LRN PM Newscall December 31

A recent Facebook post by the Harahan Police Department is encouraging anyone who has purchased meth in Louisiana to have it tested for the Zika virus.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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Tomorrow it will be legal to have cameras installed in your loved one’s nursing home room to keep an eye on them. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

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The Harahan Police Department’s recent offer to screen methamphetamine for the Zika virus has captured the attention of social media and news outlets across the globe.  In a Facebook post, the department encouraged meth users to bring all of their drug to police for free testing.  Police Chief Tim Walker acknowledged the post was a stunt to bring attention to the issue of drug use.

Cut 3 (08) “…their free time.”

Chief Tim Walker says the social media post has already received over 500,000 views in the two days since it was posted.

Cut 4 (06) “…world its interesting.″

Walker admits there is no meth actually contaminated with the Zika virus.  But has anyone been gullible enough to take him up on the offer of testing meth?

Cut 5 (06) “…would surprise me.”

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Only one person in Louisiana was sentenced to death this year, David Brown of Lafourche Parish, who was convinced of sexually assaulting, then murdering a mother and her two daughters, and setting their house on fire in 2012. Death Penalty Information Center Executive Director Robert Dunham says that follows a nationwide trend of an 85 percent decline in death sentences.

Cut 6 (08) “…the country”

Louisiana did not sentence anyone to death in 2017 and 2016.

Durham attributes the decline in support for the death penalty, even in Bayou State, to public awareness of the extensive legal costs, the difficulty of finding chemicals for lethal injection, and the 11 exonerations for death row inmates in Louisiana since 1900.

Cut 7 (06) “…the country”

20 states have outlawed the practice, and 10 others have no performed an execution in over a decade.

Durham notes that more than half of all death sentences come from 2 percent of counties, or parishes, in the US. He says there’s two parishes in Louisiana that stand out when it comes to the number of death penalties issued.

Cut 8 (08) “…in Louisiana”

Louisiana has not performed an execution since 2010.

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A new year begins tomorrow, which means new laws will go into effect, including one that allows you to set up a camera to monitor your elderly loved ones in their nursing home room. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says the families must pay for the device and installation, cannot use the facility’s Wi-Fi, and…

Cut 9 (06) “…roommate″

The law was brought by former New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno during the regular session last year.

Since you can’t use the facility’s Wi-Fi, you’ll have to purchase a data plan from a cellular provider that will support the device. Talbot says it’s for a good reason.

Cut 10 (11) “…of communication”

Talbot says he’s checked out the cost for those data plans, and they appear to be affordable.

The legislation was inspired by a case of suspected abuse of an elderly person by nursing home workers, and Talbot says he’s gotten a lot of positive feedback about the opportunity now available to families. As for the nursing homes…

Cut 11 (11) “…matter what.”

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After weeks of preparation, LSU and U-C-F will finally play each other tomorrow in the Fiesta Bowl. The Knights bring a 25-game winning streak into the contest and an offense that averages 44 points a game. But Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron says you can’t overlook U-C-F’s defense led by defensive coordinator Randy Shannon

Cut 12 (12)   “…60 minutes.” 

Last year, U-C-F upset Auburn in the Peach Bowl 34-27. Some say Auburn wasn’t ready to play after losing in the SEC Title game. But LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says his guys are focused and desperately want to win

Cut 13 (12) “…be battle.”

LSU enters the game with a 9-3 record. Orgeron says the seven overtime loss to Texas A-and-M in the regular season finale also serves as motivation in this game…

Cut 14 (11) “…to approach it.”