Derrick Stafford has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for fatally shooting a 6-year-old after a car chase in 2015. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says this wasn’t a premeditated shooting, but it is a crime of violence.

Cut 16 (08) “to do”

Stafford faced a maximum sentence of 60 years for manslaughter and attempted manslaughter convictions.

A bill by Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor could put an end to the death penalty in Louisiana for first degree rape and murder convictions. Claitor says the death penalty cheapens life, as his catholic religion teaches all life is sacred.

Cut 9 (10) “a victim”

The bill would not affect inmates currently on death row.

The state’s plan for allocating $1.6 billion in federal flood recovery has been approved by HUD. The dollars will be used to help flood victims rebuild and elevate their homes, or reimburse them for rebuilding costs. But there’s no word yet on exactly when the dollars will be dispersed.

Today the Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Louisiana National Guard are participating in training exercises to prepare for future disasters. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says a lot goes into emergency response, including communications to partnerships between state and local officials.

Cut 4 (09) “hurricane season”

He says we could see an increase in severe spring and summer weather after this year’s unusually warm winter.