LRN PM Newscall Feb 16

Shreveport Police had to catch a man twice who may be connected in robbing elderly women with a bat.  Jim Shannon has more…

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A Florida shooting that left 17 dead has reignited the debate over school safety. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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Shreveport Police believe they may have the person in custody, who was using a baseball bat to steal the purses of older women. Spokesperson Angie Willhite says they had to arrest 32-year-old Mario Roberson twice.  Willhite says their Robberty Task Force Unit was interviewing Roberson, when he gave officers the slip

Cut 3 (08) “into custody.”

Police say during the first arrest, Roberson was in possession of many of the items that have been reported stolen in recent weeks.  Since the escape attempt, Willhite says Roberson is facing additional charges after the second arrest…

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There is no word if any weapons were confiscated.

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Ruston Police are investigating a school bus accident involving a pedestrian, who was killed while sitting in the middle of a street. Chief Deputy Clint Williams says the Lincoln Parish school bus driver didn’t see the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Williams hopes someone knows why he was there…

Cut 5  (05)  “a call.”

The bus was nearly full with elementary aged students, but Williams says they were not  hurt…

Cut 6  (10)  “schools unharmed.”

Toxicological samples have been collected. No charges have been filed as of yet.

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Debates are raging about school safety in the wake of the Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead. While much of the debate has centered on the weapon used, Louisiana Association of Educators President Deborah Meaux says schools need to be investing more in social work programs to help troubled students.

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Reports indicate the confessed Florida shooter Nikolas Cruz was a troubled person with noted mental health issues, and a mother who had just passed away. Meaux says a robust counseling program could have identified those problems as a possible indicator of trouble.

Cut 8 (09) “they need.”

But Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says when state budget cuts come in, one of the first things on the chopping block tends to be social work programs.

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Carter says along with an increased investment in counseling programs, we need to be taking a look at improving the layout of schools to improve security.

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Louisiana is taking more taxes out of workers’ paychecks. The state constitution allows for it, if the federal government lowers their tax brackets, which they did last month.  Baton Rouge area CPA Brandon LaGarde says it won’t be that drastic of a change…

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The state tax wage adjustment is automatic as it is built into the Louisiana Constitution.  LaGarde says your employer has nothing to do with the change…

Cut 12 (07) “to do.”

LaGarde says the federal tax break outweighs the state’s updated tax withholding tables, meaning you still take home more than you did last year…

Cut 13 (07) “be ahead.”

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The Baton Rouge police officer shot by a man described as mentally ill left the hospital today. Doctors say he should fully recover.  Cpl. Shane Totty was admitted Sunday night after sustaining a gunshot wound from Eugene Thomas Jr.  Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says the department is thrilled Totty is home…

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Totty and other officers were responding to a call after Thomas allegedly fired a weapon at some relatives and later shot Totty after he was pulled over.  McKneely says he hopes there won’t be a long recovery period for Totty…

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Thomas is charged with four counts of attempted first degree murder, attempted first degree murder of a police officer and a felon in possession of a firearm.  Bond was set at 650-thousand-dollars.

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