A statewide coalition has been formed to educate voters about constitutional amendment number two on the November sixth ballot. It would require that felony convictions must be reached with a unanimous jury, instead of the current standard that requires 10 of 12 jurists to agree on a guilty verdict. Alexandria attorney Ed Tarpley is leading the effort….
cut 5 (12) “…the constitution”
No major organizations have announced their opposition to the amendment.

Louisiana homeowners that received financial assistance from the State’s recovery program will soon receive checks to pay for the entire cost to rebuild their homes flooded in 2016. The federal government has approved 100-percent reimbursement for some 10-thousand homeowners, who previously received 50-percent.

The Louisiana Department of Education have announced the most recent recipients of the titles of Teacher and Principal of the Year. Kevin Barnhart has the details.
Voicer 3 (27) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A 22-year-old Farmerville woman is dead after falling out the window of a moving car over the weekend in Union Parish. Sheriff Dusty Gates says they believe alcohol was involved…
cut 12 (11) “…hide alcohol”
21-year-old Dustin Hines of Marion has been charged with vehicular homicide.

A bipartisan coalition is pushing voters to support a constitutional amendment on the November sixth ballot that would require a unanimous jury verdict in serious felony trials. Louisiana is one of two states, where a person can be convicted of a murder if 10 of the 12 jurors agree on a defendant’s guilt. Alexandria lawyer Ed Tarpley says the current law was passed during the post-civil war reconstruction era, to deprive blacks a jury of their peers…
cut 4 (10) “…repeal this”
The coalition consists of conservative and religious groups to liberal activists.

About 10-thousand Louisiana homeowners who had flood damage in 2016 will receive federal aid to pay for all of their repairs. The feds have agreed to expand reimbursement assistance for residents eligible for the state’s Restore Homeowner Assistance program.

Three flood damaged Louisiana State Parks will soon be back in business. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has announced flood-damaged cabins at Lake Bistineau, Lake Fausse Point, and Tickfaw State Park will re-open October 22nd. Director of Louisiana State Parks Gene Reynolds says the cabins received substantial damage from the Floods of 2016.
Cut 7 (12) “now they’re ready”
You can now make reservations for the renovated cabins, which again open October 22nd.

Doctor Eric Davis, the principal at Wossman High School in Monroe, has been named Principal of the Year by the Louisiana Department of Education. Wossman has seen its school performance scores improve in the two years he’s taken over. Davis gives credit to his staff…
cut 14 (11) “…work for you”
And Spencer Kiper, who teaches STEM classes at Elm Grove Middle School in Bossier City has been named Teacher of the Year.

Alexandria lawyer Ed Tarpley is leading a bipartisian coalition that will educate voters on why they should support requiring unanimous jury verdicts in felony criminal cases. Matt Doyle reports the issue will appear before voters on the November 6th ballot.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The National Flood Insurance Program is set to expire at midnight tonight, but the US Senate is planning to vote today on extending the N-F-I-P for another four months.

A Farmerville woman is dead after falling out the window of a moving truck. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates says 22-year-old Bridget Tucker was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday. Gates says the vehicle was traveling around 35-40 miles per hour.
Cut 10 (12) “…and fell out.”
21-year-old Dustin Hines of Marion was the driver and he’s been charged with vehicular homicide and obstruction of justice.

The Louisiana Department of Education has named Spencer Kiper as the 2019 Louisiana Teacher of the Year. Kiper teaches STEM classes at Elm Grove Middle School in Bossier Parish….
cut 16 (10) “…do with it”
Doctor Eric Davis at Wossman High School in Monroe has been named the Principal of the Year.

A statewide coalition has been formed to educate voters about constitutional amendment number two on the November sixth ballot. It would require that felony convictions must be reached with a unanimous jury, instead of the current standard that requires 10 of 12 jurists to agree on a guilty verdict. Alexandria attorney Ed Tarpley is leading the effort….
cut 5 (12) “…the constitution”
No major organizations have announced their opposition to the amendment.

Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates says 22-year-old Bridget Tucker died after falling out of the window of a vehicle traveling around 35 to 40 miles per hour. Gates says the driver of the vehicle has been arrested…
cut 11 (07) “….obstruction of justice”
Gates says they believe alcohol was a factor.

Looking for a temporary escape from Louisiana city life? State Parks has some good news for those who like to explore the great outdoors, but don’t want to fiddle with setting up a tent.
Cut 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle”

There’s now a reward of 25-thousand dollars for information that leads to the conviction of the gunmen responsible for Saturday’s mass shooting in New Orleans that killed three people and wounded seven others. Becca Dill has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…Becca Dill”

Union Parish authorities say a Bastrop man drowned in Lake D’Arbonne attempting to retreive his pontoon boat that had blown off its trailer during a thundestorm Sunday afternoon. Authorities say 65-year-old Roddy Watt was found about 100 yards from the launching area.

A state lawmaker admits it was not the legislature’s intention to discontinue sales tax holidays for the next seven years. But Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland says the state’s three different sales tax holidays went away as result of the budget and funding deal passed in the last special session.
cut 3 (11) “tax holiday”
McFarland says legislation seeking to bring back the sales tax holidays will likely be introduced next year.

Another audit is released critical of how state agencies manage Medicaid dollars. The latest report criticizes the health department and the attorney general’s office for failing to deposit money into a fund to fight Medicaid fraud. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says the state also blew 642-thousand dollars in 2012 on software not compatible with their systems…
cut 11 (07) “….use them”
L-D-H says they’ve been correcting a problem that was inherited from the previous administration.

The reward has been increased to 25-thousand dollars for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in Saturday night’s mass shooting that killed three people and wounded seven others in New Orleans. NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison says they are searching for at least two suspects…
cut 13 (06) ‘…rifle”
Harrison says one of the victims was targeted as a result of gang activity.

Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland says it was not the legislature’s intention to halt three different sales tax holidays when legislators agreed in the last special session to a tax deal to fully fund state government. McFarland says he wouldn’t be surprised if there was legislation next year to bring them back…
cut 5 (08) “…tax holiday”
As it stands now, the sales tax holidays have been suspended until 2025.

The state legislative auditor has found the Louisiana Health Department and the attorney general’s office previously failed to identify and dposit the required money into a fund to fight Medicaid fraud. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says when companies overcharge the state for services, they pay a fine, and return the overpaid amount of money….
cut 10 (10) “…the future”
LDH says under the Edwards administration, steps were immediately taken to correct the problem. And the state agency says fraud-fighting and fraud prevention efforts were never compromised.

According to state Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Michael Seymour the state’s bald eagle population is flourishing with at least 600 nests statewide. In the early 1970s, there were only a handful of nests in the state. Seymour says banning the pesticide DDT was the key as DDT can lead to thin egg shells…
cut 8 (10) “…falcons and osprey”

A state lawmaker admits it was not the legislature’s intention to discontinue sales tax holidays for the next seven years. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland says it two weeks after the third special session ended, before legislators learned there would be no sales tax holidays until 2025, as a result of the legislation approved to fully fund state government.

Many consumers would take advantage of the annual sales tax holiday during the first weekend of August to purchase back to school supplies. But McFarland says he’s getting more of a mixed response from businesses…
cut 4 (12) “…his business”

State Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a Mississippi man by a police officer on Saturday in Pineville. Authorities say a Ball police officer attempted to stop 32-year-old Michael Neal for a traffic violation. A pursuit ensued and Neal was shot in Pineville.

A formerly fringe position has taken off as a new Democratic norm in Louisiana…
Voicer 3 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”

According to the latest LDWF bald eagle nest survey, the population continues to flourish in the state. Once a rare sight, spotting bald eagles in Louisiana are commonplace, as the population in the 1970s was devastated by use of the now-banned pesticide, DDT. L DWF Nongame Bird Biologist Michael Seymoury….
Cut 6 (07) “…in the state.”