1-26-15
LOUISIANA IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES ENTERPRISES IN LAFAYETTE IS SEEKING NEW REVENUE SOURCES AS MONEY GETS TIGHT. STATE FUNDING FOR LITE IS EXPECTED TO END AFTER THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND THEIR OIL AND GAS CLIENTELE ARE DEALING WITH THEIR OWN FINANCIAL SETBACKS. LITE’S BUDGET HAS ALREADY BEEN REDUCED BY MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT SINCE 2010 AND THE STAFF HAS BEEN REDUCED TO TWELVE. LITE IS LOOKING TO OUTSOURCE THEIR DATA CENTER, BECAUSE THE MAINTENANCE COSTS TAKE UP A QUARTER OF THEIR BUDGET.
A MOSSVILLE RESIDENT TELLS THE AMERICAN PRESS SHE WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE SASOL’S PLANT EXPANSION WILL NOT AFFECT THE MORNING STAR CEMETARY. DOROTHY FELIX SAYS SHE WANTS SASOL TO PUT IT IN WRITING THAT THE CEMETARY WILL REMAIN OPEN AND THAT BURIALS WILL CONTINUE ON SITE. SASOL’S SENIOR PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS SPECIALIST KIM CUSIMANO SAYS THE DEVELOPERS AGREEMENT ALREADY REQUIRES THEM TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO ALL CEMETARIES IN MOSSVILLE. SHE SAYS THEY ARE EVEN LOOKING INTO WHO THE OWNER OF THE CEMETARY IS SO THEY CAN ACCESS THE PROPERTY FOR POSSIBLE BEAUTIFICATION WORK.
A PORT BARRE MAN WAS KILLED IN AN ATV ACCIDENT OVER THE WEEKEND. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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Gov. Bobby Jindal told Christian evangelicals gathered at an all-day prayer rally that the nation needs a “spiritual revival.” Jindal continued to court religious conservatives for a possible Republican presidential campaign with a headlining appearance Saturday at the event. While thousands of people sang and raised hands in prayer in the LSU basketball arena, hundreds protested outside early in the day. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry headlined a similar prayer event in 2011 only days before launching his White House bid.
TWO PANERA BREAD FRANCHISES WILL BE OPENING IN LAFAYETTE. THE FIRST ONE IS EXPECTED TO OPEN AT THE CORNER OF JOHNSTON AND NORTH COLLEGE ROAD ON MARCH 17TH. THE SECOND LOCATION, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR EARLY NEXT YEAR, WILL BE LOCATED IN THE NEW AMBASSADOR TOWN CENTER ON AMBASSADOR CAFFERY, WHICH WILL ALSO INCLUDE A COSTCO STORE. TOM KRINGS, OWNER OF THE GULF COAST REGION FRANCHISE, SAYS IT’S PRETTY UNUSUAL TO OPEN TWO PANERA’S IN A MARKET WITHIN A 12 MONTH TIME FRAME, AND HE SAYS THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.
THE BODY OF A 22-YEAR-OLD BLACK WOMAN WAS DISCOVERED BY LAKE CHARLES OFFICERS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. DEPUTY CHIEF MARK KRAUS SAYS THE BODY WAS FOUND IN THE 42-HUNDRED BLOCK OF FIFTH AVENUE. HE SAYS INVESTIGATORS DO SUSPECT FOUL PLAY.
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THREE BREAUX BRIDGE MEN WERE ARRESTED SATURDAY BY ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S NARCOTICS AGENTS ON DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES. THE AGENTS EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT A BUILDING ON ZIN ZIN ROAD AND FOUND APPROXIMATELY 40 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DRUGS INCLUDING HIGH GRADE MARIJUANA, METHAMPHETAMINE AND HYDROCODONE. 30-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER ALEXANDER, 28-YEAR-OLD DAMIEN JOUBERT, AND 29-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER CELESTINE WERE CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS OF POSSESION TO DISTRIBUTE DRUGS, ILLEGAL CARRYING OF FIREARMS AND ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A STOLEN FIREARM. THEY WERE BOOKED INTO THE ST. MARTIN PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
A financial expert testifying for the government says BP is financially able to pay a Clean Water Act penalty as high as $13.7 billion — the maximum federal authorities are seeking from the oil giant for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Ian Ratner testified Friday for the U.S. government. NOLA.com The Times-Picayune reports that Ratner’s analysis shows BP’s assets totaled $315 billion on June 30, 2014, up from $236 billion the year before the spill. BP attorney Matthew Regan suggested Ratner overlooked the short-term impact a fine would have on the company’s operations.
