It is now illegal to burn a flag in Ibervile Parish. Kelley Ray has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray”
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There is a noted decline in voter turnout for Louisiana elections. More from Michelle Southern.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern.”
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Media reports indicate the Clinton man suspected of shooting four people, killing three of them, called authorities to let them know he’s the shooter. Doctor Peter Scharf, a criminologist with the LSU School of Public Health on why possible serial killer Ryan Sharpe would do this
Cut 3 (07) “attention.”
Sharpe was arrested last week for allegedly fatally shooting three people and wounding another in East Baton Rouge and East Feliciana parishes. Authorities are also trying to determine a motive. A source says Sharpe’s ex-girlfriend recently got married. Scharf says many people experience heart break, but do not go on a shooting spree…
Cut 4 (09) “decifpher often.”
Sharpe worked as a plumber. His father says what his son is accused of doing is totally out of his character. Scharf says if the suspect never alerted authorities as what’s being reported, the shootings may have continued, because Sharpe was unfamiliar to law enforcement before his arrest…
Cut 5 (09) “criminal suspect”
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The Iberville Parish Council has made it illegal to burn the American flag. Chairman Matt Jewell says it’s in response to an Ohio flag burning incident, which caused consternation among war veterans. Though there has not been any incidents in Iberville Parish, he and others want to make sure it doesn’t offend Veteran’s there…
Cut 6 (07) “discourage that.”
The ACLU says Iberville Parish can’t stipulate any laws to prevent First Amendment rights. Louisiana’s ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman says the council made a mistake…
Cut 7 (10) “land is.”
Jewell brushes off any comment made by the ACLU as the organization’s usual rhetoric…
Cut 8 (07) “enforce it.”
Iberville Parish leaders reason they passed the law since their community is very patriotic. Burning flags will result in a one-thousand-dollar fine and possibly six months in jail. Esman says the passage of the law is just the opposite…
Cut 9 (12) “unconstitutional laws.”
The law is expected to go into effect in 30 days.
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LSU political communication professor Mike Henderson finds that voter turnout for statewide elections has been on a decline for the last 30 years. In 1983, 54-percent of the eligible voters voted for governor and in 2015 the voter turnout was down to 33-percent. Last weekend’s special election saw only a 13 percent turnout. Henderson says the voting public seems to be burned out on state politics…
Cut 10 (09) “Louisiana politics.”
Henderson hopes more information on the issues and the candidates could help increase voter participation, but it could also backfire…
Cut 11 (09) “help a lot.”
Is it possible that having statewide elections on Saturday hurts voter turnout? Henderson says there are two trains of thought…
Cut 12 (13) “down much.”
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Authorities in Rapides Parish are investigating a fire in a ditch off Old Boyce Road where a charred body has been found. Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Tommy Carnline says when they responded to the scene at around 6:30 this morning, the fire was put out and then deputies discovered a grim scene.
Cut 13 (07) “conducted.”
Local media outlets report two bodies were discovered, but Carnline says that has not been confirmed.
Cut 14 (08) “human remains”
Carnline says no vehicle was involved in the fire and responding to a ditch fire is nothing out of the ordinary.
Cut 15 (11) “their mind”
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