Jefferson Parish Parish President Mike Yenni addressed the council for the first time today since his sexting scandal broke out. Jeff Palermo has more…
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The ACLU is looking into the alleged strip searches of multiple students at Caldwell Parish High School. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is looking to grow the state’s seafood industry. Nungesser says Louisiana produces more than 850-million pounds of seafood every year. He says when you combine seafood, with tourism, it accounts for 14-billion dollars in annual revenue for Louisiana and the two should help each other…
Nungesser says they are getting close to releasing details about a new program where all Louisiana residents can be an ambassador for the seafood industry. He says they can do that with help from social media…
Nungesser says his office doesn’t have the resources to promote Louisiana’s seafood and tourism industry to the level they would like. But he says if they can get Louisiana residents to use social media, to show off the great food and destinations the state has to offer, he believes that can lead to more out of state visitors…
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Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni addressed the parish council today for the first time since his sexting scandal made headlines. Yenni says he has learned to not run from your troubles when you can rise from them instead. He says over the past few weeks, he has walked the deepest valley of despair.
The Jefferson Parish Council has called for Yenni’s resignation and gave him a vote of no confidence. But the embattled politician says it is his job to move the parish forward and asks that the council let him do his job. He says he has never taken his oath to the parish or the people lightly.
Jefferson Parish residents responded to Yenni following his refusal to resign from office. Gregory Carroll with Citizens for a Better Kenner says he’s concerned that city equipment was used to have those conversations with a 17-year-old, and that he offered that boy a job.
A recall petition has been started to remove Yenni from office. Carroll adds that nearly 80-percent of the registered voters in the parish want Yenni to resign.
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Law enforcement, elected officials, and the public gathered at the House Judiciary Committee meeting today to discuss ways to improve community relations with police. Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor’s Office, Julie Baxter Payer says they are looking at more training and education for law enforcement. She says they want to encourage investments in officer wellness and safety initiatives.
State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says he’s been meeting with law enforcement around the country to learn more about practices implemented in other areas. He says they are extending training periods for officers to ensure they are better prepared for the field, as well as working to recruit better people for the job.
Edmonson says they also want to address how the public responds to police officers, especially young adults. He says many young people don’t know what to do if they get pulled over.
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The ACLU of Louisiana is working together with parents after multiple students said they were strip searched at Caldwell Parish High School to find a student’s missing 42 dollars. Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana Marjorie Esman says the Supreme Court has ruled very clearly that this is a violation of the law.
Caldwell Parish School Superintendent John Gullatt says they are conducting an investigation themselves and has apologized to the families involved. Esman says the ACLU and the parents of the students are discussing how to move forward and only time will tell if they decide to take legal action but…
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It’s been reported a teacher and principal have been placed on administrative leave in connection with the searches. Esman says moving forward, the school needs to alter how they deal with matters like this.