Two death row inmates in Caddo Parish have learned their execution dates this week. Andrew Greenstein reports Caddo Parish has a disproportionate number of death row inmates in the state – despite it having a Democratic district attorney.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Baton Rouge prosecutors reach a plea deal with a man who killed his pregnant girlfriend and her two-year-old son three years ago. Colleen Crain reports…

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Louisiana tax filers can use United Way Southwest Louisiana’s My Free Taxes app, a free online tax filing service. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Despite having a Democratic district attorney, Caddo Parish, which includes Shreveport, has a disproportionate number of inmates on death row. In general terms, Republicans tend to support capital punishment much more than Democrats. So why the anomaly? LSU Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow (SAD-ow) says many of those death row inmates were sentenced years ago.

Cut 4 (09) “…anti-death penalty.”

In fact, those district attorneys employed prosecutors who were very aggressive in seeking the death penalty. Sadow says the current district attorney, James Stewart, fully supports the judgement of his predecessors.

Cut 5 (08) “…to capital sentences.”

Sadow says Stewart will not stand in the way of judges signing death warrants, like what Judge Donald Hathaway did this week in setting execution dates for Darrell Draughn and Marcus Reed.

Cut 6 (07) “…in the past”

The 53-year-old Draughn is scheduled to be executed May 28th for stabbing his neighbor, 64-year-old Lauretta White, to death in 2000.  The 47-year-old Reed will be put to death June 4th for killing three young men who he had erroneously thought had stolen his ex-girlfriend’s X-Box.

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A Baton Rouge man who killed his pregnant girlfriend and her two-year-old son reaches a plea deal with prosecutors. Three years ago, 23-year-old Brynnen (BRIN-in) Murphy shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, 24-year-old Kaylen Johnson, and he threw her two-year-old son, Kaden, off a bridge. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar (HILL-er) Moore says Johnson’s family wanted to avoid a trial.

Cut 7 (15) “…for some time.”

Murphy pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter and one count of first-degree feticide. Moore says he would have had no trouble convicting Murphy of the second-degree murder charges he was originally facing.

Cut 8 (11) “…and their future.”

Despite the lesser charges that Murphy pleaded guilty to, Moore says he will never see the light of day again from outside a prison setting.

Cut 9 (14)  “…a life sentence.”

Murphy will be formally sentenced June 10th.

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United Way Southwest Louisiana has launched My Free Taxes, a free online tax filing service for U-S tax filers earning up to 84-thousand dollars a year. The platform helps users file federal and state taxes quickly, with most completing their returns in under an hour. United Way Southwest Louisiana Associate Director of Community Impact Kimberlie Heckard says it includes guides for small business owners, gig workers, and those affected by federally declared disasters.

Cut 10 (11) “…My-Free-Taxes-dot-com website.”

Heckard says since 2020, the program has saved nearly 30-thousand people over three-million-dollars in tax prep fees while ensuring they claim eligible deductions and credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

Cut 11 (12) “…forms that you get”

Heckard says the program guarantees secure and accurate tax filing.

Cut 12 (14) “…the tax client.”

Free services cover W-2 income, self-employment, education expenses, and more. Taxpayers can file online at MyFreeTaxes.com, or they can schedule an appointment with a volunteer at unitedwayswla.org/vita or by dialing 211.

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Senator Bill Cassidy has introduced “The Defining Male and Female Act.”

Cut 13 (16)  “…to chest-feed.”

Senator Cassidy says the legislation he introduced last week with Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, who like him is also a doctor, would codify one of President Trump’s executive orders.

Cut 14 (10) “…identity or sex.”

Cassidy says his legislation would make accommodations for people born with chromosome variations.

Cut 15 (10) “…allows for that.”

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Derek Carr is set to return for his third season as the Saints starting Q-B but that hasn’t stopped first-year head coach Kellen Moore from doing his homework on the quarterbacks in the upcoming draft. Moore traveled to see Miami’s Cam Ward and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart perform at their pro days. Moore on what he looks for when he’s evaluating a quarterback…

Cut 16 (14) “…you can.”

Moore spoke with reporters at the NFL Owners’ meetings. Moore says the team added real value during free agency, highlighted by the signing of safety Justin Reid, who just won a Super Bowl with Kansas City….

Cut 17 (22) “…up with him.”

The Saints also re-signed tight end Juwan Johnson to a three-year, 30.8 million dollar deal. The 28-year-old Johnson had a career-high 50 receptions last season, but Moore believes he can make Johnson an even bigger threat in the passing game.

Cut 18 (20) “…add to his game.”

Louisiana voters voted “NO” on a constitutional amendment that would have funded permanent teacher pay raises, leaving the future of educator salaries uncertain.   Sean Richardson has more.

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For those of you who cross North Louisiana on I-20, get ready for some delays. Andrew Greenstein reports.

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The rejection of Constitutional Amendment 2 by voters leaves the future of educator salaries uncertain. Passage of Amendment 2 would have made a temporary $2,000 pay increase for teachers and $1,000 increase for support staff permanent. Without its passage, these stipends will expire after this school year, potentially lowering pay unless new funding is secured. Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees President Larry Carter…

Cut 3 (12) “…local school districts.” 

Landry warned before the vote that no alternative plan existed, and his administration has not confirmed whether it will support additional stipends. The amendment would have dissolved education trust funds to pay down teacher retirement debt, freeing up about $200 million annually for raises. Carter says the complexity of the amendment led to its defeat.

Cut 4 (09) “…that was needed.” 

With a budget shortfall and no current funding allocated, securing teacher pay hike is a challenge. Carter says the Louisiana Federation of Teachers is working with legislators to explore solutions, but funding is uncertain.

Cut 5 (11) “…here in Louisiana.”

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Construction is underway in Lincoln Parish on a nine-mile stretch of I-20. Erin Buchanan with DOTD says crews will be replacing the asphalt.

Cut 6 (11) “…of course with new.”

Buchanan says the work stretches between the Bienville Parish line to the Highway 149 overpass near Grambling. Buchanan says since this is a heavily-traveled section, they will be implementing a queue-detection system to give motorists real-time traffic conditions.

Cut 7 (14) “…another route.”

Buchanan says if you’re traveling in that area, be prepared for delays for the foreseeable future.

Cut 8 (05) “…hopefully early summer.”

The asphalt on the ramps at highways 507 and 563 will also need to be replaced as part of the nearly 18-million-dollar project.

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LSU men’s basketball team suffered through a losing season this year, but Coach Matt McMahon is trying to bring a winner to the Boot and has much bigger NIL budget to bring in better players…

Cut 9 (13)  “…impacting winning.”

LSU signed two players on Monday. UNLV point guard Dedan Thomas, who chose the Tigers over Kentucky and Florida. He led the Runnin’ Rebels in scoring and assists, averaging 15 points and four assists a game this season. The Tigers have also signed six-foot-ten Michael Nwoko (nuh-WOE-koe), who started at Mississippi State and averaged six points a game. McMahon says they are type of players they wanted to add

Cut 10 (11) “ locked in on.”

LSU went 3-15 in the SEC and finished in 15^th place. But McMahon says Vanderbilt and Missouri were in the NCAA Tournament this season after finishing at the bottom of the conference standings a year ago…

Cut 11 (12) “…leadership standpoint.”

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Following the rejection of Constitutional Amendment Two, Governor Jeff Landry released a statement and there’s one sentence from the statement that drew the ire from voters. Landry said positive change can be hard to implement in a state conditioned to fail. The statement quickly went viral, generating thousands of reactions on social media, with many accusing him of insulting the state and its people. Political analyst Clancy Dubos…

Cut 12 (09) “…work on that.”

Users expressed anger and disbelief, questioning his leadership and tone. Some criticized the amendments themselves, arguing they were overly complex and bundled too many issues together. ubos says its not a fatal loss but could become one if Landry keeps going down this road.

Cut 13 (07)  “…on any governor.”

The overwhelming negative response highlighted public frustration, both with the governor’s remarks and the amendment process itself, showing a strong disconnect between Landry’s perspective and voter sentiment. Dubos says Landry needs to learn from this defeat and apologize for his comments.

Cut 14 (11) “…everything he wants.”