FBI documents obtained by the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication reveal that during the mid-60s former-Governor John McKeithen made payments to the KKK to suppress racial violence. Jeff Palermo has more…
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A bill was approved by the House Transportation Committee today that would allow drivers to access their license through a smart phone app. Michelle Southern has more…
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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A 24-year-old Monroe woman is being evaluated at the Ouachita Parish Correctional Center after she kidnapped a newborn from St. Francis Hospital. Monroe Police Detective Chris Bates says Anquinisha Cummings entered a hospital room occupied by a woman and her 3-day-old infant, claiming that a mutual friend had sent her. Bates says after visiting for a couple of hours, the mother of the child went to the bathroom and came back to an empty room.
Bates says Cummings was at the hospital complaining about pregnancy issues, but doctors confirmed that Cummings was not pregnant. He says Cummings, who is believed to have mental problems, took the kidnapped infant home.
Bates says Cummings’ mother called the authorities and returned the child to the hospital immediately. He says Cummings later turned herself in to police.
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Former-Governor John McKeithen made payments to the KKK in the 1960s to stop racial violent outbreaks. That’s based on FBI records obtained by the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication. Gus Weill, Executive Secretary to the former-governor, knew nothing about the payments at the time, but says he was recently told by a man that McKeithen arranged a payment of 10-thousand dollars to leaders of both black and white supremacist groups to stop a violent outbreak in Bogalusa.
Weill says McKeithen went out of his way to end racial violence, like one occasion when he sent the National Guard, armed with unloaded guns, to protect civil rights demonstrators. He says he’s not surprised to hear McKeithen used money as a way to quell the racial strife.
Weill says the money for the payments probably came from a fund containing privately raised dollars that was established by the previous administration to control civil rights issues.
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Standardized testing is this week and there is far less controversy this year, compared to last year when public school students took Common Core exams. Hollis Milton, president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, says educators are more prepared, since testing is later in the school year…:
Milton anticipates there will be a much smaller number of students who opt of the test, once known as Common Core. This year the tests are called LEAP 2016 and Milton says there’s less controversy, because the state has taken steps towards revising academic standards..:
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A panel of educators is assigned to review the standards and come up with recommended changes as a result of a 2015 law which would establish Louisiana’s own benchmarks in reading, writing and math. Milton says those are still being reviewed and should show up on assessments next year..:
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Louisiana could be the first state to allow digital driver’s licenses. The House Transportation Committee passed a bill today that would allow drivers to access their license through an app on their phone. Stacy White, Deputy Commissioner with the Office of Motor Vehicles, says this would allow people to access their information if they did not have their license with them.
Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says she supports this bill because more and more things are becoming available on smart devices.
According to state officials, motorists would pay up to $5 to download the app, which is the same as when they renew their license. White says this app will not replace having a license in every situation.
The measure now moves to the House floor.
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