Two counts of second degree murder charges have been leveled at 23 year old Kenneth Gleason in the shooting deaths of a pair of black men in Baton Rouge.  Michelle Southern reports….

Voicer 2    (28)   “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he can’t support Senator Bill Cassidy’s legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Edwards says his primary objection is the elimination of the Medicaid expansion program in 2020, which has provided health insurance to 430-thousand working individuals. Cassidy says the Edwards administration’s concerns are unfounded.

Senator Bill Cassidy’s bill to issue block grants to states as an alternative to the Affordable Care Act has support from Louisiana’s junior senator.  Republican John Kennedy not only wants to vote for the legislation but he plans to propose an amendment to prevent states from accepting block grants to establish a single payer health insurance system.  Kennedy says he would prefer to have private insurance companies provide coverage that could help lower healthcare costs.

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The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has received a grant to hire more child welfare workers.  DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says her staff has decreased by 600 employees over the last 10 years and this grant will help find solutions to the increased rate of turnover

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The Associated Press is reporting that an Adolf Hitler speech was found at the home of Kenneth Gleason, who was booked today in Baton Rouge on counts of the murders of two black men. East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore said that while the suspect is innocent until proven guilty, based on the allegations this case would qualify for the death penalty…:
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Gleason is also being charged for allegedly shooting up a black family’s home near his parents’ house.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has received a grant to increase the number of child welfare workers. Nearly half of the child welfare workers who left DCFS in 2016, had less than three years of service. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says case loads are too great…:
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A study finds children with more case workers have less stability.

U.S Senator John Kennedy plans to vote for Senator Cassidy’s bill to repeal and replace the ACA but says it needs improvement. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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A Bawcomville man is facing two counts of aggravated assault after chasing two water meter readers with a golf club. The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says 53-year-old Tommy Bouwell was allegedly intoxicated when yelled at the victims accusing them of coming at him with a weapon, and that’s when he returned with a golf club and started swinging.

Kenneth Gleason is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of two black men in Baton Rouge that cops had said could be racially motivated. East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore said they were initially able to connect the shootings because of the disturbing way each incident unfolded…:
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Moore said, based on the allegations, this case would qualify for the death penalty.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy supports his fellow Louisiana lawmaker’s health care bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Kennedy says he plans to vote for U.S Senator Bill Cassidy’s measure but it can be better. He says the legislation gives states the choice if they want to impose a work requirement:
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Kennedy also advises adding a plan to prevent Medicaid fraud.

LSU has completed its contract with the company that will grow medical marijuana, clearing the way for cultivation to begin…:
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And former LSU Tiger Marcus Spears said LSU is just a mediocre football team and no longer a championship program.

The Baton Rouge Police Department announces Kenneth Gleason is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the random deaths of two black men last week that cops had said could be racially motivated. BRPD Interim Police Chief Jonny Dunnam said Gleason is also being charged for allegedly shooting up a black family’s home near his parents’ house…:
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East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore said the suspect’s DNA was found on shell casings, which he said normally doesn’t happen. He added that while the suspect is innocent until proven guilty, this case would qualify for the death penalty.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been awarded a 6.7 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study military nutrition and metabolism research…:
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That’s Pennington researcher Dr. Jennifer Rood (Rude).

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services has received a grant to increase the number of child welfare workers. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says her staff has decreased by 600 employees over the last 10 years and this is an opportunity to address the high turnover rate…:
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She says additional help is coming, as DCFS has now been awarded a federal research grant to test strategies to retain caseworkers.

Hundreds gathered last night at a church on LSU’s campus to remember 18-year-old Max Gruver who died last week after leaving the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house in what officials have called a possible hazing incident. Phi Delta Theta has formally revoked the charter from its LSU chapter saying some of the members had violated its Alcohol Free Housing policy. Authorities say it’s still far too early in the investigation to say whether charges will be brought in this case.

Avoyelles, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette and Rapides sheriffs have filed lawsuits against multiple drug companies and some doctors for allegedly helping to make the opioid addiction an epidemic across the country. Attorney David Laborde says opioids were orginally intendended to be used for a short period of time,…
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Laborde says the settlement seeks money from the defendants to help opioid addicts get treatment.

Two elected officials in the village of Stanley were burned in a home explosion on Monday. DeSoto Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says 92-year-old Dwena Henry, who is currently an alderwoman and former mayor, is fighting for her life. Arbuckle says Mrs Dwena is important to the community…
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Her daughter. Stanley Mayor Sharon Fletcher, was also injured.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center receives a six-million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study how to improve soldiers’ nutrition. Emelie Gunn has more…
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Authorities in Baton Rouge are expected to announce at a press conference this morning that 23-year-old Kenneth Gleason has been charged in the fatal shootings of two black men last week. Police have said they believe the homicides were racially motivated. Gleason was booked on drug charges over the weekend, but bonded out of jail.

The Baton Rouge Police Department is holding a joint news conference at this hour to give more information about the person of interest questioned in connection to two linked deadly shootings they believe could be racially motivated. 23-year-old Kenneth Gleason was arrested on drug charges over the weekend, and he was booked again last night on a theft charge for allegedly stealing from Books-A-Million.

Four sheriff’s offices in Louisiana have filed lawsuits against drug companies and physicians for allegedly helping to grow the opioid crisis. Attorney David Laborde says the defendants have misrepresented the proper use of opioids which has led to an epidemic and an uptick in crime…:
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Avoyelles, Lafayette, Jefferson Davis and Rapides have filed lawsuits in state courts in their respective parishes.

LSU has taken the final step in the medical marijuana contract process, as its finalized the deal with GB Sciences that will grow the cannabis. LSU vice president for Agriculture Dr. Bill Richardson says he doesn’t know when the drug will be available in 2018, because they have to make sure everything is done right…:
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He predicts they’ll be moving quickly to begin cultivation.

Two elected officials in the northwest Louisiana town of Stanley suffered burns from an explosion at their home. They are Mayor Sharon Fletcher and her mother Dwena Henry, who is the former mayor. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says Henry suffered third-degree burns over 50-percent of her body and the town of Stanley is praying for her recovery…:
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Arbuckle says Henry is lucky to be alive and doctors say the next 48 hours will be critical.

Patients with certain debilitating conditions could soon be prescribed medical marijuana in Louisiana, as LSU has finalized its contract with the company that will cultivate the drug. LSU vice president for Agriculture Dr. Bill Richardson says he visited GB Sciences in Las Vegas and was very impressed, especially with their commitment to medical…:
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He says medical cannabis should be available some time next year.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $6.7 million dollar grant to LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research center to study military nutrition. Dr. Jennifer Rood (Rude)…:
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She says they will focus on how to ensure a healthy and fit military.

Four sheriff’s offices have filed state lawsuits in an effort to stop the opioid abuse epidemic. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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Today Governor John Bel Edwards is continuing his statewide tour to discuss the state’s ongoing budget problems. He’ll be in Hammond this morning meeting with local elected officials and business leaders. The governor is exploring options for addressing the more than $1 billion budget shortfall the state faces next year, as a temporary one-cent sales tax hike approved last year is set to expire in July.

LSU has completed its contract with the company that will grow medical marijuana, clearing the way for cultivation to begin…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

Hundreds gathered last night at a church on LSU’s campus to remember 18-year-old Max Gruver who died last week after leaving the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house in what officials have called a possible hazing incident. Phi Delta Theta has formally revoked the charter from its LSU chapter saying some of the members had violated its Alcohol Free Housing policy.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been awarded a 6.7 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study military nutrition and metabolism research. Researcher Dr. Jennifer Rood (Rude) says they will focus on how to ensure a healthy and fit military…:
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She says Pennington has the expertise to conduct research that’s not available within the Department of Defense.

Two elected officials in the northwest Louisiana town of Stanley suffered burns from an explosion at their home. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says Mayor Sharon Fletcher and her mother Dwena Henry, who is the alderman, suffered burns on their bodies. He says the 92-year-old Henry is fighting for her life…:
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Henry has a decades-long following through a column she writes in the weekly newspaper.