1-10-17
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BOIL ADVISORIES POSTED OVER THE WEEKEND. JEFF HORCHEK HAS MORE.
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THE STATE POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN SULPHUR AT AROUND TEN LAST NIGHT. CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES WERE RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT A MOBILE HOME PARK ON MOSSWOOD DRIVE AND, WHEN THEY ARRIVED, FOUND A 19-YEAR-OLD MAN WITH A GUN, ARGUING WITH HIS MOM. SHERIFF TONY MANCUSO SAYS THE MAN POINTED HIS GUN AT THE DEPUTIES AFTER HE WAS ORDERED TO DROP IT, AND ONE OF THE DEPUTIES FIRED A SHOT, HITTING HIM. THE DEPUTIES THEN ADMINISTERED LIFE-SAVING MEASURES AND HE WAS AIRLIFTED TO A LAFAYETTE HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER TREATMENT.
Louisiana’s top higher education policymaking board is weighing proposals to cut TOPS payments. The suggestion would have lawmakers restructure TOPS starting with the freshman class of 2018. Freshman would get 80 percent of tuition covered, while sophomores would get 90 percent. Juniors and seniors would get the full 100 percent. The Board of Regents is taking public comments before settling on proposals it will submit to lawmakers.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IS SCHEDULED TO DECIDE TOMORROW EVENING ON CALLING FOR AN ELECTION ON A NEW PROPERTY TAX. LAST NIGHT THE BOARD VOTED 6-TO-2 TO CONSIDER A 15 MILL PROPERTY TAX RATHER THAN A SALES TAX. THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX WILL HELP FUND 623 MILLION DOLLARS IN SCHOOL BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS. IF THE BOARD GOES THROUGH WITH IT, LAFAYETTE PARISH VOTERS WOULD DECIDE THE FATE OF THE PROPERTY TAX IN APRIL.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD COULD ALSO BE CONSIDERING A SALARY INCREASE FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AT TOMORROW NIGHT’S MEETING. TONIGHT THE SCHOOL BOARD’S FACILITIES AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL VOTE ON A ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR ANNUAL INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL SALARY SCHEDULE. IF APPROVED THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL TAKE IT UP TOMORROW NIGHT. FUNDING THE FULL INCREASE WOULD COST THE DISTRICT 242 THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH INCLUDES RETIREMENT AND MEDICARE COSTS, AND IT WOULD TAKE EFFECT ON FEBRUARY FIRST.
LAST NIGHT THERE WAS ANOTHER COMMUNITY STREET CORNER PRAYER SERVICE IN CROWLEY, ATTENDED BY CITY OFFICIALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, MINISTERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. CITY COUNCILWOMAN EZORA PROCTOR SAYS THE ONCE-A-MONTH PRAYER SERVICES GO TO AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN VIOLENT CRIMES OR WHERE DRUG ACTIVITY HAS BEEN PROMINENT. SHE ORGANIZED THE PRAYER SERVICES AFTER HER SON WAS KILLED IN JULY AS A WAY TO HELP OTHERS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH WHAT SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAVE EXPERIENCED. LAST YEAR, THERE WERE FIVE HOMOCIDES IN CROWLEY, AND SEVEN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
TWO DOGS DIED IN A FIRE AT A HOME ON FALL STREET IN LAKE CHARLES YESTERDAY. FIRE CHIEF KEITH MURPHY SAYS THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AT 2:50 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND WAS UNDER CONTROL BY 3:15. THE RESIDENT OF THE HOME, A RENTER, HAD JUST GONE TO WORK BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED. THE HOUSE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE AND A CAR WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AS WELL.
Gov. John Bel Edwards reaches his one-year anniversary in office Wednesday. The Democratic governor knew he was inheriting a massive financial mess when his term began. But that wasn’t the sole crisis to cross his desk during his first year.
Two floods hit Louisiana in March and August, killing 13 people, wrecking tens of thousands of homes and causing billions in damage. Voters think Edwards has handled the crises well, giving him strong favorability numbers in recent polls. But he has a minefield of problems ahead that could test those approval ratings, particularly continued budget troubles.
