexico, says he was greeted with a suspicious package on his first day.  Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (25) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The House Civil Law Committee has voted against a proposal to give residents a chance to vote on whether abortion should be legal in Louisiana. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (36)  “I’m Colleen Crain” 

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It’s Stress Awareness Month and a new study by WalletHub.com names the Bayou State as the most stressed-out state in the country this year. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape says he’s received death threats after it was revealed by an investigative reporter that Tape was accused but never tried for child sexual abuse in New Mexico. Parish leaders have started a recall campaign to remove him. At a press conference Monday, he talked about his first day as coroner.

Cut 4 (08) “…death threat.”

Tape is also under fire for cutting the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program in the parish that also serves, four other parishes (Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and Washington).

Top elected officials in St. Tammany Parish have begun a recall campaign to remove Tate, and the new coroner clapped back.

Cut 5 (04) “…proven guilty.” 

Tate also accused his predecessor, Dr. Charles Preston, of a smear campaign against him along with planting listening devices in the office and the suspicious package.

Cut 6 (11) “…last night.”

Tape, who was unopposed in the election, has refused requests to resign and the only way he can be removed from office is a successful recall campaign.

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A bill to allow judges to sentence sex offenders whose victims are younger than 13, to surgical castration will be heard in Senate Judiciary C today. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says when a child is involved the offender is usually someone they know and a repeat offender.

 Cut 7 (09) “…men and women.”

The last time she filed the bill she says there was large opposition claiming castration is inhumane, but she says when the victim is a child…

Cut 8 (10) “…period.” 

Barrow says the more she’s learned about the lifelong impact sexual assault has on children she’s grown more adamant about her bill.

Cut 9 (12)  “…of doing.”

She says the state would be responsible for surgical costs.

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A House committee has voted down a proposal to give Louisiana residents the ability to vote on whether abortion should be legal. A nine-year-old boy from Lafayette came to the state capitol to testify against the measure. Hopkins Inzina says his grandmother was a teenager when she was pregnant with his mom and could have decided on an abortion…

Cut 10 (14) “…including me.”

Louisiana has one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation as a result of a constitutional amendment in 2020. But New Orleans Democrat Aimee Freeman says a recent LSU poll shows 52-percent of Louisiana voters believe abortion should be legal…

Cut 11 (08) “…families”

But Washington Parish Republican John Wyble says he’s not finding any support for Freeman’s proposal…

Cut 12 (13) “…falls on it.” 

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Louisianans are stressed out according to a new study. Personal finance website Wallethub.com has ranked the Bayou State number one among the most stressed states. Analyst Cassie Happe says the survey compares several factors like work, health, and crime-related stress among the 50 states.

Cut 13 (10)  “…particular categories.”

Louisiana ranks fourth worst in hours worked, fifth in the percentage of adults in poor health, second in people living in poverty, and ninth in job security. Happe says Louisianans have the second lowest median credit scores which also contribute to stress levels.

Cut 14 (12)  “…their credit.”

Compounding the issue for Louisianans dealing with stress is the tremendous lack of sleep and high divorce rates. Happe suggests participating in activities that are not cost-related to relieve stress. And when it comes to money problems…

Cut 15 (12)  “…your bills.”

Mississippi also topped the list as the second most stressed state followed by Nevada, New Mexico, and Arkansas.

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Cut 16 (24)  “…team today.” 

Cut 17 (17) “…answer the bell.” 

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Cut 18 (18)  “…I need” 

Cut 19 (17) “…third and fourth quarter”  

.Cut 20 (20) “…everybody in Albany”

The House Civil Law Committee has voted against a proposal to give residents a chance to vote on whether abortion should be legal in Louisiana. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (36)  “I’m Colleen Crain” 

A bill to allow judges to sentence sex offenders whose victims are younger than 13, to surgical castration will be heard in Senate Judiciary C Tuesday. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow, author of the bill believes sexual assault has a lifelong impact on children. She says the state would be responsible for surgical costs.

Legislation to do away with the requirement for Louisiana drivers to have an inspection sticker on their vehicle passes the House Transportation Committee. State Police Captain Bryan Lee says State Troopers and police officers can’t tell if a vehicle’s tires are worn, which is something that can be spotted during a vehicle inspection. He says bald tires are a safety threat…

Cut 10 (07) “…bad tires. “

The elimination of inspection vehicles would cost State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles 14-million dollars a year.  Hornbeck Representative Rodney Schamerhorn says there are several inspection stations that do not take it seriously, so why require it…

Cut 11 (09) “…they’re not.”

The measure will now head to House Appropriations for more discussion.

Most of Western and Northern Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 8 PM meaning conditions are favorable for the development of a tornado. the National Weather service recommendations say: review your emergency plans and check supplies and your safe room and be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. The watch extends from East Texas through 29 parishes and into Central Mississippi and Southern Arkansas.

A recall effort is underway to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape, who officially took office today after it was revealed he was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in New Mexico but was never tried on a technicality. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says there will be a gathering at the state capitol this afternoon.

Cut 6  (09) “…that office.” 

The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to do away with the requirement for Louisiana drivers to have an up to date inspection sticker on their vehicle. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says getting the sticker is an inconvenience, an unnecessary expense and does nothing to keep our roads safer…

Cut 9 (09) “…into a fine.” 

One state lawmaker said the fine for an expired inspection sticker can be as much as 250-dollars.

Democrat Henry Whitehorn, who won by a single vote margin in November, has been elected as Caddo Parish first African American Sheriff. Political Analyst Scott Hughes points out the unity and commitment from Democrats and the African American community to place Whitehorn into leadership.

Cut 4 (10) “…128 boxes.” 

Whitehorn will be sworn in this summer.

A recall effort is underway to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape, who took office today. Tape was accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s 7-year-old daughter in New Mexico but was never tried due to a technicality. After Dr. Chuck Preston retired, Tate ran unopposed before the charges came to light. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says if the recall effort is successful in removing Tape from office there will be a thorough vetting process for his replacement.

Cut 8 (07) “…is shocking.” 

Two deaths in Delhi are being called mysterious and Louisiana State Police have opened investigations after bodies were discovered on Park Street and Charter Street over the weekend. Authorities are awaiting autopsy reports.

The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to eliminate the need for drivers to have a vehicle inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The LSU Lady Tigers are heading to the Sweet 16 after beating Middle Tennessee 83 to 56. LSU trailed by nine points early in the second half before they got it going. Coach Kim Mulkey was asked if an anticipated Washington Post story on her distracted the team

Cut 12 (05) “…absolutely not” 

A weekend bar fight at Freds near LSU led to the death of a Westwego man.  The fight happened just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday. 26-year-old Devin Michael Repath, in town for a bachelor party, was initially taken from the scene by ambulance in critical condition. Investigators are reviewing video from several cameras. Baton Rouge Police spokesman Lt. L’Jean McKneely said the investigation is still in its early stages.

Democrat Henry Whitehorn has made history by becoming the first black man elected as Caddo Parish Sheriff after a closely contested second runoff election. The former head of State Police secured 53 percent of the vote on Saturday, after winning by one vote over Republican opponent John Nickelson in November. Political Analyst Scott Hughes…

Cut 3 (11) “…vote margin.”  

Now that the embattled St. Tammany Parish Coroner has been sworn-in there’s a recall effort to remove him. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to do away with the requirement for Louisiana drivers to have an up-to-date inspection sticker on their vehicle which would cost State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles 14-million dollars a year.Hornbeck Representative Rodney Schamerhorn says there are several inspection stations that do not take it seriously, so why require it…

Cut 11 (09) “…they’re not.”

The measure will now head to House Appropriations for more discussion.

Democrat Henry Whitehorn has made history by becoming the first black man elected as Caddo Parish Sheriff after his contested second runoff election. Political analyst Scott Hughes…

Cut 5 (11)  “…Caddo Parish.”

Whitehorn will be sworn in on July 1st.

A recall effort begins today to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape, after it was revealed, he was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in New Mexico but was never tried on a technicality. Senator Beth Mizell says Tape has also eliminated the sexual assault nurse program which also impacts Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes as well.

Cut 7 (07) “…nurse program.”  

Mizell says they couldn’t begin the recall until Tape was sworn in.

The LSU Lady Tigers are heading to the Sweet 16 after beating Middle Tennessee 83 to 56. Over the weekend Mulkey threatened legal action against the Washington Post over an anticipated article that she says is a hit piece.

Cut  14 (10) “…about me”

She says reporter Kent Babb has not been transparent in his intentions and it’s this type of journalism that makes the public no longer trust the media.

House Transportation approves a bill to do away with the required inspection stickers on vehicles. State Police Captain Bryan Lee opposes the bill and says law enforcement can’t tell if a vehicle’s tires are worn, which is something that can be spotted during a vehicle inspection. He says bald tires are a safety threat…

Cut 10 (07) “…bad tires. “

Democrat Henry Whitehorn, who won by a single vote margin in November, has been elected as Caddo Parish first African American Sheriff. Political Analyst Scott Hughes points out the unity and commitment from Democrats and the African American community to place Whitehorn into leadership.

Cut 4 (10) “…128 boxes.” 

Whitehorn secured 53 percent of the vote against his opponent Republican John Nickelson. Whitehorn who won by a one vote margin in November, will be sworn in this summer.

A recall effort is underway to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape, who officially took office today after it was revealed he was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in New Mexico but was never tried on a technicality. Franklin Senator Beth Mizell says there will be a gathering at the state capitol this afternoon.

Cut 6  (09) “…that office.” 

The LSU women’s basketball team defeated Middle Tennessee Raider’s in a final score of 83-56 Sunday and advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year. Angel Reese stepped up her game in the second half and scored 14 points. Coach Kim Mulkey says in the second half they picked up the pace offensively and played with more effort…

Cut 19 (17) “…third and fourth quarter”  

LSU will play the winner of tonight’s game between UCLA and Creighton in the Sweet 16 on Saturday.

The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to do away with the requirement for Louisiana drivers to get an inspection sticker. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley told lawmakers there is no reason for the sticker…
cut 9 (09) “….into a fine
Bagley says vehicles are built better and law enforcement officers can pull over a vehicle they believe is not safe. The measure heads to House Appropriations.

Democrat Henry Whitehorn has made history by becoming the first black man elected as Caddo Parish Sheriff. The former head of State Police secured 53 percent of the vote on Saturday, after winning by one vote over Republican opponent John Nickelson in November. Political Analyst Scott Hughes…
Cut 3 (11) “…vote margin.”
A second election was needed because the courts ruled there were several questionable votes counted in the November election.

A Merryville dog owner sought revenge by fatally shooting a dog after it allegedly attacked his dog. So, we asked Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt if it is legal to shoot another dog in another person’s yard if it attacked yours.
Cut 10 (13) “…to property.”
Authorities are conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting of the Labrador.

The LSU Lady Tigers are heading to the Sweet 16 after beating Middle Tennessee 83 to 56. A Washington Post article on LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey could be published this week. Mulkey says the same reporter previously did a hit job on football coach Brian Kelly and he’s spent the last two years trying to dig up dirt on her…
Cut 13 (11) “…positive stories”
Mulkey is promising a defamation lawsuit if the story contains any lies about here.