LRN PM Newscall April 27

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved a bill to extend the waiting period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (26)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

================

The FBI is reopening the 15-year-old case of a little boy who went missing from his front porch in Clinton. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

===================

A horrifying display of animal abuse is breaking hearts across the state. A small dog was brutally beaten and thrown into a fire in New Orleans’ City Park. That’s according to Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Louisiana Humane Society, who says this is one of the most tragic cases of abuse he’s ever seen. He says the dog was beaten around the head, the muzzle and the jaw.

CUT 3 (11)  “the pit”

The unnamed dog is being affectionately referred to as the City Park Dog. Dorson says they are still trying to find the people responsible for this gruesome crime, because they are clearly dangerous.

CUT 4 (06)  “of time”

Dorson says the Humane Society is asking people to be vigilant for signs of animal abuse. He says the society has issued the first ever city-wide animal abuse alert in the hopes of bringing those responsible to justice. Until then, he’s asking the public to keep the memory of the City Park Dog in their hearts.

CUT 5 (07)  “short life”

====================================================

A bill that would require movie theaters to use metal detectors was defeated in a House committee today. Prairieville Rep. Tony Bacala says this legislation creates a false sense of security. He says if someone wants to shoot up a movie theater, the first person to be killed is the 18-year-old minimum wage worker manning the metal detector.

CUT 6 (10) “to react”

Author of the legislation, Shreveport Rep. Barbara Norton, says this bill is about protecting the lives of our loved ones. She was upset that many of her colleagues voted against the measure.

CUT 7 (07) “our children”

The vote was 6-5 against the legislation. Bacala says the people who would work these metal detectors are not trained law enforcement officers and probably work the concession stand the day before.

CUT 8 (07) “do anything”

===================================================

A bill to extend the waiting period for getting an abortion to 72 hours has been approved by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Sancha Smith, the State Director for Concerned Women for America, spoke in favor of the measure and sharing her experience getting an abortion at 16-years-old.

CUT 9 (11) “better decision”

Smith says women need more time to consider all of their options, before making this decision.

cut 10 (07) “a life”

Angela Adkins with the Louisiana Organization for Women opposes the bill. She shared stories of women who died or suffered complications from illegal abortions and attempts to self-abort, because of restrictions to abortions.

Cut 11 (09) “more desperate”

Amy Irvin of the New Orleans Abortion Fund also spoke in opposition. She says although the waiting period is currently 24 hours, women can take as much time as they need after the consultation before having the procedure.

cut 12 (09) “the clinic”

The measure passed on a five to two vote and heads to the Senate floor.

===================================================

The FBI is reopening the case of a 2-year-old that went missing in Clinton 15 years ago. Avery Davidson is a former WAFB reporter who covered Wesley Morgan’s disappearance in 2001. Davidson says the child was playing on the front porch when his mother went inside and came back outside to find the little boy was gone. He says there was a huge search after his disappearance…

Cut 13 (10)  “he was”

Davidson spoke with Sheriff Bunch a few years ago and Bunch still believes the mother had something to do with the boy’s disappearance even though nothing ever turned up during the investigation. He says there must be a reason the FBI has reopened the case and released an age progression picture of Wesley Morgan.

cut 14 (08)  “Wesley Dale”

The FBI is offering up to a $10,000 reward for information that leads to Morgan’s location. Davidson says everyone is eager to find out what happened to Wesley Dale Morgan…

cut 15 (10) “15 years” 

===================================================