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THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS SEEN A FOUR PERCENT DROP IN MAJOR DISCIPLINE REFERRALS, COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH MAJOR DISCIPLINE REFERRALS HAS DROPPED BY THREE PERCENT. THE GRADE WITH THE MOST REFERRALS IS NINTH GRADE AND SECOND GRADE HAS SEEN THE FEWEST REFERRALS. THE DISTRICT’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTOR, BRADLEY CRUISE, TOLD THE ADVERTISER THAT THE REASON FOR THE DROP CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DISTRICT-WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES.
IT WAS A CALIFORNIA MAN WHO MADE THE BOMB THREAT THAT LED AUTHORITIES TO SHUT DOWN THE I-210 BRIDGE IN LAKE CHARLES FOR EIGHT HOURS YESTERDAY. STATE POLICE TROOP D SPOKESMAN JAMES ANDERSON SAYS THEY RECEIVED A REPORT OF A STALLED VEHICLE THAT CAUGHT FIRE ON THE BRIDGE, BUT WHEN THEY ARRIVED IT WAS NOT ON FIRE. HE SAID THE PERSON IN THE VEHICLE, JOVANI A. GALINDO OF COLTON, CALIFORNIA, WHO CLAIMED THERE WAS A BOMB IN THE VEHICLE. GALINDO WAS BOOKED INTO THE CALCASIEU PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON A CHARGE OF OBSTRUCTION OF A HIGHWAY OF COMMERCE AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.
A FLORIDA MAN IS WANTED FOR STEALING CASH REGISTERS SUNDAY FROM TWO BUSINESSES IN ACADIANA. MAJOR RYAN TURNER OF THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS 40-YEAR-OLD LARRY DOUGLASS WYNN JUNIOR DISTRACTED A CLERK AT A CONVENIENCE STORE IN NEW IBERIA ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE TAKING THE CASH REGISTER AND FLEEING IN A RED CHEVY TRAILBLAZER. BROUSSARD POLICE CHIEF BRANNON DECOU SAYS THAT, EARLIER THAT AFTERNOON, WYNN COMMITTED A SIMILAR CRIME AT A SUBWAY RESTAURANT, LOCATED IN THE 12-HUNDRED BLOCK OF ALBERTSON’S PARKWAY. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE CRIME OR WYNN’S WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CALL THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE OR THE BROUSSARD POLICE STATION.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (JIN’-dul) says some countries have allowed Muslims to establish autonomous neighborhoods where they govern by a harsh version of Islamic law and police decline to patrol there. The Republican delivered his remarks Monday about “no-go zones” during a speech to a London think tank. Jindal is considering a presidential campaign in 2016 and later defended the statements after facing questions about his facts. Jindal insists Muslims control neighborhoods and local police refuse to go into them.
THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT WILL NOT HEAR BRANDON SCOTT LAVERGNE’S REQUEST TO OVERTURN HIS GUILTY PLEAS TO TWO MURDERS, INCLUDING THAT OF 21-YEAR-OLD UNIVERSITY STUDENT MICKEY SHUNICK. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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MORE POLICE OFFICER WILL BE OUT DOING TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IN THE JENNINGS AREA. UNDER AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, JENNINGS POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WORK OVERTIME AND PATROL A FIVE MILE STRETCH OF I-TEN AS WELL AS OTHER MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND ROADS JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. DISTRICT ATTORNEY MICHAEL CASSIDY SAYS THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE WILL MAKE THE ROADS SAFER, GENERATE MONEY FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND GIVE OFFICERS A CHANCE TO INCREASE THEIR SALARIES BY MAKING OVERTIME PAY. HE SAYS THEY USED TO AVERAGE A THOUSAND TRAFFIC TICKETS PER MONTH, BUT IT’S NOW LESS THAN HALF THAT AMOUNT.
THE MAN, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED LAST THURSDAY BY STATE POLICE AFTER TAKING HIS GIRLFRIEND HOSTAGE, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NATHAN MASSEY, ACCORDING TO KATC TV. STATE POLICE SPOKESMAN BROOKS DAVID SAYS THE HOSTAGE SITUATION BEGAN AT NINE A-M THURSDAY WHEN NEIGHBORS, IN A TRAILER PARK ON BECKY SUE STREET IN RURAL EVANGELINE PARISH, HEARD GUNFIRE AND SCREAMS. MASSEY WAS SHOT SHORTLY BEFORE NOON WHEN HIS GIRLFRIEND BROKE A WINDOW AND SHOUTED THAT HE WAS GOING TO KILL HER. SHE WAS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL AS OF MONDAY AFTERNOON, AND HER FATHER, WHO SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK DURING THE ORDEAL, IS IN STABLE CONDITION.
Federal officials have renewed warnings that a state law to help special education students may violate federal laws. The Advocate reports that a letter sent last week says authorities are worried the law will illegally set standards too low for disabled students. The law lets teachers and parents put together alternative ways to get a high-school diploma, regardless of how a disabled student does on standardized tests that other students must pass. The head of the Louisiana School Boards Association, Scott Richard, says the letter from acting assistant Secretary Michael Yudin adds a new layer of complication.
