KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


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Axiall Corp. has donated $75,000 to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury to help offset water rate increases in Mossville.  The American Press reports the company paid the first of three annual installments of $25,000 earlier this month. Police jurors did not want to put the increased costs on local residents.  Axiall’s donation will buy down any excesses in Mossville water rates throughout this year, 2016 and 2017.

A YOUNGSVILLE WOMAN, ACCUSED OF KILLING HER THREE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IN 2002, HAS HAD HER TRIAL PUSHED BACK INDEFINITELY BECAUSE OF A MOTION FILED TUESDAY.  THE MOTION ASKS FOR A COMMISSION TO BE APPOINTED TO EVALUATE THE SANITY OF 35-YEAR-OLD DESIRAE GREENE NELSON.  A STATUS HEARING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 12TH.  NELSON ALLEGEDLY USED SCALDING WATER AS PUNISHMENT FOR HER DAUGHTER, DOMINIQUE GREENE, WHICH LED TO HER DEATH IN 2002, AND NELSON ALSO ELUDED AUTHORITIES FROM 2005 UNTIL 2013, WHEN SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR SHOPLIFTING AT A WALMART STORE.

THE PARISHES SURROUNDING LAFAYETTE PARISH SAW A MARKED INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HOME SALES IN 2014.  THE NUMBER OF CLOSED SALES IN VERMILLION PARISH WERE UP NEARLY 32 PERCENT, WHILE HOME SALES IN ACADIA PARISH ROSE 22 PERCENT.  ST. LANDRY PARISH HOMES SALES INCREASED BY ALMOST 17 PERCENT WHILE ST. MARTIN PARISH SAW A NEARLY 15 PERCENT INCREASE.  THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A HOUSE IN THE ACADIANA PARISHES ARE MUCH LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE FOR LAFAYETTE PARISH, MAKING RURAL PURCHASES AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION.

Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield says Louisiana’s new debt collection office is on track to boost state debt repayment by $10 million this year.  But lawmakers hoping the office will solve the state’s budget woes need to scale back their expectations. The budget already assumes the extra $10 million will be collected.

Barfield gave an oversight board an update Tuesday on the work of the Office of Debt Recovery, created by lawmakers in 2013 to bolster collection efforts.

THE WESTLAKE CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK APPROVED A FIFTY PERCENT HIKE IN GAS, WATER AND SEWER RATES.  THAT IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE TWO MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY, WHICH WILL HELP BALANCE THE CITY’S BUDGET.  BEGINNING NEXT YEAR, THE UTILITY RATES WILL INCREASE BY FOUR PERCENT ANNUALLY UNTIL THE CITY’S RESERVES ARE REPLENISHED.  MAYOR BOB HARDY SAYS ONCE THE CITY IS FINANCIALLY STABLE, THEY WILL REDUCE THE RATES.

A SPACE HEATER WAS TO BLAME FOR A HOUSE FIRE ON LEBESQUE ROAD IN SCOTT LAST NIGHT.  JULIE DARCY HAS MORE.

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FORMER ST. LANDRY PARISH PRESIDENT DON MENARD WAS BOOKED INTO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER LAST FRIDAY ON A CHARGE OF ISSUING A WORTHLESS CHECK.  MENARD ISSUED A CHECK OF MORE THAN 12 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN 2012 WITHOUT THE FUNDS TO BACK IT, AND HE’S BEEN SUED SIX TIMES SINCE THEN FOR UNPAID DEBTS.  HIS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS ARE CONNECTED TO TWO STORES HE ONCE OWNED IN CARENCRO, DON’S COUNTRY MART AND DON’S DEPOT TWO.  MENARD TOLD THE ADVOCATE THAT IT’S A TERRIBLE SITUATION, BUT HE’S GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT AND HANDLE IT.

 

A special grand jury, looking into a now-canceled $200 million state Medicaid contract has expired, but the attorney general’s office says the investigation is ongoing.  Gov. Bobby Jindal’s former health secretary Bruce Greenstein has been indicted on nine perjury charges in the case.  Assistant Attorney General David Caldwell said Tuesday his office continues its probe, but will start running into time limits for bringing further charges later this year.  The Jindal administration voided the contract with CNSI in 2013 and has accused Greenstein, a former CNSI vice president, of inappropriate contact with the company throughout the bid process.