AM Newscall, April 23, 2015

A benefit lunch/dinner will be held today for St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Burt Hazeltine today. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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Cops says a now ex-teacher from Lake Charles Academy is under arrest amid allegations of sexual misconduct with one of her juvenile students. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

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A bill that attempts to rein in the cost of the TOPS scholarship program received approval from the Senate Education Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (27) “reporting”

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St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office Cpl. Burt Hazeltine has been released from the hospital and the sheriff’s office will host a benefit lunch/dinner for him today in Destrehan. Hazeltine was shot last week while directing traffic in a school zone in Paradis. Captain Pat Yoes says they’re holding this fundraiser because Hazeltine has a long road ahead toward recovery…

cut 4  (06) “lessen that burden”

The fundraiser will happen at the Shriner’s Hall in Destrehan from 11AM til 8PM. Yoes says plates are just $10 and you will have three different menu options to choose from. He says all of the proceeds from the benefit will go to Hazeltine and his family to help with expenses while he is out of work…

Cut 5  (07)  “full duty”

Yoes says Hazeltine is very fortunate to have survived the shooting in what law enforcement officials have described as an ambush. He says Hazeltine is doing remarkably well as he begins the road to recovery…

Cut 6 (06)  “all of these”

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The state Department of Transportation wants to hear how motorists feel the I-10 through Baton Rouge should be improved. They’ve created a survey you can take online at i10br.com as part of a study to determine the feasibility of any enhancements it could make to the congested area from West Baton Rouge to the I-10/12 split. DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett…:

CUT 7 (10)  “for them to do that”

Mallett says they will be gathering your answers through the end of May…:

Cut 8  (13)  “this area” 

Mallett says they are going to compile all of the information and hold a series of public meetings in August and provide some concepts based on what was gathered. He says this study is about finding out what will help traffic, safety and enhance the corridor…:

Cut 9 (12)  “to be addressed”

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Cops says a now ex-teacher from Lake Charles Academy is under arrest amid allegations of sexual misconduct with one of her juvenile students. Lake Charles Deputy Chief Mark Kraus says they received a complaint from the mother of the victim that 35-year-old Sommer Nicole Odom of Iowa had inappropriate contact with her juvenile son on several occasions…:

Cut 10 (11) “support the allegation”

Kraus says Odom is charged with 3 counts of oral sexual battery, 4 counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and 1 count of sexual battery. The suspect’s bond was set at $120,000 which was posted. Kraus says more charges could be coming but right now they have enough evidence to turn over to the DA…:

cut 11 (05) “or not”

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Two bills that attempt to address gender inequality when it comes to pay failed to get approval from the House Labor Committee. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox says Louisiana has the worst gender pay gap in the nation at 66 percent. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says employees are hard enough to find and this legislation would be a strain on business owners like himself…:

cut 12 (14)   “it doesn’t matter”

Harris feels the data is skewed when it comes to saying Louisiana is 51st in the nation for gender pay equality because we have a different workforce here. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says laws like this would open up floodgates of litigation…:

Cut 13 (09)  “treated unfairly”

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Despite opposition from Governor Bobby Jindal, the Senate Education committee approves legislation designed to control the cost of the TOPS scholarship program. The bill’s author, Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue, says as tuition costs rise, so does the cost for TOPS and something needs to be done to preserve the program…

Cut 14 (10) “in the future”

TOPS is expected to cost the state over 250-million dollars this year and nearly 400-million dollars by fiscal year 2018-19. Donahue’s bill sets a baseline on how much the state will spend on TOPS and it will not automatically increase with the rise in tuition…

Cut 15  (10)  “raise that”

But Jindal’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Stafford Palmieri, says Donahue’s bill breaks a promise Louisiana made to TOPS recipients that the state would fully pay their tuition…

(Donahue’s bill heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.) 

Cut 16  (11)  “education”

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The number one ranked baseball team in the country meets the second ranked team in the country tonight in Baton Rouge as the Tigers host Texas A-and-M. Coach Paul Mainieri admits this isn’t your normal three-game series.

Cut 17 (20)  “three days”

Jared Poche will start on the mound for the Tigers tonight. Mainieri says he went with Poche instead freshman phenom Alex Lange, because Lange had recent arm trouble and Poche has more experience…

Cut 18 (10) ” for game one’

Texas A&M has the lowest team ERA in the SEC and they’ve hit the most home runs in the league. Mainieri says the Aggies also have several veteran players…

Cut 19 (14)  “very good team “