New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that when teen drivers have teen passengers, the fatality rate for all people involved in a crash increases by 51 percent. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Former Secretary of State Tom Schedler does not admit guilt in the legal settlement that ended a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by his former secretary. Jeff Palermo has the story…
New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that when teen drivers have teen passengers, the fatality rate for all people involved in a crash increases by 51 percent. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says it may take some by surprise how much of a distraction teen passengers are compared to other possible distractions behind the wheel.
Cut 3 (06) “…distraction for teenagers.”
Redman says in the state of Louisiana, teen drivers accounted for 69 deaths in 2016.
Cut 4 (11) “…pedestrians and bicyclists.″
Redman says although the law requires fifty hours of supervised drive time with teen drivers, AAA recommends much more. He adds that parents begin practicing in low risk situations and gradually move into situations that are more complex.
Cut 5 (04) “…behind the wheel.”
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Governor Edwards says the state is putting an additional seven million dollars into prisoner rehabilitation and education programs. Edwards says the funding comes from the savings the state has seen since reforming its criminal justice system last year and the dollars should have an impact…
Edwards says the state saved 12-million dollars by reducing its prison population and 70-percent of the savings must be reinvested in the criminal justice system, which is about 8.4 million dollars. He says most that money will go to re-entry programs in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Orleans, St. Tammany and Jefferson parishes…
Orleans Parish will receive the most money at two-million, followed by East Baton Rouge at 1-point-six million and Caddo is getting 912-thousand dollars…
Cut 8 (08) “…critically important.”
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The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday jumped to 970-million dollars today, which is the highest ever for the multi-state lottery game. The largest US lottery jackpot is one-point-six billion dollars, set by Powerball in 2016. Louisiana lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison has this advice for Mega Millions ticketholders…
The jackpot Tuesday was 667-million dollars, but no one matched the six numbers drawn. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the rising jackpot has players heading to their local lotto retailer…
Chopin says the Louisiana joined the Mega Millions multi-state lottery game in 2012 and there’s never been a Mega Millions grand prize ticket purchased in Louisiana…
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A wheelchair-bound man was killed on Highway 90 in Broussard early this morning. Initially reported as a bicycle accident, police responded and discovered the disable 37-year-old Ashton Hurst of Lafayette dead at the scene. Police Chief Brannon Decou says at this point the driver is being considered responsible.
No citations were issued, and Decou says pedestrians, regardless of their mode of transportation, need to adhere to the basic laws regarding crossing highways.
A toxicology test is pending, but authorities do not suspect alcohol was involved in the accident.