A State Police Trooper used deadly force during a traffic stop in downtown Hammond. Matt Doyle has more.
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A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a Louisiana law that would require abortion doctors to obtain admitting privileges at a local hospital before they can take on patients. I’m Jeff Palermo.
State Police say one of their Troopers used deadly force on a suspect in Hammond just before 1 AM this morning. Authorities identify the deceased suspect as 23-year-old Coltin Brennan Leblanc of Loranger. L-S-P says one of their troopers pulled LeBlanc’s vehicle over in the downtown area. A Hammond resident who witnessed the event while at a late night restaurant says it started as a normal traffic stop.
That’s when the witness says just before the car got away, the Trooper wrapped an arm around one of the doors and was taken for a ride as the vehicle sped off down the street. Less than ten seconds later, the vehicle came to a stop and the witness says he heard shots fired.
After the dramatic incident, the witness says the officer and a bystander rushed to the vehicle to attempt to assist the driver.
The suspected died shortly after arriving at North Oaks Hospital.
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Four Louisiana State Police Troopers are recovering from injuries after a juvenile attempted to evade and flee from them in a police pursuit on LA Highway 1 that saw speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. LSP spokesperson Scott Moreau says it all started with a traffic stop on 18 year old Torie Lewis of Alexandria. When Lewis stepped out of the vehicle, that’s when the action began.
Cut 6 (12) “…seat and fled.”
All three subjects were arrested. Moreau says the second driver is facing the heftiest charges of the three.
Cut 7 (10) “…up to the judge.”
Moreau says the level of danger in the situation could have seen things end much worse.
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The Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a Louisiana Law that would require doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. A law that included some similar language in Texas was shot down by the Supreme Court. Solicitor General Liz Murrill says Louisiana’s attempt at the law was more focused, and as a result, cleared the court challenge.
cut 9 (08) “…very gratifying.”
But Center for Reproductive Rights Senior Council TJ Tu says it’s a decision that fly’s in the face of the Supreme Courts previous decisions, and could make access to abortion in the Bayou State difficult to obtain.
Tu says across the nation abortion doctors can run into serious roadblocks when trying to obtain admitting privileges, and Louisiana is no different.
Admitting privileges for abortion doctors would allow them to admit a patient to a local hospital if they had a medical emergency during a procedure.
But Murrill says the clinics did a poor job proving requiring admitting privileges would be an undue burden for operation. She says there were contradictory statements about how difficult it is to actually obtain the privileges in the state.
The law will not go into effect immediately, and it is likely that the decision will be challenged or appealed, and could end up in front of the US Supreme Court.
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Disney Cruise Line announced they will start sailing out of the Port of New Orleans in 2020 during Mardi Gras season. The 27-hundred passenger Disney Wonder is scheduled for six different Caribbean and Bahamian cruises from February 7th to March 6th. Port of New Orleans CEO Brandy Christian says they are thrilled with Disney’s decision
Port NOLA is the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States and is on pace to set a new cruise passenger record this year, with over one-million passengers. Christian says there is a reason why Disney chose to set sail from New Orleans during Mardi Gras…
Cut 14 (11) “…to New Orleans.”
Bookings start on October 4th. Disney Cruise Line spokesperson Yolanda Cane says there will be four, six and seven-night Western Caribbean cruises….