The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may open the Bonnet Carrie Spillway in St. Charles Parish on Wednesday to relieve pressure on levees from a rising Mississippi River. Connor Ferrill has the story.
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Connor Ferrill”
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Gunfire on Bourbon Street puts several in the hospital and claims the life of a New Orleans Nurse. Matt Doyle has more.
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Should diapers and feminine products be exempted from the state sales tax? Lawmakers will have to answer that question in the upcoming session. Matt Doyle has more.
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may open the Bonnet Carrie Spillway in St. Charles Parish on Wednesday to relieve pressure on the levees along the lower Mississippi River. New Orleans district Corps Spokesperson Ricky Boyett says high water levels have arrived earlier than expected, because of rainfall flowing down from the Midwest…
Boyett says when gates are opened on the Spillway, water from the Mississippi River is diverted into Lake Pontchartrain at 250,000 feet per second…
If the spillway is opened, it would be the third time in four years despite only being activated 13 times since 1931. Boyett says the Corps of Engineers will investigate why we are seeing high Mississippi River levels more often…
If river levels reach 15 feet at the Carrollton Gage in New Orleans, the Corps of Engineers will restrict activity on or around levees.
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A 36-year-old New Orleans nurse was shot dead on Bourbon Street in the early Sunday morning hours. Julie Couvillion was an innocent bystander who was struck by bullets originating from a altercation at Willie’s Chicken Shack. NOPD Chief Shaun Ferguson says the shooting began when a security guard attempted to remove an uncooperative patron…
Willie’s reportedly attempted to remove 37-year-old Louis Barnes for selling drug on the premises.
Barnes, a registered sex offender, is facing Second Degree Murder, and Attempted Second Degree Murder charges for the incident. Ferguson says after Barnes disarmed the security guard, he began firing wantonly…
Barnes served two years in jail for Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile related to a 15 year old in 2015.
Ferguson says they’ve made several arrest and seized seven guns on Bourbon Street since Friday night. He says there’s a cop on every block of the famous street, and is asking the public to leave their pieces at home for Carnival.
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A New Orleans Senator has pre-filed a bill for the upcoming session that would exempt feminine products and diapers from the state sales tax. Currently food, residential utilities, and prescription drugs are exempted, and Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says diapers and feminine products are no less mandatory to everyday life for a majority of the population.
Women’s advocates have long pointed out that women have to pay more for basic expenses, a phenomenon known as the “Pink Tax”. Moller says exempting those items from tax would help close that gap, even if it comes with a price tag and subsequent budget hit.
Advocates says the “Pink Tax” can be demonstrated by comparing the cost of similar goods for men and women, such as deodorant. They’ve noted that the equivalent women’s good tends to be marked up by as much as 13 percent, per NPR.
Last year, legislation promoting equal pay for women failed to cross the finish line in a bitterly divided session, but Moller says this type of legislation is noticeably different, and anyone who votes against it could face a rebuke just half a year later at the ballot box.
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Earl, the llama that was shot three times by its owner last week, continues to recover from his injuries. He was at LSU’s vet clinic, but recently returned to the St. Landry Animal Control facility. Animal Control Director Stacey Alleman McKnight says Earl still has a long way to go.
Cut 13 (09) “…keep him comfortable.”
Bullets are lodged in the animal’s neck, shoulder, and abdomen, causing a fractured rib.
Authorities say Earl was shot by his owner, 67 year old Madeline Bourgeois of Opelousas ,after she says her pet llama attacked her. McKnight says it appears Earl is of good temperament.
Cut 14 (10) “…he’s done that.”
McKnight says they have seen people reach out in concern for Earl, adding any sort of monetary contributions would certainly help with the financial burden of Earl’s care.
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With four more regular season games left, 13th ranked LSU is in a three-way tie for first place in the Southeastern Conference after the Tigers thrilling 82-80 overtime win over 5th ranked Tennessee on Saturday. Starting point guard Tremont Waters missed the game, because of an illness, but Javonte Smart and Skylar Mays combined for 52 points, Smart had 29. Coach Will Wade says Smart was phenomenal
Tennessee and Kentucky are the other two teams tied with LSU for first place. The Vols and Wildcats will play each other on Saturday, while the Tigers will play three teams down the stretch that have a losing record in conference play. Wade says his team has played well in big games, but have struggled against teams down in the standings
LSU beat the 5th ranked Volunteers without Waters and their best pro prospect, Naz Reid, finished with just one points. But Wade has belief in the rest of the team…