Now that the embattled St. Tammany Parish Coroner has been sworn-in there’s a recall effort to remove him. Brooke Thorington has more.
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The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to eliminate the need for drivers to have a vehicle inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story….
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Democrat Henry Whitehorn has made history by becoming the first black man elected as Caddo Parish Sheriff after a closely contested second runoff election. The former head of State Police secured 53 percent of the vote on Saturday, after winning by one vote over Republican opponent John Nickelson in November. Political Analyst Scott Hughes…
Whitehorn received 34-thousand votes and Nickelson received 30-thousand votes in the second run-off election.
Hughes says the Caddo Parish election, which captured statewide attention drew high numbers of voter turnout to the polls. He points out the unity and commitment from Democrats and the African American community to place Whitehorn into leadership.
A second run-off election was needed after Nickelson got the courts to agree there were several questionable votes. Hughes says Whitehorn’s victory marks a significant milestone in the Caddo Parish community.
Whitehorn will be sworn in on July 1st.
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A recall effort is underway to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape, who officially took office today after it was revealed he was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in New Mexico but was never tried on a technicality. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says there will be a gathering at the state capitol this afternoon.
Tape notified nurses who administer the sexual assault nurse program Thursday night their jobs were to be eliminated as of today. Mizell says eliminating the vital program impacts not just St. Tammany, but Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes also.
If the recall effort is successful in removing Tape from office Mizell says there will be a thorough vetting process for his replacement.
Tape was accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s 7-year-old daughter. He ran unopposed to replace Dr. Chuck Preston who retired.
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The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to do away with the requirement for Louisiana drivers to have an up to date inspection sticker on their vehicle. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says getting the sticker is an inconvenience, an unnecessary expense and does nothing to keep our roads safer…
One state lawmaker said the fine for an expired inspection sticker can be as much as 250-dollars.
Bagley says vehicles are built better and law enforcement officers can pull over a vehicle they believe is not safe. State Police Captain Bryan Lee says State Troopers and police officers can’t tell if a vehicle’s tires are worn, which is something that can be spotted during a vehicle inspection. He says bald tires are a safety threat…
The elimination of inspection vehicles would cost State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles 14-million dollars a year. The measure will now head to House Appropriations for more discussion. Hornbeck Representative Rodney Schamerhorn says there are several inspection stations that do not take it seriously, so why require it…
If Bagley’s bill becomes law, motorists who live in East Baton Rouge and four surrounding parishes would still need to get an emissions test, because of high ozone levels in the Capital City Region.
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The LSU Lady Tigers are heading to the Sweet 16 after beating Middle Tennessee 83 to 56. LSU trailed by nine points early in the second half before they got it going. Coach Kim Mulkey was asked if an anticipated Washington Post story on her distracted the team
A Washington Post article on Mulkey could possibly come out this week. Mulkey says the same reporter previously did a hit job on football coach Brian Kelly and he’s spent the last two years trying to dig up dirt on her…
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Mulkey has refused to talk with this reporter, believed to be Kent Babb. The hall of fame coach claims the reporter has not been transparent in his intentions and she says it’s this type of journalism on why the public no longer trusts the media. Mulkey also promises to fight back…