1-24-18
ATTORNEYS FOR LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL BRIAN POPE ARE ASKING A JUDGE TO SUBPOENA THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED A FAILED RECALL PETITION AGAINST HIM. POPE’S ATTORNEY, BRETT GRAYSON, TELLS THE ADVOCATE HE WANTS THE LIST TO ASSIST WITH JURY SELECTION FOR POPE’S UPCOMING FEDERAL TRIAL. A LEADER IN THE RECALL EFFORT, AIMEE GOTCHER, TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THEY SHREDDED THE LIST. SHE SAYS THEY DID IT AFTER THE CITY MARSHAL’S OFFICE ARRESTED THE RECALL CHAIRMAN THE DAY AFTER THE RECALL EFFORT FAILED ON A 20-YEAR-OLD WARRANT OVER RETURNED CHECKS, THAT TOTALLED LESS THAN 200 DOLLARS.
LAST NIGHT THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A TUITION FOR NON-ELIGIBLE STUDENTS IN THE PRE-K PROGRAM. THE BOARD DECIDED TO SET THE TUITION AT 550 DOLLARS PER MONTH, WHICH COVERS MOST OF THE COST PER STUDENT. THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED 400 SLOTS FOR INELIGIBLE STUDENTS AND SUPERINTENDENT KARL BRUCHHAUS SAYS THOSE SLOTS WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF TEACHERS AND ROOM IS AVAILABLE. THE FUTURE OF THE PRE-K PROGRAM HAS BEEN UP IN THE AIR.
TWO FUGITIVES WERE ARRESTED IN IBERIA PARISH YESTERDAY, ONE FOR ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND THE OTHER FOR ARMED ROBBERY. JEFF HORCHAK HAS THE DETAILS.
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Louisiana is ending its preparations for cuts to a health insurance program for low-income children after Congress renewed the program for six years. Andrew Tuozzolo (tuh ZOH loh), with Louisiana’s health department, said Tuesday the state already was in the process of rescinding regulatory changes proposed in case the federal funding ran dry. He says he’s not aware of any other paperwork needed.
Renewal of CHIP was included in the short-term budget deal that ended the federal government shutdown.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NEARLY FINISHED PUTTING CAMERAS ON ALL OF THE SCHOOL BUSES. THE INSTALLATION BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 14 AND EVENTUALLY ALL OF THE BUSES WILL EACH HAVE FIVE CAMERAS ON THEM. THE ENTIRE CAMERA PACKAGE COST THE SCHOOL SYSTEM 310 THOUSAND DOLLARS. TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR JOEY SIMON SAYS THE CAMERAS ARE AUTOMATICALLY ON WHEN THE BUS IS IN OPERATION AND, IF THERE’S AN INCIDENT IN THE BUS, THE DRVER CAN HIT A BUTTON THAT PUTS A TIME STAMP ON THE VIDEO SO THEY CAN PULL IT UP LATER AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS RECEIVED A TIP THAT THE BODY OF A MISSING PERSON MAY BE BURIED IN A FIELD BEHIND THE E-Z MART ON L-A 12 IN STARKS. SHERIFF TONY MANCUSO WOULD NOT RELEASE THE NAME UNTIL HE KNOWS THE INFORMATION IS CREDIBLE, BUT DID SAY THE MISSING PERSONS CASE ORIGINATED TWELVE TO 13 YEARS AGO. SO FAR AERIAL PHOTOS OF THE FIELD HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND IT’S BEEN BUSHOGGED, BUT NO DISTURBANCES TO THE GROUND HAVE BEEN FOUND. MANCUSO SAYS CADAVER DOGS WILL BE BROUGHT IN TODAY, WHICH CAN HELP EVEN WHEN A BODY WAS BURIED LONG AGO.
A federal prosecutor says a former Breaux Bridge police officer has pleaded guilty to receiving sexually explicit images. U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook says in a Tuesday news release that 29-year-old Craig David Jr. pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to one count of receiving child pornography. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Maurice Hicks.
An affidavit from an FBI agent, filed in federal court, says the investigation began when state police received a call from the Breaux Bridge police chief regarding allegations against David.
Unemployment fell for the eighth straight month in Louisiana, even as payrolls again shrank in December. The jobless rate fell to 4.6 percent in December from 4.7 percent in November, as more people entered the labor force and more found jobs. Louisiana’s unemployment rate was 6 percent a year ago. About 97,000 Louisianans were jobless, down about 1,000 from November.
