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DIXIE CAB IN LAFAYETTE COULD BE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF 966 UNPAID TRAFFIC CAMERA TICKETS. THE BILL FOR THE TICKETS IS 56 THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH INCLUDES LATE FEES AND PENALTIES, AND CAB OWNER JOE YOUSEF HAS UNTIL OCTOBER 30TH TO PAY THE FINES OR THE VEHICLE FOR HIRE PERMITS WILL BE SUSPENDED. YOUSEF HAS APPEALED TO THE CITY PARISH COUNCIL AND IS SCHEDULED TO MAKE HIS CASE AT TUESDAY’S MEETING. YOUSEF SAYS THE DRIVERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FINE AND IF HE’S FORCED TO PAY IT, HE WOULD HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESS.
THE REMAINS OF A WHALE WERE FOUND WEDNESDAY MORNING ON LITTLE FLORIDA BEACH IN CAMERON PARISH, JUST WEST OF HOLLY BEACH. IT’S SOMETHING LIFETIME RESIDENTS FROM THE AREA SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. LOUISIANA WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES AGENTS SAID THE 23 FOOT LONG WHALE WAS A SPERM WHALE CALF. MARINE BIOLOGIST MANDY TOMLIN SAYS IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT A SPERM WHALE WASHES ASHORE, SO THEY ARE DOING RESEARCH ON THE ANIMAL AND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY IT DIED.
ST. MARTINVILLE POLICE CHIEF CALDER HEBERT HAS RELEASED THE IDENTITY OF A MAN WHO WAS SHOT TO DEATH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. 30-YEAR-OLD KENDRICK “MONKEY” JONES WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN HIS TRUCK AT THE CORNER OF BUCHANAN AND RESWEBER. WITNESSES TOLD KLFY TV THAT JONES WAS SHOT WHILE SITTING IN HIS TRUCK, THEN SPED AWAY, CRASHING INTO A FENCE AND A DITCH. HEBERT SAYS DETECTIVES ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN THE INVESTIGATION, INTERVIEWING WITNESSES AND TALKING TO A FEW PEOPLE OF INTEREST.
Louisiana’s Republican attorney general is asking a judge to block an order from the Democratic governor banning discrimination against LGBT people in state government. Attorney General Jeff Landry filed the court challenge Thursday, saying Gov. John Bel Edwards’ anti-discrimination order violates state law and exceeds Edwards’ authority. The two men have clashed repeatedly over the order, which prohibits discrimination in government and most state contracts based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Landry has blocked dozens of contracts to let state agencies hire outside lawyers that contain the anti-discrimination clause.
BROUSSARD POLICE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE MAN, WHO’S BODY WAS FOUND NEAR A GAS STATION. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY HAS GIVEN THEIR APPROVAL TO A NEARLY 700 LOT SUBDIVISION. THE PORTER’S COVE SUBDIVISION WILL BE LOCATED ON 218 ACRES NEAR CLYDE DULANEY AND PAUL BELLON ROADS, JUST OFF HIGHWAY 171. THE JURORS AGREED TO THE SUBDIVISION BECAUSE OF A GROWING HOUSING NEED IN THE LAKE CHARLES AND MOSS BLUFF AREAS. THE DEVELOPERS OF THE SUBDIVISION STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN ENGINEERING PHASE, WHICH INCLUDES DRAINAGE AND TRAFFIC STUDIES.
THE VERMILLION PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VOTED 4-TO-4 ON RENEWING THE CONTRACT OF SUPERINTENDENT JEROME PUYAU. THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO OFFER HIM A NEW CONTRACT, WHICH WILL BE NEGOTIATED OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. ONE OF THOSE VOTING TO RENEW THE CONTRACT, BOARD MEMBER CHRIS HEBERT TELLS KATC TV IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR PUYAU, BECAUSE OF THE WORK HE’S DONE. HE SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WILL LIKELY BE TENSE BUT THEY’LL WORK HARD TO GET HIM A NEW CONTRACT.
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration is stalling hundreds of millions in construction projects planned for state financing to instead steer more money to state building and university repairs and roadwork. The Bond Commission approved the plans Thursday, though some lawmakers have expressed concern about specific projects that are being delayed. Nearly $267 million in projects will be bumped in line, while $68 million in new projects will advance ahead of them. The new projects include more than $15 million for repairs to state buildings, $14 million for maintenance of public college campus facilities and $36 million for the statewide highway program.
