With hurricane season now here, the state is ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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The Louisiana House approves a bill that makes it a crime to knowingly give another person an incurable sexually transmitted infection. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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A lawsuit was filed against Pelicans star Zion Williamson last week accusing him of rape and sexual assault. Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson addressed the suit for the first time yesterday. Kace Kieschnick has more.
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Now that the calendar has flipped to June, hurricane season is now officially underway. And the state is prepared for anything Mother Nature may have in store. Some people may be concerned that the recent cuts to the National Weather Service may hinder its ability to provide essential updated information when a severe storm approaches. During a news conference at GOHSEP headquarters, Governor Landry says fortunately for Louisiana, the state has Jay Grymes.
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Grymes says if last year is any indication, it’s going to be a very busy hurricane season for him and the state.
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Brigadier General Jason Mahfouz says don’t be dismissive of a storm if it doesn’t rise to the level of a Category One hurricane; even tropical storms can have devastating effects.
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And as always, GOHSEP reminds you to go to get-a-game-plan-dot-org or download the Get A Game Plan app for useful tools to help you prepare for severe storms.
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It’s now been more than two and a half weeks since ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail; and two remain on the loose. Among them is 32-year-old Antoine Massey, who recently posted a video onto Instagram saying, among other things, that he’s innocent of the domestic abuse charges that landed him behind bars. State Police Superintendent Colonel Robert Hodges says those who helped Massey post the video will likely also be facing charges.
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As for Massey’s claim of innocence, Colonel Hodges says there’s a forum where he could state his case – the courtroom.
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In the immediate aftermath of the jailbreak, Attorney General Liz Murrill warned anyone who helps the escapees while on the run that they will be charged with crimes. Hodges says she wasn’t messing around.
In the video, Massey pleads for help from President Trump and rappers Lil Wayne and Meek Mill.
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Cotton planting season is wrapping up, and the LSU AgCenter says this year’s crop could be the smallest one on record. LSU AgCenter Cotton and Corn Specialist Shelly Pate Kerns says acreage is way down from last year.
Pate Kerns says farmers are not planting as much cotton because of low demand and low prices.
While cotton acreage is shrinking, corn acreage is increasing, experts are predicting around 600-thousand acres of corn, nearly a 17-percent increase over last year.
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The Louisiana House approves legislation that would result in a long prison sentence for anyone convicted of intentionally infecting another person with an incurable sexually transmitted disease. Monroe Democrat Pat Moore’s measure calls for a person to serve at least ten years in prison if convicted of this crime and serve at least 25 years of hard labor if the victim is a juvenile or a senior citizen…
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Incurable sexually transmitted infections include Hepatitis B, herpes and HIV. The bill passed the House on a 68-18 vote, but it received pushback from New Orleans Democrat Jason Hughes. He called the ball flawed. Hughes says unless there’s a written contract, how can a prosecutor prove someone did not verbally disclose they have an incurable sexually transmitted disease?
Hughes says sexually active adults will look at this new law and say, “I am not going to get tested, therefore I can’t be convicted of knowingly giving another person an incurable S-T-D.”
Moore says she has no sympathy for people who knowingly give a sexually transmitted infection to another person or a person who is sexually active and refused to get tested.
Moore’s bill still needs Senate approval, and the legislative session must end Thursday, June 12th.
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The LSU Baseball team advanced to the super regionals after fending off underdog Little Rock Monday night, 10-6. The Tigers found themselves down by four runs early in the game. The Tigers walked batters, committed a rare infield error and runners left stranded gave fans flashbacks to the Trojans upset win to force the deciding game the night before, but LSU head coach Jay Johnson didn’t doubt his team for a second.
Johnson rolled out big changes to the lineup following Sunday’s disappointing loss. Slugging first baseman Jared Jones was moved from second in the order to sixth due to a hitting slump. D-H Ethan Frey moved up to replace him and shortstop Steven Milam followed third after batting fifth and sixth Sunday. Johnson says it was now or never.
Frey shined for the Tigers, going 4-for-4 with 4 RBI. Frey started off the scoring in the top of the first with a solo shot to left field and had a game changing double with bases loaded in the fourth to drive in three runs and cut the lead to one. Johnson says he knew his DH was on a hot streak when he moved him up the order.