The full House is set to debate the proposed budget for next fiscal year tomorrow, and there are concerns about state funding for healthcare, as more cuts could be coming to DHH. House Appropriates Chairman Cameron Henry defended reallocating some dollars during a discussion of the proposed budget.
The Raise the Age bill has been approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee without objection. The proposal means 17-year-old nonviolent offenders would no longer be automatically tried as adults. Executive Director for the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says DA’s would still be able to prosecute some 17-year-olds as adults.
The measure heads to the House floor for final legislative passage.
A former Iberville teacher will spend 2 years behind bars for having sex with three students, after being charged with 5 counts of felony carnal knowledge. Keavin Keith pleaded no contest to all charges. Sheriff Brett Stassi says he hopes this conviction shows that behavior like that will not be tolerated in Iberville Parish.
Keith was the Iberville Parish teacher of the year in 2013.
Ruston police say a mother ran over her 4-year-old while dropping the child off at school. Ruston Police Deputy Chief Clint Williams says it appears the 4-year-old child tried to exit the vehicle while it was still moving and fell out. He says the child was unresponsive when the EMTs arrived.