LRN News | LRN PM Newscall June 14th

The search is on for the man with a missing finger that was found in a St. Tammany turtle. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Former Governor Bobby Jindal’s Commissioner of Administration is coming out in support of the half cent sales tax renewal. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Cut 3 (09) “…with his attorney”

According to the report, the assault occurred several years ago when the victim was 16 years old at the home of Guidry. The sheriff says the priest was forthcoming with information about the incident.

Cut 4 (09) “…on a juvenile.”

At this time, Guidroz says it’s difficult for everyone touched by the case.

Cut 5 (12) “cooperating with us.”

The priest has been on administrative leave since word first surfaced of the investigation. He led St. Peter Church in Morrow.

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A Bush man who was gifted a giant alligator snapping turtle for some home cooking got more than he bargained for, a human finger deep inside the reptile. St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Spokesperson Scott Lee says they’ve reached out to local hospitals to see if any cases of turtle related accidents fit, and so far, no luck.

Cut 6 (07) “accident”

Cadaver sniffing dogs are now scouring the area where the turtle was originally found, incase this was more than just an accident, but Lee says it’s certainly possible the creature could’ve just grabbed a snack from an unlucky angler.

Cut 7 (08) “hundred pounds.”

Lee says as of now, the search is still on after scientific efforts to identify the victim failed.

cut 8 (08) “any luck.”

The turtle was discovered in west St. Tammany Parish.

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Two Arkansas men who plead guilty to aggravated animal cruelty charges for slitting a dog’s throat and posting the video on Snapchat avoid jail time in Morehouse Parish. Judge Carl Sharp gave Boots Stanley and Stevan Sadler a suspended three-year prison sentence. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana Jeff Dorson can’t believe they are not going to jail..

cut 9 (11) “cruelty statutes”

Stanley and Sadler will be on three years probation and must perform 480 hours of community service and pay a five-thousand dollar fine.

The maximum sentence for is 10 years in prison and a fine of 25,000 dollars for the charge they were facing. Dorson says the remarkably lenient sentence was judicial malpractice…

Cut 10 (08) “wrong profession”

Dorson says community service is a slap on the wrist compared to the suffering inflicted on that dog…

Cut 11 (06) “means nothing”

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Former Jindal Administration staffers are calling on the House to pass the half cent sales tax renewal that would fully fund state government, and avoid cuts to programs like TOPS. Former Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater says failing to pass the revenue bill would harm the most vulnerable people in the state.

Cut 12 (08) “afford it”

Rainwater coauthored an editorial with former Jindal Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield coming out in support of the half cent sales tax renewal.

Many legislators have credited the current fiscal crisis to fiscal mismanagement during the Jindal years, where one time money was often used to fill budget holes, and deep cuts were enacted on higher education. Rainwater says both Jindal and Edwards’ administrations failed to get the legislature to bite on long term tax reform that would end the cycle of fiscal cliffs.

Cut 13 (12) “do it.”

Some have criticized the former Commissioner’s for coming out in support for the half cent sales tax renewal, considering the Jindal Administration’s fiscal legacy and support for wide tax cuts. Rainwater isn’t buying it.

Cut 14 (11) “to do”

Without additional revenue, TOPS would see a thirty percent cut, along with deep reductions in higher ed and other state services.