After a 13-year-old Shreveport teen was killed by a stray bullet in her home Sunday afternoon, her teachers and classmates are coping with her sudden loss. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Honey Badger is coming home. David Grubb has the latest on Tyrann Mathieu joining the Saints…

Cut 2 (34)…I’m David Grubb.”  

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The House Ways and Means Committee approves a proposal to begin phasing out a state temporary sales tax that’s set to expire in July of 2025. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala’s bill would begin to phase out the .45-percent sales tax in July of 2023 to avoid a sudden drop in revenues…

Cut 3 (10) “…today.”

The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion. The .45-percent state sales tax generates 420-million dollars in tax revenues a year and Bacala says the Legislature needs to begin planning for that loss of revenue…

Cut 4  (11) “…talk about”

Bacala’s bill would drop the temporary sales tax rate to .3-percent in July of 2023 and then .15-percent in July 2024. The tax would completely disappear in July of 2025.

New Orleans Representative Matthew Willard suggested having a discussion on expiring .45-percent sales tax next year when there’s a fiscal session, but Bacala says the sooner legislators address it, the better…

Cut 5  (11) “…following year.”

The Ways and Means Committee approved a separate bill to take the money generated from this temporary sales tax and use it to pay for better roads and bridges until it expires in 2025.

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The school where 13-year-old Landry Anglin attended is in shock today after she was killed Sunday afternoon at her Shreveport home by a stray bullet. Police say a shooting between three vehicles outside the home led to her death. Caddo Middle Magnet School Principal Robin DeBusk says Landry always greeted everyone at school.

Cut 6  (09) “…at CMM.” 

DeBusk says students are aware of the tragic shooting and they have extra counselors at the school today for students and teachers. She says it’s been a tough day as they are trying to grapple with the sudden loss of their 8th-grade classmate.

Cut 7 (06) “…day today.” 

Anglin was a member of the school’s lacrosse team and DeBusk says she spoke with her mother after the shooting, and even in her profound grief, she asked the school to look after those who were close to her daughter.

Cut 8 (11) “…been doing.” 

DeBusk says the school plans to hold an event in her memory later in the school year.

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After a lengthy courtship, it looks like the Saints and former LSU standout safety Tyrann Mathieu will finally be joining forces. The NFL Network reports that the two-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion has reached an agreement with the team. Kyle Mosley of the Saints New Network says it’s a long-awaited homecoming for both the New Orleans native and Saints fans.

Cut 9 (12) “…New Orleans Saints.”

The Saints lost both starting safeties this offseason, with the retirement of Malcolm Jenkins and Marcus Williams moving on to join the Baltimore Ravens. Mosley says the ball-hawking Honey Badger brings a lot of skills to the New Orleans defensive, both in his playing ability and his presence in the locker room.

Cut 10 (11) “…defensive backfield.”

New Orleans has ranked in the top 10 defensively each of the past two seasons, due in no small part to its secondary. Looking at what the Saints have added through free agency and the draft, Mosley thinks the group has the potential to be even better this season.

Cut 11 (12)  “…talented group.” 

No word yet on whether Mathieu, who has worn number 32 throughout his career, will try to obtain number seven from Taysom Hill.

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The House Transportation Committee approves a bill that levies a road usage fee on owners of electric and hybrid vehicles and the money will go towards highway and bridge maintenance. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says Louisiana relies on its gasoline tax to pay for road work and E-V and hybrid vehicle owners are not paying their fair share…

Cut 12 (09) “..not taking advantage.”  

The measure passed out of a committee on a nine-three vote but still needs full House and Senate approval. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton supports the measure. Horton says hybrids and E-Vs are using the same roads as other vehicles, but not paying as much in gas taxes…

Cut 13 (06) “…usage fee”

The legislation calls for electric vehicle owners to pay an additional $110 a year, while hybrid owners would pay a 60-dollar fee. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Freiberg says the money would be collected when the owners of these types of vehicles file their state income taxes

Cut 14 (12)  “…filer.”

A grand jury in East Feliciana Parish will hear the case against a couple accused of neglecting their adult daughter to death. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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A bill to test Louisiana students for reading proficiency before being promoted to 4th grade is set to be heard in the House this week. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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The death penalty still has the support of most Louisianans, but could we see it put to rest anytime soon? David Grubb has the story…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

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An East Feliciana Parish grand jury will hear the case against a Slaughter couple accused of extreme neglect in the death of their 36-year-old daughter. 20^th Judicial District D.A. Sam D’Aquilla (pronounced: duh-QUILL-uh) says Lacey Fletcher had developed a mental illness and became a shut-in; literally living on the couch in Clay and Sheila Fletcher’s home. He says she was found in early January – on that sofa – dead and in horrible conditions…:

Cut 4 (08)  “…jumped right on it.”

The parish coroner reports Lacey was found lying on the couch, surrounded in her own bodily waste. D’Aquilla says she had become a recluse, and her parents seemingly did nothing to help…:

Cut 5 (07) “…room of the house.”

He says Lacey had developed physical health issues, but had not been taken to a doctor in many years.

The coroner described Lacey’s condition when she was found as being “melted into” the sofa; her body covered in sores and ulcers. D’Aquilla says the smell in the Fletcher’s living room was unbearable. He says the investigation led to considering that 2^nd-degree murder charges against Clay and Sheila Fletcher were called for…:

Cut 6 (13)  “…it’s just horrifying.”

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A bill to improve literacy rates in Louisiana will be heard in the House this week. Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson’s bill is modeled on a Mississippi law that prohibits students with reading deficiencies by the end of the third grade to be promoted to fourth grade. Nelson says since it was enacted in the Magnolia State in 2013…

Cut 7 (10) “…grade literacy.”

The bill allows the Louisiana Department of Education to determine testing qualifications for students and the criteria for promotion to the fourth grade. Nelson says when testing first went into effect in Mississippi the score was deliberately lowered so a large number of students would not be held back.

Cut 8 (11)  “…across the board…”

If the bill receives final passage, it would not go into effect until the 2023-2024 school year. Nelson says he expects the first year would most likely impact the greatest number of students. Testing would be administered more than once to would allow students another opportunity to improve their scores along with intensive training.

Cut 9 (14)  “…in our state.”

Nelson says one out of four fourth-graders in Louisiana can’t read on grade level.

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The state of Louisiana hasn’t performed an execution since 2010, though a majority of residents still support the death penalty in cases of murder, according to the 2022 Louisiana Survey. Dr. Michael Henderson of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab says that support is decreasing.

Cut 10 (08) “…13 points.”

Just over half of respondents said they favor the death penalty, a dip of seven percentage points from four years ago. Opposition rose four percentage points to 38 percent. Henderson says Louisiana is trending in the same direction as the rest of the country, and a major factor in that is the possibility of putting an innocent person to death.

Cut  11 (10)  “…kinds of crimes.”  

The death penalty is slowly being eliminated worldwide, with the US as the only Western nation that still applies it regularly, and it remains legal in just 27 states. Henderson says it may take a while, but if the national trend continues as it has, capital punishment could become a thing of the past within the decade.

Cut 12 (11) “…perhaps sooner.” 

A bill to abolish the death penalty died in a Senate committee earlier in the session.

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If you are planning a trip to California in the summer or fall, Allegiant Air announces they are offering 65-dollar one-way flights from Shreveport to Los Angeles and back from May 27th to November 14th. Shreveport Regional Airport Authority Mark Crawford on why Allegiant Air is offering a low air fare…

Cut 13 (10) “…each way”

The Los Angeles flights depart and arrive in Shreveport on Monday and Fridays.

Crawford says they are fortunate to have Allegiant Air as a carrier at their airport, because they also offer low fares to Orlando and Destin, Florida…

Cut 14 (12)  “…each way”

Crawford says they expect a busy summer but they do not have the number of flights going out and coming as they did before the pandemic…

Cut 15 (10)  “…aircraft availability.”

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The Saints ended up taking five players in the NFL draft and they hope they found their left tackle in the future by selecting Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning with the 19th overall pick. Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis says they’ve had success in drafting offensive linemen from small schools…

Cut 16 (25)  “…our coaches”

On the final day of the NFL draft, the Saints selected the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, Appalachian State linebacker D’Marco Jackson. He led the Mountaineers in tackles last season and had six sacks. Allen says there’s a lot to like about Jackson…

Cut 17 (21) “ …benefit us.” 

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Though the season has come to an end for the New Orleans Pelicans, the team gave fans several memorable moments as they climbed up the standings and into the playoffs. Perhaps, the most memorable was coach Willie Green’s impassioned plea to this team to keep fighting as the Pels overcame a double-digit deficit against the Clippers to clinch their spot in the postseason.

Cut 18 (18) “ …all season.” 

As the Pelicans turned their season around, the fan base swelled and made the Smoothie King Center one of the loudest arenas in the NBA. VP of basketball operations David Griffin said the bond between the team and the fans was unlike anything he had experienced.

Cut 19 (20) _“…all the way through.” 

Former American Idol winner and Louisiana native Laine Hardy was arrested Friday after LSU Police received a complaint, he allegedly put a listening device in a student’s room. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A special House committee investigating the death of Ronald Greene hears from a high-ranking State Police Trooper who admits there was a cover-up. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Former East Carroll Parish Sheriff, 84-year-old Dale Rinicker was arrested Thursday in West Monroe after he was asked to leave a convenience store for allegedly making lewd comments to female employees. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Glen Springfield says after multiple requests to leave the store deputies arrested Rinicker for trespassing.

Cut 3 (11) “…of uniform.”

Even though Rinicker threatened officers during the arrest Springfield says he was taken to the Ouachita Correctional Center and charged with Criminal Trespass and two counts of Resisting an Officer.

Cut 4  (08) “…and resisting.”

In 1997 Rinicker pleaded guilty to taking kickbacks from a manager of a private prison in Providence.

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The Saints officially entered a new era Thursday, conducting its first draft without Sean Payton and first with new head coach Dennis Allen. New Orleans traded picks 16, 98, and 120 to Washington to move up and grab wide receiver Chris Olave, and took offensive tackle Trevor Penning at 19. Allen says both players fit the mold of what the Saints are looking for.

Cut 5  (10) “…great team players.”

The Saints say they are not in a rebuild and the expectation is to contend for the playoffs in 2022. Allen says having a strong foundation already in place helps in the decision-making process as they look to build on it.

Cut 6  (12) “…who we got.” 

The Pelicans saw their season come to an end  Thursday with a loss to the Phoenix Suns in game six of the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. After the game, head coach Willie Green shed tears on the court as he congratulated the Suns and consoled his players. He says his emotions were swirling

Cut 7 (12) “…coming to a close.” 

It was a miraculous season in many ways for the Pelicans, who went from one of the worst teams in the NBA to become a media darling as they battled the Suns. Coach Green says the experience his young team gained this season is something they have to apply as they prepare for next year.

Cut 8 (12) “…getting ready.” 

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Multiple bills concerning abortion rights have been discussed during this legislative session, and it remains a polarizing topic in the state. However, Dr. Michael Henderson of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab says there’s been slow but steady growth in support for legal access.

Cut 9 (12) “…access to abortion.”

In the latest release of data from the 2022 Louisiana Survey, 46 percent of Louisianans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with 49 percent taking the opposing stance. In 2016, only 40-percent said abortion should be legal, while 55-percent said it should be illegal. Henderson says when compared to the rest of the nation, Louisiana stands out with those figures.

Cut 10 (09) “…on abortion.”

Like so many issues, opinions seem to fall along political party lines. Henderson says that while Republicans have remained fairly consistent in their attitudes, Democrats who support legal access rose from 51 to 74 percent since 2016.

Cut 11 (07)  “…across the country.” 

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A high-ranking State Police trooper confirms L-S-P was involved in a cover-up to hide the facts surrounding the roadside death of Ronald Greene in 2019. Lt. Colonel Kenny Van Buren gave the admission during lengthy questioning by state lawmakers

Cut 12 (14) “…answers too.”  

Greene’s family was originally told he died as a result of a car crash following a high-speed chase, but body camera video of his arrest shows he was severely beaten by troopers.

Retired Captain Mark Richards told the legislative committee looking into Greene’s death he was ordered to block the crash report from being distributed, which he says is not normal protocol.

Cut 13 (13) “…before”

Richards believes the alleged coverup goes all the way to the top.

Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan says State Police should do more to uncover the truth…

Cut 14 (12)  “…the coverup.”

The special House committee investigating the circumstances surrounding Greene’s death is expected to have more meetings.

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