Governor Edwards gave a posthumous pardon to Homer Plessy, the subject of the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case that ensconced a “separate, but equal” policy that enabled decades of segregation. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
______________________________________
LSU’s 42-20 loss to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl last night will be known as the Jontre Kirklin game, as the fifth-year senior started his first college game at quarterback. Jeff Palermo has more…
______________________________________
At a ceremony in New Orleans, Governor John Bel Edwards posthumously pardoned civil rights pioneer Homer Plessy, the subject of a separate but equal Supreme Court ruling that enabled decades of segregation of black Americans. Keith Plessy, a direct descendant, was on hand for today’s ceremony…
Homer Plessy was a Creole man arrested in New Orleans 130 years ago when he refused to leave a whites-only railroad car. Plessy’s protest led to the 1896 ruling known as Plessy versus Ferguson, which said it was legal to have white-only spaces in public areas. Governor Edwards says unfortunately the negative effects of that ruling still linger…
The Supreme Court reversed segregation laws in 1954. Plessy died in 1921 with his conviction still on his record.
Edwards says this is Louisiana’s first pardon as a result of a 2006 state law that allows for pardons of people convicted under laws that were intended to discriminate…
Cut 5 (12) “…criminal conviction”
__________________________________
A strange ending to the 2021 football season for the LSU Tigers last night as they only had 38 scholarship players available and it showed in a 42-20 loss to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl. Fifth-year senior Jontre Kirklin made his first start at quarterback and threw three touchdown passes…
Kirklin was a standout quarterback at Lutcher High School but only played cornerback and wide receiver at LSU up until last night. Kirklin was a backup during his time and LSU, but he’s known as a hard worker and a team leader…
Kirklin says he was calm heading into his first start at quarterback since 2016…
Kirklin completed seven of his eleven pass attempts for 138 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
______________________________________________________
Two children were tragically killed in a house fire early this morning in St. Landry Parish. Opelousas Fire Chief Charles Mason says they received a call shortly before 1:30 of a house fire where six people resided, only four escaped.
Mason says the home in the 1900 block of Jake Drive was fully engulfed when eight firefighters responded to the scene. In addition to the two fatalities, another child was taken to the hospital.
Cut 10 (05) “…smoke inhalation.”
The cause of the fire is unknown, and the State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating.
______________________________________________
Jonesboro’s Fire Chief and a Jackson Parish Sheriff’s deputy face insurance fraud charges involving a two-vehicle crash of fire department vehicles. Trooper Michael Reichardt says State Police received a tip in August and found Chief Brandon Brown and Deputy George Wyatt were involved and listed as the drivers.
The two men have been charged with insurance fraud, filing or maintaining false public records, and malfeasance in office. Reichardt credits LSP investigators for their diligent work in the case.
Reichardt says it appears the two men were trying to cover up the fact that Chief Brown’s juvenile son was one of the drivers at the time of the crash.
The investigation remains active.