Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies have reportedly arrested four individuals after raiding three alleged dog fighting rings. Emelie Gunn has more…
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The former Destrehan High School teacher accused of having sex with a student still has legal issues as there’s still a civil suit pending against her. Michelle Southern has more…
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A bill to provide parole eligibility for juveniles convicted of murder has been approved by the state Senate. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says his proposal would bring Louisiana in line with a 2012 Supreme Court decision that prohibits juvenile offenders from receiving life sentences without parole. The measure would provide parole eligibility after 25 years for juveniles who received life sentences after June 25, 2012.
Claitor’s original bill called for parole eligibility after 30 years, but during the debate it was amended down to 25.
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If enacted, the 14 inmates would be immediately eligible for parole consideration after time served. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says a parole hearing would then determine if that person has at least tried to better themselves or abided by the rules.
The measure passed on a 22-13 vote and heads to the House.
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Authorities in Webster Parish have raided three alleged dogfighting rings and rescued over 30 dogs. Anna Ware is with an Altanta based group called Norred and Associates and they investigate animal cruelty cases. She says they received a report on their anonymous dogfighting tip line about an operation in North Louisiana so they contacted the Sheriff’s Office to investigate.
Deputies originally arrested Randall Tims and Morgan Jones in Dubberly during the first raid, which then led to the arrests of Ketrick Frazier in Minden and Laracco Batton. Ware says the rescued dogs have never seen veterinary care in their lives. She says two animals died due to malnutrition.
Ware says it’s unbelievable that any human could treat an innocent animal like this. She says all of the dogs were living in horrible conditions.
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The former Destrehan High School teacher who allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old student isn’t out of the woods yet. Shelley Dufrense was found not guilty of carnal knowledge of a juvenile in Jefferson Parish, but the victim’s family has a civil suit pending in St. Charles Parish against the 34-year-old. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Wednesday’s verdict shouldn’t affect the outcome of the civil suit.
Dufrense pleaded guilty to an obscenity charge in St. Charles Parish in 2015 and is not required to register as a sex offender. But Meche says that plea deal could hurt her in the civil suit.
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Three judges in the 29th Judicial District in St. Charles Parish have recused themselves from the civil suit because one of them is Dufrense’s father. Meche says the not guilty verdict in Jefferson Parish won’t help Dufrense much in the civil suit.
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US Senator Bill Cassidy says President Donald Trump’s tax reform plan will simplify the tax code, create jobs and incentivize investment and growth. Cassidy says he likes that Trump is engaged and following through with his campaign promises.
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Part of the president’s plan would double the exemptions for families and small businesses would receive a tax cut. While there is some concern this tax structure would benefit the wealthy, Cassidy says this incentivizes business owners to put that money back into their company to create better jobs.
Cassidy says there hasn’t been a significant tax reform since 1986, with President Ronald Reagan. He says although it took a while to pass, Reagan was thoroughly engaged, just as Trump is.
Cassidy serves as a member of the Senate Finance Committee and will play a role in the passage of any tax reform plan.
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