Speed enforcement cameras would be taken down around the state, under a proposal to be discussed in the regular session. Covington Representative Paul Hollis says these cameras deny people their constitutional right to confront their accuser….:
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The constitutional amendment will need a two-thirds vote approval by the legislature and then go on a ballot for the public to decide.

Most of the state has seen the end of the wicked storms that blew through Sunday, but much of south and central Louisiana remain under a flash flood watch through 3pm this afternoon. Damage assessments are being made now this Monday morning, and many are in the dark with Cleco reporting over 10,000 customers don’t have power, and Entergy has over 12,000 outages. Crews are working to clean up downed trees and power lines. A suspected tornado claimed the life of a 3-year-old and her mother in Breaux Bridge as the two slept in a trailer.

The online donation campaign CrowdRelief is working to replace items families lost in the floods. Founder Rob Gaudet says flood victims can fill out a survey online, and then a CrowdRelief volunteer will meet with them to hear their story and take pictures of their rebuilding…:
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To donate or apply for assistance, visit CrowdRelief.net.

The popularity of essential oils are on the rise for massages and air fresheners, but they also pose a greater risk to children. Louisiana Poison Center Managing Director Dr. Mark Ryan says more and more children are easily getting into air fresheners…:
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He says accidentally ingesting these oils can lead to seizures or liver damage.

Strong storms ripped through the state last night, but the line continues to move off to our east. 9 parishes in far southeast Louisiana are those that remain under a tornado watch through nine this morning. Flash flood watches span most of the bottom half of the state.

A measure in the Governor’s proposed criminal justice package for the regular session seeks to improve police training. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James authors a bill that strengthens requirements for the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST. James says this bill requires all officers to complete 400 hours of this training, with an additional 20 hours annually…:
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He is optimistic this modernized training can help ease tensions and build trust between law enforcement and the public.

You can now donate household items to flood victims through the new online donation campaign CrowdRelief. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says a three year old and her mother died after a suspected tornado flipped over the trailer they were in Breaux Bridge. They have been identified as 38-year-old Francine Gotch, and her daughter, 3-year-old Nevaeh Alexander.

The former Marksville officer who fatally shot a 6-year-old boy has been sentenced to 40 years behind bars. Derrick Stafford testified he didn’t know the little boy was in the vehicle when he fired his weapon after a car chase. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says it’s a lengthy sentence for a terrible mistake.

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Stafford faced a maximum sentence of 60 years.

The first 8 blocks of Bourbon Street will undergo their first renovation in nearly a century. After French Quarter fest, city officials say crews will begin the $6 million project of replacing the roadway and water lines two blocks at a time. Each segment is expected to take 60 days to complete, and the entire project is projected to finish up by the end of the year.

Louisiana is one step close to getting flood recover dollars into the hands of flood victims, as HUD has approved the state’s spending plan for the federal funds. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is disappointed the state does not have a contractor lined up yet. The Governor expects to have a program manager in place in the coming weeks, and funds are expected to start rolling out shortly after.

GOHSEP, the Louisiana National Guard and other key state agencies are taking part in an Emergency Response Exercise today…

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Derrick Stafford has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for fatally shooting a 6-year-old after a car chase in 2015. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says this wasn’t a premeditated shooting, but it is a crime of violence.

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Stafford faced a maximum sentence of 60 years for manslaughter and attempted manslaughter convictions.

A bill by Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor could put an end to the death penalty in Louisiana for first degree rape and murder convictions. Claitor says the death penalty cheapens life, as his catholic religion teaches all life is sacred.

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The bill would not affect inmates currently on death row.

The state’s plan for allocating $1.6 billion in federal flood recovery has been approved by HUD. The dollars will be used to help flood victims rebuild and elevate their homes, or reimburse them for rebuilding costs. But there’s no word yet on exactly when the dollars will be dispersed.

Today the Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Louisiana National Guard are participating in training exercises to prepare for future disasters. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says a lot goes into emergency response, including communications to partnerships between state and local officials.

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He says we could see an increase in severe spring and summer weather after this year’s unusually warm winter.

Derrick Stafford receives the maximum sentence for the manslaughter conviction that was handed down after the former Marksville deputy marshal shot and killed a 6-year-old autistic boy during a 2015 car chase. Stafford maintained the boy’s father posed a threat, and that he did not know the little boy was in the vehicle. Stafford will be eligible for parole after completing 20 years of his 40 year sentence.

A bill that will be debated in the upcoming legislative session calls for the elimination of the death penalty in Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…

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An 8 block stretch of Bourbon Street will be rebuilt for the first time in nearly a century. City Officials says crews will replace the roadway and water lines of the first 8 blocks of Bourbon after the French Quarter Fest. The construction will reportedly take place two blocks at a time, and each segment is expected to take 60 days to complete, with the entire $6 million project finishing up by the end of the year.

Today state agencies are participating in an Emergency Response Exercise to prepare for any potential natural disasters. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness says the goal of the exercise is to synchronize the response efforts when disaster strikes.

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Steele says emergency response efforts will continue to get better because of training exercises like this.

Former Marksville Officer Derrick Stafford has been sentenced to 40 years behind bars for a manslaughter conviction he received after fatally shooting a 6-year-old during a car chase. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino…

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The judge ruled Stafford must serve 20 years before he’s eligible for parole.

HUD has approved the state’s spending plan for the full $1.6 billion Congress allocated for flood recovery. This approval brings the state one step closer to getting federal funds in the hands of flood victims, but no dollars have yet been dispersed. Governor John Bel Edwards calls this a milestone in recovery, but Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is disappointed the state does not have a contractor lined up to oversee the rebuilding.

Expanding athletic facilities and funding cuts have led ULM to the decision to donate several biology research collections from the Museum of Natural History. Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Eric Pani says they don’t have the facility to properly store the specimens, and they’re being used less since research funding has been reduced.

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The space where a new facility would be built is instead being used to expand the track at Brown Stadium.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with back to back break-ins at both Tioga High School and Tioga Junior High that caused extensive damage to the interior of the schools. Police say 17-year-olds Cody Blakeny and Shane Johnson both of Rapides Parish will face charges of burglary and criminal damage.

LSU got a much needed win over Texas A&M last night as the Tigers topped the Aggies 7-4. LSU busted out of its offensive slump with a three-run third. Kramer Robertson had a two-run single . Robertson also homered for the second time this season. Jared Poche did the rest on the mound. The senior left-hander tossed seven strong innings to improve to 6-1

The Ragin Cajuns started a big Sun Belt Series with South Alabama by thumping the Jaguars 11-1. UL Lafayette busted the game open with a five-run fifth inning. Joe Robbins homered and Gunner Leger pitched six innings for the win.

Georgia Southern downed ULM 9-3. Texas-San Antonio doubled up Louisiana Tech six to three. The Bulldogs had 12 hits, but only scored the three runs. Tulane scored five runs in the seventh to beat South Florida 6-4.

Southeastern Louisiana handed McNeese its first Southland Conference loss as the Lions pummeled the Cowboys 10-2. Senior Ryan Byers drove in four runs and homered.

Also last night in the Southland, UNO topped Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 10-3, Northwestern State nipped Central Arkansas three to two. Freshman Austin Townsend had a big two-run homer in the contest. Nicholls edged Texas Southern two to one. Cole Stapler pitched eight innings for the win.

And Grambling defeated Prairie View six to one, while Southern beat Arkansas Pine Bluff 3-2.

In the NBA, DeMarcus Cousins had 37 points and 13 rebounds in his first game against his old team as New Orleans easily crowned the Sacramento Kings 117-89. New Orleans has won eight of its last 11.

And Saints Quarterback Drew Brees says a possible contract extension can wait until after the 2017. New Orleans also announced signing of back-up QB Chase Daniel to a one-year contract.

Former deputy marshal Derrick Stafford will spend the next 40 years in prison for fatally shooting a six-year-old boy and injuring his father. That was the sentence handed down on Friday by a state judge in Marksville. The shooting happened in November 2015 and there’s still another deputy marshal facing trial in the shooting death of Jeremy Mardis. Norris Greenhouse Junior’s trial is set for June 12th.

A Baton Rouge lawmaker believes the time has come in Louisiana to stop sentencing convicted murderers and rapists to the death penalty. Republican Senator Dan Claitor expects to receive a lot of support for this bill, because of the costs surrounding the prosecution of such cases…
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Claitor’s proposal will be debated in the upcoming legislative session. 2010 was the last execution in Louisiana.

Students from Lee Magnet High School in Baton Rouge were not able to complete their field trip to New Orleans on Friday, because of an accident involving two charter buses on I-10 in LaPlace. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey says a bus driver who hit the other bus from behind faces charges….
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Over two dozen kids were sent to area hospials with minor to moderate injuries.

GOHSEP, the Louisiana National Guard and other key state agencies are taking part in an Emergency Response Exercise on Saturday. Michelle Southern reports…:
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