09:30 Newscast December 31, 2015

Today is University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley’s last day on the job. Don Molino reports…

cut 1 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

Today is the final day Burl Cain will serve as warden at Angola State Penitentiary. Cain put in his resignation after The Advocate newspaper published articles questioning whether his real estate deals with relatives and friends of inmates violated Department of Corrections rules. Cain is the longest serving warden in Angola history and has gained world-wide recognition for his efforts in reforming the prison.

It’s New Year’s Eve and many across Louisiana will ring in the new year by shooting off fireworks in celebration. Deputy Chief with the State Fire Marshal’s office, Brent Thompson, says you should only purchase fireworks from a licensed distributor, never online. He also advises people to never experiment with homemade fireworks…

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Thompson says to exercise extreme caution when handling fireworks and never give fireworks to children.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office says 52-year-old Jeffery Ducote Sr of Boyce man is in jail on a three-million dollar bond after he allegedly held a gun to a woman’s head and repeatedly raped her in her home. Lt. Tommy Carnline says evidence found in the home helped detectives develop Ducote as a suspect…

cut 14 (06) “so quickly”

Carnline says Ducote told his victim that he was looking for a person who used to live there. Ducote faces multiple charges including four counts of first-degree rape.