51-year-old Leon Ruffin, who escaped when he was being transported back to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center from the hospital Sunday, is back in custody. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says Ruffin, who pepper-sprayed a female deputy and stole her vehicle was located Tuesday afternoon in an East New Orleans hotel. He says it was a group effort by multiple agencies.

Cut 13 couple of days. :13

Lopinto expects there will be multiple arrests and the investigation of his escape is far from over.

The National Safety Council says Louisiana saw a ten-percent decline in the number of highway deaths in 2023.  Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says fewer drunk driving wrecks has led to the decrease…

Cut 3 (05) “…alcohol fatalities”  

Louisiana Farm Bureau President Jim Harper is not seeking a fourth-term Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson.

Cut 9 (11) “…came on.” 

Davidson says this ends Harper’s 25 years of service with the federation, having also served as first vice president and a board member. Delegates will elect a new president at their annual convention in June.

Dr. Martin Lemelle has been chosen to serve as Grambling State University’s 11^th president. As a graduate of GSU, Lemelle says he’s looking forward to leading the university in its next chapter. He says he wants the HBCU to continue to grow programs launched under former president Rick Gallot, like cybersecurity, cloud computing, and nursing.

Cut 7 (10) “…of history.”  

Authorities have recaptured Leon Ruffin, the murder suspect who escaped custody by pepper spraying a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputy while being transported back to jail from the hospital Sunday. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says Ruffin was found locked up in a New Orleans East Hotel

Cut 26 (08)…most of the time

He was taken into custody and transported to the Orleans Parish Correctional Center.

Louisiana saw a ten-percent decline in the number of highway deaths in 2023 According to the National Safety Council. There was a rise in fatal wrecks at the end of the pandemic. But Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says law enforcement agencies have brought back strategies that can reduce crashes, like the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It Or Ticket campaigns.

Cut 4 (09) “…2023”

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter has resigned. Brooke Thorington has more on the physician who led the state through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Grambling State University has chosen Dr. Martin Lemelle to serve as its 11^th president. Lemelle is a 2006 graduate and served as the executive vice president and chief financial officer at GSU from 2016 to 2021. He says the appointment is a lifelong dream come true.

Cut 6  (08) “…to serve.” 

The 11^th President Grambling State University has been chosen Dr. Martin Lemelle a graduate of Grambling will serve. As an undergraduate Lemelle served as president of the student government association and since being named the next president of the university, he hopes it serves as an inspiration for students.

Cut 8 (11) “…their education.” 

Lemelle most recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer at the Maryland Institute College of Art. In October former President Rick Gallot was named UL System President.

Louisiana Farm Bureau President Jim Harper is not seeking a fourth term Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson says Harper, who’s 71 years old, began his first term as president in 2020, which was a difficult year at the height of the pandemic.

Cut 10 (07) “…this organization.”

Delegates will elect a new president at their annual convention in June.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has received criticism for using only one deputy to transport escaped murder suspect Leon Ruffin from the hospital to the jail. But Sheriff Joe Lopinto says single-deputy cars are used almost every single day and if the critics want to help, they can become a deputy…

Cut  14 (15) “..in real life.”

The National Safety Council says Louisiana was one of 12 states that saw a decrease in car accident deaths. Lambert says while people dying in vehicles is on the decline, they are seeing an increase in fatal wrecks involving people outside of the vehicle…

Cut 5 (06) “..has been up”

51-year-old Leon Ruffin, from Algiers is still at large after he escaped while being transported back to jail from Ochsner Westbank Sunday. Ruffin was charged in November with second-degree murder in the death of a longtime friend. Sheriff Joe Lopinto believes Ruffin faked a seizure in order to be taken to the hospital and it was his plan the whole time to break free.

Cut 13 (09) “…original charge”  

Dr. Martin Lemelle is the choice to lead Grambling State University as its 11^th president. As a graduate of GSU, Lemelle says he’s looking forward to leading the university in its next chapter. He says he wants to the HBCU to continue to grow programs launched under former president Rick Gallot, like cybersecurity, cloud computing, and nursing.

Cut 7 (10) “…of history.”  

The National Safety Council says there was a ten-percent decline in 2023 in the number of people killed on Louisiana’s highways. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana Farm Bureau President Jim Harper announces he is not seeking a fourth term. He wants to spend more time with family. Harper farms sugarcane, rice, crawfish, and soybeans with his brother in Rapides Parish. Davidson says while Harper’s decision to not seek re-election was a difficult one, family comes first.

Cut 11 (08) “…well represented.”

Delegates will elect a new president at their annual convention in June.

A manhunt continues for a murder suspect who escaped custody by pepper spraying a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputy. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says a deputy was driving 51-year-old Leon Ruffin from the hospital back to the jail, when he complained from the back seat about a boot on one of his feet. Lopinto says the deputy stopped and attempted to help Ruffin…

Cut 12 (10)  “…the door”  

Lopinto says after Ruffin sprayed the deputy with the pepper spray and took off in the SUV. The vehicle has been recovered but Ruffin remains on the run.

According to the National Safety Council, Louisiana saw a ten-percent decline in the number of highway deaths in 2023.  Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says fewer drunk driving wrecks has led to the decrease…

Cut 3 (05) “…alcohol fatalities”  

State Health Officer Dr Joe Kanter has resigned. Brooke Thorington has more on the physician who led the state through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The Louisiana Farm Bureau announces President Jim Harper will not seek a fourth term instead he’s opting to spend more time with his family. Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson says this ends Harper’s 25 years of service with the federation, having also served as first vice president and a board member.

Cut 9 (08) “…came on.” 

Grambling State University has chosen Dr. Martin Lemelle to serve as its 11^th president. Lemelle is a 2006 graduate and served as the executive vice president and chief financial officer at GSU from 2016 to 2021. He says the appointment is a lifelong dream come true.

Cut 6  (08) “…to serve.” 

In 2023, the national first-time pass rate for the National Licensure examination for registered nurses was 79-percent and LSU-Alexandria just had 100 of their 40 recent grads pass on the NCLEX on their 1^st attempt.  Director of the LSUA’s School of Nursing Sarita James says most of their students are working parents or individuals working on a second career…

Cut 16 (09) “…very doable.” 

Legislation to expand methods to carry out the death penalty Senate Judiciary Monday. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 22 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Senate-approved legislation to lower the age a person can be charged with a felony as an adult from 18 to 17 advances from House Criminal Justice. Louisiana Sheriffs Association executive director Michael Ranatza says 17-year-olds offenders at juvenile facilities are causing serious problems…

Cut 7 (13) “…35 year old.”

A bill to expand methods to carry out the death penalty passed in Senate Judiciary C Monday. Committee members heard from individuals on both sides of the issue. Speaking against House Bill 6 was Brett Malone, whose mother was murdered December 2000. He says killing the man who killed his mother won’t help anyone and he asked just how far they will go to carry out executions.

Cut 11 (11) “…to the lions.” 

The amended bill advances to the Senate.

WalletHub has named 2024’s Best and Worst States for Women and the news is not good for Louisiana. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Funeral arrangements have been announced for St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith. He passed away Saturday after a long illness. There will be a procession beginning in Franklin Thursday morning with visitation at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium at 11am and the funeral will begin at 3pm. Smith was 75.

A bill to expand methods to carry out the death penalty, passed in Senate Judiciary C Monday. Committee members heard from Howard Vincent, whose brother, Steven Vincent a state trooper was killed in 2015. He says it’s difficult to listen to those who are against the death penalty and opposed to expanding methods of execution like the electric chair and Nitrogen Hypoxia.

Cut 12 (12) “…his head.” 

Terry Landry Junior with the Southern Poverty Law Center spoke against adding nitrogen gas as a means of execution. He says several veterinarian associations say it’s a cruel way to euthanize animals.

Cut 13 (07)  “…human beings.”

The bill received full passage in the House last week.

It’s already been approved by the state Senate and now legislation to lower the age a person can be charged with a felony as an adult from 18 to 17 has advanced out of the House Criminal Justice. 18th Judicial District Attorney Tony Clayton is pushing hard for the bill because he says there are 17-years-olds committing crimes knowing they will only serve a few years at a juvenile facility.…

Cut 8 (09) “…fight back.” 

According to WalletHub 2024’s Best and Worst States for Women and the news is not good for Louisiana. Using 25 key metrics the survey ranked the Pelican State 50 out of 51 states and the District of Columbia. Louisiana is second from the bottom for women living in poverty and 46^th for women suffering from depression. Analyst, Cassie Happe, believes they’re connected…

Cut 4 (09) “…mental state.”

WalletHub has named 2024’s Best and Worst States for Women and Louisiana came out second to last. According to the study, women of the Bayou State ranked near the bottom for metrics including life expectancy at birth, female homicides, and high school graduation rates. Analyst Cassie Happe say the number of Louisiana women voted in the 2020 presidential election ranked 46…
Cut 5 (08) “…low percentage.” 

Forty recent graduates from the LSU-A School of Nursing passed the NCLEX National Licensure Examination on their first try. It’s the second time in six years that LSUA has seen all its students in a cohort pass the NCLEX on their first attempt. Director of the LSUA’s School of Nursing Sarita James…

Cut 14 (10) “…graduate.”

———–

Senate-approved legislation that would lower the age a person can be charged with a felony as an adult from 18 to 17 has advanced out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. Meghan Garvey with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers spoke against the bill, saying non-violent 17-year-olds should stay in the juvenile justice system because their parents can be more involved in the rehabilitation process…

Cut 9 (11)  “…their path.”

A bill to expand methods to carry out the death penalty and to provide protections for those involved passed in Senate Judiciary C Monday. Committee members heard from those in favor and opposed to the measure. Brett Malone, whose mother was killed in Bossier Parish in 2000 spoke against the measure saying killing the man who killed his mother won’t help anyone and asked lawmakers how far they will go to carry out executions.