5:30 LRN Newscast January 31

Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder is calling for an investigation to find out if Governor John Bel Edwards possibly participated in a cover-up of Ronald Greene’s death, a black motorist who died after he was beaten by State Troopers during a traffic stop in 2019. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Republicans want to know if Edwards helped keep the details of Greene’s death quiet for political reasons. Alford says many legislators want to hear the governor’s side of the story…

Cut 5 (11) “…same as well.”

The governor’s office released a statement that Edwards did not learn of the allegations surrounding Mr. Greene’s death until September of 2020, and that he had only been notified of the arrest and death of an unnamed individual in May of 2019. It goes on to state that the governor did not see, nor was he aware of, the video of the arrest until October of 2020.

The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus has called for a meeting with Governor Edwards to discuss the case and, according to Chairman-elect Vincent Pierre, “how to move forward in our mission of obtaining justice for the family of Mr. Greene.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office said home fires have killed 15 people in the month of January. It’s the deadliest month the state has experienced in five years. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says 2018 was the last time the state had that many and average temperatures were below normal. Saturday afternoon firefighters responded to an RV fire in New Iberia.  Rodrigue says first responders located the body of a 50-year-old woman in the bedroom.

Cut 10 (12) “…every outlet.”

Kayla Giles faces life in prison after a Rapides Parish Jury found her guilty in the murder of her estranged husband, Thomas Coutee Junior. Giles fatally shot Coutee in a Walmart parking lot in September of 2018 during a custody exchange. Giles’ attorney said he wouldn’t be surprised if the verdict was overturned on appeal because the prosecution was allowed to use other crimes as evidence. But Landry says prosecutors presented a strong case…

Cut 13 (05) “…for her life.”