AM LRN Newscall March 26

Embattled St. Tammany Parish Coroner, Christopher Tape, who was accused of child sexual assault, but never tried on a technicality in New Mexico, says he was greeted with a suspicious package on his first day.  Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (25) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The House Civil Law Committee has voted against a proposal to give residents a chance to vote on whether abortion should be legal in Louisiana. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (36)  “I’m Colleen Crain” 

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It’s Stress Awareness Month and a new study by WalletHub.com names the Bayou State as the most stressed-out state in the country this year. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape says he’s received death threats after it was revealed by an investigative reporter that Tape was accused but never tried for child sexual abuse in New Mexico. Parish leaders have started a recall campaign to remove him. At a press conference Monday, he talked about his first day as coroner.

Cut 4 (08) “…death threat.”

Tape is also under fire for cutting the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program in the parish that also serves, four other parishes (Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and Washington).

Top elected officials in St. Tammany Parish have begun a recall campaign to remove Tate, and the new coroner clapped back.

Cut 5 (04) “…proven guilty.” 

Tate also accused his predecessor, Dr. Charles Preston, of a smear campaign against him along with planting listening devices in the office and the suspicious package.

Cut 6 (11) “…last night.”

Tape, who was unopposed in the election, has refused requests to resign and the only way he can be removed from office is a successful recall campaign.

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A bill to allow judges to sentence sex offenders whose victims are younger than 13, to surgical castration will be heard in Senate Judiciary C today. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says when a child is involved the offender is usually someone they know and a repeat offender.

 Cut 7 (09) “…men and women.”

The last time she filed the bill she says there was large opposition claiming castration is inhumane, but she says when the victim is a child…

Cut 8 (10) “…period.” 

Barrow says the more she’s learned about the lifelong impact sexual assault has on children she’s grown more adamant about her bill.

Cut 9 (12)  “…of doing.”

She says the state would be responsible for surgical costs.

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A House committee has voted down a proposal to give Louisiana residents the ability to vote on whether abortion should be legal. A nine-year-old boy from Lafayette came to the state capitol to testify against the measure. Hopkins Inzina says his grandmother was a teenager when she was pregnant with his mom and could have decided on an abortion…

Cut 10 (14) “…including me.”

Louisiana has one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation as a result of a constitutional amendment in 2020. But New Orleans Democrat Aimee Freeman says a recent LSU poll shows 52-percent of Louisiana voters believe abortion should be legal…

Cut 11 (08) “…families”

But Washington Parish Republican John Wyble says he’s not finding any support for Freeman’s proposal…

Cut 12 (13) “…falls on it.” 

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Louisianans are stressed out according to a new study. Personal finance website Wallethub.com has ranked the Bayou State number one among the most stressed states. Analyst Cassie Happe says the survey compares several factors like work, health, and crime-related stress among the 50 states.

Cut 13 (10)  “…particular categories.”

Louisiana ranks fourth worst in hours worked, fifth in the percentage of adults in poor health, second in people living in poverty, and ninth in job security. Happe says Louisianans have the second lowest median credit scores which also contribute to stress levels.

Cut 14 (12)  “…their credit.”

Compounding the issue for Louisianans dealing with stress is the tremendous lack of sleep and high divorce rates. Happe suggests participating in activities that are not cost-related to relieve stress. And when it comes to money problems…

Cut 15 (12)  “…your bills.”

Mississippi also topped the list as the second most stressed state followed by Nevada, New Mexico, and Arkansas.

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Cut 16 (24)  “…team today.” 

 

Cut 17 (17) “…answer the bell.” 

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Cut 18 (18)  “…I need” 

 

Cut 19 (17) “…third and fourth quarter”  

 

.Cut 20 (20) “…everybody in Albany”