An attorney says thirteen women are pursuing complaints involving gender discrimination against University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
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Congressman Clay Higgins wants his colleagues to be subject to mandatory random drug tests. Matt Doyle has more.
Nine former softball players have filed complaints with the Office of Civil Rights for Title Nine violations alleging that while attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette they were deprived of appropriate trainers, training facilities, equipment, and supplies when compared to the resources provided to male athletes. Attorney Allison Jones says the players also faced retaliation for bringing up the claims.
Cut 3 (11) “…people were hitting.”
Jones says the university has a history of gender inequity as she has represented female professors how have also had issues.
Cut 4 (07) “…at the university.”
Jones says the goal of the players is to correct the wrongdoings of the university for future students.
The university released a statement disputing the claims, saying it will “strongly defend itself” from false allegations.
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Entergy Louisiana is sending a team of 200 employees and contractors to the East Coast. Hurricane Florence is expected to pack a mighty punch that could cause some extensive power outages. Entergy Louisiana Spokesperson Lee Sabatini says providing help to other utility companies is part of a long standing mutual assistance agreement.
Cut 6 (06) “…possible to customers.”
Sabatini says in addition to line workers, they are sending over people for various duties in the cleanup effort.
Sabatini says extending a helping hand is very rewarding for the company and its employees.
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Seven escaped inmates are back in custody after yesterday’s breach at Madison Parish Detention Center in Tallulah. LaSalle Corrections Development Executive Kevin Sumrall says it didn’t take long to apprehend the seven, most of whom were incarcerated for robbery.
All inmates were recovered by 9:15 last night. Sumrall says they did not make it far, after a perimeter was set up.
Sumrall says it doesn’t not appear to be a premeditated prison break. Instead he says they suspect the inmates took advantage of a breach that occurred, and were able to escape through a wired fence, with no apparent planned goal in mind.
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Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins introduces legislation that would mandate random drug tests for U-S House and Senate members. If there’s a failed test, the Ethics Committee can take further action. Higgins says many middle class Americans are drug tested for their jobs, so why shouldn’t congressmen?
Members of Congress would pay for the drug test.
Higgins says drug tests are an important part of professional life, and that you wouldn’t want emergency personnel to be intoxicated on the job, you sure wouldn’t want legislators to be under the influence either.
Higgins says the bill wasn’t inspired by a colleagues in particular, but he has seen a few things in the halls of Congress that might raise eyebrows.
Higgins says early polling shows the legislation is unlikely to make it out of committee, but says he’s looking forward to hearing explanations from no voters.