LRN PM Newscall June 15

Officials are watching a broad area of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico that could affect parts of southwestern Louisiana tonight into tomorrow. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”

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Dozens of vehicles are trapped on a high hill at the Colfax Mudfest Park after a homemade levee gave way and water from the Red River rushed in. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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Officials are watching a broad area of low pressure in the  Gulf of Mexico that could affect parts of western Louisiana tonight into tomorrow. Jonathan Brazzell, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says it’s very possible this system could develop into something stronger before it hits land…

CUT 3 (08)  “meeting the criteria”

Invest 91-L has a 90-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm before making landfall. Brazzell says the main story with this system will not be the wind, but the rain…

CUT 4 (07)  “with this system”

Brazzell says southwest Louisiana could begin seeing rain this afternoon into tonight due to Invest 91-L. He says some areas between Lafayette and Lake Charles could see significant rainfall…

CUT 5 (11)  “to set up”

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State Police say two people have been arrested in connection with a March fatal hit and run in St. Mary Parish. 33-year-old Kista Sedotal of Jeanerette was struck twice and killed while walking along LA 182. Master Trooper Brooks David says a major clue leading to one arrest was found at the scene…

CUT 6 (10)  “pickup truck”

Investigators determined that 46-year-old Brian Timken of New Iberia drove the truck that initially struck Sedotal. Timken was arrested on hit and run and obstruction of justice charges. They also found that a car driven by 25-year-old Kayla Norris of Franklin struck Sedotal sometime after Timken. David says Norris thought she had hit an animal in the roadway…

CUT 7 (08) “and never stopped”

Norris is charged with hit and run. David says if you believe you hit something in the roadway, you should always stop…

CUT 8 (07)  “to your vehicle”

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Dozens of vehicles, ATVs and motor homes are still stranded at the Colfax Mudfest Recreational Park after a temporary levee gave way over the weekend, resulting in a considerable amount of water from the Red River entering the park area. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says thankfully a deputy there on security detail noticed the levee cracking

CUT 9 (09)  “that it broke”

Over 110 people had to be rescued when the homemade levee gave way. The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security was contacted and coordinated air support from the National Guard. There were no injuries reported. McCAin says it was incredible to see how fast the water moved in…:

cut 10 (11) “in one piece” 

McCain says they were able to get the vehicles, including a deputy’s car, on a high hill which is now completely surrounded by water. He says one of the attendants lives seven and a half hours away…:

cut 11 (10)  “secure a road”

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Darren Sharper pleaded guilty today in an Orleans Parish courtroom to two counts of forcible rape and one count of simple rape. This was the final step in Sharper’s “global plea deal” resolving criminal charges in four states. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it appears Sharper has sealed the deal with authorities…

cut 12 (10)  “in ten years”

Sharper has admitted to raping at least nine women in Louisiana, California, Arizona, and Nevada. Under the agreement, Sharper is expected to serve 9 years in prison, with credit for good behavior and time already served. Meche says the understanding is that Sharper will serve his time at a federal prison in California…

cut 13 (12)  “much more favorable”

Many are upset about the length of Sharper’s sentence, but Meche says the criminal justice system doesn’t treat everyone equally. Meche says it appears Sharper’s lawyers used his multiple criminal acts in several different states to his advantage…

cut 14 (07) “much more harshly”