The Alexandria Zoo is under fire from an animal rights group after two endangered primates froze to death last week. Eric Gill reports…
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State Representative Gene Reynolds says a closed door meeting with the E-P-A did not produce an agreement over the disposal of 15-million pounds of M-6 propellant stored in Webster Parish. Jeff Palermo has more…
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The mother of the two siblings killed in a house fire in Bastrop Monday, now faces criminal charges in their death. 4-year-old Tashae Johnson and her 3-year-old brother Clifton were killed in the fire after being left unattended in the home. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says 21-year-old Ciarria Johnson is charged with two counts of negligent homicide…
Browning says Johnson is being treated for medical issues unrelated to the fire. He says once she’s released from medical care, the warrant will be executed. Browning says the investigation is ongoing, but one thing is for sure: the two children were left unattended in the home for hours before the fire broke out…
CUT 4 (12) “closer to noon-time”
Browning says Johnson told authorities she left the home at 1PM to have her hair styled. The fire broke out around 3:30PM. He says investigators are still trying to determine the precise cause of the fire. But Browning says they believe the fire originated at a gas space heater inside the home…
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The Alexandria Zoo is under fire from an animal rights group after two endangered primates froze to death last week. A zoo employee left three cotton-top tamarins out in the cold, resulting in the death of two of the monkeys. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals spokesperson, Brittany Peete…
In a statement, the Alexandria Zoo says this incident appears to be a result of human error and not a system failure. Peete says PETA is requesting the USDA to investigate the zoo…
PETA wants the zoo to be held accountable for any possible violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Zoo officials say the employee in question, who was initially placed on administrative leave, has resigned. Peete says PETA is pleased about this news…
CUT 8 (10) “caring for animals”
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A state lawmaker concerned about potential health effects of an open tray burn of 15-million pounds of M-6 propellant in Webster Parish did not get the answers he was seeking in a closed door meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds is pushing for an incinerator burn, but E-P-A continues to say an open tray burn is safe and easy
Despite the meeting, the E-P-A still plans on doing a trial burn, but Reynolds says one should not occur until they receive assurance that unhealthy material doesn’t go into the air…
The EPA say the propellants at Camp Minden are deteriorating and an open burn is the safest and fastest way to get rid of it. But Reynolds says the state owns the explosives, so they should have the final say on the method of disposal…
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A new study shows that less than half of Louisiana families earn enough money to cover basic costs. The report, by Loyola University’s Jesuit Social Research Institute, finds 52-percent of families with children not making enough money to live, what they call, “a modest, dignified life.” Economic policy specialist Ali Bustamante (bOOs”tä-män’te), who led the study, says employers should consider increasing compensation…:
According to their findings, the average Louisiana couple with one child accrues expenses adding up to 55-thousand dollars a year, but most people make far less. Bustamante says they use parameters such as housing, transportation, childcare, healthcare, and taxes. He says another of their recommendations is to increase the minimum wage…:
cut 13 (12) “earned income tax credit”
He says they also think expanding Medicaid would be a huge help…:
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