TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
A new audit has found nearly one in five rape kits in Louisiana never make it to a crime lab.
That’s according to a report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.
Louisiana Public Radio’s Sarah Hennigan reports on the reports’ findings:
SOT:
“The Louisiana Legislative Auditor also found nearly 18-percent of kits were missing from the testing process. WWL reports, the February audit of 18 months of kit collections shows more than a quarter of these kits missed deadlines forbeing submitted to police. State law requires police to collect kits within 72 hours and submit them to a crime lab within 30 days. But the audit found gaps in compliance and tracking, potentially leaving crucial DNA evidence out of investigations. The audit also found some crime labs declined to test kits when prosecutors or investigators decide not to pursue a case.”
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INTRO:
In Arkansas, lawmakers questioned the former head of the state’s prison system on Tuesday.
Joe Profiri was fired as secretary of the Arkansas Department of Corrections in 2024, amid tension with the state corrections board over expanding prison bed space.
As Little Rock Public Radio reports, He was then hired as an advisor to Governor Sarah Huckabee sanders.
Profiri told lawmakers he’s still concerned with the lack of capacity at state prisons:
SOT:
“We added 15-hundred beds since that time um, and, to try to alleviate that. And we’re back up to almost 3,000 people backed up in county jails. So I don’t think we can completely resolve the issue, uh, absent additional capacity in our prison system and our community corrections centers.”
TAG:
Arkansas had sought to build a new 3,000 bed state prison in Franklin County in West Arkansas, near Fort Smith. But residents strongly opposed the project.
According to state figures, Just under 17,000 inmates are currently housed in Arkansas state correctional facilities.
But the system is designed for 15,362 beds, leaving it 24-percent over capacity.
Another 2,900 offenders are expected by 2040.
Corrections officials point to the 2023 Protect Arkansas Act for that anticipated surge in the prison population.
The new law requires longer sentencing and reduces parole eligibility.
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INTRO:
in Texas, outgoing Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is supporting calls to strip power from the incoming Democratic Lieutenant Governor Vikki Goodwin.
Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has more:
SOT:
“Goodwin won the race for Lt . Governor with over 51 percent of the vote. Patrick, speaking Monday on the conservative Mark Davis Show, said the election was fair. But Patrick said he does support calls to remove power from the Lt. Governor’s office. PATRICK: (13:48) “But if you lose the statewide offices and you still have the majority in the Senate, which we do, 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats, you shouldn't give up your seat. If the lieutenant governor lost or the lieutenant governor lost or the attorney general lost, you're still the majority. Patrick did not explain which powers he would want to see taken away from the new Lt Governor. But the Republican-controlled Senate can rewrite chamber rules to shift powers such as committee appointments and control of the floor agenda. Goodwin’s role as Senate president and her tie-breaking vote come from the Texas Constitution and cannot be diluted.”
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The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
* Partly sunny conditions to start off this veterans day, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 78.
* Then 73 degrees Tomorrow with more sun, that will stick around for Friday & Saturday, but with a noticeable drop in the high temperature, dropping to 66 both days.
* Sunday: the chance for rain returns with a high of 63.
* Severe drought conditions have led to extremely dry vegetation, with low humidity expected after the passage of a cold front tonight. And gusty northerly winds could increase the wildfire threat areawide.
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