News For Tuesday 103012

By Dave Graichen

Today is the last day to cast early votes for the November 6th election,  and state officials say expect more long lines at early voting places.  Secretary of State Tom Schedler says it's easy to see that  more people are early voting than in previous election cycles. Schedler says, as of noon Monday, nearly 227-thousand registered voters have cast early votes. You have until 6pm tonight to cast your early ballot.

A dump truck being towed lost a rear wheel yesterday morning on Interstate 49, which caused both a fire and a Bobcat skid it was carrying to fall from the elevated road onto Murray Street below. Miraculously No one was injured in the incident. According to the APD, the driver of the wrecker was ticketed for having an expired driver's  license and for having an unsecured load.

LSU hosts the Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday in Death Valley, and  the Baton Rouge area is preparing for a big weekend. Paul Arrigo  (uh-REE-go) with the Greater Baton Rouge Convention and Visitors Bureau  says this will be a big weekend for the hospitality industry. Arrigo says thousands of Alabama fans will be flocking to Baton Rouge,  and with them comes TV networks, sport writers, photographers all  coming to see the matchup between two legendary SEC coaches and  programs.  Arrigo says hotels are booking up quickly, and what rooms are available  are going at premium rates.

The November 6th ballot has a number of constitutional amendments  covering everything from term limits to taxes. Public Affairs Research  Council President Robert Scott says Amendment number eight will extend  industrial property tax breaks, enjoyed by manufacturers, in the state  to a narrow range of non-manufacturing businesses. Among the arguments for the amendments is that it would put Louisiana on  the same footing with competing states for new white collar and high  tech jobs. Scott says one argument against it is that it could cut into  local tax revenues.  Under the amendment each parish would have the option to agree to the  tax breaks.

The Alexandria District Probation and Parole Office will conduct an education session Halloween night for all registered sex offenders in the area. The Alexandria District serves Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle and Rapides parishes. The session, will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at 1534 Lee St. in Alexandria. All supervised cases are required to attend. All unsupervised cases are invited to attend. The aim is to keep all sex offenders, especially those that are under supervision, away from any contact with children on Halloween, as well as to update offenders on any new and/or revised laws and to review compliance issues with them.

Gas  prices  in Louisiana continue the downward spiral as the cooler weather moves  in.  The  current  statewide  average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.39 cents a gallon which  is  down  almost  20

cents from last month. Analysts expect the price to dip even more as we get further into winter.

Two UL-Lafayette Football players have been dismissed from the team  and placed under arrest for allegedly fondling a female student  without her consent. University Police Sgt Billy Abrams says after questioning the victim officers determined they were  dealing with a sexual battery case.  20-year-old Darrell Green and 22-year-old Eric Ferguson  are each charged with one count of sexual battery.

A Monroe man faces assault charges after letting his large vicious dog  attack two Ouachita Parish Sheriff's deputies. OPSO Chief Deputy Marc  Mashaw says officers responded to a domestic disturbance last night to  find 26-year-old Coy Williams at the door. He says Williams let the  large Mastiff-mix dog loose at them. One deputy had to shoot the dog twice, when it  charged them.  Mashsaw says Williams will be charged with two counts of aggravated  assault on a law officer, and with a leash law violation for letting the  dog attack the officers.

The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is  sending response teams to Pennsylvania and Maryland to help authorities  there with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  Both states sent over a hundred National Guard personnel each to  Louisiana after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Gustav in  2008

A woman driving on I-49 in Shreveport survives a 60 foot fall at the 70th  Street  overpass Sunday. Shreveport Police say it appears  the woman was attempting  to  avoid  a mattress on the on the road. They say the she lost control and fell  60  feet to ground below. She had to be cut out of the vehicle, but, police say, she had only minor injuries.

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review the case of a former Natchitoches man scheduled to be executed this week for the murder of an East Texas woman nine years ago. 41 year old Donnie Lee Roberts Jr.is scheduled to die by lethel injection tomorrow night at the Texas state prison in Huntsville for the 2003 murder of Vicki Bowen at her home on Lake Livingston. The 44 year old Bowen was found shot twice in the head. Roberts confessed to her killing and while in custody, also confessed to the March 1992 murder of Archie Crow Jr. in Natchitoches Parish. Until that confession, Natchitoches Parish authorities had not considered Crow's death a homicide.

News For Friday 102612

By Dave Graichen

Another cool front is moving across Louisiana, bringing the coldest  temperatures seen so far this season. State Climatologist Barry Keim  says you'll want to have a coat or at least a sweater ready this weekend, especially in the overnight hours. Keim says parts of the state may see some rain today, as the cold front pushes through. He says, by early Sunday morning, we can expect lows in  the 30's in northern and central parishes, and in the mid-to-upper 40's nearer  to the coast.

Police say they arrested four former LSU football players, including one-time Heisman Trophy finalist  Tyrann Mathieu, after finding them with marijuana at Mathieu’s apartment. Baton Rouge police on Thursday said they also arrested ex-LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, and former defensive backs Derrick Bryant and Karnell Hatcher. Police say Mathieu, Jefferson and Hatcher were booked on charges of marijuana possession while Bryant faces a charge of possession with intent to distribute. Police say they were called to the apartment complex after receiving a complaint from a neighbor of Mathieu.

Gannett newspapers report a yet-unnamed steel manufacturer will locate  a plant in the Caddo-Bossier area--creating hundreds of new jobs. An  official announcement is scheduled for this afternoon at the Caddo- Bossier Port.  The steel mill project could mean 800 new jobs and even more indirect

 jobs.

Rapides and 51 other Louisiana parishes are about to share $68.8 million in windfall tax money that has accumulated in escrow during a long-running court battle with three pipeline companies. Rapides will receive the seventh-largest share of the purse, and now is figuring out how to disperse almost $2.57 million among its taxing districts, including the School Board and Police Jury. The case, which has been ongoing for close to 17 years, has to do with the amount of taxes several pipelines pay and have paid over the years, to travel through the state.  

It’s what you call a win win negotiation ,The England Authority Board of Commissioners approved an agreement Thursday that will transfer land to St. Mary's Residential Training School in return for the cancellation of a lease on land that is part of England Airpark. The authority recently purchased 149 acres from the state with the intention of using some of that property to extend a Runway. The Diocese of Alexandria and St. Mary's held lease rights on that land, renewable for more than 150 years. In exchange for cancelling the lease, the authority is donating 47 of the 149 acres to St. Mary's. When the transfer is complete, the airpark will have 102 of the 149 acres to do with as they see fit, while St. Mary's will take ownership of 62 acres of land.

The RPSO Reports an investigation into a Tuesday armed robbery and battery resulted in the arrests of two Hineston men living across the street from the crime scene. 30 year old Brandon Stokes and 23 year old Jarret Dryden were both charged with one count of armed robbery, one count of aggravated second-degree battery, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of false imprisonment while armed with a dangerous weapon. Both were booked into the Rapides parish jail.

The American Dream; get married,  start  a  family,  buy  a home and retire at 65, right? Now a survey by Pew Research says fewer  of  us believe  we'll be able to retire at so young an age. Over 30% of the 1000 surveyed  don't  think  they'll  be able to retire until 80. Good luck with that. The  average life expectancy in the US. is 78 & a half.

The  Walker  man  charged  with  first degree feticide and attempted second-degree murder could face a  first  degree  murder  charge  if autopsy  evidence  of the baby he cut out of his pregnant wife shows that the fetus began  to  breathe after being removed from the womb. District  Attorney Scott Perriloux  says  they're  awaiting  autopsy results on  the  baby  and  toxicology tests for 31-year-old Jeffrey Reynolds.

An  abandoned pipe that is believed to be the source of an oil sheen spotted near the site of the 2010 Gulf Oil spill has now been capped and plugged  according  to  BP. The company announced yesterday  that the Coast Guard says no oil has been  seen leaking out of that container since it was capped and plugged. Reports  of  the  sheen in the Gulf started in September.

A  Baton  Rouge  mother  is under arrest accused of putting her baby inside of a plastic box then  leaving  her  alone  inside her house. Apparently 26-year-old Sharesse Joseph was walking down  the  street when  the  16  month  old  baby's grandmother notified the apartment manager that the child may be  left  inside alone. Police reportedly found the baby inside a Rubbermaid container  with  an  empty bottle and wearing a soiled diaper.

For the seventh time  in  the past 30 days, Governor Bobby Jindal has traveled out of state to attend  campaign  or  other  functions. His office announced  that  he  was  in  Iowa stumping for Mitt  Romney Wednesday  and in Jacksonville last night to  attend  the  first  coast women's services  pro-life  dinner. He returned home after that.

The earth is moving again at the site of that giant sinkhole in Assumption  Parish  near Bayou Corne.  The  U.S.  Geological  Survey confirms a sharp tremor  Wednesday around 9. The tremor was located about 500 meters deep, near  the  underground  salt cavern under the sinkhole.  The  sinkhole now covers about 4 acres  in  area.  Nearby residents were evacuated  in  early August, and haven't been able to return home since.

Long-time northeast Louisiana  philanthropist  Kitty  DeGree  passed away  this morning at the age of 90. DeGree made millions of dollars in real  estate  and  gave much of it back to the community. She was ULM's  largest  benefactor   and   the   university's   director  of development,  Anne  Lockhart,  says  DeGree touched every aspect  of Louisiana-Monroe. DeGree's foundation has given away over $4-million to worthy causes.

The Thibodaux man accused of beheading and dismembering his disabled 7-year-old  son last year has  had  a  key  hearing  delayed  again. 31-year-old Jeremiah  Wright  was  originally scheduled for a mental competency hearing in September. It  was delayed until November, but then  delayed  again  until  January 3rd.   Wright  reportedly  told authorities he killed the boy because he was tired of taking care of him. He remains in jail pending a $5-million bond.

Downtown Houma will be full of Halloween fun tonight with the first ever  Rougarou Festival. Jonathan Foret is the development director of the  South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center. He says the festival will  feature a parade, a costume contest, an obstacle course in involving  zombies and swamp monsters and lots of Cajun-themed food. Foret says the festival kicks off at 5 o'clock this afternoon with live  music  in Courthouse Square. He says the festival aims to  capitalize on renewed interest in Cajun culture thanks to shows like  "Swamp People."

Former LSU track star LoLo Jones is has landed a spot  on the United States  bobsled  team.  The  2-time  Olympic hurdler was one  of  24 athletes  selected for the team and 1 of  6  women's  push  athletes selected.  The  skeleton  roster  for  the  national  team  will  be announced next week after team selection races take place in Utah.

The Saints seek their third win in a row on Sunday night when they meet  the Denver Broncos. After an 0-and-4 start, New Orleans has been playing  better, but interim head coach Joe Vitt says the Broncos are getting  better too. Vitt says Denver Q-B Peyton Manning is looking more  comfortable with his new team. Sunday marks Vitt's first game with the Saints since serving a six-game  suspension as a result of the NFL's bounty investigation. Vitt says it's  been a great week.

news for wednesday 102412

by dave graichen

an investigation by the rapides parish sheriff’s department into what is being described as a major brawl at the bolton / grant game last friday night has been concluded.  RPSO deputies who were working security for the game, were told of a large disturbance on the field while they were escorting the officials  off the field.   Deputies then responded to the scene, breaking up the disturbance and separating the individuals involved. After the subjects were interviewed from both sides, it was determined none of the people involved wanted to pursue any criminal action. 

the rapides parish sheriff’s department reports Three people face drug charges in connection with a drug operation, including a Deville man who has been arrested six times since January. 37 year old Richard Schweiger  was charged Friday with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. Also arrested on drug charges were 32 year old Jeremy Allinson and 30 year old Amber Allinson, both from pineville.

lsua Chancellor dr. David Manuel should know this week whether he will be the next president of Drury University. the 65 year old manuel is one of two finalists for the job. the other name on the list, 71 year old dr. David Steele, who is currently the dean of the College of Business at San Jose State.

john white, the state’s  education chief has been summoned to federal court in new orleans to testify in a case involving the state's new school voucher law and a 47-year-old desegregation case. The Tangipahoa school system argues that the voucher law, which pays private school tuition for some lower-income students from low-performing schools, diverts state money from the local school district. And they say that affects the system's ability to comply with orders in the desegregation case. Those orders include construction of four elementary schools and the continuation of magnet school programs. a second lawsuit, brought by the state’s two teacher’s unions and dozens of school boards across the state, is scheduled to be heard late next month.

new information is coming out about the attack that critically injured a winnsboro woman. on sunday night, 20 year old sharmeka moffitt told police she was attacked and set on fire while walking through city park. kkk was painted on the hood of her vehicle and racial slurs under that. a candlelight vigil was held last night in winnsboro for moffitt, who remains in critical condition. but, here’s the twist, Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb said during a press conference at the Franklin Parish Courthouse yesterday afternoon that all forensic evidence pointed toward Sharmeka Moffitt concocting the story and setting herself on fire.

Long lines could  be  seen in some early voting locations yesterday as the doors opened to kick off a week of early ballot punching for the November 6th Presidential election. Early  voting  is from 8:30 until 6 now through October 30th, except of course this Sunday. Voters can find the location in their district online a sos.la.gov.

440  schools  will  receive  about  10-thousand   dollars  each  for achieving  or  exceeding  goals  established  by  the  state. Overall thirty-seven-percent of Louisiana public schools received  an "A" or "B"  grade,  according to school performance scores released by the state dept. of ed earlier this week.  State  Superintendent  of  Education John White says He is also encouraged be the number of "D" and "F" schools  dropping from 44-percent in 2011 to 36-percent this year.

The calendar says the 2012 hurricane season  should be winding down, but  the  activity  in  the  tropics says something  different.  The National hurricane Center is tracking  Tropical  Storm  Sandy in the Caribbean and Tropical Depression 19, which is in the middle  of the Atlantic.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says Sandy is not a threat to the Gulf. Sandy is the  18th named storm of the hurricane season and Keim says 2012 will go down as one of the most active seasons in history.

The state  House  of  Representatives  has  gathered  enough  member signatures to support calling a special session to possibly overturn recent  deep  cuts  to  health  care  services  made  by  the Jindal Administration. The Special Session Call has until Thursday to amass enough  State  Senate signatures to make the session happen.  If  it does happen, it would be after Thanksgiving.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control has a new dog in the fight against synthetic marijuana. ATC used money it raised from fines and  penalties  to  buy  a  two-year-old   German   Shepard, specifically  trained  to  sniff  out  the illegal drug. The K-9 was brought  in  from  Holland  and is currently  undergoing  additional training in Acadiana.

A man stabbed his pregnant wife and cut the fetus from her body Tuesday afternoon in livingston parish. The woman, who was seven months pregnant, is in stable condition, but the child is dead. Sheriff’s deputies took Jeffrey Reynolds into custody and were testing him for drugs. Investigators issued warrants against Reynolds on felony counts of feticide and attempted second-degree murder.

A pair of Baton Rouge area pee wee football  coaches  are  suspended after  a  passerby  recorded  a  halftime rant, in which the coaches loudly and angrily berate the pre-teen  team.   The organizers of Baton Rouge youth sports say the coaches are out for the rest of this season and may not be asked back at all.

News for monday 102212

by dave graichen

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Alexandria saturday was another major success. large crowds turned out not only to participate, but to cheer on friends who were taking part in the race. survivors ranged from one who had been cancer free to another who was on day 80. crowds were somewhat smaller this year due to the fact the alexandria event is now a local rather than a regional race, as is has been in the past. Seventy-five percent of the money raised stays local to be granted out through non-profit organizations. Twenty-five percent goes to research.

Unemployment in Louisiana fell to 7% in September, according to federal  Labor Department numbers. That's down from 7.4% in August and lower than  it was one year ago. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says he believes  upturns in the chemicals and oil & gas industries are largely behind the  surge.

Sundrop Fuels Inc. has hired some plant managers and has started preliminary site work north of Alexandria, where construction on the company's $450 million synthetic gasoline plant is to begin early next year with completion in 2014. The Colorado company, which chose Central Louisiana for its first commercial plant, continues financing negotiations with lenders. The company, plans to use natural gas and woody biomass to produce car-ready synthetic gasoline.

We know the New Orleans Times Picayune is now only delivering three  days a week, but now Newsweek magazine has announced it will stop printing all together in order to concentrate on online publication. Is print becoming a thing of the past? LSU Mass Comm Dean Jerry Ceppos he isn't at all surprised by the Newsweek move. Ceppos says, though it depends on the situation, but using paper  journalism as a legitimate news source is essentially dead. in big and struggling markets like New Orleans, scaling  back daily delivery is what makes the most economic sense. However he  says smaller market newspapers are still steady on their feet.

Ten years ago today, former Governor Edwin Edwards woke up to his first  full day as a federal prisoner, after his conviction for conspiring to  fix casino licenses. U.L.-Lafayette political science professor Pearson  Cross says a decade ago, it must have seemed like rock-bottom for  Edwards...but things have dramatically changed for him. While in federal prison Edwards met Trina Scott, who is some 50 years  younger than he. The two were married in 2011, and are planning to have  a child. Cross says Edwards has found happiness in his senior years.  Edwards served 8 & 1/2 years of his ten-year sentence, and was released  in early 2011, with time off for good behavior.

Sixth ranked LSU enters the bye week with just one loss after a come  from behind win over Texas A-and-M, 24-19.

Louisiana-Monroe is all alone in first place in the Sun Belt Conference  after a dramatic 43-to-42 overtime victory over Western Kentucky. U-L-M is 3-and-0 in the Sun Belt and the Warhawks will host South  Alabama this Saturday.

After starting the season with a four-game losing streak, the Saints  have now won two in a row. New Orleans fell behind 21-7 to Tampa Bay  yesterday, but rallied for a 35 to 28 victory.

News for thursday 101812

by dave graichen

Following Tuesday's evacuation at alexandria senior high school  and  Rumors circulated Wednesday about a second threat,  About 100 students decided not to chance it and checked out of school the day, others simply were no shows. school officials say they had not received any word of yet another threat and that Tuesday's threat remains under investigation by the Alexandria Police Department. In the meantime, extra precautions are being taken at the school. Two Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office detectives manned metal DETECTORS  and checked students as they entered the building Wednesday morning.

The Rapides Parish School Board has declared a public emergency for damages caused by a recent fire at Martin Park Elementary, allowing for quicker action in signing contracts to repair the building. The declaration, which came at a special School Board meeting Tuesday night, authorizes the interim superintendent or assistant superintendent of administration to negotiate required construction and repairs with costs to be paid from special reserve funds and with insurance proceeds. Roy Rachal, coordinator of risk management for the district, said the school is a "significant loss" after Friday's fire burned classrooms, collapsed a portion of the roof and covered the school's contents with smoke and soot.

The U.S. Department of Energy says it needs more time to consider an  environmental group's objections to a Texas company's plans to build an export terminal for liquefied natural gas in southwest Louisiana. Earlier this year regulators approved a permit allowing Houston-based Cheniere Energy Inc. to build the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish. The project was the first large-scale natural gas export facility to be approved in the U.S. In September, the Sierra Club objected and asked DOE to block the project. The group said a more in-depth environmental analysis should be done to examine whether building the facility would result in an increase in natural gas production and environmental damage. no word as to when a ruling may come from the feds.

Police  say a woman who drove off the parking garage at the Boomtown Casino in  Bossier  city is fighting for her life at LSU-Hospital in Shreveport. Bossier City  Police  Spokesperson  Mark  Natale says the woman drove from the top floor of the garage and fell about 60 feet.  the car landed on its roof onto a concrete exit  ramp  and pinned the woman inside. natale says police do believe alcohol to be a factor.

Lafayette  Police report an arrest  in  the  case  of  a  murder  in downtown Lafayette.  The  body of 24-year-old Michael Luke Darby was found Monday afternoon behind  a  shrub, next to a business. The U-S Marshal's office arrested 26-year-old  Kyle  James Toups of Carencro last night near Beaumont. Lafayette Police Corporal Paul Mouton says Toups was arrested in Texas, because that's where  he  was  working. Mouton  says investigators do not believe Darby and Toups knew  each other prior to the murder.

The president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents calls the state's new anti-bullying law an administrative nightmare. Michael  Faulk says the new rules, as established by BESE, will pile on multiple layers of new bureaucratic procedures. BESE drafted the rules in response to a new anti-bullying law passed by the legislature.  Faulk  says  school administrators will work on recommendations to make the process easier.

 

The Federal Aviation Administration  is  in  Vernon Parish trying to determine the cause of a single-engine plane crash  that  killed  an assistant  church  pastor. Authorities say James Roberts' plane went down in a wooded area  near  Simpson on  Sunday. Stormy weather may have been a factor.

New  federal  campaign  finance numbers show Charles Boustany with a sizable cash-on-hand lead  over fellow republican Jeff Landry in the race for the newly redrawn 3rd  Congressional District. According to the report Boustany raised a half  million dollars between July 29^th and   September  30th,  compared to  Landry   who   raised   nearly 380-thousand  dollars  during  that  same period. The F-E-C report shows the lone democratic in the race, Ron Richard,
with  15-thousand dollars in cash. Two other candidates, Libertarian Jim Stark and  republican Bryan Barilleaux, did not report any cash funds.

Six parishes in southeast Louisiana have banded together to improve  flood protection and storm response in the region. The Storm Defense  Compact includes the parishes of St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, St.  Bernard, Tangipahoa, St. Charles and Jefferson. St. Tammany Parish  President Pat Brister says the idea arose after Hurricane Isaac.  The six parishes in the compact were all on the receiving end of severe  flooding in the wake of Hurricane Isaac. There is speculation that some  of the flooding there was the result of runoff due to beefed up  flood protection in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish after Katrina.

Capitol Area Congressman Bill Cassidy is up for re-election on November  6th, but already talking about a run for Senate in two years. Cassidy  says he'd be honored to be asked to run against Senator Mary Landrieu.  Cassidy made the comment to the Baton Rouge Business Report. He says  he's not necessarily running in 2014.  Cassidy says he'd want to have his family's approval, plenty of campaign  cash and support of big donors and organizers in order to even enter the  2014 Senate race.

State Police say 20 people have been arrested and nearly 150 pounds of  illegal drugs have been seized in a narcotics investigation that started  over a year ago. Troop C spokesman Trooper Evan Harrell says  The people arrested are all from Houma, Lockport or Bourg.  Trooper Harrell says officers seized over 5 pounds of methamphetamine,  130 pounds of marijuana, three guns, 2 vehicles and over tens of  thousands of dollars in cash. He says the group was bringing the dope in  from Texas and California.

The number of people who identify themselves as being a part of a  particular religion is on the decline according to a Pew Research  Center study. Dr. Tom Ryan is the director of the Loyola Institute for  Ministry. He believes  that churches need to put a stronger focus on  attracting young adults. The study also indicates nearly 20% of  Americans say they aren't affiliated with a denomination which is up  5% from five years ago. But Ryan says nearly 2/3 of "non-religious"  are spiritual people who believe in God.  The study shows that most unaffiliated people are not looking to be  associated with a religion.

news for tuesday 101612

by dave graichen

Four people are in custody after a Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office School Resource Officer at Acadian Elementary New Vision Academy in Alexandria heard what sounded like gunshots near the school yesterday afternoon. The incident did not happen on Acadian's grounds, but officials from the Rapides Parish School District are working with law enforcement to piece together what happened. School officials delayed the release of Acadian's students because of the shooting. No firearm has been discovered, and the investigation is ongoing.

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the fire at Martin Park elementary school friday that forced the closure of the facility and the relocation of students and staff. The juvenile, a student at Martin Park, was charged with one count of simple arson. fire officials do not expect to be making any more arrests in the case. after a busy few day of preparation, students will start classes today at the former Hadnot-Hayes Elementary. Martin Park staff spent Monday cleaning the building on Lincoln Road, moving desks, addressing wiring for technology and sorting school supplies among classrooms.

A state district judge Monday sentenced a Deville man to three years supervised probation for killing his male companion in 2007 and hiding the body in a box until it was found the following year. But Rapides Parish prosecutor Thomas "Rocky" Wilson said Monday afternoon that Judge Thomas Yeager was reconsidering the sentencing he meted out to Bobby Christopher Lucas, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in June for killing Kerry anthony Lane. the 39 year old  Lucas sat in the rear of the court gallery with his wife yesterday. his attorney telling the judge "He's married. He's changed his lifestyle" and he's a manager at an Alexandria fast food restaurant.  Lucas could have received up to 40 years in prison at hard labor. judge Yeager said he reviewed Lucas' case and the circumstances of the killing. He sentenced Lucas to 10 years at hard labor, then suspended the sentence and imposed probation.

President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney meet tonight for the  second Presidential Debate. Many felt that, during their first debate  two weeks ago, the President was subdued.. and handed in a lackluster  performance. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says expect to see a different Barack Obama tonight. Tonight's debate is in a "town hall" format, with a number of undecided  voters posing questions of the two candidates. Hogan says both should  do just fine in this less formal debate setting.

State Education Superintendent John White is proposing new rules for  private schools who want to take on public school students via the new  vouchers program. Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE)  President Penny Dastugue says schools recognized for their excellence  would be readily approved to receive the vouchers. BESE will consider Superintendent White's proposal during its meeting  today. Dastugue says the plan puts private and religious schools in the  voucher program under a microscope, to assure state education dollars  are wisely spent.

Two  people  on  a MOTORCYCLE were killed early Sunday morning, in an accident on US 190  in  St.  Landry  Parish.  State  Police  Trooper Stephen  Hammons  says 52-year-old Ronald Bellard of Eunice and  his passenger  died  in  the   wreck.   Hammons  says  they  were  on  a three-wheeled motorcycle that hit a  truck pulling  a horse trailer that apparently pulled out in front of them. The  truck driver  is  not  hurt. Hammons says an investigation  is underway.

it’s sorta like that movie “the Blob”, The giant sinkhole in Assumption Parish continues to grow. The  hole full  of muddy slurry is now about 4 acres in area. Nearby residents have been evacuated from their homes since August 3rd, when the hole first appeared--taking land and trees with it.

they may have gotten away with it in “porky’s” but not at tiger stadium. Baton Rouge Police  arrested  a  South  Caroline  Gamecocks  fan for allegedly mooning  LSU  fans  during saturday’s game. the man was spotted with his pants down below his knees and uttering loud  vulgarities.  Officers  took  34-year-old   charles Hattaway in for obscenity. He later posted bail.

New  Orleans  Police  arrest  a woman for child desertion, after her twin  6-year-old  girls were left  home  alone while the mother went to work.  fire fighters were able to rescue the girls after their apartment caught fire. however, they had  to  use CPR to revive the girls. it’s believed The fire started as a result of the girls playing with matches.

Voters in all but two parishes will  see an item on the November 6^th election ballots, asking their preference in imposing term limits on local  school  board members.  The  vote  is   a   parish-by-parish referendum,  and  will not mean such limits imposed on  a  statewide basis. Jefferson and  Lafayette  parishes  already have school board term limits. early voting starts this saturday.

A Bossier City accountant is charged with stealing from the Minden  construction company where he worked, and blowing the money on  strippers. Webster Parish Sheriff's detective Scott Tucker says 36-year old Murlin Graham is suspected of taking at least $360-thousand  from his employer and living it up with the cash. Tucker says Graham was an accountant with the construction company, and  was creating phony supplier and vendor companies, whose names closely  resemble those of his company's actual suppliers and vendors. Graham's been booked with four counts of felony theft by fraud

The LSU football team's first trip to College Station, Texas, since 1995  is more challenging for the fans because of the 11 A-M kick-off this  Saturday.  LSU Travel Expert Jim Dumigan says many Tiger fans are  staying in the Houston Area on Friday, which means an early wake-up call  is needed to get to Kyle Field in time for kick-off.  Dumigan says the Tiger Athletic Foundation travel party is at the same  hotel where the team will stay, which is in Montgomery, Texas. He says they will leave before the sun rises.