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THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IS LOOKING AT WAYS OF REDUCING LEGAL EXPENSES, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE OPTION OF USING AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL IS OFF THE TABLE. DISTRICT ATTORNEY KEITH STUTES LAST MONTH TOLD THE BOARD THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE A FEE TO PROVIDE GENERAL COUNSEL SERVICES AND THEY DON’T HAVE ANYONE WITH EXPERTISE IN EDUCATION LAW. BOARD VICE PRESIDENT DAWN MORRIS TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THEY ARE NOW LOOKING AT CREATING A STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION OR FINDING WAYS TO LIMIT EXPENSES WITH THEIR CURRENT GENERAL COUNSEL. MORRIS SAYS THE SCHOOL BOARD IS AWAITING REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM THEIR CURRENT GENERAL COUNSEL ON FINANCIAL OPTIONS BEFORE THEY MAKE A DECISION.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RESPONDED TO AN APPARENT DROWNING AT NIBLETT’S BLUFF PARK ON SATURDAY. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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MORGAN CITY POLICE ARRESTED THREE PEOPLE YESTERDAY FOR ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTING TO USE COUNTERFIET FIFTY DOLLAR BILLS. A BUSINESS ON L-A 182 CALLED POLICE ABOUT THE COUNTERFEIT MONEY THAT WAS USED THERE. DETECTIVES BELIEVE THE MEN MAY HAVE USED THE COUNTERFEIT MONEY THROUGHOUT THE AREA BETWEEN NEW ORLEANS AND HOUSTON. ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THEY MAY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM CAN CALL THE MORGAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT OR YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
U-S SENATOR DAVID VITTER IS WORKING HARD TO GET A LOT OF HIS BILLS PASSED INCLUDING A NEW CHEMICAL SAFETY LAW, A BILL TO PREVENT BAIL OUTS OF BIG BANKS, AND A SIX YEAR HIGHWAY BILL. POLITICAL EXPERTS SAY IT’S AN INDICATION THAT VITTER BELIEVES HE IS GOING TO BE ELECTED AS LOUISIANA’S NEXT GOVERNOR THIS FALL. IN A RECENT INTERVIEW, VITTER SAID THAT HE WANTS TO GET THE CHEMICAL SAFETY LAW PASSED THIS YEAR, BECAUSE HE WON’T BE IN THE SENATE NEXT YEAR. VITTER IS THE FRONT RUNNER IN POLLS AND FUNDRAISING.
A loop of proposed and current bicycle pathways may be named in honor of a murdered cyclist who disappeared in 2012 while she biked home one night. The Advocate reports the proposed “Mickey Shunick Memorial Bike Loop” will circle about eight miles around the city of Lafayette’s core, including past Shunick’s ghost-bike memorial that marks the spot of her abduction. The Lafayette City-Parish Council meets Tuesday. Shunick disappeared as she biked home in the early morning hours of May 19, 2012.
A BODY WAS FOUND FLOATING IN A CANAL OFF OF WEEKLY ROAD IN SULPHUR SATURDAY MORNING. SULPHUR POLICE SPOKESMAN MEL ESTESS SAYS THEY RECEIVED A CALL AT AROUND 9:43 ON SATURDAY FROM SOMEONE WHO DISCOVERED THE BODY. THE BODY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 33-YEAR-OLD JOSE LUIS ZERR JUNIOR OF SULPHUR. THE CAUSE OF DEATH HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.
The St. Landry Parish School system will spend between $985,000 and $1.25 million for a new cafeteria at Leonville Elementary. The Advocate reports the school board approved a preliminary cost estimate Thursday. The district also will spend $11,487 to repair the existing cafeteria. Assistant Superintendent Joseph Cassimere says state health officials are dissatisfied with the condition of the existing cafeteria and demanded immediate improvements.
The Louisiana Supreme Court has found constitutional a 2012 law that gave state school superintendents wide discretion in firing tenured teachers. The decision this week overturns an appeals court order that found fault with the law. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in February sided with Kasha LaPointe’s challenge to her law. The appeals court said the law was unconstitutional because it did not afford LaPointe an adequate hearing before she was fired.
