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THE LAFAYETTE AIRPORT COMMISSION WILL BE PRESENTING DESIGN ALTERNATIVES FOR A PLANNED NEW TERMINAL AT A MEETING TONIGHT. THE NEW 90 MILLION DOLLAR TERMINAL WILL BE BUILT ADJACENT TO THE CURRENT TERMINAL AND WILL INCLUDE FIVE GATES, A FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT, A GIFT SHOP AND ADDITIONAL PARKING. THE COMMISSION IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S INPUT ON THE DESIGN OPTIONS. IT TAKES PLACE TONIGHT AT 5:30 AT THE COMMISSION’S MEETING ROOM ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE TERMINAL.
THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF MICHAEL CARTER TESTIFIED AGAINST CECIL MCARTHUR JUNIOR OF RAGLEY YESTERDAY, DURING HIS SENTENCING HEARING IN A DERIDDER COURTROOM. MCARTHUR SHOT AND KILLED CARTER OUTSIDE HIS RESIDENCE ON PAPANIA ROAD IN RAGLEY ON NOVEMBER 28TH, 2015, BUT HE CLAIMED IT WAS SELF DEFENSE. MCARTHUR PLED GUILTY TO ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON, AS WELL AS POSSESSION OF STOLEN EQUIPMENT AND METHAMPHETAMINE. JUDGE MARTHA O’NEIL LISTENED TO THE TESTIMONY FROM CARTER’S FAMILY MEMBERS YESTERDAY URGING A HARSH PUNISHMENT, AND SHE COULD SEND MCARTHUR TO JAIL FOR UP TO 35 YEARS WHEN SHE PASSES SENTENCE TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
MORE THAN 33 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DRUGS WERE SEIZED FROM A HOME ON ANN STREET IN NEW IBERIA. AGENTS WITH THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE’S SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT AND SWAT EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT THE HOME YESTERDAY MORNING BECAUSE OF SUSPECTED ILLEGAL DRUG ACTIVITY. IN ADDITION TO THE DRUGS, THREE GUNS AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA WERE ALSO FOUND. AN OCCUPANT OF THE HOME, 32-YEAR-OLD AKIA CELESTINE WAS ARRESTED, AND A SEARCH IS UNDERWAY FOR THE OWNER OF THE HOME, AKIMO HYPOLITE.
Louisiana lawmakers resistant to the idea of a deficit-closing special session have raised concerns about paying for the Legislature’s return to Baton Rouge amid continuing shortfalls. But the actual cost of such a gathering isn’t certain. House Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer says a rough estimate of what it costs the House and Senate to be in session ranges between $50,000 and $60,000 a day. Gov. John Bel Edwards intends to call a mid-February special session to close Louisiana’s $304 million midyear deficit.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS GETTING UPGRADES FOR PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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A SULPHUR SCHOOL HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON BY THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. SIX SCHOOLS FROM EACH STATE ARE NOMINATED FOR THE AWARD, AND INCLUDED THIS YEAR IS VINCENT SETTLEMENT ELEMENTARY IN SULPHUR. PRINCIPAL JULEE SPANN TELLS KPLC TV THAT, FOR A SCHOOL TO BE NOMINATED, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF POVERTY STUDENTS, AND THEY ARE AT 54 PERCENT. SHE SAYS THEY RECEIVED THE BLUE RIBBON IN 2008, SO TO BE NOMINATED AGAIN IS A BIG ACHIEVEMENT.
QUALIFYING BEGAN YESTERDAY FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE JACK MONTOUCET AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 42. SO FAR TWO PEOPLE HAVE QUALIFIED, JOHN STEFANSKI AND JAY SUIRE, BOTH ATTORNEYS FROM CROWLEY AND REPUBLICANS. QUALIFYING CONTINUES THROUGH TOMORROW FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION, WHICH TAKES PLACE MARCH 25TH. MONTOUCET STEPPED DOWN FROM THE SEAT TO HEAD THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES.
Republican Secretary of State Tom Schedler is defending Louisiana’s elections system, as President Donald Trump announced an investigation into voter fraud in the fall election. Schedler released a statement Wednesday saying: “Louisiana did not have any widespread irregularities or allegations of fraud” during the 2016 presidential election. The secretary of state outlined a list of requirements in Louisiana law for voters, including a photo ID law. Schedler says if an investigation finds evidence of voter fraud, it should be shared with states so “it can be cleaned-up and put to rest.”
