U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch has a busy schedule of events in Baton Rouge. Emelie Gunn has more on what the nation’s top prosecutor is doing in the Capital City…
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State and federal leaders, law enforcement officers, and the public gathered to celebrate the lives of the slain Baton Rouge officers. Jeff Palermo has more on the vigil….
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Industry professionals say movie producers are starting to come back to Louisiana after the industry took quite a hit. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch meets today with the U.S. Attorney in Baton Rouge and other US Justice Department officials for a roundtable discussion. Former U.S. Attorney Don Cazayoux says Lynch is likely trying to learn more about the efforts to improve police relationships with the community and also the latest into the investigation of Alton Sterling’s death.
Lynch is also scheduled to have a meeting this morning with law enforcement first responders. Cazayoux says Lynch wants to get the perspective of police officers and discuss ways to improve community policing.
Cazayoux says he believes the Alton Sterling case will likely be brought up during the roundtable discussion. He says she also will receive updates on the investigation into the July 17th attack in Baton Rouge…
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Researchers at the LSU AgCenter have determined that mosquito pesticides do not pose a serious health risk to honeybees. Entomologist Kristen Healy says they performed a series of tests with various pesticides, and they kept coming to the same conclusion.
The AgCenter received a grant from the EPA to research the effects of pesticides on honeybees, because there have been significant annual losses in the bee population the last few years. Healy says they performed tests both in the lab and the field and found.
Healy says the goal of the study was to evaluate the effects of pesticide spraying trucks. She says when done right, the spray shouldn’t impact the honeybees.
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Hundreds gathered at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge to celebrate the lives and mourn the loss of Officer Matthew Gerald, Deputy Brad Garafola, and Cpl. Montrell Jackson. State and federal leaders spoke at the vigil saying the greatest moments often come after the darkest times. Governor John Bel Edwards says we have to uproot hate and violence and replace it with peace and love.
Vice President Joe Biden spoke about the importance of community policing and addressed the struggle of doing so when law enforcement budgets get slashed year after year. He says one thing we can do, both police and citizens, is get to know one another…
The wives of the three fallen officers also spoke during the vigil ceremony. Tonja Garafola, the widow of Deputy Brad Garafola, says these heroes did not deserve this, but….
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Louisiana’s film industry has taken a hit since lawmakers put a cap on the state’s film tax incentive program last year, but business agent for a New Orleans film workers union, Cory Parker, says things are looking up. He says some smaller productions are coming to the Bayou State again, likely seeking the qualified film professionals here.
During the 2015 legislative session, legislators placed a 180-million dollar cap on film tax credits the state can issue every year, which caused uncertainty in the industry. Parker says Louisiana still has one of the best film tax programs in the country and movie makers are realizing that again.
Parker is optimistic that next year, legislators can pass legislation that will make the film tax credit program stronger and eliminate some of the concerns film makers.
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Who Dat Nation is wondering if the Saints and its superstar quarterback Drew Brees will agree to a contract extension before the regular season starts, but Brees says it’s not on the top of his mind. He says it shouldn’t be a distraction for his teammates either…
Brees is entering the final year of a five-year, 100-million dollar contract. The veteran hopes he and the team can reach a new deal and the relationship between him, his agent and the Saints remains good…
Brees says he’s ending contract talks once the regular season starts, if he doesn’t have a new deal in place. The 37-year-old also believes he can play past the age of 40….