4-21-17
A WEEK AFTER DISTRICT ATTORNEY KEITH STUTES FILED A PETITION AGAINST THE SMILE BOARD FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING OPEN MEETINGS LAWS, THE BOARD MAY HAVE VIOLATED THEM AGAIN WITH THE RELEASE OF THEIR AGENDA FOR THIS MONDAY’S MEETING. THE ST. MARTIN IBERIA LAFAYETTE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY HAS AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR MONDAY THAT JUST SAYS “RESOLUTIONS”. MARY ELLEN ROY OF NEW ORLEANS, WHO SPECIALIZES IN THE STATE’S OPEN MEETING LAWS, TELLS THE ADVERTISER THAT THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENT DETAIL FOR AN AGENDA ITEM. SHE ALSO CITED A REORGANIZATION OF PERSONNEL THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS MONDAY NIGHT, WHICH , SHE SAYS, IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
State authorities sent law enforcement into Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes as part of a massive warrant sweep that has netted 14 people. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections’ Probation and Parole officers and sheriff’s deputies Thursday spent the morning searching for 50 people who failed to report to their probation and parole officer, violating the terms of their supervised release.
The arrested individuals, wanted for various crimes including manslaughter, battery, distribution and possession of drugs, burglary and theft, were transported to the Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parish prisons.
THE IBERIA PARISH CORONER’S OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED IN AN APPARENT MURDER SUICIDE. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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College students who receive tuition payments through the TOPS program won’t face new residency or repayment requirements for their awards. State senators Thursday rejected a proposal that would have mandated TOPS students live in the state for several years after graduation or reimburse Louisiana for a portion of their tuition costs. Sen. Jay Luneau, an Alexandria Democrat, says TOPS was created to help keep Louisiana’s best students in Louisiana. Several senators say the state doesn’t have enough jobs to offer some graduates.
The Louisiana Senate has agreed to scale back the state’s sales tax holiday for hunting supplies. A proposal by Sen. Barrow Peacock, a Bossier City Republican, would keep state sales taxes from being charged on firearms, ammunition and archery supplies on the first weekend of September. But the sales tax holiday would no longer apply to off-road vehicles, airboats, pirogues, animal feed and some other items that have been tax-free. The Senate voted 22-6 for the bill Thursday evening, sending it to the House for debate.
THE OWNER OF A LAFAYETTE TAX PREPARATION BUSINESS PLED GUILTY WEDNESDAY TO A FEDERAL CHARGE OF FILING A FALSE TAX RETURN. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAYS 49-YEAR-OLD KEVIN DALCOURT OF KEVIN’S TAX SERVICE FAILED TO REPORT INCOME FROM 2009 TO 2011. HE AVOIDED A PAYMENT OF ROUGHLY 356 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FEDERAL TAXES OVER THAT THREE YEAR PERIOD. HE FACES UP TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON AND A 250 THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE WHEN HE’S SENTENCED IN JULY.
McNeese State’s new president is someone very familiar with the university.
The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System on Thursday named Daryl Burckel to replace Phillip Williams, who retires June 30. Burckel is an accounting professor and former department head at McNeese. He begins his new position July 1.
ABBEVILLE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AN INCIDENT INVOLVING GUNFIRE AT THE DAYS INN OFF OF HIGHWAY 14 AT AROUND THREE THIS MORNING. ONE WITNESS TOLD KLFY TV THAT THEY HEARD BETWEEN 25 AND 30 ROUNDS FIRED. AT LEAST ONE PERSON WAS TRANSPORTED TO AN AREA HOSPITAL.
