The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Baton Rouge area pastor who refused to stop church services during the governor’s COVID lockdown. Pastor Tony Spell, of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central was arrested for flouting stay-at-home orders. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino on the High Court’s decision…:

CUT 04(11)      “religious institutions”

Spell was arrested in 2020 for violating the Governor’s emergency order limiting gatherings to no more than 50 people. At that time, he said anywhere up a thousand persons might attend services at his church. The governor disagrees with the court’s ruling, but says he’ll abide by it.

State Police in Washington Parish say drunk driving PROBABLY led to a fatal single vehicle crash on state Highway 440, near Mt. Hermon Saturday night. Troopers say 31-year-old Pam Brown, from Kentwood, was driving and ran off the roadway: overturned several times and slammed into some trees. She and her passenger, 16-year-old Jaquan Brown were killed.

As we return to a pre-COVID routine, Governor Edwards says they continue to monitor case counts and positivity rates. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(29)      “…Brooke Thorington”

An Abbeville man is dead after his tractor was hit by another vehicle in Vermilion Parish. State Police say Alvin Minnick’s tractor was rear-ended by a pickup as he drove on Highway 167. The impact caused the tractor to overturn, throwing the 64-year-old farmer from the vehicle. The pickup driver received moderate injuries. Charges are pending.