Strippers who dance in clubs in Louisiana will now have to be at least 21-years-old because of a new law that goes into effect today. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Under a new law going into effect today, municipalities must post a sign within 500 feet of a red light camera. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A new law goes into effect today that means strippers at clubs in Louisiana will have to be at least 21 years old and sources say the dancers are considering legal action. John Geiger is a bouncer at the Crazy Horse club in Port Allen. Geiger says this means dancers under the age of 21 will have to perform other jobs in the clubs or go out of state, which could be more dangerous.

CUT 3 (10)  “dance there”

Geiger says he knows there are concerns about sex trafficking, but he says he’s never seen that happen at any of the clubs he’s worked. He says the dancers are just trying to earn a living.

CUT 4 (10)  “to do”

Geiger says they believe the law is unconstitutional because it infringes on a person’s right to work. He says they will pursue legal action.

CUT 5 (08)  “it overturned”

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The Louisiana Department of Revenue has put out a warning that some Louisiana taxpayers are being targeted by scam artists. L-D-R spokesperson Byron Henderson says one woman in East Baton Rouge parish received a phone call in which she was told she was prequalified for a program that could help her resolve a tax lien.

CUT 6 (11) “was fraudulent”

Henderson says scammers often use public information to target a taxpayer. He says another method tries to convince people to reveal private financial information, which is called ‘phishing.’

CUT 7 (08) “of fraud”

Many of these scam artists claim to be with the Department of Revenue, the IRS, or other state agencies. Henderson says they will never contact a taxpayer to request personal information over the phone, instead they will typically request some form of documentation.

CUT 8 (09) “to them”

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A 5-year-old has died after a boating accident in Lafourche Parish. Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says 5-year-old Ethan Hancock and his father were frogging in the Intracoastal Waterway when they ran out of gas. He says the father tried paddling out, but two barges came too close to their mudboat, so they jumped into the water.

CUT 9 (11) “tugboat”

Einck says they were both wearing lifejackets. He says the boy’s body was recovered at 7:30 yesterday morning, and father was not injured in the incident.

cut 10 (07)  “that aspect”

Einck says this waterway is heavily trafficked by these large boats. He says you should let someone know when you will be on the water so they can get help if you don’t return. He says it’s best to always be prepared when out on the water.

Cut 11 (07) “of power”

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Drivers will soon know where red light cameras are located under a law going into effect today requiring municipalities to post a sign within 500 feet of each light. New Orleans Sen. Troy Carter says if a city wants to have red light cameras, that’s fine, but motorists should be warned if one is up ahead…:

cut 12 (09) “posting signs”

Carter says under this law, if a sign is not posted, then the motorists have the opportunity to challenge a ticket and go to court to have it ruled inadmissible. He has felt the red light cameras are somewhat of a money grab, but if those in support truly have the best interest of drivers in mind – then they should have no problem with this law…:

Cut 13 (09)  “budget”

Carter says if a city fails to comply with this law they will no longer be able to use photographic or video images collected by the camera to impose a fine on a citizen. He says the goal is to prevent people from running red lights, period…:

cut 14 (09)  “pay for a ticket”

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The “Blue Lives Matter” law goes into effect today. Jeff Palermo reports attacks on law enforcement can now be considered a hate crime…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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UL-Lafayette professor Dr. Heather Stone is working to archive the history of a disappearing Terrebonne Parish island before it’s gone. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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LaFourche Parish Sheriff deputies believe a mother fatally shot her young daughter and then turned the gun on herself. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The “Blue Lives Matter” law goes into effect today in Louisiana, and Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says his bill is now more important than ever after the attacks on police officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas. Harris says crimes committed against first responders, because of the uniforms they wear are now classified as hate crimes, as a result of this new law.

cut 4  (09)  “100 percent”

After the fatal shooting of two police officers and one sheriff’s deputy in Baton Rouge, there were social media threats made against law enforcement in Caddo and St. Charles parishes. Harris says this law applies to those criminal acts as well.

Cut 5  (10)  “their family”

Harris says because of this new law, people who target police officers and first responders will spend more time behind bars.

Cut 6 (07) “in Louisiana”

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A Terrebonne Parish island is disappearing, and one UL-Lafayette professor is working to preserve its history before it’s gone. Dr. Heather Stone says Isle de Jean Charles is home to the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe of Native Americans. She says many tribe members have had to leave the island because the road that connects it to the coast floods often, making it impossible to get to the mainland.

CUT 7 (08)  “a choice”

In 1955, Isle de Jean Charles was about 22,000 acres and home to hundreds of people, but today it has shrunk to about 320 acres because of coastal erosion. The roughly 70 people who still live on the island will eventually relocate, thanks to a $48 million federal grant. Stone says she is passionate about preserving the tribe’s heritage because she understands having a connection to a place.

Cut 8  (07)  “personal experience”

Stone says the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe came to the island when they fled the Trail of Tears. She says the people have been so helpful she doesn’t feel like she is writing their story, but more that they are writing it together.

Cut 9 (12)  “their history”

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Louisiana is ready for the possibility of local transmission of the Zika Virus. There are four confirmed cases of Zika in Florida in people who did not travel out of the country or have contact with someone who did. State Health Officer Dr. Frank Welch says Louisiana has been preparing since January…

Cut 10 (11) “local transmission”

Welch says Zika is such a mild illness in the vast majority of people that four out of five people who get the virus don’t even know they have it. He says those who do notice may confuse the illness with hay fever.

cut 11 (07) “goes away”

Welch says the biggest risk is when a pregnant woman contracts Zika because while the mother could experience no symptoms, the fetus is developing severe birth defects. He says there are ways for the public to help reduce local transmission by keeping the mosquito population down.

cut 12 (11) “in Louisiana”

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A 26-year-old mother and her five-year-old daughter were found shot to death in a residence in Thibodaux. LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Brennan Matherne says investigators believe the mother, Nakesha Carrere shot Abigail Creamer and then turned the gun on herself…

Cut 13 (07) “enter the residence”

Matherne says investigators are still processing the evidence, but they are confident this was a murder-suicide…

cut 14 (08)  “the scene”

Matherne says Creamer’s father discovered the horiffic scene and called 9-1-1 just before noon on Sunday….

Cut 15 (07) “to the head”

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Through the first few days of training camp, Saints rookie wide receiver Mike Thomas has made several impressive catches. Coach Sean Payton likes Thomas’ passion and that he continues to make a play or two every day. Thomas says he wants to gain his teammates’ confidence that he can make the difficult catch..

Cut 16  (17)  “be that person”

Thomas is a six-foot-three, 212 pounds and the Saints selected him with the 47th overall pick. Payton says they don’t want the former Ohio State star to just be a pass catcher, they also hope he can develop into an outstanding blocker…

Cut 17 (17)  “good in that area”

Payton is also pleased with what he’s seen from last year’s third round pick, cornerback PJ Williams. The former Florida State star missed all of last season with a hamstring injury, but Payton says he’s looked good this year in training camp…

Cut 18 (19) “little faster”

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