State officials are in talks with the Trump administration to use part of Angola State Penitentiary to house ICE detainees. Colleen Crain reports.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”
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The police force in one small community in Jefferson Davis Parish is now down to one. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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The Saints are nearing the start of the regular season as they take on the Chargers in Los Angeles on Sunday in their first preseason game. Andre Champagne (SHOM-pine) reports.
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The former police chief of the small Lafourche Parish community of Golden Meadow is arrested for allegedly deleting a dozen years worth of files on his way out the door. Tony Dufrene is charged with injuring public records, computer tampering and malfeasance in office. Attorney General Liz Murrill says that data includes traffic citations and fuel expenditures.
Murrill says this all happened after Dufrene lost his bid for re-election.
Cut 5 (08) “…under any circumstances.”
Murrill says after Dufrene lost his re-election bid, protocols should have been in place to prevent him from doing what he allegedly did.
Cut 6 (11) “…something like that.”
Dufrene’s bond was set at 15-thousand dollars.
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Angola State Penitentiary may begin housing ICE detainees. Louisiana leaders and the Trump administration are in talks to use the prison facility as the President widens the crackdown on immigrants in the country illegally. West Feliciana Parish president Kenny Havard welcomes the opportunity.
A wing previously known as “Camp J,” which closed in 2018 due to its condition, is the likely site to house the detainees. Last month, Governor Landry issued an executive order allowing renovations to the wing to proceed without typical bidding rules. Havard says it’s a win-win.
Concerns have reportedly been raised over housing ICE detainees in the same facility as those convicted of violent crimes. Havard says details are still being worked out, but he is confident in the ability of the staff at Angola.
Cut 9 (07) “…willing to work.”
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Due to budget constraints, the police chief in one small Jefferson Davis Parish community is forced to lay off his entire force. The decision was made following a contentious council meeting earlier this week. Kay Hebert, the mayor pro tem of Elton, says Police Chief Bruce Lemelle had no other choice.
Cut 10 (09) “…has been exceeded.”
Hebert says Lemelle has already gone through all the money that the council had allocated to the police department – something that Lemelle disputes.
Cut 11 (06) “…has been expended.”
Elton has a population of about 800 people. Hebert says Lemelle knew what his department was budgeted for, and he overextended it.
Cut 12 (11) “…and other officers.”
Since the position of police chief is elected in the Town of Elton, Lemelle is now the only employee in the town’s police department. Law enforcement calls in Elton will now be handled by the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, which will mean increased response times.
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Gracing the cover of the August issue of “Time” Magazine – House Speaker Mike Johnson. LSU Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow (SAD-ow) says it’s the culmination of a meteoric rise for the northwest Louisiana congressman.
Sadow points out that Johnson was elected Speaker of the House in the middle of just his fourth term as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives – this after serving just one term in the Louisiana House of Representatives.
As for the story itself in the August issue of “Time” magazine, Sadow says it portrays the relationship between Johnson and President Trump as that of “good cop, bad cop.”
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With the Saints approaching the regular season, there are still some question marks looming with Kellen Moore’s team. The Saints play their first preseason game Sunday as Moore hopes to find out a little more about his depth. Luke Johnson of NOLA.com says to look out for who could become the last starting corner.
Alvin Kamara enters his ninth season with New Orleans. With his growing age, Moore knows he cannot do it all by himself. Moore is evaluating the running back room to see who could help limit Kamara’s workload. Johnson says to expect more running backs to be involved this year.
Cut 17 (17) “…two-back approach.”
Preseason games are mostly an opportunity for players to fight for the last roster spots, but as a chance to mesh with each other. Johnson says he is watching out for players who could become a part of the rotation.