6-23-17
THE LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT IS FULLY OPERATIONAL TODAY AFTER A BOMB THREAT LAST NIGHT. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP CALCASIEU PARISH RESIDENTS GET NON-VIOLENT CRIMES REMOVED FROM EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECKS IS BEING EXPANDED. DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN DEROSIER WILL HAVE DETAILS OF THE FRESH START TWO PROGRAM AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY AT 10:30 A-M. MARK JUDSON OF THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA LAW CENTER TELLS KPLC TV THAT IT WILL BRING ABOUT BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WITH OLD CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS OR ARRESTS ON THEIR RECORDS. HE SAYS TO BE ELIGIBLE, THE ARREST OR CONVICTION WOULD HAVE TO HAVE OCCURRED IN CALCASIEU PARISH AND ALL PROBATION CONDITIONS, FINES AND RESTITUTION PAYMENTS HAVE TO BE SETTLED.
AN ATTEMPTED TRAFFIC STOP IN CHURCH POINT LED TO THE ARREST OF AN ALLEGED DRUG DEALER AND THE SEIZURE OF MORE THAN 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DRUGS AND CURRENCY. ACADIA PARISH DEPUTIES ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER 27-YEAR-OLD ALLEN SAVOY SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, BUT HE ATTEMPTED TO SPEED AWAY AND WRECKED HIS VEHICLE. THE DEPUTIES FOUND MORE THAN 60 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DRUGS IN HIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS ALMOST 50 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH AND FOUR FIREARMS, TWO OF WHICH WERE REPORTED STOLEN. AFTER SAVOY WAS TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES, HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL.
The first medical marijuana production deal struck in Louisiana is expected to bring the state’s flagship university at least $3.4 million over five years. In its bid offer, the contractor agreed to pay that amount or 10 percent of gross receipts, whichever is higher, to the LSU Ag Center for permission to grow medical marijuana. The LSU Board of Supervisors gave its blessing to the arrangement Thursday, authorizing System President F. King Alexander to work out details of a final contract with GB Sciences Inc. Louisiana lawmakers agreed to a framework for dispensing medical marijuana in 2015, but only allowed the agricultural centers at LSU and Southern University to grow the product.
LAFAYETTE PARISH VOTERS MAY BE ASKED TO RECONSIDER TWO PROPERTY TAX RENEWALS THAT WERE REJECTED IN APRIL. CITY PARISH MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX SAYS HE PLANS TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO PUT THE TAX RENEWALS BACK ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. THE TAXES RAISED TEN MILLION DOLLARS FOR OPERATIONS OF THE PARISH COURTHOUSE AND JAIL. ROBIDEAUX SAYS THEY STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE COURTHOUSE AND JAIL, SO WITHOUT THOSE REVENUES THEY WILL HAVE TO FIND THE MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THEIR BUDGET.
TROPICAL STORM CINDY CAUSED SOME TREES TO FALL IN LAKE CHARLES. ED JONES, WHO’S LIVED IN LAKE CHARLES FOR 71 YEARS, TELLS KPLC TV THERE WAS A DEAD CALM AND THEN WINDS FROM THE SOUTH BENT THE TREES OVER AND STARTED SHAKING THEM. HE SAYS THAT AFTER IT WAS OVER HE WENT OUTSIDE AND FOUND A LARGE TREE THAT WAS NINETY FEET HIGH AND ALMOST FOUR-AND-A-HALF FEET IN DIAMETER ON THE GROUND. HE SAYS THE ONLY OTHER TIMES HE HAD SEEN DAMAGE LIKE THAT WAS DURING HURRICANES AUDREY AND RITA.
THE OWNER OF ASHLEY’S PET SHOP IN CROWLEY WERE ARRESTED MONDAY ON DRUG CHARGES. POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD SAYS A SEARCH OF THE PREMISES RESULTED IN THE DISCOVERY OF CRYSTAL METH WITH A STREET VALUE OF MORE THAN EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS. POLICE HAD BEEN INVESTIGATING THE BUSINESS FOR TWO WEEKS. 42-YEAR-OLD ASHLEY GREENE OF MORSE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, 40-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE ARDOIN OF CROWLEY, WERE BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING POSSESSION WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE CRYSTAL METH.
Louisiana State University is boosting charges on students at its main campus by 5 percent in the next school year, to raise $14 million for pay raises and other expenses. The fee hike was approved Thursday by the LSU System’s governing board. It comes even as higher education escaped state budget cuts for the first time in nearly a decade in the just-ended legislative session. Students will pay $270 more per semester.
