Louisiana

A church in New Orleans is raising awareness about violence in their community by posting a "Murder Board" outside of their building.

The 4 x 8 foot white sign is anchored to the wall of St. Anna's Episcopal Church and has a list of names in black lettering that read something like this: Jan. 6, Keian Ester, 11, shot; Jan. 7, Michael Johnson, 21, shot; Jan. 7, Eric Robinson, 41, shot/burned.

The Rev. Bill Terry, rector of St. Anna's, said that even just a few weeks into the year they have already added at least 20 names to the board. more >>

A 28-year-old Louisiana woman is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old boy she met at a Bible summer camp.

Heather Daughdrill worked as a teacher's aide at the unnamed camp where she met the underage boy in June, and pursued an affair with the youth until October, alleges the sheriff’s office of Calcasieu Parish, La. The parish (comparable to county) received a complaint about Daughdrill on Nov. 10, and police arrested her on Nov. 28, after an investigation by Parish Detective Katherine LeBlanc.

Daughdrill is now facing a laundry-list of charges, including for allegedly picking the boy up from school in nearby Beauregard Parish without his parents' knowledge and engaging in inappropriate conduct with him in Beauregard and Calcasieu parishes. She is also accused of trading explicit text messages with the teen, according to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. more >>

The United States Supreme Court recently refused to hear a case involving a same-sex couple who unsuccessfully sought to put both of their names on their adopted son’s birth certificate – a big victory for conservative pro-family organizations.

The rejection by the high court kept in place a previous federal court of appeals ruling that denied the gay couple’s request to change the biological parents’ names on their adopted son’s birth certificate with their own.

Following Louisiana state law, which allowed only married couples to jointly adopt a child, a state registrar refused the two unwed men, Mickey Smith and Oren Adar, their request in 2006. more >>

Correction appended

A Shreveport, La., news station is receiving some flak for a recent Facebook posting that said people should pray for Casey Anthony to find Jesus.

KTBS 3 News specifically posted on Sunday, "It's good to be reminded that we should let GOD do the judging and pray that Casey finds Jesus." more >>

A conservative Christian group sent Louisiana Senator David Vitter, who in 2007 confessed to using the services of a high-profile prostitution ring, a letter Monday calling on him to follow former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner's lead and resign.

Weiner announced his resignation last week following a Twitter scandal. The Democratic representative, whose resignation is effective midnight June 21, sent lewd photos to women via Twitter then lied about it.

Several Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, had called for Weiner's resignation. more >>

Members of the Louisiana Senate on Wednesday formally rejected a bill that would allow a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the state capitol.

The bill, House Bill 277, was voted down 5-2 because of reported concerns that the monument would be considered controversial and potential litigation over the display would be too costly for the state and taxpayers.

Members of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State said in a statement that a government-sponsored religious display, like the Ten Commandments monument, would divide Louisiana residents and possibly lead to litigation. more >>