An Independence Police Officer has been arrested for stealing money from non-English speaking men during traffic stops. Emelie Gunn has more…
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Louisiana’s budget problems are worse than previously thought. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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LSU running back Leonard Fournette put on an impressive performance in the Tigers 56-27 win over Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl. The sophomore from New Orleans rushed for 212 yards and scored five touchdowns. Coach Les Miles is not surprised by Fournette’s showing
Fournette finished 47 yards away from eclipsing 2,000 rushing yards on the season. The win gives LSU a 9-3 record for 2015. Miles hopes the victory over the Red Raiders is the sign of things to come in 2016
Will Kevin Steele return as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2016. There’s reports he may take the same job at Auburn. It’s also being reported that LSU is working to keep Steele in Baton Rouge. Miles is impressed with what Steele did last night as LSU’s defense produced six sacks
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The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged a Labadieville teenager with negligent homicide in an accidental shooting death. Sheriff Mike Waguespak says 18-year-old Jamal Starks and several friends were playing with a handgun when it discharged, shooting 17-year-old Dronald Washington in the head. Waguespack says they originally investigated the incident as a self-inflicted shooting…
He says their investigation determined that Starks was handling the gun when it went off, striking Washington. Waguespack says it is now up to a grand jury to determine how they will move forward with this case…
Bail for Starks has been set at $125,000. Waguespack says this is a prime example of why no one should ever play with guns…
CUT 8 (06) “killed his friend”
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An Independence Police Officer is now behind bars after he allegedly used his position to steal currency from non-English speaking Hispanic males during traffic stops. State Police spokesperson Dustin Dwight says 25-year-old Laquinton Banks is facing several charges
Banks served on the Independence Police Department for five months prior to his arrest. Dwight says Banks was arrested for three felony charges, theft, malfeasance in office and a hate crime.
Dwight says the investigation is on-going and urges any other victims out there to contact Louisiana State Police.
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The state’s fiscal situation is worse than previously thought. Jay Dardenne, who is the budget architect for Governor-elect John Bel Edwards, says the revenue shortfall for this fiscal year has grown to 750-million dollars, thanks to a drop in oil prices and a slump in collections from sales taxes and corporate income taxes
Dardenne says these factors push the state’s budget shortfall for next fiscal year an additional 600-million dollars to 1-point-9 billion dollars. Dardenne says the state’s fiscal outlook is more dire than they thought and hard work is needed to resolve…
Edwards plans to call a special session after he’s sworn in on January 11th to address the state’s budget problems. Dardenne says tax increases could be needed, but they’ve yet come up with a plan to propose to lawmakers
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