A federal judge has upheld Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriage. Opponents of the ban filed a federal lawsuit against the state in February arguing the ban violated portions of the US Constitution. In his ruling, US District Judge Martin Feldman stated that Louisiana has a “legitimate interest” in “addressing the meaning of marriage through the democratic process.” This makes Feldman the first federal judge to uphold a state’s ban on same-sex marriage. An appeal of the ruling is expected.

A federal investigation is underway into the death of a New Iberia man who was shot and killed while he was handcuffed in March. The Iberia Parish Coroner ruled that 23-year-old Victor White III committed suicide while in custody but his parents are disputing the conclusion. State Police Cpt. Doug Cain says the public should reserve judgement until the investigation is complete…

cut 7 (09) “we deal in facts”

He says the role of the Department of Justice in this case is the same as theirs and that is to find out the truth.

Authorities say a 4-year-old child is in critical condition after being injured in a residential fire last night in the DeSoto Parish town of Mansfield. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says two adults and a 10 year old child were able to escape the home but they soon realized the toddler was still inside. He says a male relative went back inside to rescue the 4-year-old…

cut 4 (11) “child’s body”

The toddler was air lifted to University Hospital in Shreveport.

Bond has been set for the Nathitoches teen accused of fatally punching 18-year-old Johnquaries Smith during an altercation at Natchitoches Central High School last month. 16-year-old Timmy Robinson will be tried as an adult on one count of manslaughter. Bond was set at 100-thousand dollars.

A federal investigation is underway into the death of a New Iberia man who was shot and killed while he was handcuffed in March. The Iberia Parish Coroner ruled that 23-year-old Victor White III committed suicide while in custody but his parents are disputing the conclusion. State Police Cpt. Doug Cain says LSP will submit findings to the feds this week…

cut 6 (10) “to the public”

US Attorney Stephanie Finley said a federal representative has reached out to the White family to assure them that the Department of Justice will examine evidence and take action where needed.

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 13-year-old male after an altercation with two teachers at B.E. Boudreaux Middle School. Their investigation revealed the juvenile allegedly struck one teacher and pushed another. He was charged with two counts of simple battery and other charges. The juvenile was released to a guardian pending juvenile court action.

Authorities say a 4-year-old child is in critical condition after being injured in a residential fire last night in the DeSoto Parish town of Mansfield. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they believe the blaze started in the living room of the home just after the family went to bed…

cut 3 (10) “was still in the home”

He says a male relative went back inside to rescue the 4-year-old. The toddler was air lifted to University Hospital in Shreveport.

A new review of judicial candidates qualifying for elections in Louisiana shows a vast majority of judges will be elected or re-elected without opposition this fall. Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch Executive Director Melissa Landry says judicial elections are critically important because judges make significant decisions that effect our lives on a daily basis…

cut 12 (10) “tremendously important”

Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch is a non-partisan legal watchdog organization.

A new review of judicial candidates qualifying for elections in Louisiana shows a vast majority of judges will be elected or re-elected without opposition this fall. Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch is a non-partisan legal watchdog organization and their review found that nearly two-thirds of the district judgeships in the state will be filled by candidates who face no opposition. Executive Director Melissa Landry says the lack of voter input in judicial elections is a big problem…

cut 11 (10) “dangerous thing”

The group analyzed candidate qualifying data from the Secretary of State’s office.

A federal judge told attorneys on both sides of the controversial abortion law they have until a September 30th hearing to give status updates. He temporarily blocked the measure which would require abortion doctors to have hospital admitting privileges. The law still went into effect Monday but the judge wants abortion doctors to have time to submit applications for admitting privileges before being penalized.

A Livingston Parish couple has been sentenced for leaving their 6-month-old daughter in a locked, unventilated vehicle for nearly an hour while they were under the influence of OxyContin. The father, 35-year-old Billy Arthur Henry, was sentenced to four years at hard labor. Lana Henry, the child’s mother, received a suspended seven year sentence. Walker Police Captain John Sharp is hopeful this case will work out for the couple’s children…

cut 15 (09) “children deserve”

Lana Henry has been placed on probation and any probation violation will send her directly to prison.

Louisiana State Police says a single vehicle accident early this morning in St. James Parish has claimed the life of a Gonzales man. Authorities say 53-year-old Bobby Garantine lost control of his vehicle on Highway 61 south of I-10. They say the vehicle crashed into a tree on the drivers side and became partially submerged in water. Investigators say Garantine was unrestrained at the time and was pronounced dead from his injuries at a local hospital.

A new review of judicial candidates qualifying for elections in Louisiana shows a vast majority of judges will be elected or re-elected without opposition this fall. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 3 (33) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal says a Helsinki company’s US division is planning to build a $60 million plant in Louisiana to make sugar cane scraps into industrial sugars and biofuels. Jindal and Virdia Inc say the project will create 120 construction jobs and 81 full time jobs in Raceland.

State Police is looking into some apparent discrepancies in water quality reporting between what St. John the Baptist Parish had compared to what the Department of Health and Hospitals came up with. Sgt. Nick Manale says parish officials found a potentially dangerous amoeba in their water supply and DHH came up with differing findings than what the parish reported. He says everyone is being cooperative with the investigation…:
CUT 9 (07) “that are necessary”
He says their job is to determine if any criminal activity took place.

The DA’s office in Iberville Parish says they don’t think they will charge the accused killer of Baton Rouge TV personality Scott Rogers. The man is Mathew Hodgkinson and he could walk free and not be arrested for murder. Iberville Parish Assistant DA Tony Clayton says allegations of Rogers’ sexual abuse of minor children in England have caused him to reconsider plans to prosecute Hodgkinson who remains on life support. Police believe the comatose man shot Rogers then turned the gun on himself.

State Police has been asked by the Department of Health and Hospitals to investigate inconsistencies in water quality reporting in St. John the Baptist Parish. Scott Carwile reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

LSP reports a fatal accident happened around 2:30am this morning in St. James Parish on Highway 61 south of I-10. They say 53-year-old Bobby Garantine of Gonzales lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree on the drivers side which became partially submerged in water. The man was unrestrained at the time and died from his injuries at a local hospital according to investigators.

A couple from Walker in Livingston Parish admits to being on OxyContin when they left their 6 month old in a locked hot car for almost an hour at Wal-Mart in June. The father, 35-year-old Billy Arthur Henry got four years at hard labor and the mother received a suspended sentence so she won’t go to jail according to Walker Police Captain John Sharp…:
CUT 14 (13) “from prison”
Lana Henry has been placed on probation.

A new study from Vanderbilt University, finds college football coaches are worth their high salaries because of the value they bring to the school they work for compared to company CEOs. Study Co-Author Randall Thomas, a Vandy business and law professor, says the job of a coach, versus a CEO is much easier to judge…:
CUT 5 (12) “much murkier”
He says man NCAA programs are extremely valuable so the coach should be paid well.

The Department of Health and Hospitals has asked the Louisiana State Police to investigate water quality reporting in St. John the Baptist Parish. Officials there last week said they discovered a dangerous amoeba in the water supply. LSP Sgt Nick Manale says DHH is concerned their water test turned up different results than what the parish reported…:
CUT 8 (10) “very thoroughly”
He says the investigation is in its early stages.

A judge in Allen Parish says a 19-year-old man from Oakdale is guilty of killing his grandfather and stealing thousands from the victim last November. The judge reportedly called Laken Johnson a cold-blooded-killer and handed down a second degree murder verdict which means life in prison. 64-year-old Norman Ray Johnson was killed with a 12-gauge shotgun according to investigating officers.

A federal investigation has been launched into the death of 23-year-old Victor White the third, who died in March while in the custody of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office. Jeff Palermo has the story:
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

A US District judge told lawyers on both sides of the controversial abortion law they have until a hearing on September 30th to give status updates. He temporarily blocked the measure which would require abortion doctors to have hospital admitting privileges — the law still went into affect Monday but the judge wants the doctors to have time to submit applications before being penalized. Lawyers need to submit memos by September 23 indicating what they want the court to cover at the hearing.

State Police has been asked by the Department of Health and Hospitals to investigate inconsistencies in water quality reporting in St. John the Baptist Parish. Parish officials announced last week the discovery of a potentially dangerous amoeba in their water supply. Sgt. Nick Manale says DHH did their own independent testing of the water supply…:
CUT 7 (07) “from the parish”
He says their investigation will determine if the conflicting reports are criminal.

A couple from Livingston Parish admit to being under the influence of OxyContin when they left their 6 month old daughter in their car locked in a vehicle for nearly an hour in a parking lot in June. Walker Police Captain John Sharp…:
CUT 13 (10) “of hard labor”
Lana Henry received a seven-year suspended sentence meaning she won’t serve any time. The judge said he hopes the woman will get her life in order.

A new review of judicial candidates qualifying for elections in Louisiana shows a vast majority of judges will be elected or re-elected without opposition this fall. Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch analyzed candidate qualifying data from the Secretary of State’s office. Executive Director Melissa Landry says this should be a reason for concern…:
CUT 10 (07) “being left out”
She says this is detrimental to the overall health of the legal climate because it doesn’t lead to the most experienced or most qualified judge on the bench.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is participating in a new national clinical research study that will test the effectiveness of a new drug that could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Pennington’s Doctor Jeffrey Keller says no new drug has been approved by the federal government for Alzheimer’s treatment since 2003, so that’s why they are excited to participate in this important study….

cut 11 (07) “for the disease“

For more information on the study call (225) 763-3000.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says residents and visitors of False River are happy about the planned man-induced draw-down of the lake which begins today. LDWF Director of Inland Fisheries Mike Wood says this first draw-down won’t do a lot on its own, but it’s happening in conjuction with lots of other work…

cut 8 (10) “excited about it”

They say this is the first step in the long awaited False River Restoration project.

Louisiana State Police say a pedestrian who they believe had been drinking was struck and killed last night in Lafourche Parish. Trooper Evan Harrell says alcohol is not suspected on the part of the driver of the vehicle, 18-year-old Jean Claude Pierre of Raceland…

cut 5 (09) “of the vehicle”

Harrell says the victim, 26-year-old Jace Sevin of Lockport, was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.

The state Department of Transportation says inspection work on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge which began today will go through September 10th. DOTD Spokesman Rodney Mallett says this is required maintenance performed every two years…

cut 13 (08) “federal government”

They say different portions of the east and westbound sides between Whiskey Bay and milepost 117 will be closed between 7am and 2pm.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is participating in a new clinical research study that will be testing a new drug that could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease….

CUT 9 (12) Q: “number signaling”

According to Pennington Doctor Jeffery Keller,this could modify the pace of the disease in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimers.

DOTD is currently implementing bridge inspections of the I-10 over the Atchafalaya Basin between Whiskey Bay and Mile marker 117, and tomorrow there will be a both lane westbound closure from 7 am until 2pm.
CUT 14 (12) Q: “people working”
That’s DOTD Spokesman Rodney Mallet.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says visitors to False River and residents along the water are happy about the planned man-induced draw-down of the lake which begins today…

CUT 6 (14) “throughout the lake”

That’s LDWF Director of Inland Fisheries Mike Wood, who says the water levels be lowered 2 to 2 and a half feet over the next 3 weeks.

Democratic Incumbant Senator Mary Landrieu is facing an ethics complaint filed by the state GOP, charging her with billing her Senate office for flights to campaign fundraisers. Critics point to some $9,000 in reimbursements that were from tax-payer dollars, and questions about $20 thousand dollars for airfare. Landrieu called it a “bookkepping mistake.”

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is participating in a new clinical research study that will be testing a new drug that could slow the progression of Alzheimer’. Pennington Doctor Jeffrey Keller says this investigational medication could potentially modify the pace of the disease…

CUT 10 (10) “to date”

For information on the study, you can call 225-763-3000.
DOTD inspection crews will be alternating closures of the I-10 over the Atchafalaya Basin between Whiskey Bay and mile marker 117 tomorrow. The entire westbound side will be closed from 7 am until 2 pm. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says they are required to to perform maintenance every 2 years…

CUT 13 (08) Q: “federal government”
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State Police are investigating a pedestrian vs. car accident that has claimed the life of a Lockport man. The accident happened around 8 o’clock last night on North Service Road in Raceland, and police suspect impairment on the part of the pedestrian, 26 year-old Jace Sevin. They do NOT believe the driver-18 year-old Jean Claude Pierre-was impaired.
Residents and visitors to False River and excited about the man-induced draw-down of the lake which begins today. Michelle Southern with more…

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”