Over 260 bills passed in this year’s legislative session become law today. One measure doubles fines for simple littering from $75 to $150 and up to $1000 for subsequent offenses. Susan Russell, Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, says they support anything that increases the litter enforcement effort…

cut 5 (06) “in our state”

Improper disposal of items like furniture and appliances could end up costing offenders $10,000 under the new law.

State Superintendent of Education John White announces two daycare centers in Louisiana have had their licenses revoked – one in Bossier City and one in Baton Rouge at the Our Blessings Christian Daycare Learning Center; whose staff is accused of leaving a two-year-old child at a restaurant amusement venue and not telling the parents or the state…

cut 14 (11) “has a license”

White says the majority of child care providers do an excellent job taking care of kids.

Lake Charles Police announce that they have solved an aggravated rape case from October of 1999. Deputy Chief of Police, Mark Kraus, says the seven month investigation culminated in an arrest warrant for 45-year-old Austin Mott. Kraus says advances in technology led to them getting a DNA match from the physical evidence…

cut 7 (07) “against a child”

In the 1999 incident, the victim was severely beaten and sexually assaulted while jogging at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Columbia University finds older adults that stop driving are more likely to suffer from depression and nearly 5 times more likely to enter a long term care facility than those who remain behind the wheel. AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says this could lead to the elderly becoming less social and active….

cut 11 (09) “the community”

Redman says the results of the study are not all that surprising.