18 years ago, Louisiana became the last state to ban cockfighting. One parish is pushing to legalize it again – at least in its own parish, and despite a simultaneous ban at the federal level. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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A major winter storm is bearing down on Louisiana. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has the latest…
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The St. Landry Parish Council is making a formal request to Attorney General Liz Murrill for her opinion on whether the state’s law banning cockfighting is unconstitutional. It comes as several in the parish are pushing to make it legal there once again. Nadea Comeaux says cockfighting, which had a history in the parish, would bring in much-needed revenue.
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Comeaux argued before the council that cockfighting is, in her opinion, wholesome entertainment.
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It is a federal crime to attend an animal fighting event, and cockfighting is illegal at the state level in all 50 states, with Louisiana the last state to outlaw it in 2008. Jim Demoruelle told the council that laws mean nothing to those who stage cockfights.
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Jeff Dorson, the director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, said prior to the meeting that reinstating cockfighting would be a horrible idea, as it would promote cruelty at a time when the world has seen enough of it.
The council also voted on a resolution to contact State Representative Dustin Miller to introduce a bill to repeal or modify Louisiana’s cockfighting ban. The resolution failed on a vote of 7-to-6, with Council Chairman Wayne Ardoin casting the tiebreaking vote.
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SWEPCO crews are getting ready for the ice storm bearing down on the state. Spokesman Michael Corbin says crews are getting in place.
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Corbin says SWEPCO works closely with the offices of emergency preparedness in each parish in its service area so that it has the latest information on road conditions.
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Corbin says SWEPCO does not wait until the forecast mentions “ice storm” to start preparing for one.
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Corbin says when government officials urge you to stay off the roads during ice storms, this is to keep them clear so that crews can safely get to locations to restore power.
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Temperatures are in the 50s today in north Louisiana, but don’t let that fool you. Forecasters are still calling for a significant ice storm to impact the upper half of the state this weekend. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim….
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Keim says confidence is high we will see freezing rain across the northern half of the state starting Saturday morning…
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He says freezing rain is also possible for the Lake Charles, Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas, but at smaller amounts than what we’ll see in north Louisiana.
Keim is expecting many roads, especially elevated bridges and highways, to be shutdown by transportation officials because of icing…
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Keim says this would be a good weekend to stay home…
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