Two national studies show Louisiana ranks last in the country for volunteering. Emelie Gunn finds out if these surveys accurately portray the state…
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”
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The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids issued its annual report card on how states are doing with efforts in keeping young people from smoking, and Louisiana gets a failing grade. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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The Justice Department announces there’s insufficient evidence to pursue criminal civil rights charges against any official with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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According to studies from WalletHub and the Corporation for National and Community Service, Louisiana ranks as the worst state in the country when it comes to volunteering. But Executive Director of Volunteer Louisiana Judd Jeansonne says the national surveys do not align with their own statewide numbers. He says a study they commissioned and produced by LSU shows a much higher rate of volunteerism.
cut 4 (09) “40 percent”
Jeansonne says the national surveys do not include church and faith based volunteering. He says often time people who donate their time to the church don’t see it as volunteering.
Cut 5 (10) “other prompts”
Jeansonne says although these national studies might not accurately show the volunteer rate in the state, it still creates a negative perception. He’s convinced that most Louisiana residents are charitable when it comes to their time…
Cut 6 (10) “we are”
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A group called the Monumental Task Committee says they have collected over 31-thousand signatures from people who oppose the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans. President Pierre McGraw says they want their voices heard before the city council holds a special committee meeting on Thursday that will discuss the removal of the structures.
CUT 7 (11) “to attend”
McGraw says the M-T-C supports the instillation of interpretive plaques to help gain a better understanding of the original and current context of these monuments. He says they also would like to erect new monuments dedicated to influential people, including Civil Rights Freedom writers and have requested to talk with the mayor to put the construction in motion.
Cut 8 (10) “holiday season”
McGraw says they have received creditable reports that Mayor Mitch Landrieu has contracted the removal of the monuments without opening it up to public bid. He says another concern is of the qualifications of those removing the monuments and if they would be stored safely.
Cut 9 (08) “store them”
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The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids issued its annual report card on how states are doing with efforts in keeping young people from smoking, and Louisiana gets a failing grade. Spokesman John Schachter (Shack-Ter) says the state spends $7 million dollars on tobacco prevention programs…:
Cut 10 (03) “CDC recommends”
Schachter says most states get failing grades on their report card and Louisiana ranks 28th in the country on anti-smoking campaigns. He says the smoking industry spends $31 to promote their product for every $1 Louisiana uses on tobacco cessation and prevention programs…:
cut 11 (06) “especially kids”
Schachter says Louisiana will collect nearly $398 million dollars this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will only spend about 2% of that on prevention programs. He says their report also found that tobacco claims 7200 lives in Louisiana and costs the state $1.9 billion in health care bills annually…:
Cut 12 (11) “of the state”
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The US Justice Department announces they will not seek federal criminal civil rights charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White, who died from a gunshot wound sustained while in the back of an Iberia Parish Sheriff’s deputy patrol vehicle. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it appears federal officials conducted a thorough investigation.
Cut 13 (07) “police car”
White’s family has questioned how the 22-year-old man shot himself in March of 2014, while handcuffed in the back of the police car. The Iberia Parish Coroner ruled the death a suicide. US Attorney Stephanie Finley says gunshot residue was found on both of Mr. White’s hands and Meche says its that kind of evidence that supports a self-inflicted shooting
Cut 14 (07) “shot himself”
Meche says there’s not many options for the White family, if they believe justice still has not been served…
Cut 15 (08) “for free”