On his monthly radio program, the governor was asked about a poll by Citizens for a New Louisiana that shows only 24 percent of residents believe the state is moving in the right direction. Teiko Foxx has more…
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Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion that may result in dozens of death row inmates not receiving a clemency hearing. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Record breaking heat and drought is affecting crop yields. Farmers across the country will see smaller harvests this year. That’s according to Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain who says the heat causes plants to go into survival mode, slowing photosynthesis…
One of the processes slowed by the suffocating heat is reproduction. Strain says fruit production is a luxury for plants in survival mode leading to full vegetation with no crop…
Crop yields aren’t the only thing affected by the steamy conditions. Heat and humidity help suppress reproductive hormones in livestock which Strain says can cause Louisiana markets to be left behind…
Cut 5 (11) “…heat and humidity.”
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On his monthly radio call-in show Ask the Governor – Governor John Bel Edwards addressed a recent statewide poll by Citizens for a New Louisiana that shows 55 percent of residents think the state is heading in the wrong direction. Edwards says the state has made strides but agrees progress could be made in certain areas…
Louisiana has ranked for years near the bottom in several education rankings. Edwards says it’s an ongoing battle that starts with pre-k education…
Cut 7 (08) “…childhood education.”
Edwards believes leading the state takes dedication and he will continue to do what is right for the citizens…
Cut 8 (11) “…positive change.”
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Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion that is a setback for death row inmates seeking a clemency hearing with the state Board of Pardons. Louisiana District Attorneys Association Director Loren Lampert says Landry states that clemency requests must be made to the Pardon Board within a year after a judge issues a ruling on their appeal
Cut 9 (09) “…emergency exception”
Landry’s legal opinion says emergency clemency requests can be made when an execution date is near, but the Attorney General points out no execution dates have been scheduled. Lampert says based on the A-G’s opinion, most of these clemency requests should not be heard
Cecelia Kappel, an attorney for several of the clemency applicants, says Landry’s opinion has no binding force. Kappel says the timing provision on which Landry relies on is not applicable, because Louisiana’s death penalty system is broken.
Earlier this year Governor Edwards voiced his opposition to the death penalty and he’s set to leave office in January. Lampert is concerned about taking up these clemency petitions in a short time frame, because death penalty cases are complex….