A young girl who was killed by an escaped David Wade Correctional Center inmate just graduated from Summerfield high school this year. Police say 19-year-old Amanda Carney was fatally stabbed by 39-year-old Deltra Henderson, after he abducted the assistant warden’s step daughter at a location away from prison grounds. Carney’s high school Principal Shane Lee says this is a difficult time for the community.

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Carney played softball and was planning to attend Southern Arkansas University.

US Senator John Kennedy says a failed vote to repeal Obamacare is a loss for the American people. But the Louisiana Budget Project is relieved because they say it would have jeopardized the healthcare many Louisianans depend on. It’s unclear what direction healthcare discussions will take from here.

The Mermentau Police Chief has been charged with theft and malfeasance in office after allegedly making illegal withdrawals from the police association’s bank account. State Trooper Brooks David says they will hold Chief Amos Crader accountable for his crimes.

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Crader was booked into the Acadia Parish Jail on three counts of theft and three counts of malfeasance.

Southwest Electric Power Company customers will soon see savings from a new windfarm being constructed in Oklahoma. Spokesperson Scott McCloud says the project will save customers more than $5 billion over the 25 year lifespan of the windfarm.

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Savings should appear on customers’ bills by 2021.

The deceased victim in the case of the inmate who escaped from the David Wade Correctional Center in Claiborne Parish was an assistant warden’s step-daughter. Police believe 39-year-old Deltra Henderson stole a vehicle and abducted 19-year-old Amanda Carney before crashing the car where the teen’s body was found. Carney just graduated from Summerfield High School and her principal was Shane Lee..:
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Henderson was killed after a standoff with prison guards at a nearby residents.

The Mermentau (Mer-men-tow) Chief of Police is behind bars on theft charges, according to State Police. Master Trooper Brooks David says Chief Amos Crader allegedly stole funds from the police association’s bank account, and faces multiple charges…:
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A cold front is expected to move through the state tomorrow, but it definitely won’t be cold. State Climatologist Barry Keim says cool air is coming in from Canada, and while the temperatures will still be hot Sunday into Monday you will notice a difference…:
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Saturday’s cold front does bring with it increased chances for thunderstorms.

Community leaders in Monroe are hoping to clean up the streets with a Gun Buy-Back Rally at Charles Johnson Park on Saturday. Rally coordinator Pastor Vance Price says all attendees have to do is speak with one of the police officers at the rally, and they’ll start the process…:
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Price says from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., gun owners can drop off their legal weapons at the rally.

Two people are dead after a trustee at David Wade Correctional Center walked away from a work assignment. Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey says they believe 39-year-old Deltra Henderson stole a vehicle and abducted 19-year-old Amanda Carney. Authorities says Henderson crashed that vehicle and Carney’s body was found nearby. Carney just graduated from Summerfield High School and her principal Shane Lee remembers the bright young girl…:
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Southwest Electric Power Company will now provide new wind energy to SWEPCO customers. Company spokesperson Scott McCloud says SWEPCO will own 1,400 watts of a 2,000 watt wind farm currently under construction in Oklahoma…:
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A rally being held in Monroe on Saturday will help get guns off the streets. Halen Doughty has more…:
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A rare summer cold front is expected to move through the state tomorrow. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this cool air coming in from Canada will bring an increased chance for thunderstorms, but only a slight break in the heat…:
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Keim says Sunday into Monday we’re going to feel a significant reduction in humidity as drier air settles across the state.

Community leaders in Monroe are hoping to clean up the streets with a Gun Buy-Back Rally at Charles Johnson Park on Saturday. Coordinator Pastor Vance Price says if we can get these guns off the streets, lives could be saved…:
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Price says from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., gun owners can drop off their legal weapons at the rally.

A report from an independent consulting firm finds the University of Louisiana at Lafayette had a $379 million economic impact for FY-15..:
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The murder victim in the case of the inmate who escaped from the David Wade Correctional Center in Claiborne Parish was an assistant warden’s daughter. The Department of Corrections said the prison escapee, 39-year-old Deltra Henderson, is dead following a standoff with authorities, after the man allegedly stole a car and killed the hostage at her home which is on the prison grounds.

UL-Lafayette had a statewide economic impact of $379 million in FY-15, according to a study by the New York-based consulting firm Appleseed. The report also found community service work performed by students and faculty totaled more than 332,000 hours, which is valued at more than $7 million. University president Dr. Joseph Savoie says it’s all about giving back..:
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The Mermentau (Mer-men-tow) Chief of Police is behind bars in Acadia Parish on theft charges. Master Trooper Brooks David says in June, the DA contacted State Police in reference to a complaint about Chief Amos Crader making withdrawals from the police association’s bank account.:
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Crader was booked on three counts of malfeasance in office and three counts of theft under $500.

Fun events are taking place throughout Sportsman’s Paradise this weekend. In Grand Isle, the Tarpon Rodeo is underway. It’s the oldest fishing tournament in the country in its 89th year. Event president Barry Kern says this year they’re letting the good times roll with a Mardi Gras theme, complete with a parade on Saturday night…:
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Nine tarpon were registered on the first day. Visit tarponrodeo.org for details.

Saints Training Camp is officially underway, and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees was asked by reporters about this being the final year of his contract. But the 38-year-old old says it’s a non-issue for him…:
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The US Senate was dealt a setback to GOP efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare, as the bill was voted down in dramatic fashion early this morning. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says this is not a loss for the Republican party, it’s a loss for the American people. Senator Bill Cassidy is back to pushing his bill which would let individual states choose whether or not to keep the Affordable Care Act in place.

State Police say there have been two fatal drunk driving crashes in the past 48 hours, one of which claimed the life of a 17-year-old pedestrian who was run over by a man suspected of being impaired in Red River Parish. Trooper Matt Harris says anytime you drink and drive, you put others and yourself at risk because your reaction time slows and your motor skills are affected:
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A passenger died in a Hammond crash when an impaired driver crashed into a bulldozer.

UL-Lafayette had a statewide economic impact of $379 million in FY-15, according to a study by the New York-based consulting firm Appleseed. University president Dr. Joseph Savoie says the university contributes to the economy in a variety of ways, from employing nearly two thousand people to buying local…:
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Savoie hopes this will help higher education leaders make the case for increased state funding during difficult budget times.

It will be a fun-filled weekend across the Bayou State, as events are taking place in both north and south Louisiana. In north Louisiana, the 54th annual Farmerville Watermelon Festival kicks off. Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival Eva Edinger says the watermelon seed spitting contest in particular will be a sight to see…:
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Police say the Coushatta man that struck 2 young women Wednesday in Red River Parish, killing one of them, was driving under the influence. State Police Trooper Matt Harris says a 17-year-old is dead, a 19-year-old was injured, and 47-year-old Kenneth Morse is behind bars…:
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Morse was booked into Red River Parish Jail.

In South Louisiana, State Police say a driver is facing several charges, including DWI and vehicular homicide, after his passenger was killed when an SUV collided with a bulldozer. Investigators determined that the crash which happened on I-55 near I-12 in Hammond, was caused when a vehicle ran off the road and rear ended the bulldozer that was part of a construction crew. 24-year-old Tyler Tullos died in the wreck. The driver, 23-year-old Dillon Majesty, is suspected of being impaired.

There is a lot of talk this week about a new study which found brain damage in 99 percent of participating former NFL players. Jeff Palermo reports some are skeptical of the findings…:
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It’s Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo time! There’s lots to do around the state this weekend including the oldest fishing tournament in the country. Event president Barry Kern says even if you don’t participate in the rodeo itself, there’s still plenty of fun to be had in Grand Isle…:
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A recent study found brain damage in 99 percent of participating former NFL players, but some are skeptical of the findings. The report says CTE occurs after repeated blows to the head, and it causes things like memory loss, depression, and dementia. Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine director Dr. Greg Stewart hopes people don’t think that everyone who plays football is going to kill themselves..:
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The Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine is one of only four medical facilities in the nation chosen to take care of the physical and mental health of former pro-players.

The Department of Corrections said a prison escapee out of Claiborne Parish is dead following a standoff with authorities, after the inmate allegedly stole a car and killed a hostage. They say 39-year-old Deltra Henderson, who was being held at the David Wade Correctional Center, fired at officers who fired back.

A 17-year-old is dead and a 19-year-old was injured after a suspected drunk driver struck the girls as they were walking on LA 784 in Red River Parish. State Police Trooper Matt Harris says they responded to the crash Wednesday just before 6 p.m. and suspected 47-year-old Kenneth Morse of Coushatta was impaired…:
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A report from an independent consulting firm finds the University of Louisiana at Lafayette had a $379 million economic impact for FY-15…:
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