Two new Republican leaders are heading to Washington after GOP victories in both the 3rd and 4th Congressional District races. Don Molino has more…
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Cardell Hayes will likely serve at least 20 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of former-Saints player Will Smith. Michelle Southern gets an analysis on the verdict…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”
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As expected, Republican state lawmaker Mike Johnson is the runaway winner in the 4th Congressional District race. The staunch conservative who replaces US Representative John Fleming says he looks forward to being a part of the real reform the Trump Administration is going to lead…:
Johnson says our economy has been in shambles and every bit of change Mr. Trump says he’s going to bring needs to happen. Johnson says he believes the Republican wave moving across the nation means that God has given the nation another chance…:
Johnson says government is too large, and it’s doing too many things wrong…:
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What does a dog do when it catches a car? Those are the words Capt. Clay Higgins used to open his acceptance speech after winning the 3rd Congressional District race. The former deputy with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office beat Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle 56 to 44-percent in Saturday’s election.
Higgins perhaps rode a wave of Donald Trump enthusiasm, as the man who has never held an elected office is heading to Washington to represent more than 760-thousand Louisianans.
Higgins says his victory is proof that voters are tired of millionaire career politicians. He says this is a new day for the country, when a working class man driven by the support of his neighbors can succeed against the odds.
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Cardell Hayes has been found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death of former-Saints player Will Smith. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says it isn’t surprising the jury went for the manslaughter charge. He says the verdict is consistent with the evidence.
Ciolino says while Hayes had to testify in his defense, it certainly didn’t help his case. He says much of what the defendant claimed was not supported by the evidence or witness testimony. He says Hayes’ testimony that was inconsistent with the facts made his self-defense claims less credible.
Ciolino says the defense spent a lot of time trying to point fingers at police for not handling the evidence properly and the prosecution for misconduct. But he says those attempts at distracting the jury clearly didn’t work.
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Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro says he plans to seek the maximum 60-year sentence for Cardell Hayes following his manslaughter conviction in the death of Will Smith, and attempted manslaughter for injuring Smith’s wife. Cannizzaro says he understands why the jury downgraded the charge from second degree murder…:
cut 12 (12) “aggressive fashion”
Cannizzaro says this was the murder of a hero who was just trying to have fun in New Orleans…:
Cut 13 (10) “road rage incident”
Manslaughter carries a sentence of 20-40 years, and attempted manslaughter a maximum of 20 years. Cannizzaro says when Hayes is sentenced on February 17th, the judge will have the discretion to impose a sentence of up to 60 years. He says that day they will present victim impact because they believe Hayes should get the maximum…:
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Following the Republican sweep of federal runoff elections on Saturday, the GOP of Louisiana says this is proof that Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards’ election was a fluke. Executive Director of the Republican Party of Louisiana Jason Dore says Foster Campbell didn’t lose the US Senate race because he’s a Democrat, he lost because of ties to the governor.
Dore says the governor loaned Campbell his entire campaign team for the failed effort. He adds that last year’s gubernatorial race had more to do with scandal than platforms.
Dore says voters made it clear Saturday that they reject Democratic policies, as evidenced by Edwards going 0 for 4 on his endorsements in the runoffs. He says Edwards’ days in the Governor’s Mansion are numbered, and he fully expects the Governor to be voted out of office in the next race.
Louisiana Democrats did get a win in Baton Rouge with the election of Sharon Weston Broome as Mayor/President.
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