Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1983-09-23

Duration: 00:07:40

Subjects: Tangipahoa Parish (La.). Police Jury | Debts, Public | Local governments

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Ekings, Robyn Reporter
• Landry, Cyril Interviewee
• Buras, Joe Interviewee
• Edwards, Byard Interviewee
• Kemp, Duncan Interviewee
• Lavine, Harry Interviewee

This segment from the September 23, 1983, episode of “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Robyn Ekings’ report on the financial mismanagement of the Tangipahoa Parish Police Jury that drove the parish $1 million into debt. Host Ken Johnson reports that Attorney General William Guste and Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney Duncan Kemp are investigating the financial practices of the police jury. Ekings interviews: Dr. Cyril Landry, a police juror, on the recent work of the police jury; Legislative Auditor Joe Buras on the poor recordkeeping of the police jury; attorney Byard Edwards on the embarrassment caused by the police jury, the lack of essential services in the parish, and his belief that the financial problems stem from the plans to build a new parish jail; District Attorney Duncan Kemp on his warnings to the police jury about potential legal problems; and Harry Lavine, a former parish manager, on his inability to work with the police jurors. Ekings also reports that Attorney General William Guste filed a court order to force the police jury to hire an accountant. Host: Ken Johnson