A Justice Reinvestment Task Force has been established that will develop ways Louisiana can safely lower its prison population and reduce the cost of housing inmates. Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says Louisiana incarcerates more residents per capita than anywhere else in the world and hopefully this task force can come up with solutions that the legislature will approve in 2017…:
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LeBlanc says the recommendations will be a combination of legislation, policy, and budget reforms.

Toledo Bend on the Sabine River is the number one bass fishery in the country for the second straight year as dubbed by Bassmaster. The publications’ Editor James Hall says this is huge for tourism and he expects it to get even better:
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Caddo Lake ranked number 7 in Bassmaster’s Central Division of top 25 best fisheries.

Louisiana ranks 48th worst in the country for kids, according to the Annie E Casey Foundation’s 2016 Kids Count Data Book. Teresa Falgoust with the Agenda for Children says the number of kids in poverty in here is higher than in most other states, and that drives a lot of other indicators of child well-being:
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But she says the bright spot of the report is that Louisiana children rank 7th in preschool attendance and literacy has improved.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says two people are under arrest on murder charges in connection with the overdose death of a man in Destrehan. They say Richard Keller died in March, and the two people he was with at the time were booked on drug charges. A coroners report indicated Keller died of heroin overdose which is why Jaime Hymel and Roderick Hackett were booked for second degree murder.

The Senate plans to unveil its plane today on how they would like to see the TOPS program funded. The House approved only funding the scholarship program at 70%, despite opposition from lawmakers like Bogalusa Representative Malinda White. She feels hospitals for the poor should have priority over TOPS…:
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If TOPS is funded at 70%, students would be responsible for paying the remainder of their tuition.

Deputies in Lafayette are investigating two bodies that were both located in burned out vehicles separate from each other over night. They say one was found in Carenco around 1:15am, and the other at 3:30am in Scott. Authorities say at this time the bodies have not been identified and it is unknown if the two incidents are connected. Detectives are still working the scenes and the case is ongoing.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical is looking for volunteers ages 50 to 85 to participate in a research that aims to slow memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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It’s lightning awareness week and State Farm says Louisiana is third in the nation for for lightning claims. Spokesman Roszell Gadson says people should take precautions when a bad storm with lots of lightning rolls in…:
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He says lightning is most frequent during June, July, and August.

We’re in the final days of the second special session and lawmakers are still arguing over TOPS funding. Halen Doughty has more…
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We’ll get an idea on how much the Senate would like to fund TOPS, as the Senate finance committee unveils the upper chamber’s plan today.

The investigation continues into the death of twin three-year-old who died in a hot pickup truck in Bossier City over the weekend. Police spokesperson Mark Natale says they are trying to determine if criminal charges are warranted.

For the second straight year in a row, Toledo Bend in Sabine and DeSoto parishes, has been named the top fishing destination in America by Bassmaster Magazine. Bassmaster editor James Hall says there were over 130 10-pound bass catches at Toledo Bend this year….
cut 8 (11) “…is fantastic”

LSU’s Penninington Biomedical Research Lab is looking for older adults, who have not been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, to participate in a study that they hope will lead to the prevention of the disease. Director of the Pennington’s Institute for Dementia Research, Doctor Jeffrey Keller, says the study is critical because in the year 205o, they expect 15-million people will have Alzheimer’s…
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For more information go to Pennington’s website.

TOPS funding is still top of mind at the state capitol with three days left in the special session. A House approved measure that funds the program at 70% will be heard next in the Senate. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says he would like to see TOPS funded at least at 80-percent…:
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Others feel services like healthcare for the poor should have priority over TOPS.

Anyone who has a loved one who suffers from the incurable disease Alzheimer’s knows how hard the heartbreaking condition is to understand. LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is conducting a study on ways to slow the memory loss, and they are looking for volunteers. Director of Dementia Research Dr. Jeffery Keller says the treatment they’re studying is promising…:
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He says they are looking for people aged 50-85 to participate in the study.

Louisiana anglers rejoice as Toledo Bend has been ranked the number one bass fishery in the country for the second straight year by Bassmaster. Magazine Editor James Hall says there were over 130 10-pound bass catches at Toledo Bend this year…:
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He says tourism in the area increased 23-percent last year when Toledo Bend ranked 1, and he expects it to go even higher now.

Autopsies confirm that the 3 year old Bossier City twins who died in a vehicle outside their lost their life due to heat-related issues. Oliver and Aria Orr were found unresponsive and its believed the toddlers could have been in the hot pickup truck more than two hours. Bossier Police say no charges have been filed at this time. The Orrs’ twins father is a deputy with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The second special session of the year ends at midnight Thursday, and lawmakers are still squabbling over TOPS funding. The House approved a bill that would fund the program at 70%. But Bogalusa Representative Malinda White believes safety net hospitals should have priority over TOPS…:
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But other legislators do not want to take anymore money away from TOPS. The Senate will hear the measure next.

The storms in Louisiana this year have been loaded with astounding lightning, and State Farm says the state ranks third for claims related to damage caused by the bolts. Spokesman Roszell Gadson if you have an expensive device or appliance, you should plug it into a surge protector…:
Cut 5 (08) “thousands of dollars”
He says lightning is most frequent during June, July, and August.

Toledo Bend on the Texas-Louisiana border came in as the number one fishing destination in the country for the second straight year. Emelie Gunn has more:
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State Police say an arrest has been made in the case of a fatal hit and run crash that claimed the life of a pedestrian in Terrebonne Parish. They say 52-year-old Darrell Barlow of Chauvin was booked with vehicular homicide, felony hit and run, improper lane usage and obstruction of justice. 22-year-old William Boyne was walking along a roadway last Friday when he was run over by Barlow’s truck, according to investigators.

We’re in the final days of the second special session of the year, and lawmakers are still arguing over TOPS funding. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Louisiana ranks third in the country for lightning claims, according to State Farm. Spokesman Roszell Gadson says across the state in 2015, they paid out over $6 million on almost 14-hundred lightning claims, averaging $46-hundred each…:
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Gadson says this week is Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

Toledo Bend on the Sabine River is the number one bass fishery in the country for the second straight year as dubbed by Bassmaster. The publications’ Editor James Hall says you don’t have to be a professional to reel in a great catch there between the Texas and Louisiana line…:
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He says the 185-thousand acre reservoir in Sabine and DeSoto Parishes has better catch rates in quality and quantity than any other fishery in the U.S.

A former deputy with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office accused of having sex with a 14-year-old runaway has bonded out of jail on $125,000. Cops say William Lanoux met the girl on social media, then met up in person to have sex while he was on the job. It’s reported the encounter occurred in the back of the suspect’s patrol unit. Authorities say the juvenile was reported missing by her family. Lanoux is charged with first degree rape and malfeasance in office.

With three days left in the special session, lawmakers are arguing over how much to fund TOPS. A bill approved by the House funds the scholarship program at 70-percent. Bogalusa Representative Malinda White believes fewer dollars should go to TOPS in favor of more money for safety net hospitals….:
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Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala urged House members not to take any more funding away from the scholarship program. He says LSU students will leave the state for better scholarship opportunities or attend cheaper schools if they do stay in Louisiana…:
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The Senate Finance committee will talk more about TOPS funding at its meeting today.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is looking for volunteers for a first-of-its-kind study to slow memory loss as a result of Alzheimer’s. Director of Dementia Research, Dr. Jeffery Keller, says they’re seeking people ages 50 to 85 who are concerned about their memory and don’t have a confirmed case of Alzheimer’s Disease to undergo this new treatment:
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Keller says this study is necessary because the disease forms in individuals who don’t show symptoms.

Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington issued a statement regarding the 3-year-old twins who died in a hot vehicle in Bossier City. The father of Oliver and Aria Orr, Travis Orr, works as a deputy. Whittington this is even more difficult, as they are a part of the Sheriff’s Office family. Cops said they are still investigating how the children got into the truck.