1-21-22
SOME ACADIANA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE CLASSES VIRTUALLY OR CANCELED THEM ALL TOGETHER TODAY AS A PRECAUTION BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS THE DETAILS.
VOICER O :14
THE NEW TERMINAL AT THE LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED YESTERDAY. IT TOOK MORE THAN THREE YEARS AND ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD THE ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT BUILDING. THE NEW TERMINAL IS NEARLY TWICE THE SIZE AS THE OLD TERMINAL, WITH NINE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX PARKING SPOTS, TWO SECURITY SCREENING LINES, WITH THE POTENTIAL OF A THIRD, IF NEEDED, AND FIVE DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL GATES. THE OLD TERMINAL WILL BE DEMOLISHED FOR THE FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE AIRPORT.
State officials say the percentage of people showing up at hospital emergency rooms in Louisiana with COVID-19-like symptoms has dropped for the second week in a row, and the percentage of positive tests dropped last week. State health officer Dr. Joseph Kanter said both statistics indicate the state may be nearing a peak in its latest surge of COVID-19 cases. But, Kanter and Gov. John Bel Edwards cautioned at a Thursday news conference that hospitalizations continue to climb and the state will be facing a high number of infections for a while. They also noted a high number of re-infections in the state — most of them involving people who aren’t fully vaccinated.
THE UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA WILL BE OFFERING A VIRTUAL EVENT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE FREE EVENT IS TAKING PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH SIXTEENTH FROM THREE TO FOUR P-M. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO TAKE PART IN THE EVENT, WHICH YOU CAN DO AT THEIR WEBSITE, UNITED WAY S-W-L-A-DOT-ORG. THE UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA C-E-O AND PRESIDENT DENISE DUREL SAYS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING LOCALLY, AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS AND BECOME UNIFIED IN A STRATEGY TO COMBAT IT.
THE WINTER WEATHER IS NOT PUTTING A STOP TO THE BIBLE READING MARATHON IN DOWNTOWN SAINT MARTINVILLE. THERE ARE AROUND THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING TURNS READING THREE TO FOUR CHAPTERS FROM THE BIBLE, WHICH TAKES ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES EACH. BECAUSE OF THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES, OUTDOOR HEATERS, WARM REFRESHMENTS AND BLANKETS ARE BEING PROVIDED FOR THE PARTICIPANTS. THE EVENT COMES TO AN END SUNDAY AFTERNOON, TOTALLING OVER A HUNDRED HOURS.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING A RUNAWAY TEENAGER FROM CARENCRO. SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD RONTREVIONA ROBINSON HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE LATE OCTOBER. ROBINSON, WHO IS BLACK WITH BROWN EYES AND BLACK HAIR, IS BELIEVED TO STILL BE IN THE LAFAYETTE AREA. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON HER LOCATION, PLEASE CALL LAFAYETTE CRIME STOPPERS AT TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.
A third-term state House member from Lafayette has been elected chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. The Advocate reports that Rep. Vincent Pierre was elected by fellow caucus members during a retreat Wednesday afternoon. Pierre takes over from a fellow Democrat, state Rep. Ted James of Baton Rouge. Pierre defeated state Rep. Jason Hughes, a New Orleans Democrat, for the position.
OPELOUSAS CITY OFFICIALS ARE HOPING TO GET PROPOSALS TO REDEVELOP THE FOUR-STORY NEW LIFE CENTER BUILDING ON EAST LANDRY STREET. THE BUILDING, WHICH RECENTLY WAS A WOMEN’S SHELTER, COULD BE USED AS A MIXED-USE PROPERTY THAT WOULD FIT IN WITH THE CITY’S MASTER PLAN FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA. SAINT LANDRY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT C-E-O BILL RODIER TELLS THE ADVOCATE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RE-ENGAGE AND REVITALIZE THIS IMPORTANT SECTION OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT AND COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING ANCHOR BUSINESSES. PROPOSALS FROM INTERESTED DEVELOPERS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY FIVE P-M ON MARCH EIGHTEENTH.
