Louisiana has carried out its first execution in 15 years. Andrew Greenstein was at the state penitentiary in Angola, where it was carried out.
Cut 1 (54) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Forty-eight-year-old Danette Colbert now faces a murder charge in connection with the death of Kansas City sports reporter Adan Manzano, who was found dead in a Kenner hotel during Super Bowl week. Sean Richardson has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”
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Three years ago Will Wade was fired as head coach at LSU over recruiting violations, now he’s one of the hottest coaching candidates after leading McNeese basketball to the NCAA Tournament two years in a row. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Louisiana has executed its first death row inmate in 15 years. Jesse Hoffman, who kidnapped, robbed, raped and killed Molly Elliott in 1996 was executed yesterday evening by nitrogen hypoxia after the state and U.S. supreme courts declined to intervene. After the execution, Attorney General Liz Murrill says final justice for Elliott’s family and loved ones was long overdue.
Cut 4 (15) “…State of Louisiana.”
The execution was not without controversy, as several groups spoke out against the state’s use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution. Outside the state penitentiary in Angola, a group of death penalty opponents held vigil. While Elliott’s sister-in-law spoke out against executing Hoffman, Murrill said other relatives did not feel the same way.
Cut 5 (07) “…to have finality.”
Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott said the execution went flawlessly.
Cut 6 (07) “…approximately 19 minutes.”
Hoffman’s EKG flatlined after 14 minutes, and protocol dictated that the nitrogen gas continue to flow for five additional minutes. Corrections Chief of Operations Seth Smith, who was a longtime nurse, says he did not see Hoffman suffer in pain during the execution.
Cut 7 (12) “…inconsistent with death.”
Murrill noted that there are now 55 inmates on death row in Louisiana, and executions using nitrogen hypoxia will continue.
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Forty-eight-year-old Danette Colbert now faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Adan Manzano, the 27-year-old sports reporter from Kansas City found dead in a Kenner hotel room during Super Bowl Week. The coroner’s report found Manzano had a lethal combination of Xanax and alcohol in his system. Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley says an accomplice, Rickey White of Gretna, was also arrested in Florida for allegedly using Manzano’s debit card…
Cut 8 (12) “…Kenner Police Department.”
Colbert was originally charged with robbery and fraud in connection with Manzano’s death. Conley says the murder charge comes after investigators collected a sufficient amount of evidence for a judge to agree with the murder warrant. Conley says Colbert’s case is ready for prosecution by Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick’s office and admits the case against her is circumstantial.
Colbert was originally arrested on February sixth after investigators determined she was the last person to see Manzano alive and she was also allegedly in possession of his cell phone and credit cards. Colbert is known to police as a person who targets men in the French Quarter and steals their money and credit cards by drugging them. He says many different agencies were part of this investigation…
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A state audit has found that prenatal care for Medicaid recipients in Louisiana is going in the wrong direction. Chris Magee, the data analytics manager at the Legislative Auditor’s Office, says the audit has found that more than one-fourth of pregnant women in Louisiana did not receive care in their first trimester of pregnancy, with Medicaid recipients being disproportionately affected.
Cut 11 (14) “…to Medicaid beneficiaries.”
Magee says what’s frustrating about this report is that it comes amid the state spending 400-million dollars on maternal health reforms.
Cut 12 (09) “…they’re intended for.”
Magee says the state will look to make it easier for OBGYNs to provide services to Medicaid recipients.
Cut 13 (09) “…the Medicaid program.”
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Tomorrow the McNeese’s men’s basketball team faces Clemson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cowboys are in the Big Dance for a second straight year, a first in program history. Athletics Director Heath Schroyer says he took a gamble in hiring Will Wade in 2023, who was fired by LSU in 2022 because of recruiting violations. He says needless today, that gamble has paid off.
Cut 14 (08) “…great fit here.”
Schroyer says Wade’s leadership has earned McNeese some very valuable national exposure.
Cut 15 (10) “…uptick in enrollment.”
When Wade took the McNeese job two years ago, he said he would commit to two years. With this being the second of those two years, his name has already been connected to several high-profile openings, including North Carolina State. Schroyer says he hopes Wade will choose to stay.
Cut 16 (08) “…in southwest Louisiana.”
McNeese is the 12 seed in the Midwest Regional, while Clemson is the fifth seed. Tipoff from Providence, Rhode Island, tomorrow afternoon is at 2:15.
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New U-L Lafayette men’s basketball coach Quannas White is predicting big things as he takes over a program that just concluded a 12-and-21 season. White, who is still with Houston as they make a run for a national title, says he plans to bring in high character players into the program…
White says he’s hoping the fan base will get behind his program…
Cut 18 (15) “…Final Four bound.”
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One of LSU’s new defensive ends, Jack Plyburn, a transfer from Florida, believes he’s the best run stopping defensive end in the country. Plyburn says his goal at LSU is to become an elite pass rusher…
New tight end Bauer Sharp from Oklahoma, believes he’s the most versatile tight end in college football…