Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer died this morning in Baton Rouge at the age of 77. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”
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The US Supreme Court rules 6-3 that a prior ruling deeming non-unanimous jury verdicts unconstitutional is not retroactive. Matt Doyle has the story…
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Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer has passed away at the age of 77. Roemer was Louisiana’s governor from 1988 to 1991. Before that, he served as a U-S Representative for over seven years. His former chief of staff Len Sanderson says Roemer was a compelling person
Cut 3 (10) “…electric personality”
Roemer was known as a reformer and his Roemer Revolution talk helped him defeat Edwin Edwards in the 1987 governor’s race. Sanderson says one of Roemer’s big successes during his one term in office was changes to campaign finance laws…
Roemer signed the bill that legalized riverboat gaming, he also worked to improve the state’s environment. But his tax reform plan was rejected by the voters and Sanderson says his administration also had to cut the budget as a result of a large deficit…
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The temporary shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline only highlighted the truck driver shortage. Louisiana Motor Transport Association Executive Director Renee Amar says the driver shortage was already an issue well before the pandemic, at least 15 years, and they need tens of thousands of drivers monthly.
During the pandemic, the need for tank truck drivers decreased and many found other employment opportunities.
Amar says due to the aging population of experienced drivers many chose to retire early and that only added to the shortage. She says consumers should expect to see an increase in prices and….
Amar says the industry is paying higher wages and bonuses to retain and entice drivers and the costs will be passed on to consumers.
Amar says there’s legislation to help train potential CDL-licensed drivers and the association is also looking at scholarships to entice more drivers to the workforce.
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The National Weather Service says 10 to 13 inches of rain has fallen in some parts of southwest Louisiana today. Numerous roads are closed in the Lake Charles area and there are reports of rainwater getting into homes. Meteorologist Donald Jones says more rain is on its way
A flash flood watch is in effect for southwest Louisiana through Thursday night. The watch box also includes Alexandria, Lafayette, and Morgan City.
Jones says after dealing with two major hurricanes and a winter storm in the last year, a flooding event is the last thing they need in this area…
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The US Supreme Court rules that those convicted in the past on non-unanimous jury verdicts will not automatically get a retrial.
The decision states that a prior ruling deeming non-unanimous jury verdicts unconstitutional is not retroactive. Attorney Andre Belanger argued for retroactivity, calling the 6-3 decision unfair…
About 1,500 Louisiana convictions would have to have been retried if the ruling went the other way, but Belanger says the Court did leave the door open for state and local action.
There’s also legislation that is currently in committee that would make the unconstitutionality of non-unanimous verdicts retroactive.
Attorney General Jeff Landry argued ordering retrials would threaten the convictions of many violent criminals…
Belanger counters Landry’s argument…
Before the US Supreme Court ruled that non-unanimous verdicts were unconstitutional and rooted in old racist policy the state passed an amendment that ended the use of non-unanimous verdicts, but did not apply it retroactively.