Shreveport Bossier Headlines

VOUCHERS AND TENURE ARE THE BUZZ WORDS IN LEGISLATION UP FOR DEBATE IN THE HOUSE ON THURSDAY BUT THE COMPLICATED BILLS DEAL WITH MORE THAN JUST TEACHER JOB SECURITY AND PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION.  CRITICS AND EVEN SOME SUPPORTERS OF THE BILLS' CONCEPTS HAVE ACCUSED THE JINDAL ADMINISTRATION OF RUSHING THE COMPLEX ISSUES.

THE NFL HAS SUSPENDED NEW ORLEANS SAINTS HEAD COACH SEAN PAYTON WITHOUT PAY FOR THE ENTIRE 2012 SEASON. THE SUSPENSION FOLLOWS THE LEAGUE'S INVESTIGATION INTO THE SAINTS' ``BOUNTY'' PROGRAM FOR HITS THAT KNOCKED AN OPPONENT OUT OF A GAME. THE BOUNTIES WERE ORCHESTRATED BY FORMER DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR GREGG WILLIAMS. WILLIAMS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY. THE SAINTS ALSO LOSE THEIR SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICKS THIS YEAR AND NEXT.

SOME OIL AND GAS WORKERS GOT TRAPPED AT THE I-49 INDUSTRIAL PARK IN DESOTO PARISH BECAUSE OF HIGH WATER....THEY COULDN'T GET HOME.  BUT THE SHERIFF SENT IN A SPECIALTY BOAT TO GET THE WORKERS OUT TO THEIR CARS.  THE ROAD GOING INTO THE COMPLEX HAS FLOODED BEFORE AND THE EMPLOYEES SAY THE STATE NEEDS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

THE BOSSIER POLICE JURY IS TAKING A LOOK AT MAKING PARK IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARISH....THEY ARE ALSO CONSIDERING BUILDING MORE PARKS AS THE POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW. ONE OF THE NEW PARKS WOULD BE IN SOUTH BOSSIER ON A 64 ACRE TRACT OF LAND. THE CITY WOULD CHIP IN 1 MILLION TO HELP BUILD THE PARK. THE PARISH WILL APPLY FOR GRANT MONEY TO HELP PAY OTHER COSTS.

THE PARENTS OF A BLACK TEENAGER SHOT TO DEATH BY A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH CAPTAIN IN FLORIDA HAVE TOLD DEMONSTRATORS IN NEW YORK THEY WILL KEEP FIGHTING TO GET JUSTICE FOR THEIR SON.   THE WATCH CAPTAIN, WHO CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE, WASN'T ARRESTED OR CHARGED.

DESPITE THIS WEEK'S HEAVY RAIN, THE AZALEAS ARE IN FULL BLOOM AT THE NORTON ART GALLERY.  GROUNDS-KEEPER GARY WARD SAYS VISITORS CAN ROAM THROUGH ACRES AND ACRES OF FLOWERS...WARD SAYS THE AZALEAS SHOULD BE IN FULL BLOOM FOR ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK.

STRONG STORMS DUMPED UP TO 15 INCHES OF RAIN IN LOUISIANA, PROMPTING EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS IN NINE PARISHES AND SPAWNING POSSIBLE TORNADOES. NO SERIOUS INJURIES WERE REPORTED. NATCHITOCHES, CLAIBORNE, RED RIVER AND SABINE AMONG THE HARDEST HIT.  NATCHITOCHES CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IS STILL CLOSED TODAY BECAUSE OF FLOODING.

A MAN WHO WAS ONCE A SUSPECT IN A TRIPLE MURDER IN BOSSIER IS HEADED TO JAIL ON WEAPONS CHARGES. GERALD COPPERHEAD NEEDHAM GETS A TEN YEAR SENTENCE.  HE WAS ARRESTED AFTER THREE PEOPLE WERE MURDERED AT A BARKSDALE BOULEVARD APPLIANCE STORE...BUT THOSE MURDER CHARGES WERE LATER DROPPED WHEN EVIDENCE POINTED TO ANOTHER POSSIBLE SUSPECT.