22-year-old Holden Matthews of Opelousas has pleaded guilty in federal and state court to burning down three historically black St. Landry Parish Baptist churches last spring. As part of the deal, Matthews pleaded guilty to three federal counts of intentional damage to religious property, a hate crime under the 1996 Church Arson Prevention Act. Former US Attorney Harry Rosenberg expects Matthews will receive a lengthy sentence.
Cut 13 (10) “…sentences.”
Alabama drivers will soon have the opportunity to have their own LSU license plate. In Louisiana, a specialty tag design requires legislative approval, but in Alabama, the proposed design just needed 250 drivers to apply and prepay for the plate. Webster Parish native and vice president of the Birmingham LSU Alumni Chapter Kenny Haynessays they hit the goal.
Cut 8 (10) “…else after that.”
Marrero Democrat Kyle Green introduces a House bill aimed at eliminating the death penalty and allows those previously sentenced to be resentenced to life without parole.
Kyle Joekel, the man found guilty of killing two St. John the Baptist deputies in 2012 became the latest inmate to receive a death sentence. Green expects to have to counter arguments from examples such as those killings.
Cut 6 (08) “…with those individuals.”
Last year, a bill to abolish the death penalty died on the House floor.
Louisiana gets low marks from the American Lung Association’s 2020 report for its failure to properly fund anti-smoking programs and enact anti-smoking legislation. State Director Ashley Lyerly says Louisiana maintains one of the highest smoking rates in the nation for both adults, and teens.