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”

Iberville Parish Deputies have arrested a man in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in Whiskey Bay last weekend. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the woman’s husband, 28-year-old Jonathan Allee has been arrested in connection with the death of his wife, 28-year-old Elizabeth Ferrell, who was strangled to death. Allee is charged with second-degree murder.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany has filed legislation that would require a radar detection site to be built near Baton Rouge. 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.

Officials with the US Department of Agriculture are investigating the series of recent deaths at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Curator Sam 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”

18 animals at the zoo have died in the last year.

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”

Former St. Tammany and Washington Parish District Attorney Walter Reed took the stand in his own defense at his federal corruption trial. Reed is accused of misusing campaign money, plus filing false tax returns and other alleged crimes. Reed, who said he was always in campaign mode, talked about some of his expenditures with his campaign funds and admitted to some wrongdoings.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany introduces legislation that he believes will help lead to better detection of tornadoes in south Louisiana. Boustany has a bill that would require a Doppler weather radar site to be built near Baton Rouge. 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”

There are detection sites near Slidell and Lake Charles, but none near Baton Rouge.

A Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Deputy has left his job to play professional minor league baseball after he discovered he can throw a 91 mile-per-hour-fast ball.  26-year-old Randy 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”

According to state police, a Grand Isle man has been arrested after he tried to purchase a child for sexual purposes. Trooper Jesse Lagrange 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”

State Police have announced that a Lafayette man has been arrested after 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”

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. 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”

Zeigler says he’ll be playing for the Lincoln Nebraska Saltdogs.

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”

A tornado watch is in effect in 7 north Louisiana parishes until 10pm, as a strong line of thunderstorms is currently moving across the state north of Interstate 20. Parishes under watch include Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Lincoln, Ouachita, Union and Webster. There’s also a severe thunderstorm warning for Morehouse and West Carroll parish until 4:30. More severe weather is expected to hit the area tomorrow as well.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany is working to help Louisiana get better detection of tornadoes in south Louisiana. He’s introduced a bill that requires radar detection sites within 55 miles of every state capitol, because there is not one near Baton Rouge, which has led to several tornadoes hitting the area with no advance warning. Boustany says he is looking into how much the radar site will cost.

cut 10 (08) “property damage”

State police say a Lafayette man has been arrested after driving 150 miles per hour and crashing his car, which killed his passenger. Trooper Brooks David says the driver 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”

30-year-old Hoang Nguyen of Lake Charles was killed in the crash.

Several recent animal deaths at the Baton Rouge zoo have prompted an investigation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Two giraffes also recently died at the zoo. Curator Sam 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”

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests two people in connection with a double homicide investigation. Michelle Southern reports…:
voicer 2 (28) :…I’m Michelle Southern”

A Grand Isle man has been arrested on attempted rape charges for allegedly seeking to pay for a sexual encounter with a six year old girl. State Police Trooper Jesse LaGrange says more charges are expected against 30-year-old Wade Perkins who is a registered sex offender in Michigan…
cut 13 (07) “….like that”
Perkins has been booked into the Jeferson Parish Correctional Center.

Investigators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are investigating operations at the Baton Rouge Zoo after 18 animals died at their facility over the last year. Curator Sam Winslow says some of the deaths could not have been prevented, like what happened to their two-year-old Malayan tiger who suffered from gastric dilation…
cut 7 (09) “…30 minutes”
Two giraffes also recently died at the zoo.

A Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Deputy left his job at a prison to play professional baseball after discovering he can throw a 91 mile-per-hour fastball. 26-year-old Randy Zeigler was a pitcher for LSU and caught the eye of a Chicago White Sox scout. Zeigler says he’s now a member of 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 as fast as he was three years ago.

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”
He says these animals have died for various natural reasons and there are no cases of neglect going on at the zoo.

The small LaSalle Parish town of Tullos is in shock this week over the double homicide case with more questions than answers. Sheriff’s deputies say the bodies of 19-year-old Chesley Coping and 26-year-old Demond Garner disappeared last weekend, and their bodies were located days later. 18-year-old Austin Dyess (die-ess) and 26-year-old Joshua Sant were both charged with 2 counts of second degree murder. Details are scarce at this time.

Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany introduces a bill that would require a Doppler weather radar site to be built near Baton Rouge. He says a new radar detection site will ensure that Louisiana is better covered to give citizens as much warning as possible to seek shelter or evacuate…:
Cut 11 (09) “unacceptable”
There are detection sites near Slidell, Lake Charles, Fort Polk and Shreveport, but none near Baton Rouge.

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”
He is booked with attempt and conspiracy to commit first degree rape.

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, Lake Charles, Fort Polk and Shreveport, but none near Baton Rouge.

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests two people in connection with the dead bodies that were discovered this week in a wooded area in Tullos, dead of apparent homicide. They say 18-year-old Austin Dyess (die-ess) and 26-year-old Joshua Sant were both charged with 2 counts of second degree murder in the deaths of 19-year-old Chesley Coping and 26-year-old Demond Garner.

A Lafayette man who cops say was drunk and driving his 2016 Corvette 150 miles per hour when it crashed in Vermilion Parish is under arrest in the death of his passenger. Trooper Brooks David says 31-year-old Martin Nguyen’s BAC was over the legal limit when the crash took place April 18th…:
CUT 4 (11) “miles an hour”
The crash killed 30-year-old Hoang Nguyen of Lake Charles.

The parents of the victim of in the Destrehan teacher sex scandal are reportedly suing the teacher, Shelley Dufresne. According to nola.com, the lawsuit claims Dufresne had sex with a 16-year-old student more than 40 times in 36 days. Last year, Dufresne pleaded guilty in St. Charles Parish to a felony obscenity charge.

State Police announces the arrest of a Lafayette man who was allegedly traveling 150 miles per hour while drunk 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 18th on LA Highway 339 and it killed 30-year-old Hoang Nguyen of Lake Charles…:
CUT 3 (05) “that crash”
Nguyen charged with vehicular homicide, speeding, reckless operation, and improper lane usage.

The state House approves a measure that would ban a common procedure used in second trimester abortions. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson calls these “dismemberment” abortions and says every year more than a thousand unborn children are aborted through this process…:
CUT 15 (08) “ripped off”
Opponents of the measure feel restricting abortions only forces women to become desperate and turn to unsafe methods. Johnson’s bill was approved unanimously, and the measure now heads to the Senate.

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. A Lafayette TV station reports that Harber was a 7th grade teacher a J.H. Williams Middle School. Hardy says it is not clear if the victims were students, but he did know them…:
Cut 6 (11) “residence”
He says a search of Harber’s home indicates that more charges could be coming.

An employee at Cabela’s Sporting Goods store in Gonzales shot himself in the hand by mistake while showing a .22 caliber gun to a customer Thursday afternoon, according to cops. The Gonzales Police Department says all indications point to this being incident an accident. No word on why the gun was loaded.

A poll paid for by the Cannabis Association finds that 72-percent of Louisiana voters support legalizing medical marijuana to treat those who suffer from cancer or HIV. A spokesperson for the pro-marijuana reform group, Jesse McCormick says a majority of the respondents also favor taxing the prescription drug….
cut 11 (08) “…eye opening”
The telephone poll surveyed six-hundred registered voters.

The Louisiana House has approved legislation that would prohibit a woman from having an abortion if doctors learn the fetus has a genetic abnormality. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says he wants to protect the life of a fetus that is found to have a genetic abnormality….
cut 14 (06) “…no meaning”
The measure heads to a Senate committee.

A Vermilion Parish teacher is behind bars for three counts of rape. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 1 (29) “…Emelie Gunn”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office announces the arrest of a 15-year-old student, who allegedly wrote a threat on a desk. The female student from Hammond High Magnet School was taken to the Florida Parish Juvenile Detention center. Investigators have not released details about the threat.

Governor John Bel Edwards says solving the state’s budget crisis and the impending second special session are top of mind for him right now. He 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”
He says he’s waiting to make the call for the second session when he receives proposals from a panel reviewing the budget.

A 7th grade teacher in Vermillion Parish is under arrest on rape charges for allegedly forcing minors to have sex with him. David Hardy with the Abbeville Police Department says James Harber had child pornography on his computer, and cops were able to locate the girls…:
CUT 5 (07) “Mr. Harber”
Harber has been charged with two counts of second-degree rape and one count of first-degree rape. His bond is $300,000.

The St. Tammany Parish coroner reportedly says a man lost his life when he was struck by lightning while working at a Slidell area construction site. It says 36-year-old Elvin Arturo Castro Santiago was struck Wednesday.

The majority of voters in Louisiana have no problem with letting people with certain diseases be covered under the state’s medical marijuana law. That’s according to a poll commissioned by the Louisiana Cannabis Association. They found 72 percent of people surveyed support letting medical marijuana treat additional ailments. Spokesman Jesse McCormick hopes that this poll encourages more lawmakers to vote in favor of the legalization currently moving through the capitol….:
cut 12 (08) “huge win”

Governor John Bel Edwards will participate in “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” by hosting a rally for the children on the Capitol steps with First Lady Donna Edwards.