Campaign finance reports are out, with Governor Edwards sitting pretty with 9.6 million on hand while his Republican challengers fight it out for a spot in the run-off…
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An East Feliciana Parish man has been arrested for the second time in four months for his role in a fatal wreck. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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A 60-year-old East Feliciana Parish man is arrested for a second time in less than four months for negligent homicide, after striking a pedestrian with his truck on LA Hwy 10 in West Feliciana Parish. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says Salvatore Euggino of Ethel was involved in another fatal accident in March.
Cut 3 (11) “…survive the crash.”
The pedestrian who died on Monday has been identified as 50-year-old Ricky Pourciau of St. Francisville. Scrantz says Euggino fled the scene after the crash but was later located at a local business. A breath test has ruled out the possibility of alcohol involvement.
Cut 4 (08) “…negligent driving.”
Scrantz says it is rare for anyone to be arrested twice for vehicular homicide in such a short amount of time.
Cut 5 (10) “…the deceased individuals.”
Euggino is charged with Negligent Homicide, Hit and Run Driving, and Careless Operation.
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The Bonnet Carre Spillway will remain open longer than officials hoped because of Hurricane-slash-Tropical Storm Barry. Corps of Engineers spokesperson Ricky Boyett says before they can close the Spillway, the Mississippi river must drop to 21 feet at the structure in St. Charles Parish, but that has yet to happen…
21 feet at the Spillway would put the river around 16 feet in New Orleans.
Boyett says they aren’t concerned that the additional water will put any of the levee system in danger.
Toxic algae blooms linked to the Spillway’s opening have continued to shutter Mississippi beaches during a peak tourist season.
The Spillway has been open for a record number of days this year, and has even had to be opened twice in one year for the first time ever. Boyett says they were hoping to put that streak to an end…
The structure has had to remain open as record rainfall in the Midwest pushed the river’s height to dangerous levels. There was hope before Barry arrived that the Corps could begin closing Bonnet Carre Spillway in mid-July.
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Governor’s race finance reports are out and Governor Edwards has 9.6 million cash on hand, while Republicans Eddie Rispone and Congressman Abraham have 9.8 and 1.3 million dollars respectively.
John Bel Edwards was barred from fundraising during the legislative season, but UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Gov had already built up a substantial warchest.
Edwards is the only candidate so far to run statewide TV ads.
Congressman Ralph Abraham, the leading Republican in the so far limited polling available, raised 800,000 dollars during the most recent fundraising period. Cross says he’s picking up steam, but…
Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone has reportedly dumped 10 million dollars of his own money into the campaign. Cross says Rispone is running out of time to boost his name recognition.
Rispone raised 277,000 dollars from contributions during that period.
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Baton Rouge Police arrest 38-year-old Ronn Bell in the murder of civil activist Saide Roberts-Joseph. The 75-year-old was found dead in her trunk on Friday. Chief Murphy Paul says Bell has been charged with first-degree murder. Paul says they don’t have an exact motive, but Bell was a tenant in one of her rent houses
Roberts-Joseph was the founder of Baton Rouge’s African American history museum and her murder shook the community because she was known her kindness. Paul credits great police work for making a timely arrest
A preliminary autopsy found that Roberts-Joseph died from being suffocated. Since Bell has been charged with first-degree murder, prosecutors can seek the death penalty. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says no decision has been made on that…