AAA says more Americans are expected to travel this 4th of July Holiday period than ever before. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore provides a detail account of what happened July 17th when a gunman began firing on Baton Rouge officers. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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AAA says this Fourth of July Holiday weekend travel period, which begins Friday, will be historic as more Americans are expected to take to the skies, roads, rails and waterways than ever before. Spokesman Don Redman says they’ve never seen numbers like this…:
Cut 3 (08) “even more than last year”
The Independence Day holiday travel period is defined as June 30th, through Tuesday July 4th. Redman says with 1.25 million more travelers than last year, 2017 will be marked as the most traveled Independence Day holiday weekend ever..:
With a current statewide average for a gallon of gasoline at a low $2.05, Redman says families are more comfortable going long distances for the popular summer getaway. He says they also credit people feeling great about the economic climate…:
Cut 5 (05) “people out to travel”
He says 37.5 million people will be driving to their destinations, and 3.44 million will fly which is a 4.6% increase over last year.
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East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore gave an extensive review of what happened last July when a gunman ambushed Baton Rouge Police officers, killing three and wounding three. Moore provided the public with the shooter’s suicide note. He says its clear Gavin Long came to Baton Rouge to inflict pain on police officers…
Long said in his suicide note that many will be surprised by what he’s done, but something had to be done to punish “bad cops.” Long’s attack on the officers came less than two weeks after a white police officer fatally shot a black man in Baton Rouge. Moore’s presentation lasted about an hour. He replayed the chilling dispatch call when Long opened fire on Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola and others…
Moore says Long’s attack on the officers lasted nearly 14 minutes. He showed surveillance video that illustrated the intensity of the shootout, but video showing the officers being fatally shot was edited. He says Deputy Garafola was very brave as he fired shots at Long, while also tending to Officer Matthew Gerald who was also fatally shot….
Moore says a Special Response Team was on stand-by because of the recent protests and were on the scene in minutes. He says SWAT officers fired a total of 89 rounds and Long had a total of 45 bullet wounds. The D-A says the officers who killed Long were completely justified and he was ready to die that day too based on his suicide note….
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The state department of health has found brain eating amoebas in the water systems in both Terrebonne and Ouachita parish. State health officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says while the water is safe to drink and bathe in, people should make sure it does not get in their nose.
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The amoeba causes an infection that leads to the destruction of brain tissue. Louisiana has had three deaths from this amoeba that came from drinking water. Guidry says they know at this time of year they have to be diligent about looking for it and addressing it because it thrives in warm water.
These two systems also had the amoebas in 2015. Guidry says the Department of Health is asking the two systems to treat the water with more chlorine to get rid of the amoebas.
For more information on how to keep your water clean, visit ldh.la.gov.
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Lots of people will be celebrating Independence Day, and law enforcement will be out to make sure they do so safely with its “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Trooper Jesse LaGrange with State Police says officers will be on patrol looking for impaired drivers, with saturated patrols and DWI checkpoints.
State Police reports five families in our state lost loved ones in crashes during the 2016 July Fourth weekend. LaGrange encourages everyone to designate a sober driver if they plan to drink. He says it’s important to know how you’re getting home before you start drinking.
Staying sober protects not only other drivers, but law enforcement as well. Last Fourth of July weekend, Sterlington Police Officer David Elahi was killed when he was struck by a drunk driver while assisting someone on the side of the road.
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