Officials with the USDA are investigating the series of recent deaths at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests two people in connection with the double homicide investigation in a small Louisiana town. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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State Police announces the arrest of a Lafayette man who was allegedly traveling 150 miles per hour before crashing his 2016 Chevrolet Corvette and killing one person. Trooper Brooks David says 31-year-old Martin Nguyen was at the wheel when his vehicle ran off the road on April 18^th on LA Highway 339 and it killed 30-year-old Hoang Nguyen of Lake Charles.

CUT 3 (05)  “that crash”

David says Martin Nguyen’s blood alcohol concentration was over the legal limit when the crash occurred.

CUT 4 (11)  “miles an hour”

David says Martin Nguyen was in the hospital being treated for injuries after the accident, but he has now been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, speeding, reckless operation, and improper lane usage.

CUT 5 (09)  “Nguyen”

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Investigators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are looking into the number of animal deaths that have recently occurred at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Curator Sam Winslow says they asked for the USDA and the American Zoo Association to send in officials to assess the situation after 18 animals have died in the last year…

CUT 6 (10) “our procedures”

Winslow says the 2-year-old Malayan tiger that died earlier in the month likely suffered from gastric dilation. He says her death was something you unfortunately can’t do anything about.

CUT 7 (09) “30 minutes”

Two giraffes also recently died at the zoo. Winslow says they were 24 and 30-years-old. He says the normal life expectancy for a giraffe is about 13 years.

CUT 8 (07) “certainly”

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Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany introduces legislation that he believes will help lead to better detection of tornadoes in south Louisiana. Boustany’s bill would require a Doppler weather radar site to be built near Baton Rouge. The US Representative says last February’s tornado outbreak inspired him to author of this federal legislation…

CUT 9 (10) “property damage”

There are detection sites near Slidell and Lake Charles, but none near Baton Rouge. Boustany says a new site will close the gap in radar coverage in Louisiana. He says he is looking into how much the radar site will cost, but he wanted to get the legislation introduced first.

cut 10 (08) “property damage”

There are also Doppler radars near Fort Polk and Shreveport. Boustany says a new radar detection site will ensure that Louisiana is better covered by weather radar to give citizens as much warning as possible to seek shelter or evacuate.

Cut 11 (09) “unacceptable”

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A Grand Isle man has been arrested for attempting to purchase a child for sexual purposes. That’s according to State Police trooper Jesse Lagrange who says 30-year-old Wade Perkins asked someone to locate a 6 to 8-year-old child so Perkins could pay for a sexual encounter. Lagrange says that person then contacted police.

cut 12 (09) “a meeting”

Lagrange says when Perkins met up with an undercover trooper, he was arrested for attempt and conspiracy to commit first-degree rape. Perkins is a registered sex offender in Michigan for criminal sexual conduct. Lagrange says they expect to file more charges against Perkins.

Cut 13 (07)  “like that”

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A Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Deputy left his job with the Medium-Security Facility to play professional minor league baseball after discovering he can throw a 91 mile-per-hour-fast ball. 26-year-old Randy Zeigler was a pitcher for LSU and caught the eye of a Chicago White Sox scout. Zeigler says he’ll be playing for the Lincoln Nebraska Saltdogs.

cut 14 (10)  “his purpose”

Zeigler says he was just messing around with a radar gun, when he discovered he was throwing at the same speed he was three years ago. He says he’s excited to play baseball, but he’ll miss being a deputy in his hometown.

cut 15 (10) “up in”

Lt. Billy Jones says he’s sad to lose such a dedicated employee, but is excited for Zeigler to do what he’s always had a passion for.

cut 16 (08) “his dream”

A Vermilion parish teacher is behind bars for three counts of rape. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says priority number one for him right now is stabilizing the budget, because we must focus on moving Louisiana forward. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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According to a poll paid for by the Louisiana Cannabis Association, 72-percent of Louisiana voters are in favor of legalizing medical marijuana as a treatment for more diseases. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A Vermilion parish teacher is facing rape charges. Lt. David Hardy with the Abbeville Police Department says James Harber has been charged with two counts of second-degree rape and one count of first-degree rape. He says a search of Harber’s home indicates that more charges could be coming.

cut 4  (08)  “child pornography”

Police have shared their evidence with the Sheriff’s Office as well as the US Attorney’s office, in the hopes that they would seek an indictment. Hardy says child pornography was found on Harber’s home computer. He says they learned of the rape charges after interviewing the victims that were in the explicit pictures on Harber’s computer.

Cut 5  (07)  “Mr. Harber”

A Lafayette TV station reports that Harber was a 7^th grade teacher a J.H. Williams Middle School. Hardy says it is not clear if the victims attended the school where Harber taught, but he did know his victims.

Cut 6 (11)  “residence”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says priority number one for him right now is stabilizing the budget, because we must focus on moving Louisiana forward. He says the vision that he put forth when he was running for governor has not changed, but they have to work on filling the $600 million dollar gap for next fiscal year…:

CUT 7 (09)  “to do” 

Edwards says there are many policy related issues that are going to be on the back burner until we can deal with the present crisis…:

Cut 8  (09)  “and do that” 

Edwards says he remains very optimistic about his administration and the state as a whole. He says he doesn’t see any way they could avoid a second special session, but before he makes the call he’s going to wait for recommendations from a panel assigned to review the state budget…:

Cut 9 (09)  “the short term”

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A poll paid for by the Louisiana Cannabis Association finds that 72-percent of Louisiana voters support legalizing medical marijuana as a treatment for more diseases. Jesse McCormick is glad to see a majority of voters support the use of medical cannabis to help relieve pain for people who suffer from different diseases, like cancer and HIV

Cut 10 (07) “understand”

McCormick says 24 other states have already legalized medical cannabis. He says a majority of respondents are also in favor of taxing the prescription drug.

cut 11 (08) “eye-opening”

The telephone survey was conducted by Louisiana polling firm JMC Analytics and Polling. They surveyed six-hundred registered voters. McCormick says he understands that plenty of people will always oppose the legalization, but he hopes that this poll encourages more lawmakers to vote in favor of the legalization.

cut 12 (08) “huge win”

Legislators have been conflicted on whether or not to expand the list of diseases for which medical cannabis can be prescribed.

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The House has approved two more pro-life measures. One of the bills, authored by Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds, prohibits women from getting abortions just because a child will have a genetic disorder. Edmonds says his son was born with a disorder, and if he’d taken medical advice, he wouldn’t have his grandchildren today.

Cut 13 (10)  “blessed with”

Edmonds says life is hard, and women shouldn’t be able to abort their babies just because it would be easier.

cut 14 (06)  “no meaning”

Edmond’s bill passed 75-1. Another proposal by Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson would outlaw a procedure commonly used in second trimester abortions. Johnson calls these “dismemberment” abortions and says every year more than a thousand unborn children are aborted through this “barbaric” process.

Cut 15 (08) “ripped off”

Johnson’s bill was approved unanimously. Opponents of the measure say outlawing this procedure would force women to undergo invasive, unnecessary procedures or lose access to abortion services entirely. Both measure now head to the Senate.

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Tonight is rounds two and three of the NFL draft, and several former LSU Tigers are expected to be selected. NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier believes linebacker Deion Jones will go early in round two.

Cut 16  (13)  “in reverse”

Detillier also believes defensive back Jalen Mills will go in the second round, as well.

Cut 17 (18) “at DBU”

Detillier also believes four year starter Vadal Alexander will be a third round pick and could be a productive offensive guard in the NFL.

Cut 18 (21) “NFL”

Governor Edwards pushed back today against a special interest group that’s airing an attack ad claiming he broke promises about keeping the voucher program. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (24)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A bill to prevent members of the LGBT from not being hired or being fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity has won the approval of a Senate committee. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The alleged shooter of the former Saints player Will Smith has been indicted on charges of second degree murder and attempted murder. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it looks like the Orleans Parish District Attorney is handling the case against Cardell Hayes cautiously.

CUT 3 (12)  “cautiously”

The indictment came down during the middle of a preliminary hearing that was called to establish probable cause against Hayes. Meche says he’s not surprised the D-A’s office was able to get an indictment, before the defense was able to call witnesses to the stand during today’s preliminary hearing…

CUT 4 (10)  “the witnesses”

Hayes’ Attorney John Fuller said in court today that the prosecution is trying to jam an indictment down. Meche says the DA is just going through the procedure according to the law.

CUT 5 (09)  “of Louisiana”

After the indictment, Hayes plead not guilty to four charges. Hayes was also indicted on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated damage to property to go along with the murder and attempted murder charge. His bond has been set at 1.75 million dollars and a motion date has been set for June 3rd.

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Two people are dead after a shootout involving a police officer in the small southwest Louisiana town of Carlyss. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says his officers were responding to a 911 call for an armed robbery when they got another call from a man saying people were running through his field close to the location of the burglary. Mancuso says deputies met the individuals in the field.

CUT 6 (08) “drops”

Mancuso says the suspect fired several shots at the deputies before the officers returned fire. The sheriff says the suspect either died from a gunshot wound from one of his deputies or he killed himself. He says when police approached the suspect, they found another victim.

CUT 7 (09) “investigating”

Mancuso says there was also a female child in the field, and she is unharmed. He says two investigations are ongoing.

CUT 8 (09) “shooting”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says the special interest group that’s running attack ads accusing him of breaking his promise about keeping existing school vouchers is not telling the truth. He told reporters Thursday that no student currently receiving a voucher, would lose it…:

CUT 9 (08) “receive them”

Edwards says he’s been told by the Department of Education that there is no plan to take a voucher away from a student, and that he is disingenuously being called a liar. He told a pro-voucher man at the news conference that he never said he was going to zero out funding for vouchers…:

cut 10 (10) “not gonna find it”

Edwards says there are cuts coming to several areas of the state due to the shortfall, and the voucher special interests are upset they aren’t getting preferential treatment. Before the governor spoke, the Louisiana Federation for Children held a press conference featuring parents whose children benefit from the voucher program. New Orleans single mother Corrine Celestine is upset over the proposed cuts.

Cut 11 (08) “next generation”

Baton Rouge mother Pamela Gauthier says her son Joseph has Down syndrome and struggled in public school because teachers didn’t have adequate resources. But she says thanks to the voucher program, Joseph is now excelling at a private school that teachers developmentally disabled children.

cut 12 (09) “Fs and Ds”

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A Senate committee has approved the bill to prevent members of the LGBT community from being fired or turned down for jobs because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter authored the legislation. He says we need to protect people from discrimination.

Cut 13 (07)  “recourse”

Carter says discrimination is still alive, and lawmakers need to do what they can to protect people from that in the workplace.

cut 14 (09)  “whatever reason”

Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns voted against the proposal. He says it could pose problems for business owners

cut 15 (12) “of that”

The measure passed on a 4-2 vote and now heads to the Senate floor for more debate.

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