Judge Hears Of Possible Fix For Heat At Louisiana Prison

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The state of Louisiana has spent more than $1 million in taxpayer money to fight a lawsuit that claims three death row inmates are exposed to dangerous heat levels in their cells.

After more than three years of litigation, prison officials may have finally found a low-tech solution to the problem — at a cost of less than $2,000. And it would avoid the need for a far costlier air conditioning system at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson heard testimony Monday that the inmates have been moved to new cells that are getting cool air piped in through a vent from a guard station. A court-appointed special master, Paul Hebert, says cells' temperatures are now "well within a normal condition."

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.