Louisiana Jewish leaders are urging the state not to execute death row inmates by using lethal gas. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Winter isn’t over in north Louisiana, despite a stretch of spring-like weather. Another Arctic blast is set to hit Louisiana by Thursday bringing below-freezing temperatures and possible freezing rain.
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Two Colorado men were arrested for attempting to smuggle tens of thousands of dollars worth of tobacco and methamphetamine into a federal prison using a compressed air cannon. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says they weren’t successful.
Cut 3 (08) “…drugs into the prison.”
18-year-old Jose Francisco Herrera Munoz, and 19-year-old Angel Gonzales Gutierrez’s plan involved launching contraband over the prison’s security fence, with a cannon capable of propelling items over 350 feet. McCain says it was very sophisticated system.
Cut 4 (08) “…it’s very powerful.”
The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office reported the arrests, charging both men with attempting to introduce contraband into a penal institution and attempting to distribute methamphetamine.
Cut 5 (04) “…would ave been devastating.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted in the investigation and has placed a detainer on Munoz, as he is in the country illegally.
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Louisiana Jewish Leaders gather in front of Touro Synagogue in New Orleans to call on the state not to use lethal gas to execute death row inmates. Among them was Sara Lewis with the Jewish Federation of New Orleans, whose grandparents survived the Holocaust.
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Rabbi David Cohen-Henriquez of Shir Chadash of Metairie says using lethal gas harkens back to an ugly time in world history.
Cut 7 (10) “…echo of genocide.”
Jacquelyn Stern with the Jewish Federation of New Orleans says while opinions of capital punishment varies among those gathered for the news conference, they’re all united in the stance that lethal gas should not be used as a method anywhere in the United States.
Cut 8 (12) “…on our communities.”
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Despite a stretch of spring-like weather, Winter isn’t over in north Louisiana. NWS Shreveport Senior Meteorologist Matt Hemmingway says another Arctic blast is set to hit Louisiana by Thursday, bringing below-freezing temperatures and possible winter precipitation, especially in northern areas.
Cut 9 (13) “…some light freezing rain.”
Hemmingway says the artic front will bring freezing temperatures starting Tuesday night in the low 20’s and upper teens.
Cut 10 (10) “…potentially at risk.”
Hemmingway says the cold front may linger for several days, delaying any return to warmer temperatures, but should warm up by the end of the week.
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The grandparents of one of the victims of the terror attack on Bourbon Street were killed by an alleged drunk driver over the weekend. Hubert and Victoria Gauthreaux (GO-trow) were the grandparents of 21-year-old Hubert Gauthreaux the Third, who was one of 14 people killed in the attack early New Year’s Day. Gretna Deputy Police Chief Jason DiMarco says it’s another tragedy for the Gauthreaux family.
Cut 12 (09) “…they’re going through.”
Deputy Chief DiMarco says 33-year-old Stephan Juarez hit the couple as they were trying to leave their parked vehicle. He says Juarez is facing a slew of charges, all of which when combined could land him in prison for the rest of his life.
DiMarco says the investigation is ongoing, including determining Juarez’s blood-alcohol level. He says they’re also working to determine exactly how fast he was going, although it’s obvious that he was going way too fast.