2-24-17
THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA SYSTEM BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS APPROVED A PLAN BY U-L LAFAYETTE TO CREATE A LABORATORY SCHOOL. THE PROPOSAL IS FOR A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE SCHOOLTHAT WOULD ADD GRADES EACH YEAR UP TO AT LEAST FIFTH GRADE, ACCORDING TO NATHAN ROBERT, THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR THE SCHOOL TO BE SUPPORTED BY A COMBINATION OF STATE MONEY AND A SLIDING SCALE TUITION. THE LABORATORY SCHOOL WOULD GIVE TEACHERS IN TRAINING EXPERIENCE USING MODEL EDUCATION METHODS AND THE CHILDREN WOULD RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF THE LATEST, MOST UP-TO-DATE RESEARCH ON LEARNING.
A JURY HAS FOUND 20-YEAR-OLD JAVONTA HARRISON OF LAKE CHARLES GUILTY OF THE RAPE AND ARMED ROBBERY OF A WOMAN IN 2014. HARRISON USED HIS CELL PHONE TO RECORD THE ASSAULT AND D-N-A EVIDENCE WAS ALSO USED TO CONVICT HIM. HARRISON PLED GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY AND THE DEFENSE PRESENTED TESTIMONY BY A PSYCHIATRIST, WHO SAID HARRISON HAD A PERSONALITY DISORDER. BUT THE JURY TOOK JUST TWENTY MINUTES TO FIND HARRISON GUILTY OF AGGRAVATED RAPE, AGGRAVATED BURGLARY, ARMED ROBBERY AND ARMED ROBBERY WITH A GUN, AND HE FACES A MANDATORY SENTENCE OF LIFE IN PRISON ON THE AGGRAVATED RAPE CONVICTION.
A JURY YESTERDAY FOUND JEFFERY FISHER GUILTY OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A MANAGER AT THE BIKINI BETTY CONVENIENCE STORE IN OPELOUSAS. THERE WAS A WITNESS TO THE SHOOTING, WHICH HAPPENED ON JANUARY FOURTH LAST YEAR, 17-YEAR-OLD DEVANTE LEMON. HE WAS IN THE STORE TO BUY CANDY AND RAN OUT OF THE STORE AFTER HE SAW FISHER COME IN AND SHOOT 29-YEAR-OLD WALID MOHAMED ALQOHAIF, WHO HAD MOVED TO OPELOUSAS A YEAR BEFORE FROM ALGERIA. LEMON WAS ARRESTED AFTER THE INCIDENT BUT WAS RELEASED AFTER A GRAND JURY REFUSED TO INDICT HIM.
Fresh off a special session to close a deficit, Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration is looking ahead to next year’s budget. The governor’s top financial adviser unveiled to lawmakers Thursday the administration’s $29 billion-plus operating budget proposal for the financial year that begins July 1. The proposal would trim most agencies’ spending, leave the TOPS college program unable to cover full tuition costs and have hospitals facing some cuts. Release of Edwards’ budget proposal kicks off negotiations for the legislative session that begins in April.
AS A HEADS UP TO MOTORISTS IN LAFAYETTE, CITY WORKERS ARE SETTING UP BARRICADES ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE AGAIN. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY APPROVED REZONING PROPERTY NEXT TO DELTA DOWNS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR AN R-V PARK. MARSHA NORMAN WITH ENTRADA COMPANY SAID SHE PLANNED ON PURCHASING 14 ACRES ON DELTA DOWNS ROAD TO PUT UP A 114 SPACE LUXURY R-V PARK. TWO PEOPLE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE R-V PARK OVER TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS, AND POLICE JUROR JUDD BARES MOTIONED TO OVERTURN THE ZONING BOARD’S UNANIMOUS DECISION TO REZONE THE PROPERTY. HOWEVER, THE JURY DIDN’T GO FOR IT AND HIS MOTION FAILED.
SOME CHURCH POINT RESIDENTS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION, WHICH ANNUALLY BRINGS ABOUT THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE. THAT’S WHY POLICE CHIEF ALBERT VENABLE SAYS HE’S MAKING A FEW CHANGES TO MAKE THE CELEBRATION MORE ORDERLY. HE SAYS THE POLICE WILL BE ENFORCING THE TOWN’S OPEN CONTAINER LAW, AND FOUR-WHEELERS AND TRAILERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE ON SUNDAY. CHIEF VENABLE SAYS BEHAVIOR ASSOCIATED WITH TOO MUCH DRINKING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND THE RULES WILL BE ENFORCED.
Louisiana’s governor is returning to Washington this weekend and, with other governors from around the country, will meet with President Trump on Monday.
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office announced the Democratic governor will travel Friday to attend a National Governors Association meeting. He’ll talk with U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, about Louisiana’s request for another $2 billion in flood aid. Edwards also has a sit-down scheduled with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to discuss Louisiana’s Medicaid expansion.
