A Slidell Teacher has been arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with students. Emelie Gunn has more…
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The extensive flooding in Louisiana is raising concerns for a boom in the mosquito population. Halen Doughty reports health officials are concerned about the diseases carried by these pesky insects….
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden says he is 90% sure he’ll run for the 2nd Congressional District seat this fall. Holden would challenge US Representative Cedric Richmond, who has held the seat since 2011. The term-limited Baton Rouge mayor is expected to make an official decision next week. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says if Holden gets in, it will make for an interesting race….
Dubos says although Holden ran a good campaign when he ran for Lt. Governor last year, he did not raise a lot of campaign money, which would pose a problem…
Dubos says while it is not easy to unseat an incumbent, there is a level of dissatisfaction with the federal government, which could help Holden. Dubos says the outgoing Baton Rouge mayor and former state legislator would present a challenge for Richmond.
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A Slidell High School teacher has been arrested after allegations of inappropriate behavior with students were reported to police. Slidell Police Chief Randy Smith says 35-year-old Raymond Winzy allegedly would start casual conversations with his students, which turned into sexual conversations. He says once Winzy gained their trust he would invite them into his classroom…
Winzy was also the girls basketball coach at Slidell High School. Smith says police searched Winzy’s home and classroom and found nude photos and videos on multiple electronic devices. He says Winzy has been fired and this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
Winzy is charged with two counts of molestation of a juvenile by an educator, nine counts of production of child pornography, and three counts of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Smith says some students at Slidell High School have been bullied and threatened regarding this case and anyone involved will be arrested if a complaint is filed.
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All the flood waters are bringing in more mosquitoes and health officials are urging folks to make sure they are taking precautions. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health and Hospitals says this is typical for this time of year, but the flooding makes it worse.
Flooding can cause excessive mosquito breeding, which means there’s a possibility of diseases being carried by these insects. Welch says the mosquito that carries the Zika virus is active in southeast Louisiana. He says people need to remove standing water in and around their yards to keep those mosquitoes away.
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Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says his office will announce next week how much of a cut in state funding higher education and health care will receive as a result of a 70-million dollar deficit for this fiscal year. Dardenne says unfortunately these two areas are on the chopping block, because cuts have already been made to other state agencies…
Dardenne says public colleges have already received a 28-million dollar loss in funding this fiscal year, because the state ran out of money to pay for TOPS scholarships and that cost is being absorbed by universities
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Rapides and Avoyelles Parish are making preparations to protect themselves from flooding as the Red River is expected to crest over the weekend at a level that hasn’t been seen in over 30 years. The Homeland Security Director of Rapides Parish Sonya Wiley-Gremillion urges people in the most flood prone areas to take action now and not wait until it’s too late.
Wiley-Gremillion says the Red River is expected to crest at 10 o’clock Sunday night at 39.5 feet. She says their main concern is the safety of the people in Rapides Parish, not their property.
Avoyelles Parish Director of Homeland Security Joey Frank says there is a low spot in the levee at Brouillette and they’re placing super sack sandbags to raise it a foot and a half. He says they’ve also raised the Vick levee 18 inches.
Frank says so far no homes have been flooded but many are surrounded by water.
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