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NEW LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT TOMMY ANGELLE SAYS THE BOARD WILL BEGIN CONSIDERING THE NEXT STEPS IN HIRING A NEW SUPERINTENDENT AT THIS WEEKEND’S ORIENTATION SESSION. BURNELL LEJEUNE HAS BEEN SERVING AS THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SINCE THE BOARD FIRED PAT COOPER ON NOVEMBER SIXTH. ANGELLE TELLS THE ADVERTISER HE WOULD FAVOR A TIMELINE THAT WOULD HAVE A NEW SUPERINTENDENT HIRED BY MAY OR JUNE. HE SAYS THAT WOULD ALLOW THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT A MONTH TO TRANSITION INTO THE ROLE.
A TASK FORCE FORMED IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAS BEEN LOOKING AT WAYS OF IMPROVING THE AREA’S QUALITY OF LIFE. THE TASK FORCE, WHICH INCLUDES VOLUNTEERS FROM THE MEDIA, BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT SECTORS, BEGAN MEETING LAST JANUARY. THE HEAD OF THE TASK FORCE, MATT YOUNG, SAYS AN ECONOMIC BOOM IS EXPECTED FOR THE REGION, WITH AN ACCOMPANYING TWENTY PERCENT INCREASE IN THE POPULATION. HE TELLS THE AMERICAN PRESS THEIR GOAL IS TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE CURRENT QUALITY OF LIFE AND TURN THE AREA INTO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE.
AN OVERFLOW CROWD WAS ON HAND YESTERDAY AT THE IBERIA PARISH COURTHOUSE FOR THE SWEARING IN OF THE NEW 16TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BO DUHE. HE WILL OVERSEE PROSECUTIONS IN IBERIA, ST. MARY AND ST. MARTIN PARISHES. DUHE WAS THE ONLY PERSON TO QUALIFY FOR THE ELECTION TO REPLACE PHIL HANEY, WHO WAS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. DUHE BEGAN WORKING IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IN 1993.
THE KEYSTONE X-L OIL PIPELINE LEGISLATION CLEARED ANOTHER CONGRESSIONAL HURDLE IN THE SENATE YESTERDAY. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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A CITIZENS COMMITTEE, THAT WAS FORMED LAST YEAR TO LOOK AT THE FINANCES OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT, IS EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT MONTH. THE COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT LOOKED AT ROAD MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION, DRAINAGE, PARKS AND RECREATION, THE PARISH JAIL AND THE PARISH COURTHOUSE. THESE ARE ALL AREAS WHERE THE NEEDS ARE GREAT BUT THE TAX REVENUE IS NOT KEEPING UP BECAUSE OF THE GROWING POPULATION. COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON MONDAY WERE NOT SURE IF THEY WERE GOING TO RECOMMEND HIGHER TAXES AS PART OF THEIR FINAL RECOMMENDATION.
AFTER HEARING FROM CONCERNED PARENTS, THE LAKE CHARLES PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DENIED A REQUEST TO BUILD AN EXTENDED STAY HOTEL ON NELSON ROAD. NEIL PATEL OF LAFAYETTE WANTED TO BUILD THE HOME TO SUITES HILTON HOTEL IN THE 17-HUNDRED BLOCK OF NELSON ROAD, BUT PARENTS WERE CONCERNED THAT IT WAS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO PRIEN LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PATEL SAYS THEIR CONCERNS WEREN’T VALID BECAUSE IT WOULD BE AN UPPER CLASS HOTEL, AND WOULD NOT ATTRACT A CRIMINAL ELEMENT. PATEL SAYS HE PLANS TO APPEAL, WHILE ALSO LOOKING FOR ANOTHER POSSIBLE LOCATION.
A CROWLEY MAN, WHO HAS BEEN WANTED FOR MONTHS, TURNED HIMSELF INTO AUTHORITIES ON THURSDAY. 26-YEAR-OLD BRANDON BEVERLY IS A SUSPECT IN A SHOOTING THAT TOOK PLACE OCTOBER 15TH. THREE DAYS BEFORE THE SHOOTING, BEVERLY’S YOUNGER BROTHER, TAYLOR, WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE 600 BLOCK OF WEST SEVENTH STREET. FRANDON WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON ONE COUNT OF ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER, AND HIS BOND HAS BEEN SET AT 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
The U.S. Supreme Court says it won’t hear Louisiana’s same-sex marriage ban before the federal appeals court in New Orleans considers it. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard the case Friday. But, in an unusual move, both supporters of same-sex marriage and the state had already asked the Supreme Court to hear the case before the appeal is decided. The justices’ meeting Monday was the first time they had the issue before them since deciding in October against taking up same-sex marriage.
