A federal judge hears arguments over the state’s controversial Ten Commandments law, and the judge is expected to issue a ruling by the middle of next month. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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A Louisiana Tech student has been accused of driving drunk and killing a 21-year-old man from Sterlington. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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A federal judge in Baton Rouge heard arguments yesterday over the state law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in all public school classrooms. One of the plaintiffs, Unitarian Universalist Reverend Darcy Roake, says it’s not the state’s job to push religion on kids.
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Reverend Roake said there are many kids, including her own, who don’t live by the Ten Commandments.
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The state argued that the Ten Commandments have historical significance and is not overtly religious. The hearing included testimony from Steven K. Green of Willamette University, who the plaintiffs called as an expert witness. Attorney General Liz Murrill argued that Green’s testimony be excluded.
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Murrill said Green failed to prove that the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms violates the First Amendment.
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Judge John deGravelles (de-GRAVEL) is expected to issue a ruling by November 15th.
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State Police is looking for the driver of the vehicle that struck a pedestrian on Interstate 20 in Richland Parish just east of Louisiana Highway 133. The crash claimed the life of 35-year-old Jared Osbon of West Monroe. Trooper Ryan Davis says investigators believe it was a 2021 or newer Ford Super Duty truck that hit him…
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Davis says it’s likely the truck that struck Osbon sustained damage to the left front headlight assembly and grill.
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Pedestrians should stay clear of interstates, including walking on the shoulder, median, and crossing lanes along the roadway. Davis emphasized when walking along roads be sure there is a sidewalk…
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The crash is under investigation and Davis urges anyone with information on this crash to contact Louisiana State Police – Troop F at 318-345-0000.
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A genealogist has identified the remains of five enslaved people who are buried on the grounds of a proposed plastics facility in St. James Parish. The plant would be on the site of a former plantation owned by Benjamin Winchester. Lenora Gobert (go-BEAR) says the five people were between the ages of nine and 31 when they died.
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The first names of the other two are Stanley and Henry. Gobert points out that it was standard practice back then to bury the remains of enslaved people at the plantations they worked at.
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Gobert says these sites need to be treated just like any cemetery, with the utmost respect for those buried there.
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Community groups have been battling Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Group for years, trying to prevent it from putting up its 9.4-billion-dollar facility there. The company says it has fenced off the burial site for protection.