A state law limits the search for the new State Police superintendent, as Col. Mike Edmonson is set to retire on Friday. Jeff Palermo has more on the restriction…
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The confirmation hearings for President Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nomination are underway in the nation’s capital and he has the support of U.S. Senator John Kennedy. Emelie Gunn has more…
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Louisiana residents would be able to concealed carry a firearm without a permit, under a proposal by Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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The head of State Police, Col. Mike Edmonson retires this week, but a state law narrows the search for his permanent replacement. A statute requires the next superintendent to be a commissioned State Police officer who graduated from the LSP academy. But President of the Metropolitan Crime Coalition Rafael Goyeneche says a nationwide search should be conducted.
Governor Edwards is expected to announce the interim head of LSP this week as Edmonson is set to retire on Friday. Once an interim replacement is named, Edwards is expected to begin the process of finding a full time leader. Goyeneche hopes a measure could be filed for the upcoming legislative session to give the governor permission to seek someone outside of Louisiana.
Edmonson announced his retirement last week as the agency is facing multiple investigations looking into a travel scandal. Goyeneche says the LSP could really use a fresh voice and a fresh face to change the culture.
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Confirmation hearings are underway for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee, Neil Gorsuch. U.S. Senator John Kennedy supports the president’s pick and says Gorsuch is especially qualified to be a justice. He says he’s read a number of Gorsuch’s opinions on cases he’s ruled on as a federal appeals judge, and it’s apparent he is extremely intelligent.
Democrats are pushing back against Gorsuch because of his conservative stance on social issues. But Kennedy says Gorsuch genuinely cares about each case he tries and the individuals involved.
Kennedy says Gorsuch supports the separation of power and understands the role of this position as a check on the legislative and executive branches. He says Judge Gorsuch has shown a desire to rule fairly and fight for his view of justice.
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Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey is once again bringing back his proposal to the legislature that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 to carry a concealed gun without a permit. He says the Constitution guarantees our right to carry guns, and it doesn’t dictate how they should be carried.
This is the third time Ivey has proposed similar legislation. Opponents say the bill would eliminate certain safeguards. For instance, to receive a permit to carry a concealed firearm, a resident must take a safety course. But Ivy argues gun owners should always be responsible, no matter how they possess a firearm.
Ivey adds that prohibited persons like convicted felons would still be barred from carrying under his proposal. He says this bill is part of a larger national movement towards constitutional carrying, and other states already have similar laws on the books.
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A state audit examining a missing 22-thousand dollars in student activity funds from West Ridge Middle School in West Monroe has been turned over to law enforcement. Roger Harris with the Legislative Auditor’s Office says over 11-thousand dollars was collected from eighth graders between 2013 and 2014 for a trip to Disney World. He says there was one teacher in charge of collecting the money for the trip, Jodie Dean.
Harris says there’s also another 10-thousand dollars in unaccounted money that never made it to the bank. The school’s bookkeeper, Stacey Rogers, was responsible for making deposits and keeping records of the funds. He says they’re still trying to piece together what may have happened to the money.
The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation into whether criminal charges are warranted. Ouachita Parish School Board Superintendent Dr. Don Coker says it’s always concerning if there’s a misappropriation of money at a school because these are taxpayer dollars.
Coker says this incident occurred several years ago, and they’ve taken steps to ensure the school’s spending has been monitored. He says the school board holds its employees to a very high standard, and they’re trying to do what’s right.
Reportedly, Dean has been placed on administrative leave, and Rogers has since retired. OPSO did not issue a comment on the audit, but a spokesperson says their investigation is ongoing.