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POWER COMPANIES PREPARED EARLY FOR THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF THE FREEZING COLD WEATHER. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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THE I-210 BRIDGE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE ICY WEATHER WITH BARRICADES SET UP AT THE ENTRANCES. HOWEVER THE I-TEN BRIDGE REMAINS OPEN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. SERGEANT JAMES ANDERSON OF STATE POLICE TROOP D HEADQUARTERED IN LAKE CHARLES, SAYS THE STATE D-O-T-D HAS WORKED TO KEEP MAJOR HIGHWAYS OPEN, BUT HE SUGGESTS BEING CAUTIOUS ON SECONDARY HIGHWAYS. THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY CLOSED THE BRIDGE ON THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL, FROM TROUSDALE TO PRATER ROAD, LAST NIGHT.
A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY THAT HELPS POLITICAL CANDIDATES RAISE MONEY FOR CAMPAIGNS IS GOING TO HOST A SEMINAR IN ABBEVILLE FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. CROWDPAC IS PLANNING TO ADVERTISE THE FREE SEMINAR WITH DIGITAL AND PRINT ADS SHOWING PICTURES OF THE RECENT ARREST OF A TEACHER AT A BOARD MEETING THAT MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES. CROWDPAC SPOKESMAN MASON HARRISON SAYS THEY URGE ANYONE OUTRAGED BY THE RECENT INCIDENT TO RUN FOR OFFICE THEMSELVES. THE SEMINAR IS TAKING PLACE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 30TH, AT THE SUNBELT LODGE MOTEL IN ABBEVILLE.
Louisiana lawmakers will be asked to rewrite the state’s riverboat casino laws for the first time in nearly two decades. A legislative task force is recommending two main changes: to move the casinos to land and to redefine the limits on gambling space. Sen. Ronnie Johns, a Lake Charles Republican, says he’ll sponsor the proposals in the regular legislative session that begins in March. The proposals, approved without objection Tuesday, are likely to be contentious as gambling is a sensitive issue in the conservative state.
CATHOLIC SERVICES OF ACADIANA IS OPENING A NEW WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S SHELTER IN LAFAYETTE NEXT MONTH. THE EMILY HOUSE WILL BE A 48 BED FACILITY. THE SHELTER WILL MAKE IT ITS MISSION TO ENSURE THAT EXPERIENCES OF HOMELESSNESS ARE BRIEF AND RARE, RETURNING FAMILIES TO PERMANENT HOUSING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WITH THE OPENING OF THE EMILY HOUSE, THE NEW LIFE CENTER IN OPELOUSAS WILL BE FORMALLY CLOSED, SINCE MOST OF THE FAMILIES SEEKING SHELTER THERE WERE FROM LAFAYETTE.
JURY SELECTION BEGAN YESTERDAY IN THE MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL OF WOODROW KAREY. HE’S THE MAN WHO SHOT AND KILLED PASTOR RONALD HARRIS DURING A REVIVAL SERVICE AT THE TABERNACLE OF PRAISE CHURCH IN LAKE CHARLES ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO. KAREY FACES UP TO A 40 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE IF CONVICTED, BUT HIS ATTORNEY SAYS HE WILL ARGUE IT WAS JUSTIFIABLE HOMOCIDE. THE JURY SELECTION WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW.
CRIME STOPPERS OF ACADIA PARISH IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN SOLVING THE THEFT OF FOUR WHEELERS. HERE’S SHERIFF K-P GIBSON.
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Environmental groups trying to keep a crude oil pipeline from crossing Louisiana have filed a public records lawsuit against the company planning to build it. The suit contends that by expropriating land and acting as a common carrier, Bayou Bridge Pipeline LLC is acting as a government body and therefore must obey public records laws. The groups sued after the company said it didn’t have to turn over records about property rights, environmental safety and civil protest. The lawsuit says the company expropriated land when negotiations failed as it acquired rights of way or other agreements with more than 400 property owners.
