LRN PM Newscall June 29

Since a temporary restraining order was placed on Louisiana’s abortion trigger laws Monday, abortions can continue in the state. Brooke Thorington has more from the Director of the Hope Medical Center for Women in Shreveport.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Police are investigating a potential hate crime at Delhi High School. David Grubb has more…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”  

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Since a temporary restraining order was placed on Louisiana abortion trigger laws Monday, abortions can continue in the state. Director of the Hope Medical Center for Women in Shreveport, Kathaleen Pittman says since the restraining order they’ve been fully booked with appointments, but they are not making any past July 8th until a hearing on the order is scheduled.

Cut 3 (09) “…to get in.”

Pittman was a guest on Jim Engster’s Talk Louisiana Radio program this morning and she says the reversal of Roe v Wade has been extremely emotional and with all their appointments booked until the court hearing on July 8th, she’s having to turn patients away.

Cut 4  (11) “…the staff.”

When asked about the safety of terminations in the first trimester Pittman says it actually it’s much safe due to substandard healthcare. Louisiana has a maternal mortality rate and the leading cause of death for pregnant women is murder.

Cut 5  (12) “…increased considerably.”

The Hope Medical Center for Women is one of the three abortion clinics in Louisiana.

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A hearing scheduled for today in U-S District court is canceled as a result of the U-S Supreme Court putting a hold on a lower court ruling that said the Legislature must draw a map that allows for a Black candidate to represent two of the state’s six congressional districts. House Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski says they were waiting for the Supreme Court to weigh in…

Cut 6 (05) ” ..go through.” 

Stefanski says the U-S Supreme Court’s action on Tuesday that halts the Congressional remap effort is not a final decision on the merits of the case from the nation’s highest court…

Cut 7 (08) “…next election.” 

The U-S Supreme Court is also considering a similar case out of Alabama and will hold arguments on their case in October, so Louisiana’s case will remain on hold until then. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields, a supporter of a second-majority Black district, is hopeful the nation’s highest court will see the approved Congressional map violates the Voting Rights Act…

Cut 8 (07) “…the plantiffs”

The Secretary of State is moving forward with using the map approved in February by the Republican-led Legislature for the fall Congressional elections.

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Delhi police are investigating a potentially disturbing incident at Delhi High School, where a noose was found lying on the stage of its auditorium. Chief Roy Williams says it was discovered by a custodian who notified the Superintendent of Schools. Williams then visited the school personally to assess the situation.

Cut 9 (11) “…and a suspect.”

The suspect is one of the contractors working on renovations at the school, and because of that video cameras within the auditorium were deactivated, leaving no footage of what happened. Chief Williams says the next steps will be taken by the District Attorney’s office.

Cut 10 (10) “…hate crime charge.” 

The incident has been met with outrage among members of the Delhi community. Nooses have long been a symbol of hatred towards Black Americans, and though the contractor says it was “unintentional,” Chief Williams says it is his obligation to provide as much information as possible for the DA to make a determination of just what happened and what should happen.

Cut 11 (11)  “…touchy situation” 

Richland Parish Superintendent Sheldon Jones said that the RPSB will cooperate fully with law enforcement during the investigation.

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We’re starting to see a slow decline, not as fast as it surged but a decline nonetheless in prices at the pump. And while the statewide average for a gallon of regular gas is $4.43, Triple A fuel analyst Don Redman says it looks like we’ll continue to see a small break-even though prices remain above $4.00 a gallon.

Cut 12 (09) “…statewide.”  

But Redman says the decline in gas prices will be short-lived. He expects them to climb again towards the end of July, or the first of August because refineries will close down for maintenance thus reducing supply.

Cut 13 (12) “…back up.”

Redman says with crude oil prices averaging $110 a barrel as opposed to $125, that’s a reason for the slight decline in prices.

Cut 14 (10)  “…a break.” 

The national average for a gallon of regular gas is $4.87.

The current statewide average for a gallon of diesel is $5.35.