10:30 A.M. Louisiana Network Newscast.
UPI
10:30 A.M. Louisiana Network Newscast.
March 30, 1998 item number is N19251 by AMY WHITTINGTON.
The state House meets today at two p-m to discuss the amount of time
teachers spend in the classroom on a daily basis. Some lawmakers say
increasing the amount of instruction time to six hours a day is
necessary if public schools want to improve. But teacher unions say
educators ought to be paid more money is they're going to spend more time
in the classroom.
There's good news for Louisiana regarding the proposed tobacco
settlement legislation that's before Congress. Louisiana could get up to
three billion dollars if the settlement is approved. U-S Senator John
Breaux of Crowley has authored one of the proposed measures. He says the
legislation will help people recover from tobacco-related injuries.
cut 7...19 ``very important''
If Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich runs for President... Congressman
Bob Livingston will seek the speakership. The Metairie Republican says
he's gaining support and has a good chance of winning if Gingrich doesn't
run again.
cut 20...33 ``several years''
The University of Louisiana System Board of Trustees has named Steve
Favors the next president of Grambling State University. But the decision
is not without controversy. A Grambling alumni group has filed suit
because they wanted the school's acting president, Leonard Haynes, to get
the job. A state judge in Baton Rouge will hear the case next month.
The Louisiana Lottery has dropped the Daily Millions game. Last night's
drawing was the last for the state. The Lottery is still offering the
games Pick Three, Easy Five, Lotto and Powerball drawings.
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la-briefs
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UPI
10:30 A.M. Louisiana Network Newscast.
March 31, 1998 item number is N19266 by AMY WHITTINGTON.
Crews in Shreveport have resumed their search this morning for a man who
was seen jumping into the Red River from a bridge last night.
Authorities searched the river by boat and by air but called off the
search when it got too dark. Police say the man was dressed in all black.
Alexandria authorities say a man drowned yesterday after trying to save
his six-year-old son who was drowning. Police say 35-year-old Calvin
Celestine was with his three sons fishing from Bayou Rapides when his
six-year-old son fell into the water. Celestine's 11-year-old son rescued
the boy but the oldest son could not rescue his father.
An Alexandria man is accused of rape after allegedly being caught in bed
with a 10-year-old girl. Thirty-six-year-old Anthony Harris has been
booked with aggravated rape. Police say the offense is considered a
capital crime in Louisiana because the alleged victim is under age 12.
The child's mother says she caught the man in his daughter's bed.
Authorities say Harris knows the victim and her mother.
Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton is scheduled to undergo
triple bypass surgery today in Houston. The procedure is to clear up
three blockages in his heart.
Judge Janice Clark will rule on Friday on who has the power to approve
the New Orleans land based casino contract. The judge will decide whether
the contract is a new contract or a renegotiated version of the old one.
Lafayette Senator Max Jordan filed a lawsuit challenging the state
Gaming Control Board's authority to sign the contract without the
Legislature's approval. Lawyer Connie Koury with the attorney general's
office believes the law is clear that the board has the power to sign the
contract.
cut 10...20 ``the board''
Jordan does not believe gambling is good for the state.
cut 14...23 ``is gambling''
UPI
10:30 A.M. Louisiana Network Newscast.
April 1, 1998 item number is N19280 by AMY WHITTINGTON.
A former pro-football athlete is again accused of burglary. Baton Rouge
police say they caught Ramsey Dardar inside a house that had been broken
into early Monday. The 38-year-old former L-S-U and N-F-L player was
free on bond in connection with a November robbery. Dardar has been out
of prison for about one year after serving time for burglary.
A Shreveport couple has been arrested for possession of a variety of
drugs with the intent to distribute. Tuesday...31-year-old Michael
Solomon and 28-year-old Shannon Solomon were booked by Caddo Parish
deputies. Agents say they seized five pounds of marijuana, more than 900
Xanax tablets, more than 100 Valium pills, cash and guns.
A Florida couple who allegedly robbed an Alabama bank is suspected in a
Louisiana holdup. Earlier in the week two people robbed a Slidell bank.
Yesterday 52-year-old Lynn Deason and 42-year-old Lillian Hopkins were
booked in that Mobile heist. No word yet from authorities if the couple
is actually responsible for both holdups.
East Baton Rouge Parish prosecutors say a man arrested in January in
connection with two rapes did not commit the crimes. Charges have been
dropped against Daniel Pugh. Authorities say D-N-A testing proves Pugh
is not connected to either case. The sheriff's office is now reportedly
searching for the real rapist.
Shreveport architect Elmo Bryant has officially announced his candidacy
for the city's mayoral race. Bryant believes he's the best person for the
job.
cut 19...17 ``something happen''
Mayor Bo Williams say he plans to run again although he has not
officially announced. The only other announced candidate is businessman
Theron Jackson.
Baton Rouge Senator Jay Dardenne's bill was approved in a Senate
committee yesterday to allow Louisianians to pay their taxes by credit
card. Dardenne believes the measure makes sense.
cut 11...14 ``obligation''
The measure passed by a unanimous vote of the committee.
UPI
10:30 A.M. Louisiana Network Newscast.
April 2, 1998 item number is N19296 by AMY WHITTINGTON.
A Ouachita Parish prisoner is accused of attempted murder in the beating
of his cellmate. Deputies say 18-year-old Bobby Thompson beat-up Torianio
Kyles on Sunday. Kyles is in critical condition at a Shreveport hospital
after undergoing surgery for head injuries. Thompson is behind bars on
burglary charges.
A Covington jury will decide whether to order the death penalty for two
Ohio men convicted of killing a Mississippi woman two years ago.
Twenty-year-old Alfred Huntsman and 33-year-old Arthur Siber were
convicted yesterday of first degree murder. Witnesses said the men and a
woman came south to find work when they met 39-year-old Elizabeth Herdman
of Biloxi. The four allegedly drove to Slidell where Herdman's throat
was cut after an alleged fight with Siber.
Earlier in the week the Louisiana House approved an amended bill that
requires teachers to spend more time in the classroom each day if their
pay is raised an estimated 225 million dollars. Louisiana Federation of
Teachers spokesman Les Landon says the legislation has a long way to go
before it becomes law.
cut 6...16 ``to teachers''
Terrytown teacher Susan Gossiaux believes educators in the state are
grossly underpaid and need a raise.
cut 10...18 ``salaries''
UPI
10:30 A.M. Louisiana Network Newscast.
April 3, 1998 item number is N19310 by AMY WHITTINGTON.
Trial continues today in Monroe for a man accused of killing his
girlfriend's daughter. Court records show 29-year-old Jimmie Duncan was
babysitting 23-month-old Haley Oliveaux when she died. Yesterday during
opening arguments District Attorney Jerry Jones said he would present
evidence alleging Duncan raped, bit and drowned the child. Duncan says
he put the girl in the bathtub and left the room. And when he went back
to check on her he claims she was face down in the water.
The Coast Guard reports a piece of wreckage from a plane that
disappeared over Lake Pontchartrain last night has been recovered. The
single-engine plane was making a flight from Texas to New Orleans when it
vanished about ten miles from the Lakefront Airport. Authorities aren't
sure how many people were on board the aircraft.
Baton Rouge state district Judge Ralph Tyson has been nominated by
President Clinton for a seat on the federal bench. Tyson would become
the first black judge for the Middle District of Louisiana if he is
confirmed.
A Senate committee has essentially killed Senator Wilson Fields' bill to
prohibit for-profit companies from operating charter schools. Fields
says he is concerned the companies might want to operate the schools just
to make money off students.
A state House panel approved a bill yesterday to allow more high school
students to get college scholarships from the state. The committee
okayed legislation pertaining to the Tuition Opportunity Program for
Students...or TOPS.
A measure was approved in a House committee yesterday to raise the legal
age to play video poker in Louisiana to 21. Louisiana law currently
allows people 18 and older to play video poker. The legislation sets up
penalties for those under age 21 who play as well as business owners who
allow them to play. The bill now heads to the full House.
A House committee okayed legislation yesterday lowering the blood-
alcohol level that a person is considered drunk in Louisiana from point-
one-oh percent to point-oh-eight. Gina Goings with the Louisiana
Restaurant Association believes the legislation means bad news for the
social drinker.
cut 20...13 ``social drinkers''
Baker state Representative Tony Perkins voted in favor of the measure.
cut 18...08 ``point-oh-eight level''
Governor Mike Foster's Workforce Development Commission spent two days
in Monroe this week and plans to visit seven Louisiana cities between now
and May 14th. The panel will discuss employment in the state. The group
contends there are plenty of jobs in Louisiana and enough people who
want to work...but not enough workers who are adequately trained for the
positions.