Alleged misuse of State Police funds for a trip to a training conference in San Diego has led to an internal investigation into four troopers’ spending. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
______________________________________
More people than ever are feeling politically stressed out. Michelle Southern explains.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”
______________________________________
The search is ongoing for three escaped Avoyelles Parish inmates. Sheriff Doug Anderson says 31-year-old Blake Reine, 23-year-old Joseph James, and 22-year-old Andre Steward escaped from a detention center near Bunkie on Saturday night.
Cut 3 (11) “from there”
Anderson says authorities are unsure if the inmates hid the wire cutters by the fence, or if someone left the tool to assist the escapees. Reine was serving a sentence for manslaughter, while both James and Steward were charged with armed robbery. He says once apprehended, the inmates will face additional charges of simple escape.
cut 4 (09) “their capture”
Reine is described as a 5’8” white male with blue eyes, brown hair, and a tattoo under his right eye. James is a black male 5’9” with brown eyes and black hair, and Steward is a 5’11” black male with brown eyes and black hair. Anderson says authorities believe the inmates fled south after escaping.
Cut 5 (09) “law enforcement agency”
_________________________________________________________
State Police has launched an investigation into the spending of four troopers who made stops at the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas while on their way to a training conference in San Diego. The story was first reported by the Advocate. State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson says this is an unfortunate incident that never should have happened.
Cut 6 (11) “taken place”
While most troopers who attended the conference flew, Major Derrell Williams, Lt. Rodney Hyatt, Master Trooper Thurman Miller, and Trooper Alexander Nezgodinsky drove an LSP SUV. The Advocate’s report finds the stop at the Grand Canyon cost more than $700, and a night at the Palazzo Resort in Las Vegas cost over $500. Edmondson says these troopers have some explaining to do.
CUT 7 (10) “that route also”
The scenic route also added 300 miles to the journey. According to the Advocate’s report, the troopers were also paid for overtime while on the trip. Edmonson says Maj. Williams is the head of internal affairs at LSP, which means the former head will lead this investigation. He says in the meantime, officials are making sure troopers play it by the book.
Cut 8 (09) “for it”
_________________________________________________________
Do you feel politically stressed? A new report by the American Psychological Association finds, no matter what party you are, anxiety over political matters is at an all time high. Michelle Many (Main-eee) with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans finds the principle factor in this deals with social relationships:
Cut 9 (11) “on the individual”
Many says there were heated arguments and a lot of disagreements during the 2016 presidential campaign, and it’s carried over. She feels there is also a renewed focused on media reports these days and what people are seeing all over social networks online…:
Cut 10 (06) “interactions”
Many says, as with anything, when anything is done in excess, you’ll typically see problems arise either physically or mentally. She says the best thing you can do is try to bring balance back into your life, and that means moderation..:
cut 11 (08) “news viewing”
_________________________________________________________
The Louisiana Senate passed a measure on Sunday night that would use 99 million dollars of the Rainy Day Fund to help offset the state’s 304 million dollar budget deficit. Last week, the House passed legislation that would use 75 million dollars, but Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Gene Reynolds, supports using the higher amount…
cut 12 (09) “just can’t”
But Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmunds says Republicans don’t have an appetite for using 99 million dollars out of the Rainy Day Fund. He says the state is also facing another major budget shortfall next fiscal year.
Cut 13 (10) “last resort“
This special session ends Wednesday at midnight. Reynolds says the House plan that calls for using 75 million dollars in Rainy Day funding is a proposal that is full of gimmicks.
cut 14 (10) “the past”
Originally the governor proposed using 119 million dollars from the Rainy Fund but says 99 million is an acceptable compromise. But Edmunds says Republicans believe they’ve already compromised enough and would rather keep it at 75 million dollars of the fund.
Cut 15 (10) “of corrections”
________________________________________________________