A group of Louisiana lawmakers and other state leaders are expressing outrage about Louisiana hospitals charging rape victims for care. Among them is Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson. He says it’s completely wrong that women who have reported sexual assault are getting these massive hospital bills…

cut 6 (09) “for the crimes”

A standard rape kit at a hospital has to be free under federal law, but hospitals can still charge for HIV testing, pregnancy testing or medication that could prevent a rape victim from getting an STD.

Fort Polk has received the most supporting public comments of any Army base in the country facing military cutbacks, according to the Army Environmental Command. Michael Reese, with Fort Polk Progress, says this is the first step in the force reduction process with the next step being a public listing session in March…

cut 12 (13) “for Fort Polk”

Reese says the Army will make an announcement next June.

Louisiana State Police report that two people were killed, including a Fort Polk soldier, in a fiery single vehicle accident in Vernon Parish. Trooper Scott Moreau says the crash occurred near US Highway 171 early Sunday morning…

cut 9 (08) “really, really bad”

The identity of the driver will not be released until notification of next of kin, but Moreau says he was a soldier at Fort Polk. The passenger of the vehicle has not been identified at this time.

State Police say a DeRidder man is dead after sustaining injuries in the crash of a truck driven by a 13-year-old in Beauregard Parish. Authorities say the truck struck a cow standing in the roadway of LA 112, causing the unlicensed driver to lose control of the vehicle and then strike a tree. 38-year-old Jason Brooks died as a result of the crash. The 13-year-old driver and a 16-year-old passenger received moderate injuries. No one in the vehicle was restrained.