The Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s office seeks help to identify a murder victim found in 1993 south of Merryville. Colleen Crain has more…
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Legislation to make panhandling a state crime advance from House Criminal Justice. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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A bill to allow judges the option of sentencing a sex offender of a child to surgical castration advances from Senate Judiciary C. Brooke Thorington has more.
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The Calcasieu Coroner’s office hopes to solve a 31-year-old mystery and identify a body found south of Merryville in 1993 with 2-gun shots to the head and hands bound behind his back. Investigators recently obtained a DNA profile linking the victim to families in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. Forensic Investigator, Zeb Johnson…
Facial reconstruction shows the victim was a black male between 25 and 35 years old. Johnson says DNA shows a connection to the late Emma and Reuben Ardoin. Investigators reached out to the family of the Ardoin’s, but no one knew of a missing family member. Because of the age of the skeletal remains, it’s difficult the know how closely related they may be…
Cut 5 (09) “…genetic material.”
Johnson says, though they don’t believe he had a car, the victim did not appear to be homeless. He was well dressed, well-groomed with well-cared for teeth…
The Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office would like to hear from anyone who might have known the victim or have any information that could help identify the man who would now be 55 to 65 years old.
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A bill to make panhandling a state crime in Louisiana advances from House Criminal Justice. Baton Rouge Representative Dixon McMakin says House Bill 97 is an effort to improve both motorist and pedestrian safety.
State law already prohibits panhandling on interstates, including off and on ramps and this bill expands the law to public streets, that local law enforcement police.
Haughton Republican Dodie Horton asked McMakin if the bill would ban individuals from collecting for charity.
Advocacy director of the Justice Accountability Center of Louisiana, Sarah Whittington opposes the bill because it’s something that local municipalities already cite.
Whittington says the law could be deemed unconstitutional and state overreach of public streets.
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A bill to give judges the discretion to punish individuals who sexually assault a child with surgical castration advances from Senate Judiciary C. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow’s bill allows for the sentencing of surgical castration if the victim is under the age of 13.
Lake Charles Senator Mark Abraham says he has a problem with castration if it’s a first offense and that he believes in second chances.
Barrow says she trusts a judge to decide if surgical castration is warranted.
New Iberia Senator Blake Miguez asked if the punishment would apply to women. Barrow says it would. They also discussed how castration can diminish the sexual impulses and aggression of sex offenders.
Female castration is the removal of ovaries.
The bill passed in committee without opposition and advances in the session.
In 2008 chemical castration was added as a sentencing option in Louisiana for those guilty of certain crimes, like molestation of a juvenile and aggravated rape.
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The House Education Committee has approved the Gator Scholarship Program which in a few years would allow families of any income level to receive state dollars to attend a private school. Governor Landry’s deputy chief of staff Andree’ Miller says the legislation will give every child the chance to receive a quality education.
The Gator Scholarship Program will replace the state’s current voucher system which helps six-thousand students go to a private school, instead of attending a C, D, or F public school. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson says under her bill, even students who attend A and B schools would have a choice…
Opponents say the Gator Scholarship Program will take money away from public schools. It’s estimated the program will cost at least 241-million dollars for the 2028-29 school year when more than 41-thousand students could receive state dollars for their education expenses.
LaPlace Representative Slyvia Elanie Taylor is concerned about state dollars going to a school that doesn’t have to be held to the same standards as a public school
Cut 15 (10) “..accountability.”
The bill heads to House Appropriations because of its cost.
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LSU is trying to bring back D-B-U. There was a time the Tigers could claim they had the best defensive backs in the country, but LSU has struggled on defense the last couple of years. Defensive backs coach Corey Raymond helped create the DBU mantra, and he’s back as an assistant coach. Sophomore cornerback Javien Toviano is trying to learn all he can from Raymond…
Blake Baker is LSU’s new defensive coordinator. Toviano says he’s brought a lot of energy and wants everyone on defense to celebrate when someone makes a play…
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Saints Coach Dennis Allen says the team is confident defensive end Chase Young will be 100-percent once he goes through the rehabilitation process following surgery on his neck last week. Allen says everyone was aware of the procedure when he signed a one-year 13-million dollar contract
Willie Gay is the other big free agent signee on the Saints defense. Allen says signing Gay gives them some good depth at the linebacker position
Cut 19 (19) “…our locker room.”
Allen says new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will bring a proven, successful system to New Orleans. He says they want to be a physically imposing offense…