6:30 PM Newscast

After an invite from US Senator Bill Cassidy, US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao will be taking a trip to the Bayou State to assess infrastructure needs, including ports.  With five of the top 20 ports in the country in Louisiana, Cassidy believes having Chao take a first-hand look at the problem will expedite the process of getting old and new projects approved.

Cut 4  (09) “…perhaps better funded.”

A civil rights advocacy group is raising concerns about the practice of jails eavesdropping on attorney-client phone calls made from inside facilities. Court Watch NOLA presented their findings to the New Orleans City Council, and says the practice is done in prisons across the state. Executive Director Simone Lavine says fears of surveillance are having a chilling effect on defendant’s openness with their defenders, specifically in Orleans Parish, which she says has the worst rate of wrongful convictions in the nation.

Cut 7 (11)  “…attorneys the truth.”

 

A former Louisiana Senator is now throwing his name in the hat for another elected position.  Pearl River Republican A.G. Crowe has announced his candidacy for Secretary of State in the November election.  The office has faced challenges with the previous administration being plagued with sexual harassment controversy.  Crowe says he’s taken preventative measures to combat that type of activity during his time as a legislature.

Cut 14 (09)  “…of potential activity.”

 

A child was returned to his family after an Amber Alert was issued for 9-month-old Liam Allen who was abducted last night after 43-year-old Terry Doehling stole a vehicle he was sleeping in. Doehling drove the vehicle from Jeanerette to New Orleans allegedly unaware that the child was in the vehicle. Louisiana State Police Spokesperson Trooper Melissa Matey credits the Amber Alert system for the successful child rescue.

Cut 11 (11) “…matching that description.”