News in brief
By The Associated Press
Louisiana lawmakers approve surgical castration option
BATON ROUGE, La. | A person found guilty of a sex crime against a child in Louisiana could soon be ordered to undergo surgical castration, in addition to prison time.
Louisiana lawmakers gave final approval to a bill Monday that would allow judges the option to sentence someone to surgical castration after the person has been convicted of certain aggravated sex crimes — including rape, incest and molestation — against a child younger than 13. Several states, including Louisiana, currently can order such criminals to receive chemical castration, which uses medications that block testosterone production in order to decrease sex drive. However, surgical castration is a more invasive procedure.
“This is a consequence,” Republican state Sen. Valarie Hodges said during a committee hearing on the bill in April. “It’s a step over and beyond just going to jail and getting out.”
The bill received overwhelming approval in both of the GOP-dominated chambers. Votes against the bill mainly came from Democrats, however a Democratic lawmaker authored the measure. The legislation now heads to the desk of conservative Gov. Jeff Landry, who will decide whether to sign it into law or veto it.
Iran’s hard-line parliament speaker emerges as top figure in presidential vote
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates | Iran’s hard-line parliament speaker has registered for the country’s June 28 presidential election. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is the most-prominent candidate from within its Shiite theocracy in the race to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi after a helicopter crash that killed him and seven others.
Monday’s entry of Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf brings a candidate with close ties to the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard into a race that saw the absence of other prominent figures. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei even gave a speech earlier Monday alluding to qualities that Qalibaf himself has highlighted, potentially signaling his support for the former Tehran mayor.
Black medic wounded on D-Day being posthumously honored
WASHINGTON | Waverly Woodson Jr., a medic who was part of the only Black combat unit to take part in the D-Day invasion of France, is being posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. It’s the U.S. Army’s second-highest honor.
The announcement was made Monday by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. He’s been working for years with Woodson’s family for more recognition of Woodson’s exploits.
June 6 is the 80th anniversary of the invasion. Woodson was just 21 years old when he was wounded while still on his landing craft. But for the next 30 hours he treated 200 wounded men while under fire before collapsing from his injuries and blood loss.
—From AP reports
