4-27-16
LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCILMAN KENNETH BOUDREAUX ANNOUNCED HE WILL FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD FOR NOT APPROVING NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF. MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX HAS PROPOSED RELAXING THE REQUIREMENT FOR A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IF A POLICE CHIEF CANDIDATE HAS ENOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE AND AN ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE OR A MIX OF COLLEGE CREDITS. EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD VOTED TO KEEP THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIREMENT. BOUDREAUX SAYS THEIR DECISION COULD INVITE A FEDERAL DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT BECAUSE IT EFFECTIVELY BLOCKS MINORITY CANDIDATES.
MORE FLOOD VICTIMS FROM LOUISIANA AND TEXAS WERE IN DEWEYVILLE, TEXAS YESTERDAY TO JOIN A LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE SABINE RIVER AUTHORITY. THE LAW FIRM REAUD, MORGAN AND FLYNN HAVE FILED THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE AUTHORITY OVER THEIR DECISION TO OPEN THE FLOODGATES THAT RESULTED IN FLOODED HOMES. ATTORNEY ADAM NICHOLS TELLS KPLC TV THAT THE CONSTITUTIONS IN BOTH LOUISIANA AND TEXAS REQUIRE THE AUTHORITY TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. IF THE LAWSUIT IS SUCCESSFUL, THE LAW FIRM WILL GET 40 PERCENT OF THE AWARDED MONEY, BUT IF IT IS NOT, THE HOMEOWNERS WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY ANY OF THE COURT COSTS.
A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM MAMOU HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE HE WAS PICKED UP FROM SCHOOL BY HIS NON-CUSTODIAL MOTHER YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. 34-YEAR-OLD ELAINE FREEMAN TOOK JALON BRADLEY FROM MAMOU HIGH SCHOOL AT AROUND 3:15 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND SHE MAY BE HEADED TO JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. HE IS BELIEVED TO BE IN IMMINENT DANGER. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE BOY OR HIS MOTHER IS ASKED TO CALL THE MAMOU POLICE DEPARTMENT.
State representatives cheered as a bid to block state employers from asking about job applicants’ criminal histories before interviews cleared the Louisiana House.
Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, a Baton Rouge Democrat, says her “ban the box” proposal is a bipartisan push aimed at employing former inmates, reducing recidivism and reforming the state’s criminal justice system. The proposal applies to the state’s politically-appointed “unclassified” employees and not rank-and-file “classified” state workers subject to Louisiana’s civil service system. Opponents say former inmates should notify employers about convictions early in the hiring process, but supporters counter that prospective employers can still ask applicants about criminal histories during interviews.
THE FBI MAY LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT TWO FORMER EXECUTIVES OF STABILL DRILL IN LAFAYETTE STOLE FROM THE COMPANY. THE PARENT COMPANY SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES FILED A LAWSUIT ACCUSING CHRISTOPHER J. RUSSO AND MARTIN J. LEBLANC OF SETTING UP SHAM COMPANIES THAT DID BUSINESS WITH STABILL DRILL AND CHARGED THEM INFLATED PRICES. SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES ALLEGES RUSSO AND LEBLANC DEFRAUDED THE COMPANY OF AT LEAST 65 MILLION DOLLARS. DON BOSTIC OF THE FBI OFFICE IN LAFAYETTE, TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER THEIR OFFICE OR THE ONE IN HOUSTON COULD LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION WITHOUT A FORMAL COMPLAINT.
A MAN, WHO WAS STOPPED NEAR LAKE CHARLES LAST YEAR, PLEADED GUILTY YESTERDAY TO SMUGGLING ILLEGAL ALIENS FOR PROFIT. BORDER PATROL AGENTS STOPPED 29-YEAR-OLD RAUL ALEXANDER SORIANO OF EL SALVADOR NEAR LAKE CHARLES ON DECEMBER 22ND WITH FOUR PASSENGERS IN HIS VEHICLE. THE FOUR ADMITTED BEING IN THE U-S ILLEGALLY AND SAID THEY PAID SORIANO TO TRANSPORT THEM. SORIANO FACES UP TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON AND A 250 THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE WHEN HE’S SENTENCED ON AUGUST 11TH.
CRIME STOPPERS TIPS LED TO THE ARREST OF TWO ST. LANDRY PARISH RESIDENTS. SHERIFF BOBBY GUIDROZ SAYS THEY RECEIVED NUMEROUS TIPS AFTER POSTING INFORMATION AND PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK OF JASON ARLEN DEVILLE OF OPELOUSAS AND SAMANTHA L. KEMP OF WASHINGTON. DEVILLE WAS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING MORE THAN 13-HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT WAS TO BE USED TO PAY EXPENSES FOR A YOUTH BASEBALL TEAM, THAT WAS LATER FOUND TO NOT BE REGISTERED WITH ANY LEAGUE. KEMP IS ACCUSED OF CASHING A NEARLY THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR COUNTERFEIT CHECK AT AN OPELOUSAS GROCERY STORE.
A pro-voucher group is striking at Gov. John Bel Edwards in a new TV ad, criticizing him for a proposal to cut the program next year. The ad from the Louisiana Federation for Children, released Tuesday, accuses the Democratic governor of taking away school choice. Edwards is proposing a $6 million reduction in state spending on the voucher program in the financial year that begins July 1, as Louisiana grapples with a deep budget shortfall. The pro-voucher group says the cut would boot 1,000 students from the program.
