LSP Sgt Albert Paxton a detective who investigates excessive force of State Police, including the 2019 death of Ronald Greene addresses members of a Senate Oversite Committee. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Could DiamondJacks Casino in Bossier City reopen now that the Camellia Bay Resort Casino project in Slidell was voted down by voters in St. Tammany Parish? Jeff Palermo has the story…
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A state police detective who investigated if troopers used excessive force in the death of Ronald Greene answered questions from the Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversite and told lawmakers his recommendations were ignored by his superiors. LSP Sgt. Albert Paxton answered a series of questions by Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson.
In May 2019 Major Jason Turner was in charge of the criminal investigation of officers and head of the investigation into Greene’s death. Turner was later promoted by LSP Superintendent Lamar Davis to head of the Criminal Investigative Division and part of his job was to see how other states managed use of force complaints
Police body camera footage of Greene’s arrest was made public by the Associated Press in May of this year, two years after his death. Paxton was asked by Jackson if he’s ever had issues collecting footage
Officers who were directly involved in the Greene arrest were asked to appear before the committee and did not. Paxton also told members about the frustration he vented to a member of the Employee Assistance Program.
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St. Tammany voters’ rejection of Pacific Peninsula’s proposal to use its gambling license for a casino resort near Slidell, it’s going back to Diamond Jacks in Bossier City. Wade Duty, executive director of the Louisiana Casino Association:
Cut 6 (12) “…the license holder.”
Duty says that answer will be hashed out between the license holder and the state’s Gaming Control Board should the choice be not to reopen Diamond Jacks that’s been closed since May of 2020, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duty says as it stands the license holder of Diamond Jacks must continue operation of the facility within 60 days of losing the St. Tammany election unless something else can be worked out with the Gaming Control Board:
Cut 7 (13) “…certainly could ask.”
Duty says it’s not a requirement in the state that all 15 riverboat licenses be active, should Diamond Jacks remain closed, but it’s likely that a request for proposals will go out should the license be forfeited.
Cut 8 (10) “…and project proposals.”
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The state health department says 650,000 eligible children in Louisiana are not vaccinated against COVID, while 123,000 5-to-17 year-olds have completed the vaccine series. Doctor Catherine O’ Neal at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge is a mother and understands parents’ concerns, but they shouldn’t worry about this vaccine
O’ Neal says the risks of COVID-19 to children far outweigh the risks of vaccination.
The Edwards administration plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of shots that a child needs in order to attend school. O’Neal says if not required parents may never get their children vaccinated against COVID…
The state can only require COVID vaccines for those 16 and up because the Pfizer vaccine has received full FDA approval for that age group.
O’Neal says she’s frustrated with the misinformation about the COVID vaccine. She says the COVID vaccine or any other approved vaccine is not responsible for autism in children or fertility issues…
Cut 11 (11) “…maintain your fear”
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the first COVID vaccine administered in Louisiana. More than two-point-two million, nearly 50 percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID.
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LED FastStart is holding yet another virtual career fair. Jamie Nakamoto is the Director of Recruitment and says this event takes place Wednesday and targets those seeking jobs in the tech field.
Cut 12 (10) “…hiring right now.”
Registered jobs seekers will be able to explore the virtual booths of employers and can take part in one-on-one text chats with company representatives. To register, look up LED FastStart on a social media site such as Twitter and fill out the form for the career fair that takes place from 11 am to 2 pm tomorrow.
Nakamoto says there is a laundry list of positions that tech companies are in need of filling.
Cut 13 (10) “…fastest-growing sector.”
Nakamoto lists some of the positions available that some 14 companies taking part in the virtual tech fair are looking to staff: