Frank Selas III, a 76 year old former Monroe TV personality, will be arraigned today in Rapides Parish on alleged child sex abuse accusations from 1979. Halen Doughty previews the case…:
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Governor John Bel Edwards has proclaimed this week Hurricane Preparedness week, urging Louisiana residents to make sure they have a plan in place should a storm threaten the state. A list of hurricane supplies, evacuation information and other helpful information can be found on the getagameplan.org website. The 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1st.

Seth Fontenot of Lafayette, the man convicted of manslaughter in the 2013 death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault, is back at home after 10 and half months in prison. Rivault’s parents went to Lafayette Senator Page Cortez asking him to sponsor legislation that would put someone behind bars at least three years if they commit a felony with a weapon that results in a fatality. He says based on what happened in their son’s case, the Rivaults hope to see a change in the law…:
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The Senate approved measure is awaiting debate on the House floor.

It’s Tax Day in Louisiana. The state Department of Revenue is reminding tax payers that you have until midnight to file or pay. Spokeswoman Kizzy Payton says taxpayers in the 36 regions of the state that were declared a Federal Disaster Area after the March flooding, are eligible for a special extension:
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Payton says they’ve already issued over one million refunds this year.

If you haven’t filed or paid your state taxes yet for 2015, today is the last day. Kizzy Payton with the Louisiana Department of Revenue says it’s important for taxpayers to settle up today no matter what. She says you can request an extension to avoid any penalties..:
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Payton says to file online or request an extension visit revenue-dot-louisiana-dot-gov.

The US Senate has begun work on their proposed changes to the spending plan for next fiscal year as House Bill 1 was sent over from the lower chamber on Friday. Lawmakers are dealing with a $600 million dollar shortfall for next fiscal year and are expected to pass a budget proposal before a planned special session on taxes begins in June.

The US Coast Guard says, after 20 hours, they’ve decided to suspend the search for the missing cruise ship passenger in the Gulf of Mexico.

The former Monroe children’s TV personality Mr. Wonder will be arraigned today on accusations he sexually abused children almost 40 years ago during a camping trip. 76-year-old Frank John Selas III faces 13 counts in Rapides Parish. Legal analyst Tim Meche says with a case this old, there could be witness issues and also no forensic evidence…:
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The sheriff’s office has said investigators identified seven alleged victims.

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Amanda Pumilia, with the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, says there are ways owners can prevent their dogs from biting people when they’re out and about…:
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State Farm reported paying $1.5 million for dog-related injury claims in Louisiana last year.

Today is the deadline for taxpayers to file state tax returns. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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A 6-year-old boy accidentally shot and wounded his sister in Baton Rouge, and police say they are now searching for the person who owned the gun. They say the girl was shot in the face and her mother rushed her to the hospital where a successful surgery was conducted. According to BRPD, the person who owned the weapon fled the scene after the shooting, and remains at large.

Lafayette Sen. Page Cortez sponsors legislation that says if you commit a felony with a gun that results in a fatality, you should at least spend 3 years in prison. Seth Fontenot of Lafayette is a free man after spending 10 months behind bars for the shooting death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault (Ree-Voe). Cortez’s proposal would mandate certain manslaughter cases have longer sentences…:
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The Senate approved measure, dubbed The Austin Rivault Act, passed out of the House Criminal Justice committee on a 7-6 vote.

The woman who died while Tiki Tubing on the Amite River over the weekend has been identified as 32-year-old Kimberly Gillien of Franklin, according to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Funding for the state’s safety net hospitals remained in tact after the House approved next year’s budget bill and sent it over to the Senate. A $72 million dollar cut to TOPS was made in order to give money to the hospitals for the poor. Bogalusa Representative Malinda White argued against an amendment seeking to put money back to TOPS..:
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More changes are expected to be made to House Bill 1 in the Senate.

GOP lawmakers sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Landry to get his opinion on the executive order signed by Governor John Bel Edwards in April banning discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation and gender identity. 32 Republican House members say the order is troubling and may be against the constitution. They also asked Landry about the federal governments order that schools must allow students to use a bathroom based on their gender identity.

It’s a big graduation weekend and one teen in Ringgold got two diplomas yesterday, one for high school and one from Bossier Parish Community College. So what’s next for 17 year old Azariya McClendon? She says her academic aspirations won’t slow down from here…:
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Governor John Bel Edwards is at this hour delivering the keynote address at the Southeastern Louisiana University commencement ceremony in Hammond.

After almost 40 years after he was accused of raping young boys, Frank Selas III, aka Mr. Wonder, will be arraigned on Monday. He is being prosecuted by the Rapides District Attorney’s Office and his defense team includes Mike Small, who has made a career of representing what he calls the “underdog.” Selas faces 13 counts including two counts of aggravated rape.

The nearly $26 billion dollar spending bill for next fiscal year is now headed to the Senate for consideration after nearly 14 hours of debate in the lower chamber. It includes a $72 million dollar cut to tops in order to give money to the state’s hospitals that serve the poor and uninsured.

Conservatives are not happy about the US Department of Education’s letter to schools indicating they must allow transgender students to use bathrooms based on their gender identity. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says we should be protecting our children…:
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But Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana says people who make statements like that don’t understand the gravity of this action…:

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Patterson says policies like these are meant to protect the most vulnerable part of our population. Abraham says the state should make the decision regarding transgender bathrooms, not the federal government.

Four people have been arrested by the Gonzales Police Department in connection with a fight that occurred at the East Ascension High School graduation. The fight involved women in the football stands during the ceremony Wednesday, and a now viral video of the incident circled quickly on social media. Destiney Thompson and Delencia Williams, both 17, 18-year-old Rodneisha Patterson and 22-year-old Travonshay Mills were booked on charges including simple battery, disturbing the peace, and disorderly conduct.

Another Union Parish Detention Center inmate is arrested in connection with the rape of a 17 year old female at the center, who was being held as she was high on methamphetamine. Cops say 27-year-old Darandall Boyette left his cell without permission and went to the cell where the teen was being held and raped, allegedly by Demarcus Peyton. Boyette said he also intended to have sex with the female, but decided to leave. Boyette faces an escape charge. Peyton is charged with third degree rape. State Police is investigating.

A passenger fell off a Carnival Liberty cruise ship sailing out of Galvenston, Texas, and the US Coast Guard is searching the Gulf of Mexico. A statement from the Coast Guard out of the New Orleans command center says they were contacted by the master of the ship who said surveillance video showed a woman going overboard. A passenger check indicated 33-year-old Samantha Broberg was missing.

The U.S. Department of Education is letting schools know they are required to allow transgender restrooms or risk losing federal funds. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Two people died in a Richland Parish crash after the driver of the vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign. State Police say a Honda Civic, driven by 26-year-old Jade Abshire of Vidalia, did not stop at an intersection in Rhymes and the car was hit by a truck on the driver’s side door. Both Abshire and a passenger in the Civic, 45-year-old Arby Carter, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The House sent a nearly $26 billion dollar budget to the Senate Friday that includes a $72 million dollar cut to the TOPS program, in order to give more money to the state’s safety net hospitals for the poor. An amendment seeking to move $36 million back to the scholarship program failed. Ruston Representative Rob Shadoin says he understands the importance of TOPS funding, but health care for young individuals, who can’t afford to go to a private hospital, is more important…:
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House Bill 1 is likely to be modified further in the upper chamber.

Seth Fontenot, the now 21-year-old Lafayette man who killed 15-year-old Austin Rivault in 2013, will walk free tomorrow after serving 10 and a half months in jail for manslaughter. Fontenot’s release comes much sooner than it could have been as his original first degree murder charge was reduced to manslaughter and with a 13 month jail sentence.

The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to public schools informing them they are required to allow transgendered students to use the restroom that is consistent with their gender identity, or risk losing federal funding. Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham says this is another example of President Obama’s executive overreach. He says this is somewhat of a form of extortion:
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Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana says this is a big step forward for public school policies. He says transgender kids are at a bigger risk of many mental health issues…:
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The state Department of Education says they will provide assistance to Louisiana’s school districts in addressing the needs of their students.

A Pineville man has been arrested after he allegedly went door to door soliciting money he claimed was for a sick child with cancer. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Tommy Carnline says residents reported the suspicious activity and authorities began investigating 48-year-old Charles Lowery, acting on the complaints…:

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He says Lowery was arrested for swindling because he didn’t have a sick child.

17-year-old girl Azariya McClendon is getting to diplomas. An Associates Degree from Bossier Parish Community College and a diploma from Ringgold High School. She says she was able to do this through the Accelerated Curriculum of Excellence program at her school:

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