One man who took an oath to serve and protect is accused of doing the exact opposite. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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The “Streets to Success Act” would make camping on public property a crime punishable by six months of jail time and a 500-dollar fine. Kace Kieschnick reports.
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The New World screwworm has been found in Texas, so what does that mean? Jeff Palermo has the story.
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The sheriff of St. Tammany Parish is discovering what it’s like on the other side of the law. Sheriff Randy Smith is arrested on three charges, including second-degree battery, in connection with an attack at a Madisonville restaurant late last month. Investigators say while in the bar area at Keith Young’s Steakhouse, Smith went up to 59-year-old Bobby Couvillon and, without provocation, attacked him. Couvillon told police Smith reeked of alcohol, and Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche says Smith’s conduct would corroborate that.
Cut 4 (07) “…least three terms.”
Couvillon has been one of Sheriff Smith’s harshest critics. Goyeneche says that’s no excuse, however, for Smith to do what he allegedly did – and getting out of this will be very hard for Smith to do.
Cut 5 (12) “…of what occurred.”
Smith’s bond was set at ten-thousand dollars. For now, he remains on the job – and Goyeneche says he will remain on the job until either his term expires or he’s proven guilty in a court of law, whichever comes first.
Sheriff Smith has released a statement, in which he apologized to his family, the diners and staff at the restaurant and the people of St. Tammany Parish. He also referenced what he called ten years of personal attacks against him and his family by a man hiding behind a computer screen, presumably referring to Couvillon. Smith said he will address his actions through the legal process and will continue serving the people of St. Tammany Parish in the meantime.
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A bill known as the “Streets to Success Act” is awaiting Governor Landry’s signature. The legislation attempts to address homelessness in the state, but Louisiana Advocacy Coalition on Homelessness Coordinator Joe Heeren-Mueller says the bill misses the mark. It establishes a new crime of unauthorized public camping.
Cut 7 (09) “…fined 500 dollars.”
The bill provides court-supervised programs to connect arrested homeless people to housing, treatment and job services, but those programs are optional and dependent on location. It also allows for the creation of designated public camping areas, which are also optional. Heeren-Mueller says the solution is empty.
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Other states that have passed similar legislation have seen homelessness rates increase. Heeren-Meuller says it is not based on evidence and does not consider the reality of living through homelessness. He says it imagines there are people who would refuse assistance if not for the threat of jail time.
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The New World screwworm has been found in the United States for the first time in nearly 60 years. It’s a flesh-easting parasite that can kill animals including livestock. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the deadly bug was found in a calf in Texas, 30 miles north of Mexican border. Strain says its discovery in the United States has already led to an increase in beef prices.
Cut 10 (08) “…affordability of beef.”
The New World screwworm had been eradicated from the United States since 1960s, but it has been moving closer to the U.S. through transmission between cattle in Mexico. Strain says they can stop the spread by unleashing sterile flies.
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Strain says sterilized male flies are used, because they mate with the female screwworms and no offspring is produced.
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Strain says the New World screwworm is a low risk to humans.
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A manhunt is underway for at least two people who shot an innocent woman to death inside a vehicle at a Hammond gas station early yesterday morning. Police Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr. said while one car was at a gas pump, another car pulled up to an adjacent pump.
(Two masked men fired between 70 and 80 shots into the car with AR-style pistols.) Those shots killed 50-year-old Patricia Sheppard, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Chief Bergeron says this was a targeted shooting, but Sheppard was not the target – she was catching a ride home and was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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Bergeron stresses to the public that there is no imminent threat.
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Bergeron says the vehicle the shooters were in was carjacked in Macomb, Mississippi, Tuesday night.
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LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson is sure to revamp his roster in the transfer portal this summer after a disappointing 30-and-28 season this year. Johnson brought in a trio of sluggers with 67 career homers last offseason. That group hit just 13 this year. ESPN 104.5’s Hunt Palmer says Johnson won’t rely on the portal for slugging again.
Cut 16 (16) “…huge power bat.”
Palmer says the Tigers have a lot of holes to fill, and they’ll look to target young guys from proven power conference programs. Johnson has had success bringing in mid-major stars like Luis Hernandez and Hunter Dickinson, but Palmer says they’ll need to be versatile talents.
As for pitching, the Tigers have four arms who saw real SEC starting action in Casan Evans, William Schmidt, Cooper Moore, and Marcos Paz returning. Palmer says he’d like to see more talent added to he bullpen. LSU brought in Northwestern State lefty Brody Trosclair for a visit earlier this week.
Cut 18 (18) “…of this season.”