Opening arguments are scheduled to begin today in the murder trial of a law enforcement officer accused of fatally shooting a six-year-old boy. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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The state is taking new bids from companies that want to oversee the homeowner assistance program for flood victims. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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Governor Edwards hopes to revamp the Louisiana tax system in the upcoming legislative session. Emelie Gunn has more…
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Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana expands their KIDLINE services to 24 hours a day. The hotline services parents, victims of child abuse, and others who need a listening ear. PCA Louisiana Executive Director Amanda Brunson says a grant from the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement provided dollars to have counselors available around the clock.
Brunson says the hotline offers confidential emotional support, information on child development, and positive discipline tips.
Brunson says the KIDLINE also connects families to local counselors and community services. She says that includes help meeting basic needs with resources like food banks and local shelters.
The 24 hour hotline is 1-800-CHILDREN, and counselors can be reached via text at 225-424-1533. She says counselors are also available for web chat at pcal.org/kidline. Calls to report child abuse should be made to law enforcement.
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Opening arguments in the Derrick Stafford trial are set for 9 a.m. in Marksville. The former deputy marshal faces murder and attempted murder charges after he and another officer allegedly shot at a vehicle killing a 6-year-old boy and injuring his father. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the main issue is whether the shooting was justified
The shooting happened in November of 2015. Stafford and deputy marshal Norris Greenhouse Junior chased a vehicle driven by Christopher Few. The chase stopped at the end of a dead-end street and Few and his six-year-old autistic child were shot. The boy was fatally struck. It took five days for 12 jurors and two alternates to be selected and Ciolino says it will be an emotional trial…
The defense is expected to argue there was another shooter involved, possibly with testimony from experts and video simulation. Legal analyst Bryan Jeansonne says how it’s presented will make a difference.
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The Office of Community Development is seeking new offers from companies that want to oversee the homeowner assistance program for flood victims. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says there won’t be any delay in getting assistance to those who need it. She says they’re reopening the bidding process because they weren’t pleased with the initial offers.
Payer says they will expedite this second round of bidding, and she’s confident a contractor will be in place in a month. As of right now, the federal government has yet to give the state access to the federal dollars made available for homeowners, so the only delay is in Washington.
Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says it’s disappointing the state is reopening the bidding process to find a new administer for the program. He says it’s just another delay and it’s frustrating because Congress approved one-point-six billion dollars last year…
A program manager is needed to dole out money to homeowners and arrange state contractors to repair homes. Even though Louisiana has a Democratic governor, the Republic Congressman says this isn’t about politics, it’s about helping those that were affected by the flood.
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Governor John Bel Edwards is seeking to give the Louisiana tax system a facelift during the upcoming legislative session. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward supports the effort to repeal many business tax exemptions, so that large companies are paying taxes to the state, instead of getting a big refund.
Ward says the plan to eliminate more corporate tax breaks is a much more fair approach.
But Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh is skeptical of Governor Edwards attempt at tax reform. He’s concerned that with the state searching for more dollars, higher taxes will be proposed when legislators meet in April.
Seabaugh also says if the state cuts exemptions and credits that businesses currently benefit from, then that will hurt economic development efforts…
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The sixth ranked LSU baseball team finished off a sweep of Georgia with 7-6 win on Sunday at Alex Box Stadium. Kramer Robertson drove in four runs and Greg Deichmann and drove in two runs. Freshman pitcher Eric Walker struck out eight in six innings to improve his record to 3-0. Coach Paul Mainieri on the team’s 16th win of the season…
Georgia pitchers hit 12 LSU batters during the three-game series. But the Tigers scored 34 runs and Mainieri says anytime you can sweep a team in the SEC, you have to be happy…
Caleb Gilbert earned the save, but the Tigers also got two good innings out of relief pitcher Matthew Beck. Mainieri likes what he sees from the Alexandria native…