Thousands of dollars in double billing and other campaign spending irregularities by Senate President John Alario and Sen. Yvone Dorsey-Colomb should ignite investigations by the state
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Alario and Dorsey-Colomb should face probe for double billing, watchdogs say
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Negligent-homicide warrant in transgender woman’s death
New Orleans homicide detectives said Tuesday they have obtained an arrest warrant for a transgender woman suspected of killing another transgender woman with a black-market silicone injection.
Armani Nicole Davenport, who was born Larry T. Bernard, is wanted on a count of negligent homicide for allegedly injecting Brenisha Hall, 25, with the silicone in October.
Detectives on Tuesday went to a home Davenport has in Baton Rouge but did not find her there.
The transgender entertainer, who travels among a circuit of gay pageants, is believed to be living in Dallas, said Officer Frank Robertson, an NOPD spokesman.
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Parade celebrates tourism
As the local tourism industry gathered Tuesday to celebrate its contribution to the city’s economy, the president of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau warned that the industry is under assault.
Stephen Perry said a proposal up for a vote Wednesday in the state House of Representatives would put New Orleans at a “staggering disadvantage” compared with other tourist destinations.
“This industry and all of its allies from all parties and in all parts of the state have to work to kill this tax proposal,” Perry said.
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Covington officer retires ahead of firing
Covington police Sgt. Stephen Short, who was suspended for his involvement in the controversial arrest of two officials at a high school football game last year and more recently was put on paid administrative leave for allegedly improperly accessing his boss’s phone records, has retired, Police Chief Tim Lentz said Tuesday.
Short filed his retirement papers shortly after having a “predisciplinary hearing” with Lentz on Monday morning, Lentz said.
Lentz asked Short to return to his office Tuesday morning, but Short instead went to City Hall and filed his papers to retire, Lentz said.
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Key witness refuses to testify in trial
Apparently poised to name names in a 2012 carjacking-turned-killing that left a Southeastern Louisiana University student dead in the parking lot of an Algiers strip mall, 18-year-old Jaroid Washington clammed up Tuesday afternoon, refusing to take the witness stand despite the knowledge that it might cost him additional decades behind bars.
Washington pleaded guilty in February to manslaughter and armed robbery for his role in the brutal, close-range killing of Fernando Eyzaguirre, and he had agreed to a 23-year prison sentence in exchange for his expected testimony Tuesday against alleged shooter Milton “Bullet” Wilson and future testimony against other co-defendants in the case.
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House doesn't seem receptive to blocking Common Core test
The House of Representatives took two votes Wednesday afternoon that signaled the body isn't interested in blocking Common Core or an affiliated standardized test.
House
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Bill approving Keystone XL Pipeline may not get Senate vote
WASHINGTON -- Legislation that would give the go ahead for the Keystone XL Pipeline without the need for White House approval may not get a Senate
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Merritt Landry's attorney speaks out about his client's case
Attorney Kevin Boshea broke his silence Wednesday about the case of his client, Merritt Landry.
"When I took this case, I literally thought of myself and my own family, what would I do if I had one second to make that decision," Boshea said.
Landry shot Marshall Coulter in the head last July after he said the 14-year-old hopped the fence of his Marigny home. At the time of the shooting, Landry said Coulter appeared to be reaching for something.
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2 suspects surrender in deaths of Reserve couple
NEW ORLEANS, LA (WVUE) -
Two more suspects have been arrested in the murders of a Reserve couple.
Brittany Martin, 25, and Horatio Johnson, 37, turned themselves in Wednesday to the U. S. Marshals Task Force and members of the St. John Parish Sheriff's Office after learning that there were warrants for their arrests in connection with the deaths of Lakeitha and Kenneth Joseph.
Both were booked into the St. John Parish Sheriff's Jail as fugitives.
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Pair of Houma men sentenced for Heroin distribution conspiracy
HOUMA, LA (WVUE) -
U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite announced that a pair two Houma men have been sentenced for their roles in a heroin conspiracy. Roland "Troy" Chambers, 45, and Gregory Jackson, 40, were sentenced, Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey.
According to a Department of Justice spokesperson, Chambers pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and three counts of distribution of heroin.
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Holy Cross development closer to
On the eve of the City Council’s third attempt at voting on a proposal to build a mid-rise development in the Lower 9th Ward, the odds appeared to be stacked against neighbors who oppose the project on the grounds that it would overwhelm their community of mostly one-story houses.
With James Gray, the councilman whose district includes the site, repeatedly declaring his support of the plan, and with Mayor Mitch Landrieu saying this week that he, too, favors the proposal, Perez Architects appears likely to leave City Hall on Thursday with permission to construct two 60-foot-high riverfront residential buildings and to redevelop an existing building into commercial and office space on the former site of Holy Cross School.
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Police say roommate helped alleged killer flee
Randy Pittman’s phone rang Monday night with a frantic request from the caller on the other end.
Gregory Johnson said he needed his roommate to hurry to Josephine and Brainard streets to pick him up.
According to a police report, when Pittman arrived at the corner about 7:30 p.m., Johnson, 52, grabbed something out of the silver Mercedes-Benz and moments later unleashed a quick volley of bullets on three teens, killing 14-year-old Miquial Jackson and wounding his 15-year-old brother.
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Police: 2 booked in slayings of Reserve couple
Authorities have arrested two suspects in the murders of Lakeitha and Kenneth Joseph, the Reserve couple bound at the feet and dumped into the Intracoastal Waterway in New Orleans East in February.
Brittany Martin, 25, and Horatio Johnson, 37, both of St. John the Baptist Parish, turned themselves in to law enforcement officials after learning of warrants for their arrests, said Hilal Williams, a New Orleans police spokeswoman.
They were awaiting transfer to the Orleans Parish Prison, where Williams said they will be booked on two counts each of second-degree murder.
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Family pleads for answers in murder of N.O. mother
Paul Murphy / Eyewitness News
Email: pmurphy@wwltv.com | Twitter: @pmurphywwl
NEW ORLEANS -- Delores Scott has stage four lung cancer and her family fears she may go anytime now.
She is spending her last days in bed with a picture of her beloved grand daughter and a heavy heart.
"I'm trying to find out who killed my grandbaby," said Delores. "That's what I'm trying to find out."
Delores's granddaughter, 22-year-old Lanisha Scott, died from a gunshot wound on the streets of New Orleans.
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Lockhart family says they're happy to get closure in dismemberment case
Ashley Rodrigue / Eyewitness News
Email: arodrigue@wwltv.com | Twitter: @ashleyrwwl
HOLDEN, Miss. -- Word spread fast Wednesday morning about something Lance Lockhart feared he'd never hear.
“We finally get peace and closure that they caught her," he said.
Kenner police arrested Margaret Sanchez for second-degree murder in connection with the death and dismemberment of Lance's sister, Jaren Lockhart.
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Motorcyclist hit by car fleeing shooting scene
WWLTV.com
Email: webteam@wwltv.com | Twitter: @WWLTV
NEW ORLEANS -- A motorcyclist was injured by a vehicle fleeing a shooting Wednesday evening in Central City.
It happened about an hour ago near Fourth and Danneel streets.
Our partners at the Uptown Messenger say a motorcyclist was injured at the scene not by gunfire, but he was hit by a car fleeing the shooting scene.
It's unclear if anyone was actually shot.
We'll bring you more on this breaking story as it becomes available.
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Shrimpers raise concerns that the shrimping season is starting too late
Thanh Truong / Eyewitness News
Email: ttruong@wwltv.com | Twitter: @thanh412
NEW ORLEANS -- The spring shrimp season in Louisiana, as determined by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, is set to start on May 26, but for the many who make a living off the crustaceans, that date is too late.
Scott Dufrene has been a shrimper for more than 40 years. Dufrene said he's been eager to cast his nets.
"We need to go to work.
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Permits issued again for Lakeview doubles following WWL investigation
David Hammer / Eyewitness News
Email: dhammer@wwltv.com | Twitter: @davidhammerWWL
NEW ORLEANS – The city of New Orleans began issuing permits Wednesday for landlords to fix storm-damaged doubles in Lakeview for the first time since 2011.
The city was forced to issue the permits after it lost a case against Lakeview landlord Sue Spillsbury and the city’s effort to have the case heard by the Louisiana Supreme Court was denied.
An Eyewitness Investigation in December exposed that the city had changed the interpretation of the Lakeview zoning ordinance LRS-1 in 2011.
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Rep. Richmond wants to put limits on solitary confinement
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, is ready to introduce legislation to put limits on solitary confinement, which he says may violate the Constitution's prohibition
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White House awaits top aides' back-to-back memoirs
WASHINGTON — Over the next month, two of President Barack Obama's closest first-term advisers will spill insider details on the administration's handling of the early days
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