The full House will debate today the proposed budget for next fiscal year that would cut 235 million dollars more than the governor recommended from the department of Health. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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State Police and a prosecutor assigned by the Attorney General’s office will now investigate if the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling face state charges. Emelie Gunn has more…
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The US Justice Department has decided against filing federal charges for the officers involved in Alton Sterling’s death, but Sterling’s family hopes the state comes to a different conclusion. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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The full House is expected to debate the budget bill that would cut 235-million dollars more than Governor Edwards wanted from the state Department of Health’s budget. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry says they plan to only use 97-percent of what the Revenue Estimating Conference appropriates for the budget to avoid mid-year cuts.
Henry says this will prevent the health department from taking a massive cut in the middle of the year like they’ve done in the past. He says if this strategy was used last year, the state would’ve eliminated all mid-year deficits.
Governor John Bel Edwards opposes the proposed cut and is asking lawmakers to reverse them. LDH Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee says although the department of Health has one of the biggest budgets, that doesn’t mean their money is going to waste.
Gee says she wasn’t asked about what the implications of these cuts would have on the department. She says these cuts were just made without talking to experts first.
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The family of Alton Sterling is grieving all over again, after the Department of Justice announces no federal charges will be filed against the Baton Rouge police officers involved. Sterling’s aunt Sandra Sterling is hopeful the state investigation will bring forth criminal charges against the officers.
Cut 8 (12) “remember his name”
The family says they appreciate the support from demonstrators who are upset over the DOJ’s decision but ask that they remain respectful in memory of Sterling. Kimberly Pierson is the mother of Sterling’s 11-year-old son. She’s devastated and says Sterling didn’t deserve to die the way he did.
Andricka Williams is the mother of three of Sterling’s children. She is disappointed no federal charges were handed down but remains hopeful Landry will get justice for Sterling. She says the determination that federal charges are not warranted is a hard pill to swallow.
Cut 10 (11) “like it was nothing”
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The Louisiana State Police along with a special prosecutor assigned by Attorney General Jeff Landry is now looking to see if Officers Howie Lake and Blane Salamoni violated state laws during the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling. Baton Rouge Attorney Beau Brock says it was a smart move by Landry to have LSP lead this investigation
The Sterling family believes there is sufficient evidence for state charges to be handed down against the officers. Brock says new information released by the U.S. Justice department will play a huge factor in the state case.
Brock says there is a high burden of conduct when it comes to determining if a person’s civil rights were violated. He says state statutes require only general criminal intent, which is a much lower standard.
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Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry have not seen eye-to-eye on many state issues, but the governor is anticipating Landry’s office will lead a thorough investigation into the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling.
New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson says she is looking to the State of Louisiana to pursue the investigation. She calls on the Attorney General Jeff Landry to gather all the facts of the case to ensure that justice is in order.
Landry issued a statement saying a thorough investigation could take time, and his office asks for patience from the public. Peterson says not all of the facts of this case have been made public yet, but the facts that have been released are disturbing.