Everywhere else it’s just Tuesday, and these Mardi Gras revelers aren’t letting the cold get them down. Michelle Southern…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”
==================
A recent report by the Schott (shot) Foundation for Public Education shows the black male high school graduation rates in Louisiana trails whites’ by 16 points. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 2 (31) “reporting”
===================
Folks in Louisiana are enjoying Mardi Gras Festivities, despite the bone chilling temps. These revelers in New Orleans we spoke with say they aren’t going to let a little cold stop them from enjoying Fat Tuesday celebrations and parades…:
CUT 3 (08) “don’t hurt”
It’s not raining but many folks we spoke with say this is the coldest Mardi Gras they can remember. Still these revelers in New Orleans say they came prepared…:
CUT 4 (08) “day progresses”
The popular Courir de Mardi Gras got off to an early start this morning in Mamou. Mayor Ricky Fontenot says revelers aren’t letting the cold get them down one bit…:
CUT 5 (07) “it’s still on”
Fontenot says the riders and runners were out in their costumes and ready to roll through the countryside just as they do every year — rain, shine or cold…:
CUT 6 (10) “enjoying themselves”
============================
State Police say a train-truck crash in Desoto Parish has killed three men. Trooper Matt Harris says a group of oil field vehicles were traveling on a private road yesterday afternoon when a truck, driven by 23-year-old John Watson of Centerville, approached some railroad tracks…
CUT 7 (10) “was too late”
Watson stopped at the tracks, then proceeded forward and was struck by the train. Watson and one passenger, 24-year-old Michael Ryder II of Goldonna, were pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger, 35-year-old Herbert Barras III of Charenton died later at an area hospital. Harris says this is just a terrible tragedy all the way around…
CUT 8 (11) “on that end”
Harris says this particular crossing has passive warning signals, a stop sign and a railroad crossing sign. He says this particular signal type is common for private and low traffic roads. Harris says it’s important for motorists to heed these warnings because the train always has the right-of-way…
CUT 9 (09) “proceeding forward”
============================
The Washington Parish Sheriff’s office is asking for help in the case of a 2008 murder of a Lafourche Parish resident. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says 46-year-old Larkie Toups was killed on January 1, 2008 and after a year long investigation the case went cold. He says they opened it back up in 2013 and arrested an eyewitness to the crime…:
cut 10 (10) “located”
Haley says Toups was taken to the Budget Inn by a deputy before he was killed and was highly intoxicated after drinking at a friends house. He says they have strong evidence that substance abusers loitering the the hotel could be responsible for the brutal murder but the investigation is hindered because they have no body…:
cut 11 (10) “for his murder”
Haley says the woman that they did arrest in connection with the crime who refuses to name the killers and location of the body is serving 10 years for obstruction of justice. He says they hope someone with information on this murder will come forward and claim a $1000 reward…:
cut 12 (10) “LaFourche Parish”
============================
A recent report by the Schott (shot) Foundation for Public Education shows the black male high school graduation rates in Louisiana trails whites’ by 16 points. For the 2012-13 school year, only 53-percent of black male students graduated compared to 69-percent of white males. Foundation President John Jackson says these numbers are reason for concern…
cut 13 (12) “to succeed”
The disparity between black and white males in Louisiana is smaller than the national gap of 21-percent. The report also shows eighth grade proficiency rates are another reason for alarm. Jackson says 29-percent of white males in the state were proficient in eighth grade reading and math compared to just nine-percent of black males…
cut 14 (07) “to learn”
Jackson says the results of this study indicate a climate that doesn’t foster health living and learning environments for black males. He says it is possible to turn these numbers around, if the state makes the commitment to do it…
cut 15 (11) “in New Jersey”
============================