State Police have arrested 15 suspects connected to a “ride-out” in New Orleans on Mardi Gras 2018. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell announces President Trump will declare a State of Emergency to get the money needed to build his sought after wall. Matt Doyle has more.
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East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore says he believes the Maxwell Gruver Act has had an impact on hazing, in the wake of new allegations at LSU. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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After a year-long investigation, State Police have arrested fifteen suspects in connection with a Mardi Gras 2018 incident known as a ride out where participants would stop up highways and ride recklessly. Senior Trooper Melissa Matey says the investigation is very complex as many participants come from out of state.
Cut 4 (11) “…nearly eight hours.”
Matey says prior to Mardi Gras 2018, State Police had come across several cases of stolen motorcycles that ended up being connected with the activity.
Matey says ride outs of this nature have taken place in other cities across the country, but is hopeful this investigation will keep another one from happening during this year’s Mardi Gras.
Cut 6 (10) “…please call 911.”
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The Ethics Board will reconsider it’s decision to bar candidates from using campaign funds to pay for childcare today. The decision has received quite a bit of public flack, including from Governor Edwards. UL-Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says Edwards’ opposition will be hard for the board, seven of whom are appointed by the governor, to ignore.
The other four members of the eleven member board were appointed by the Senate and House respectively.
In November a female Baton Rouge female candidate requested authorization, and was denied as the board overruled a 2000 decision that allowed a man to use campaign funds for childcare. Cross says the optics of the decision make it look like the board is trying to prevent moms from running for office.
Between November of last year and 2000, a number of male candidates, reportedly including Senator John Kennedy, have been allowed to use the funds for childcare.
While the Ethics Board is not elected, Cross says if any of the members were to run for public office, any vote against permitting funds for that purpose would be used against them, more so if their opponent is a mom.
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Senate leader Mitch McConnell says President Trump will declare a State of Emergency to obtain the funds necessary to build his sought after addition to the southern border wall. Much of that money would reportedly come from Army Corps and/or FEMA disaster prevention and relief projects, a keen concern for hurricane prone Louisiana. Senator John Kennedy says he’s aware that’s a possibility…
The President is also expected to sign the compromise legislation preventing a shutdown and providing 1.37 billion in funds for the wall.
The declaration would likely be immediately challenged in Congress, but would require an unlikely two thirds override vote in both chambers. At that point, Kennedy says he expects the battle to shift to the courts.
Kennedy says he would not vote to oppose the President’s State of Emergency.
Kennedy says the idea has so far received a somewhat chilly response from Congress, including from several Republicans. The Senator says he understand the motive after talking with the President on the plane ride back from the Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans, and says while he would prefer a Congressional solution…
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Thursday’s arrest of 9 frat members at LSU over allegations of hazing comes after the passage of the Maxwell Gruver Act that was put into place to combat the activity by handing out harsher punishments for future incidents. East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore credits the act for the allegations coming to light.
Cut 13 (11) “…LSU police department.”
Moore says this isn’t the only hazing case to come up since the act’s passage.
Cut 14 (08) “…kind of go along.”
Moore believes the national fraternities are now taking quicker action because of the act, saying it’s of great value in forming a case.
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Another college baseball season starts today and there are high expectations in Baton Rouge as the LSU Tigers are ranked number one in several polls. Left fielder Daniel Cabrera is one of several Tigers expected to have a big season and the Baton Rouge native is fired up about tonight..
LSU returns its starting out field from last season and a healthy Josh Smith will man shortstop. Senior Brandt Broussard will start at second base tonight, but he says there are several newcomers pushing for starting time as well…
2009 was the last time the Tigers won a national championship and starting shortstop Josh Smith knows LSU fans are hungry for another title…