Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that when teen drivers have teen passengers, the fatality rate for all people involved in a crash increases by 51 percent…
Voicer 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

In his latest message to fans, LSU athletic director Joe Alleva is once again asking them, mainly the student section, to keep it clean after vulgar chanting was heard loud and clear during the Georgia game. LSU will host Mississippi State on Saturday night.

Louisiana Catholic Bishops are putting together a list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors. LSU Associate Professor of Religious Studies Michael Pasquier (Pass-Kay) says when the day comes, it’s possible the number of priests involved will be shocking.
cut 12 (11) “…many Catholics”

Governor Edwards says the state has saved 12-million dollars in the last year since they overhauled the state’s criminal justice system. The legislation requires that 70-percent of savings gets re-invested into criminal justice, so Edwards says two million dollars will go Orleans Parish’s re-entry program and the Caddo sheriff’s office receives 912-thousand dollars…
cut 8 (08) “….critically important”

An LSU Professor warns that when the Catholic Church in Louisiana reveals information about clergy sexual abuse, the number of cases could be shocking. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle.” 
A former Bunkie Police Chief and Dispatcher have both been arrested following an investigation by Louisiana State Police.  The investigation showed former Chief Bobby Corner allowed multiple pieces of evidence to be unsecured, misplaced and lost in the police department’s building.  It showed former dispatcher Nicholas Desselle disabled the building’s surveillance system on multiple occasions, among other incidents.

The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday jumped to 970-million dollars today, which is the highest ever for the multi-state lottery game. The largest US lottery jackpot is one-point-six billion dollars, set by Powerball in 2016. Louisiana lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the Louisiana joined the Mega Millions multi-state lottery game in 2012 and there’s never been a Mega Millions grand prize ticket purchased in Louisiana…

Cut 11 (06) “…for Powerball”

New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that when teen drivers have teen passengers, the fatality rate for all people involved in a crash increases by 51 percent.  AAA spokesperson Don Redman says in the state of Louisiana, teen drivers accounted for 69 deaths in 2016.

Cut 4 (11) “…pedestrians and bicyclists.″

Redman says although the law requires fifty hours of supervised drive time with teen drivers, AAA recommends much more.

Louisiana Catholic Bishops say they will reveal the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct in the near future. LSU Associate Professor of Religious Studies Michael Pasquier says after trying to contain stories about rampant abuse in the past, the church is being forced by public opinion to be more transparent

Cut 11 (10)   “…no choice”

The Bishops say the revelations will come as soon as they are done verifying over 50 years’ worth of documentation.

Consumers will likely pay higher prices on goods getting shipping to them from China after the President indicated that he wants to pull the US from the Universal Postal Union. Congressman Ralph Abraham he discovered most businesses were fine with the decision, and doesn’t expect it will damage the state economy.

Cut 14 (07)   “…from any country.”

The price hike would potentially impact smaller parcels.

Governor Edwards says the state is putting an additional seven million dollars into prisoner rehabilitation and education programs. Edwards says about 8.4 million dollars of the 12 million that was saved by reducing the prison population will help fund re-entry programs in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Orleans, St. Tammany and Jefferson parishes…

Cut 7 (12)  “…to have”

Orleans Parish will receive the most money at two-million, followed by East Baton Rouge at 1-point-six million and Caddo is getting 912-thousand dollars.

New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that when teen drivers have teen passengers, the fatality rate for all people involved in a crash increases by 51 percent. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says teens need more driving practice before they hit the road without an adult, certainly more than is currently recommended.

Cut 5 (04)  “…behind the wheel.” 

Redman says fellow teen passengers are bigger distractions than cell phones.

Governor Edwards says the state is putting an additional seven million dollars into prisoner rehabilitation and education programs. Edwards says the funding comes from the savings the state has seen since reforming its criminal justice system last year and the dollars should have an impact…

Cut 6 (07)  “…re-entry.”

Edwards says the state saved 12-million dollars by reducing its prison population.

New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that when teen drivers have teen passengers, the fatality rate for all people involved in a crash increases by 51 percent.  AAA spokesperson Don Redman says teen distracted driving is a major issue.

Cut 3 (06) “…distraction for teenagers.” 

Redman says in the state of Louisiana, teen drivers accounted for 69 deaths in 2016.

A Houma man accused of fatally stabbing his mother in Bayou Black last year has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (32)  “I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

A 47-year-old Bossier parish elementary school teacher has been arrested for alleged video voyeurism involving a student at Benton Elementary, where the teacher works. Aubrey Norcross of Bossier City was arrested yesterday afternoon and booked into the Bossier Maximum Security Facility on a bond of 200,000 dollars. The investigation is currently ongoing.

President Trump announces the U-S will withdraw from a Universal Postal Union, which allows countries like China to deliver small packages to the U-S at discounted rates. Matt Doyle has more.
cut 3 (24) “…Matt Doyle”
No word on how China will respond to this latest development.

Former Secretary of State Tom Schedler does not admit guilt in the legal settlement that ended a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by his former secretary. The woman will receive a 167-thousand dollar payment and the participants involved are prohibited from talking about the settlement.

A Houma man has been found not guilty by the reason of insanity for stabbing his mother to death in 2017. Assistant District Attorney Dennis Elfert say the judgement lined up with the defendant’s plea, after four mental health professionals concluded John Monteiro the third’s claim of insanity is legitimate…
cut 4 (08) “….agreed with that plea”
The 36-year-old man has been committed to a state mental facility.

The state has launched a public information campaign called vaccinate before you graduate and it’s designed to raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated in high school. Jeri Acosta is a spokesperson for the initiative. Her son was one of two who died during a 2006 meningitis outbreak on the UL Lafayette campus…
cut 8 (09) “…died within four”
Acosta says most parents think their children are protected, not realizing a second vaccine is needed to protect against Meningitis B.

The state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, announces plans to purchase the parent company of north Louisiana’s Vantage Health Plan. Once the transaction is finalized, Blue Cross and Vantage will retain their own corporate and product brands and over time it could lead to more jobs in Monroe. Vantage CEO Gary Jones hopes Vantage can expand into more markets outside of Louisiana.

President Trump plans to withdraw from a 144-year-old postal treaty that has allowed Chinese companies to ship small packages to the US at a significantly lower rate. US Representative Ralph Abraham of Richland Parish says its another way to punish China for unfair trade practices…
cut 15 (11) “…the American public”
It’s unknown if China will retaliate if the United States pulls out of the treaty.

A Houma man has been committed to a state mental facility after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity in last year’s stabbing death of his mother. Assistant District Attorney in Terrebonne, Dennis Elfert, says four mental health professionals examined 36-year-old John Monteiro the Third and each came away with the same conclusion that he did not have the requisite intent in the murder and needs long-term treatment…
cut 6 (07) “…himself and others”
Monteiro was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 65-year-old Ellen Monteiro.

A vaccinate before you graduate public information campaign has been started to get the word out that high school students need to make sure they are properly vaccinated before they get their diploma. Jeri Acosta’s son died during a meningitis outbreak in 2006 and they learned he never received a second vaccine to protect against Meningitis B…
cut 9 (09) “….took his life”
For more information go to the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Louisiana Catholic Bishops are putting together a list of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors and according to New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond their list will be revealed sooner than later. LSU Associate Professor of Religious Studies Michael Pasquier (Pass-Kay) says when the day comes, it’s possible the number of priests involved will be shocking.
cut 12 (11) “…many Catholics”

A Houma man has been committed to a mental health institute after he was found not guilty by the reason of insanity in the stabbing death of his mother last year. Assistant District Attorney Dennis Elfert says based on the findings from four different mental health professionals he could not prove 36-year-old John Monteiro’s guillt beyond a reasonable doubt…
cut 5 (07) “….requisite intent”
First Lady Donna Edwards along with state health leaders announced the launch of Vaccinate Before You Graduate, a public information campaign designed to raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated in high school. Jeri Acosta is a main spokesperson for the initiative, because her son was one of two people who died during a UL Lafayette Meningitis outbreak in 2006.
Cut 7 (08) “…within 21 hours.”
Acosta says parents should know a second vaccine is needed to protect against Meningitis B, which in the U.S. accounts for nearly 50-percent of all cases in individuals between 17 to 23 years of age.

A teacher at Benton Elementary school has been arrested on a video voyeurism charge. Deputies say the victim was a student and 47-year-old Aubrey Norcross of Bossier City has been booked into the Bossier Maximum Security Facility with a bond of 200-thousand dollars.

A Houma man accused of fatally stabbing his mother in Bayou Black last year has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A department of corrections spokesperson confirms Brandon Scott Lavergne attempted to escape from Angola this week, but didn’t get past his perimeter fence. Lavergne was found guilty in 2012 in the murders of Mickey Shunick of Lafayette and Lisa Pate of Youngsville.

Louisiana Catholic Bishops say they will reveal the names of clergy who have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct in the near future. Nationwide the church has begun opening up about abuse scandals, scandals that recently rocked Dioceses in Pennsylvania, and LSU Associate Professor of Religious Studies Michael Pasquier (Pass-kay) says that’s leading to a deluge of revelations.
Cut 10 (09) “Parishioners“

The state has launched a public information campaign called vaccinate before you graduate and it’s designed to raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated in high school. Jeri Acosta is a spokesperson for the initiative. Her son was one of two who died during a 2006 meningitis outbreak on the UL Lafyaette campus…
cut 8 (09) “…died within four”
Acosta says most parents think their children are protected, not realizing a second vaccine is needed to protect against Meningitis B.