A survey from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission finds pickup truck drivers still aren’t buckling up as much as those in other vehicles. Jeff Palermo has more…
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The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office says they arrested a suspect in Grambling State University’s deadly shooting…
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Some of the coldest air we’ve seen in some time is descending on Louisiana. A cold front is moving through which will drop temperatures to near freezing in some northern areas. Heavy rain is possible with the cold front, which state climatologist Barry Keim says could affect some high school games…
This will be just the start of what is to be a very cold weekend. Keim says the cold Canadian air will affect the entire state…
Keim says to expect sub normal temperatures for Halloween trick or treating…
The last time temperatures were this cold were in north Louisiana was in mid-March.
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A survey from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission finds Louisianans are buckling up but drivers and passengers in pickup trucks are not doing so as often. Executive Director Dr. Katara Williams says the seat belt usage rate has consistently increased annually in the Bayou State since 2009. But she says many residents in our state drive trucks, so we must convince them to buckle up.
Drivers in Lake Charles and New Orleans had the highest overall seat belt usage rates at 92-percent and 90-percent. Williams says drivers and riders in pickup trucks buckle up at a rate of 82-percent compared to cars which is 89-percent.
Alexandria and Baton Rouge drivers and passengers had the lowest rates when it comes to wearing seat belts at nearly 83-percent and 85-percent. Williams says there is an upward trend across the state with more African American drivers and passengers wearing their seat belts. She says in 2015, there was a 10-percent gap between black and white drivers who buckled up.
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National Prescription Drug Takeback day is Saturday. State Police are helping bring awareness to the potential for medication abuse by offering a way to get rid of unused prescriptions. A Journal of the American Medical Association study recently revealed 42 percent of prescribed medicine for post surgical pain was not used and 67 percent of patients had leftover medicine. State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says these drugs are commonly taken from people they know…
900-thousand pounds worth of prescription drugs were turned in during last year’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Lee says the number could go higher if others become aware of the kinds of prescriptions they forgot about…
The Centers for Disease Control say over 33-thousand people died in 2015 from overdoses on opioids. Even if you can’t participate Saturday, Lee says there are locations available any time…
All nine State Police Troops will participate Saturday from 10am to 2pm. The service is free and anonymous.
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The 14th annual Louisiana Book Festival is tomorrow in Baton Rouge. The event brings in about 30-thousand people to the State Library and State Capital. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser expects a great crowd, despite the projected cool temperatures. He says the free festival has music along with great books.
The festival features over 250 authors and panelists. Nungesser says it’s a festival like no other and well worth the drive to Baton Rouge. He says they just challenged the state’s high school students to redesign the Louisiana Seafood logo.
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A federal judge agrees with Alton Sterling protesters in a class action lawsuit against Baton Rouge law enforcement agencies. A hearing was held Friday morning involving about 80 protesters who were arrested last year. The ACLU of Louisiana filed a similar lawsuit but one that did not seek damages. Executive Director Marjorie Esman applauds the ruling…:
The plaintiffs will receive a combined total of about $136,000, which amounts to individual payments ranging from $500-$1000. Esman says she hopes law enforcement in Baton Rouge has learned a lesson…: