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THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD HAS POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT MONTH A DECISION ON WHETHER TO PUT A NEW TAX BEFORE VOTERS TO FUND SCHOOL BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS. THE BOARD WAS SCHEDULED LAST NIGHT TO VOTE ON PUTTING A 15 MILL PROPERTY TAX BEFORE VOTERS IN THE APRIL ELECTION, BUT INSTEAD DECIDED BY A 5-TO-4 VOTE TO CONSIDER A SALES TAX OPTION INSTEAD. BOARD MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF THE SALES TAX SAID THEY BELIEVE VOTERS WILL BE MORE RECEPTIVE TO IT BECAUSE ALL RESIDENTS WOULD PAY IT. STILL TO BE DETERMINED ARE THE SIZE OF THE SALES TAX AND HOW LONG IT WOULD BE COLLECTED.
AN ALL DAY STANDOFF AT A BAIL BONDSMAN’S OFFICE IN LAKE CHARLES ENDED WITH A WOMAN TAKING HER LIFE. AT ABOUT 8:30 YESTERDAY MORNING LAKE CHARLES POLICE RESPONDED TO A CALL OF A POTENTIALLY SUICIDAL WOMAN AT CECIL’S BAIL BONDS ON BROAD STREET. SERGEANT JEFF KEENUM SAYS NEGOTIATORS COMMUNICATED WITH THE WOMAN FOR NINE HOURS BEFORE NEGOTIATIONS BROKE DOWN. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S SWAT TEAM USED TEAR GAS TO ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE WOMAN FROM THE BUILDING, BUT, IN THE END, SHE TOOK HER OWN LIFE.
A MAN WANTED FOR A SHOOTING IN ABBEVILLE THAT TOOK PLACE LAST FEBRUARY WAS BOOKED INTO THE VERMILLION PARISH JAIL TUESDAY. 26-YEAR-OLD NHASHON BROOKS IS ACCUSED OF A SHOOTING ON ST. PETER STREET IN WHICH THE VICTIM SURVIVED. BROOKS WAS ARRESTED IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE HE HAS FAMILY, AND WAS EXTRADITED TO LOUISIANA. BROOKS FACES SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER, AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT 465,500 DOLLARS.
Gov. John Bel Edwards says he won’t allow the budget “to be balanced on the backs of our students” and will propose that Louisiana raise taxes to fully fund the TOPS college tuition program next year. But the Democratic governor also acknowledged Wednesday that in the short term, there’s little likelihood colleges can avoid cuts as the state grapples with a looming deficit. Edwards’ comments came at the Governor’s Mansion as he recounted his first year in office in a wide-ranging speech on the anniversary of his inauguration. A forecasting panel Friday is expected to downgrade Louisiana’s income projections by at least $300 million, creating a new midyear budget deficit that will have to be closed.
THE RAGIN CAJUN ATHLETIC FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THEY HAD TWO-POINT-1-6-8 MILLION DOLLARS IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR ANNUAL FUND, NARROWLY BREAKING THE PREVIOUS RECORD SET LAST YEAR. TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS LAST YEAR IN ALL AREAS, INCLUDING ENDOWMENT FUNDS AND THE ATHLETIC FACILITIES MASTERPLAN CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, TOTALLED MORE THAN 10-POINT-8 MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH AND PLEDGES. THERE WERE MORE THAN 300 NEW DONORS. FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM HARRIS SAYS, CONSIDERING ALL THE COMMUNITY HAS ENDURED THIS PAST YEAR, IT IS REMARKABLE THAT THEY HAVE RAISED MORE THAN TEN MILLION DOLLARS.
TWO SISTERS, WHO LIVE ON SHERIDAN STREET IN IOWA, SAY THEY PLAN TO TRY TO STOP A DEVELOPER FROM TURNING A NEIGHBORING HOUSE INTO A SOBER LIVING HOUSE FOR RECOVERING DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTS. THE DEVELOPER, LEE MALLET, SAYS THE MEN WHO STAY AT THE HOME ARE SUPERVISED AND HAVE TO HAVE JOBS TO PAY RENT. HE SAYS THE MEN LIVE TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND TO HELP ADJUST BACK TO NORMAL LIFE. THE TWO SISTERS, JUDY HARRISON AND RITA CORBELLO, ARE CONCERNED FOR THEIR FAMILY’S SAFETY, BUT JEFF DAVIS PARISH POLICE JUROR BILL LABOVE TELLS KPLC TV THAT MALLET IS LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DO THIS.
IT’S BEEN FOUR MONTHS THAT THE CITY OF OPELOUSAS HAS BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT A BUDGET. JEFF HORCHEK HAS MORE ON THIS.
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Gov. John Bel Edwards says U.S. Sen. John Kennedy’s call to ban public officials and their family members from receiving flood recovery rebuilding contracts is already in law. Richard Carbo, a spokesman for the Democratic governor, says if Kennedy wants to go further than what’s currently on the books, Edwards would support the effort. But Carbo says such prohibitions would require legislative action. Kennedy, a Republican who took office this month, sent a letter Wednesday to Edwards urging him to issue an executive order including the prohibition.
