A Webster Parish woman is charged with killing her father and going after her son. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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If you enjoy the outdoors or exploring Louisiana history, a new state program is designed to get you visiting more parks and historic sites. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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A 34-year-old Webster Parish woman is behind bars after allegedly shooting her father to death. Deputies say Lacey Mann’s 11-year-old son told them early Sunday evening that she had shot her 78-year-old father, Earl Benson, in the back multiple times. Sheriff Jason Parker says as the boy was on the phone with 911, his mother then started going after him.
Deputies eventually found the boy safe and unharmed. Sheriff Parker says he is being cared for and will likely need care for quite some time.
Parker says while the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear at this time, her son told investigators that she was, in his words, “acting crazy” as she grabbed the handgun from the center console of a truck and started shooting her father. He says Mann has had issues in the past.
Mann is in the Dorcheat Correctional Center on charges of second-degree murder and battery of a police officer.
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With the crucial holiday shopping season right around the corner, optimism among small businesses is on the decline. Leah Long, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says rising costs are fueling the drop in confidence among small business owners.
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Compounding those rising costs continue to be swipe fees, which Long says can sometimes exceed the monthly rent for some businesses.
Long says another issue facing small business owners continues to be finding good quality employees – in fact, that remains the top issue among small business owners from coast to coast.
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Long says amid all those challenges, the holiday shopping season could be make-it-or-break-it for many small business owners.
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The state has launched a new Louisiana State Parks Passport to encourage people to visit more of its state parks and historic sites. Office of State Parks Director Brandon Burris says the free booklet serves as a keepsake for outdoor enthusiasts.
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The passports are free and can be requested online through the Louisiana State Parks Passport webpage. Burris says visitors can collect a commemorative stamp at each location they explore.
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Those who visit all 32 state parks and historic sites and complete their passports can turn them in for prizes, including official state park merchandise or a free overnight stay in a cabin or campsite.
Burris says more than two-million people visit Louisiana’s 32 state parks and historic sites each year.