The State Department of Health predicts the mumps outbreak in Louisiana will get worse. Michellle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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As federal lawmakers devise a plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, US Senator John Kennedy says he will vote for any plan that’s better than Obamacare. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The Louisiana Department of Health confirms 12 mumps cases, and a state health official predicts this developing outbreak will only get worse before it gets better. Medical director of the state Immunization Program Dr. Frank Welch says mumps has a long incubation period, which means it can be two to three weeks after someone is exposed before they show symptoms.

Cut 3 (09) “lag time”

The first cluster of cases has been identified on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. The university is taking extra precautions to prevent the spread among students and faculty. Welch says you can protect yourself by receiving two doses of the mumps vaccine and know the symptoms of mumps.

cut 4  (08) “both sides”

Welch says if you see anyone exhibiting those symptoms, tell them to self-isolate and avoid other people. He says following these precautions will slow the mumps outbreak. He says with this being St. Patrick’s Day weekend, there’s a concern the disease will spread.

Cut 5  (11)  “through saliva”

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US Senator John Kennedy says there are problems with the House Republican’s plan to overhaul the nation’s health care law, but he’s confident it will be improved as it moves through the legislative process. Kennedy likes that the House bill is not as generous with tax credits as Obamacare, but it’s not ungenerous either.

Cut 6 (10) “to buy insurance”

Giving states more flexibility with how they operate Medicaid is one of the changes Kennedy would like to see with the GOP health care plan. He also wants to see more healthcare assistance for those that need it.

CUT 7 (08)  “the help”

Opponents of the proposal say more people will become uninsured. But Kennedy says that’s because their plan repeals the individual and employer mandates. He says at least some people will decide not to purchase insurance and give up their coverage.

Cut 8 (08) “the American way”

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A Washington Parish man is behind bars after police say he shot and killed five abandoned puppies in February. Chief Deputy Mike Haley with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office says a concerned citizen contacted the Humane Society after seeing the abandoned puppies on the side of the road.

Cut 9 (10)  “they were dead”

Haley says they launched an investigation, and a tip led them to 25-year-old Shawn Glen Jones of Angie. He says initially, Jones denied knowing anything about the puppies, but as the questioning continued, the truth eventually came out.

Cut 10 (09) “at the location”

Haley says Jones still denied shooting the puppies, until detectives learned he had obtained a .22 caliber rifle just before the shooting. He says the suspect did not have the weapon with him when he dropped off the puppies, but…

cut 11 (08) “the puppies”

Jones is booked on five counts of cruelty to animals, and he’s being held in the Washington Parish Jail on a $15,000 bond.

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There have been three arrests made in the case of a noose that was found hanging at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Landry Parish. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Major Eddie Thibodeaux says detectives began investigating the incident on March 7^th. He says two juveniles and one 18-year-old, Judah Barber of Opelousas have been charged with…

cut 12 (06) “to intimidate”

The incident began after three black boys and three white boys were arguing on the baseball field. Thibodeaux says even though hanging the noose was meant as a joke, it is humiliating and hateful.

Cut 13 (06) “lives”

Thibodeaux says one of the juveniles involved performed well in school but made a very bad decision when participating in hanging the noose.

cut 14 (10) “his life”

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The state has set a new record for seat belt usage. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Proposals to reduce Louisiana’s highest-in-the-world incarceration rate have been released by the Governor’s Justice Reinvestment Task Force. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A Walker police officer has been suspended for three days without pay after hanging a noose in the department’s squad room. Walker Police Capt. John Sharp says the makeshift noose was hung on a pipe in public view.

Cut 3 (09) “in the noose”

Sharp says the department has several options when it comes to who will conduct the investigation and determine if charges should be filed. Walker Police Chief David Addison reportedly requested the Attorney General’s Office to look into the matter. But Sharp says the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office would be more appropriate to lead the investigation.

cut 4  (11) “drag out”

Sharp says the department takes this very seriously because the unnamed officer is a sergeant and should be held to a higher standard. He says there’s a law on the books that prohibits the display of a noose in public to intimidate a person or persons.

Cut 5  (12)  “squad room”

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A new record has been set in the Pelican State for seat belt usage. Based on a study from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, 88-percent of drivers and passengers are buckled up, which is up two-percent from the previous year. The commission’s executive director, Doctor Katara Williams says they are pleased more motorists are making the choice to buckle up…

Cut 6 (07) “seat belt”

The report shows the increase is mostly attributable to more African-American and Hispanic drivers and passengers are buckling up. Williams says Hispanic usage rates rose 10-percent…

CUT 7 (06)  “preserve life”

Usage rates were up in each region of the state, except for the Alexandria and Monroe areas. Williams says there was a seven-percent decline in drivers and passengers who use their seat belt in central Louisiana…

Cut 8 (07) “that trend”

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The Justice Reinvestment Task Force Commissioned by Governor John Bel Edwards has released its recommendations to reduce Louisiana’s highest-in-the-world incarceration rate. Department of Corrections Secretary James Leblanc says if enacted, these proposals would put us second in the world.

Cut 9 (10)  “300 million”

Leblanc says their recommendations include changes to drug and property crimes, altering probation and parole supervision, simplifying the criminal code, and narrow sentencing ranges. He says they are presenting 26 ideas borrowed from other states that reflect compromise and innovation.

Cut 10 (11) “other states”

The recommendations seek to focus prison beds on those who pose a serious threat to public safety.  Governor Edwards acknowledges there are some people who need to be in jail for a long time, either for the nature of the crime or their threat to public safety.

cut 11 (09) “smart on crime”

The proposals from the task force will be put into bills that will be considered in the upcoming regular session. Edwards says while the recommendations are a good start, we’re a long way from mission accomplished.

cut 12 (09) “legislative instruments”

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Catholics who are abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent get a pass on St. Patrick’s Day, sort of. Fr. Frank Coens of St. Paschal Catholic Church in West Monroe says giving up meat is a type of penance Catholics practice during the 40 day season between Mardi Gras and Easter. He says the St. Patrick’s Day exception dates back to an old Irish tradition.

Cut 13 (09) “Irish family”

But Coens says it doesn’t just apply to Irish Catholics. He adds that while slipping up once isn’t considered sinful, it’s better to have a good reason for eating meat on a Friday during Lent. Unfortunately, having a hankering for a steak won’t cut it.

cut 14 (10) “good enough reason”

Coens says denying ourselves of certain things reminds us we need change in our lives, which is why Catholics practice different kinds of personal sacrifice during Lent. If you’re going to eat meat tomorrow, he recommends finding some other penance to do instead.

Cut 15 (10) “on Friday”

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