28-year-old Blake Jenkins of Alexandria faces charges of carnal knowledge, kidnapping, and human trafficking after allegedly taking a girl from her home in Acadia Parish. Matt Doyle has more.
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The state will roll out a new tutoring program designed to help kids catch up on education they may have missed during the pandemic. Matt Doyle has more on the Accelerate program…
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Three men are charged with two counts of first-degree murder each for the homicides of two Montegut women last month… turns out it was a murder for hire scheme.
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An Alexandria man is under arrest for allegedly kidnapping a 13-year-old in Acadia Parish and driving her to Lake Charles where he pressured her to have sex with other men for money.
The victim is thought to be a runaway and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory says she first met 28-year-old Blake Jenkins online…
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The victim was recovered by Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement.
Jenkins is facing kidnapping and human trafficking charges and sits in jail on a 140,000 dollar bond. Guillory says Jenkins also faces a charge of Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile…
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Guillory says the victim was pressured by Jenkins into having sex with other men at a gas stop, and later in Lake Charles under the pretense of earning gas money.
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It is not known if the victim approached anyone with that offer at this time.
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Many students are behind the curve due to the pandemic and the State Department of Education hopes to reverse that with a new statewide tutoring program.
Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the Accelerate program focuses on bolstering the math and English language arts education they already receive in regular class hours.
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The program focuses on K-8th grade education with plans to expand to K-12 in time.
Brumley says the program utilizes funds given to the state through the CARES Act and opens up opportunities for kids to have their education supplemented virtually, opening up new options.
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Participating school systems will have select teachers participate over the spring in 24 lessons designed to teach them how to use the program to help catch up lagging students.
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While Hurricanes Laura and Delta devastated southwest Louisiana, residents affected by Hurricane Zeta can also apply for Federal Disaster Assistance. Homeowners and renters in southeast Louisiana should apply for assistance as soon as possible. FEMA spokesperson Melissa Wilkins explains what is eligible.
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Wilkins says some might not be aware that FEMA assistance is also available for Zeta and they want those who need assistance to register with disasterassistance.gov.
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FEMA also recognizes that multiple hurricanes and the pandemic have also been taxing mentally on residents of Louisiana. Wilkins says FEMA is offering a free crisis counseling line that’s available 24/7.
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Crisis Counseling 1-800-985-5990. For disaster assistance visit www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 or download the Disaster Assistance app on your smartphone.
Residents in Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Terrebonne Parishes are eligible.
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Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. says the arrests of three men for a double homicide in Montegut last month is just the beginning. Investigators say Beaux Cormier hired two men to murder his niece that accused him of rape. But they killed Beaux’s sister Brittany Cormier and her neighbor Hope Nettleton. Waitz says he’ll ask the victim’s family how to proceed.
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Beaux Cormier, Andrew Eskine, and Delvin Wilson are all charged with two counts each of first-degree murder. Waitz says murder for hire is an automatic first-degree charge and they may pursue more charges. Bond is set at $2 million each, but that could change.
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Waitz says dedicated police work led to the arrests of the three men and he’s confident he will get convictions.
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Beaux Cormier of Kaplan was already a convicted sex offender when he was arrested in Vermillion Parish last March for third-degree rape of his niece, that case is pending.
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The Ragin Cajuns took two games from Texas State last week to move into first place in the Sun Belt West Division. U-L Lafayette won the two games on the road by a total of three points and without head coach Bob Marlin, who was at home after testing positive for COVID-19. Cajuns basketball director of operations Mike Murphy on winning without Coach Marlin.
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Murphy says they expect Coach Marlin will return to practice tomorrow. Senior Guard Cedric Russell has been named Sun Belt Conference Player of the week as he scored 45 points in the two victories over Texas State. Murphy says Russell is feeling it from the outside.
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The Cajuns have won five in a row to move into first place and will travel to Jonesboro this weekend to face Arkansas State. Murphy says being in first place means they control their own destiny.
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