Lawmakers are debating over Congressional Maps in Senate Governmental Affairs after a court-imposed deadline of June 20th remains in effect for a map with two majority-Black districts. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Shreveport Police and the FBI are asking for help in the search for those responsible for the death of Shamia Little. David Grubb has more…
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Lawmakers are discussing two Congressional maps in Senate Governmental Affairs this morning, in an effort to meet the June 20th court-imposed deadline. In discussions over Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields’ map, Slidell Senator, and committee chair Sharon Hewitt, who also has a map up for discussion, criticized Fields’ map with two Black-majority districts because it spilt a community in her own district.
Jared Evans, with the Legal Defense Fund, endorsed Fields’ Congressional map.
Fields’ map differs from the current enacted map that was approved by the majority-Republican legislature earlier this year. Hewitt believes the current map meets the guidelines set forth by the Voting Rights Act with only one majority Black district.
With a third of the state’s population Black, Fields says the Congressional map should reflect and allow for proper representation of minorities. He argued that the current map approved by the majority Republican legislature is not fair.
US Judge Shelly Dick denied a request from Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder for a deadline extension to redraw the current congressional map. The deadline of June 20th remains in effect.
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At around 2:20 Thursday morning, five juveniles escaped from the Bridge City Center for Youth. The Office of Juvenile Justice went into an immediate lockdown and notified law enforcement. OJJ spokesperson Nicolette Gordon says law enforcement was able to apprehend some of the suspects shortly after the escape…
Gordon says three of the juveniles were caught around 8:30 this morning, and Thursday afternoon the 17-year-old was apprehended, while the 16-year-old remains at large. The BCCY has established a temporary command center to assist in collecting and distributing information to aid in their capture.
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Authorities are unable to release greater detail about the escapees due to their ages. Law enforcement has received full information on both.
At this time, just how the juveniles were able to get out of the facility remains unknown. Gordon says that staff is trained to remain aware of potential escape attempts, and there are numerous mitigation efforts at these facilities. However….
Cut 9 (10) “…chance that we get.”
If you have information that could help, OJJ asks that you call your local law enforcement or the command center at 504-401-3359.
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Today the FBI announced that it is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of any individuals responsible for the homicide of Shamia Little. The 17-year-old was found deceased about 11 months ago near a park in Shreveport from a single gunshot wound. Special Agent Doug Williams spoke to the media…
Cut 10 (13) ” …the Little family.”
Shamia Little was last seen alive the night of July 6, 2021, and since that time finding credible information or witnesses has been a problem for both the Shreveport Police and the FBI. Williams says that maybe the reward will provide motivation for someone to come forward.
Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith says his team has exhausted every lead and that no new information has been brought to law enforcement since last year. Smith pleaded with the public to do everything that they can as well.
Cut 12 (10) “…please help us.”
Crimes Stoppers is offering an additional three thousand dollars for information. If you have information related to the homicide of Shamia Little, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips-dot-fbi-gov.
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A crime & corruption watchdog group calls for review of a Tangipahoa Parish case wherein a rape victim was ordered to pay child support to her alleged attacker. Metropolitan Crime Commission director Rafael Goyeneche says the victim was just 16 when the attack occurred, and the man she accuses found out she’d had a child five years later…:
Cut 13 (11) “…proved his paternity.”
Crysta Abelseth (pronounced: ABLE-seth), who is now 32, maintains the sexual contact with John Barnes sixteen years ago was not consensual. Barnes discovered he had a child with Abelseth in 2011, and a DNA test confirmed he was the father. Goyeneche says she did lodge a complaint, albeit years after the alleged crime…:
Cut 14 (12) “…hasn’t been investigated.”
This year, Tangipahoa Parish Judge Jeff Cashe gave Barnes full custody of the now-16-year-old daughter and ordered Abelseth to pay him child support. Those court records are sealed. Goyeneche says Barnes could be guilty of rape, but – if he is the confirmed father of a child by a then-16-year-old – he should be investigated at least for Canal Knowledge of a Juvenile; not rewarded with child support…:
Cut 15 (13) “…should take place.”
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