KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


1-12-22

A SAINT LANDRY PARISH EMPLOYEE HAS RESIGNED FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED FORGERY ON A FEDERAL APPLICATION.  PARISH PRESIDENT JESSE BELLARD SAYS THE EMPLOYEE, A WOMAN IN THE COMMUNITY ACTION DEPARTMENT, WAS HELPING SOMEONE FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY OUTSTANDING ELECTRICITY BILLS.  THE INVESTIGATION WAS SEEKING TO DETERMINE IF THE EMPLOYEE SIGNED ANOTHER PERSON’S NAME ON AN APPLICATION.  BELLARD SAYS, ONCE HE KNEW ABOUT THE ALLEGATION, HE TOOK PROPER PROTOCOLS INCLUDING NOTIFYING THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, THE D-A AND THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR’S OFFICE.

 

THE LAFAYETTE PARISH PUBLIC LIBRARY IS GOING AHEAD WITH PLANS TO CLOSE ALL LOCATIONS ON SUNDAYS.  CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS MORE.

 

VOICER B :21

 

HERE’S CAROLINE MARCELLO AGAIN WITH THE LATEST COVID NINETEEN NUMBERS IN LOUISIANA.

 

VOICER A :19

 

TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN LAKE CHARLES, S-J WELSH AND LEBLANC, ARE CLOSED TODAY AND TOMORROW BUT THEY ARE HAVING VIRTUAL CLASSES.  THAT’S BECAUSE OF A HIGH NUMBER OF STAFF QUARANTINED BECAUSE THEY EITHER TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-NINETEEN OR THEY WERE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED.  CALCASIEU PARISH SUPERINTENDENT KARL BRUCHAUS SAYS HE ESTIMATES A THIRD OF THE TEACHERS ARE OUT AND THEY COULDN’T FIND ENOUGH SUBSTITUTES.  HE SAYS THEY’VE HAD MORE PEOPLE QUARANTINED OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS THAN AT ANY TIME SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC BEGAN NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO.

 

STUDENTS AT LEONVILLE ELEMENTARY AND CANKTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO REMOTE LEARNING TODAY.  THAT’S BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS QUARANTINING BECAUSE OF COVID-NINETEEN.  ON-SITE CLASSES WILL RESUME ON TUESDAY, THE DAY AFTER MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY.  STUDENTS AT THOSE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO LOG INTO THEIR GOOGLE CLASSROOM AND FOLLOW THE REGULAR CLASS SCHEDULE.

 

LAFAYETTE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS ARE FOLLOWING A NATIONAL TREND WITH BLOOD SUPPLIES AT CRITICAL LEVELS.  STEPHANIE KIZZIAR WITH VITALANT, ONE OF THE TWO MAIN BLOOD SERVICE PROVIDERS IN LAFAYETTE, SAYS THE SHORTAGE IS MOST SEVERE FOR TYPE O BLOOD BUT ALL BLOOD TYPES ARE NEEDED.  SUZY PICARD, THE SUPERVISOR FOR OUR LADY OF LOURDES BLOOD CENTER, SAYS SHE’S NEVER SEEN THE INVENTORY LEVEL AT ZERO IN HER THIRTY YEARS, BUT IT’S BEEN AT ZERO TWICE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.  SHE SAYS THE CRITICAL BLOOD SITUATION IS TAKING PLACE AT CENTERS ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

 

LOUISIANA IS FORECAST TO HAVE NEARLY ONE-POINT-SIX BILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.  MUCH OF THE ADDITIONAL MONEY IS DUE TO AN INFLUX OF FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS AID, BUT A STATE PANEL AGREED TO A REVENUE OUTLOOK THAT ANTICIPATES MORE PERSONAL INCOME, AS WELL AS CORPORATE AND SALES TAXES, THAN WERE ORIGINALLY EXPECTED.  SOME OF THAT EXTRA REVENUE IS ALREADY DEDICATED BUT THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE CAN DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH ABOUT EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS.  SENATE PRESIDENT PAGE CORTEZ OF LAFAYETTE SAYS HE’D LIKE TO SEE THE EXCESS FUNDS BE USED ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND CATCHING UP ON A BACKLOG OF ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS.

 

ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE DETECTIVES ARE INVESTIGATING A BURGLARY THAT HAPPENED JANUARY FOURTH OR FIFTH AT A BUSINESS NORTH OF CHURCH POINT ON SAINT MARGARET ROAD.  THERE WAS A FORCED ENTRY AND SEVERAL PIECES OF DIAMOND PLATE METAL WERE STOLEN AS WELL AS VARIOUS TOOLS.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE CRIME IS ASKED TO CALL SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE TIPS.  A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO AN ARREST.