The groundbreaking ceremony is today for the future site of the new VA clinic in Lake Charles. Emelie Gunn has more on the benefits the facility will have for veterans in the region…
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US Senator Bill Cassidy has filed legislation that seeks to cut some of the red tape in the event of a public health emergency, such as Ebola or Zika outbreaks. Don Molino has more…
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State Police says they are reviewing a viral video that appears to show a trooper body slamming a suspect. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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After waiting for more than 10 years, today is the groundbreaking ceremony for the site of the permanent VA clinic in Lake Charles. Chairman of the Lake Charles Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission Jim Jackson says he’s looking forward to finally having a clinic that will help around 10-thousand veterans in the southwest Louisiana area. He says it’s time we looked at the long range issue of care for the men and women who fought for our freedoms.
Jackson says mental health treatment is very important because about 22 veterans kill themselves a day. He says they’re looking forward to the completion of the 24-thousand square foot facility.
Jackson says the project is estimated to take 12 months to complete. He says the country has promised to take care of our veterans and this facility will do just that.
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US Senator Bill Cassidy has filed legislation that seeks to help prepare for potential health emergencies, like outbreaks of Ebola and Zika. The proposal would wave some red-tape regulations and authorize funding if a public health emergency is declared. Cassidy, a doctor, says this could help contain outbreaks.
CUT 7 (10) “potential epidemic”
Cassidy says the threat for a health emergency is looming, as another Zika case has been confirmed in Louisiana. The measure would waive contract requirements that would allow, for example, the Centers for Disease Control to enter mosquito control contracts without getting the dozens of signatures that are typically required. Cassidy says similar waivers are issued to other agencies during emergencies.
Cut 8 (12) “natural disasters”
The bill would also authorize about $1.5 billion to control the outbreak when a health emergency is declared. Cassidy says this will allow response agencies to take appropriate action quickly.
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People making plans for their Fourth of July celebrations like to head to Louisiana for the festivities. According to WalletHub, the New Orleans is the third best city for Independence Day parties. Jill Gonzales with WalletHub says the study looked at entertainment and food options, attractions and activities, and weather forecast. She says New Orleans did particularly well in the food category.
Seattle and Minneapolis were the only two cities to top New Orleans on the list. The study found the average household will spend around $370 on their celebration. Gonzales says the cost of partying in New Orleans for the holiday weekend was lower than other cities.
Gonzales says New Orleans ranked number one for the number of festivals and events taking place this weekend, many of which are free. She says the only category that New Orleans did not fare well in was the forecast because of higher temperatures and a chance of rain.
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State Police says they are reviewing a viral video that appears to show a trooper body slamming a suspect. LSP spokesperson Melissa Matey says the unnamed trooper was walking down Bourbon Street on his way home after a 12 hour shift.
Matey says the trooper told 39-year-old Michael Hoffman from Illinois to leave several times, but he refused. The video shows the trooper trying to escort Hoffman away from the scene and then throwing him onto the ground when he resists. She says Hoffman was subsequently arrested.
Matey says State Police supervisors are reviewing the video.
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The story of the missing girl out of a quiet Caldwell Parish community seems to be over after authorities located what is believed to be her body inside a vehicle that was found in a lake. Sheriff Steve May says search teams had been looking for Joann Jarrell for about a month and found her in the water Tuesday. He says many different departments and volunteers were involved in efforts to find Jarrell.
May says Jarrell’s family has been notified and her body has been sent off for an autopsy. He says they do not suspect foul play at this time.
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