During a legislative hearing looking into the State Police custody death of Ronald Greene, an L-S-P official tells lawmakers he didn’t think the troopers seen on video beating and tasing Greene acted criminally. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Legislation to allow non-felons to carry a concealed firearm in Louisiana without a permit was heavily amended Wednesday and now its primary intent is to provide school safety officers. Brooke Thorington explains.
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Lt. Colonel Chris Eskew, who was the head of State Police internal affairs when Ronald Greene died in L-S-P custody, tells state lawmakers he saw no criminal activity when he watched the violent body camera video of Greene’s arrest. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle provided the line of questioning
Police body camera video shows Greene being repeatedly punched and tased after leading State Police on a high-speed chase in May of 2019. Other LSU officials have said the troopers who arrested Greene crossed the line, but Marcelle couldn’t believe Eskew didn’t hold that same opinion….
Later on in the meeting, Eskew changed his answer. He explained he was reluctant to answer for fear it could harm the ongoing investigations into Greene’s death. Marcelle sees it as State Police officials trying to protect each other…
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A House bill to allow permitless concealed carry was heavily amended by Gonzales Senator Eddie Lambert in a Senate committee. The original bill to allow non-felons over the age of 21 to carry concealed without a permit now creates provisions for a school safety officer and its initial intent has been removed.
The session ends Monday, so the only way legislators can address school safety and mass shootings is by amending an existing bill.
Lambert says the bill allows a school to appoint a teacher or administrator to serve voluntarily as a school protection officer. Lambert says the appointed individual will also have to be post-certified.
West Monroe Senator Jay Morris, who had his Constitutional Carry bill vetoed by the governor last year, asked Lambert why House Bill 37 can’t keep its original intent and provide school protection officers.
Last year Governor Edwards vetoed legislation to allow concealed carry without a permit and he’s made statements recently that he still opposes the measure without some level of training. The bill is headed to the Senate floor but could be sent to Senate Finance for a cost review. The session ends Monday.
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Senate candidate Luke Mixon has been officially endorsed by fellow Democrat, Governor John Bel Edwards. Mixon is one of three announced candidates who will face off with incumbent Republican John Kennedy. UL-Monroe Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Edwards’ endorsement is a boost for the Baton Rouge pilot’s campaign.
In addition to endorsing the Bunkie native, Edwards is headlining a fundraiser for Mixon in New Orleans on June 16th. Stockley says because Mixon doesn’t have much name recognition, he’ll need to raise as much as possible.
Stockley says Mixon and Edwards share not only political similarities they both were raised in small towns and served in the military. Edwards was a WestPoint graduate and a former Army Airborne Ranger, Mixon is a Naval Academy and TOP GUN graduate and a former fighter pilot.
Activist Gary Chambers and Vacherie native Syrita Steib have also announced their candidacy for Senate.
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It’s only day two of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, but researchers at Colorado State University have increased their projections of just how active this season will be. Alex DesRosiers says the latest models point to 20 named storms. The main reason? El Nino, which helps prevent storms from forming, is highly unlikely this year.
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DesRosiers says that CSU compares current conditions to years past and how that data aligns. They predicted 19 storms in June of 2020, a year that produced record highs in total storms and major hurricanes, with 30 and seven respectively. So what do the models see this year?
According to the CSU models, the odds of the Gulf Coast seeing a major hurricane passing through are at about 50 percent, up from 30 percent for the last century. As for Louisiana itself, DesRosiers says we should be prepared for an active season…