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THE GOALS FOR LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN REVISED AND WILL GO BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD NEXT WEEK FOR FINAL APPROVAL. THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS PRINCIPALS AT SCHOOLS WITH AN A GRADE WILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN THOSE SCORES, WHILE PRINCIPALS AT SCHOOLS BELOW AN A GRADE WILL BE EXPECTED TO RAISE SCORES BY AT LEAST TWO-AND-A-HALF POINTS EACH YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD SAYS THE REVISIONS CAME AFTER A GROUP OF PRINCIPALS MET WITH CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER JOE CRAIG. OTHER GOALS FOR THE PRINCIPALS INCLUDE HOLDING A MEET AND GREET ORIENTATION EVENT, HOSTING OPEN HOUSES TO GO OVER SCHOOL RULES, AND MEETING THE PERFORMANCE CRITERIA IN THE LOUISIANA LEADER PERFORMANCE EVALUATION RUBRIC.
THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEARCHING FOR TWO WHITE MALES WHO TOOK AN A-T-V FROM TOPSY BELL GROCERY NEAR RAGLEY. SHERIFF’S OFFICE COMMANDER CHRIS IVEY SAYS SURVEILLANCE CAMERA SHOWS THE TWO MEN PASSING IN FRONT OF THE GROCERY STORE SEVERAL TIMES IN A CHEVROLET AVALANCHE BEFORE GOING INSIDE. THE THEFT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE TWO MEN ARE ASKED TO CALL THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AT 821-21-0-6.
A BREAUX BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IS IN JAIL AFTER BRINGING BRASS KNUCKLES TO SCHOOL. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration is scrapping a requirement that Louisiana government agencies must use an out-of-state company to book their employees’ hotel rooms. Edwards’ top financial adviser, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, announced Monday that he was ending mandatory use of HotelPlanner.com. In a statement, Dardenne said the policy — enacted by former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration — didn’t produce the promised state budget savings. He also says it hurts the state’s hotel industry because of the commissions charged for bookings.
YOUNGSVILLE IS STARTING THEIR OWN RECREATIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION WITH GAMES PLAYED AT THEIR SPORTS COMPLEX, WHICH OPENED TWO YEARS AGO, AND AT THEIR NEW COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH OPENS THIS SPRING. MAYOR KEN RITTER SAYS A STUDY BY U-L LAFAYETTE CONVINCED THEM TO START THE YOUNGSVILLE RECREATIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION. HE SAYS, BY A THREE-TO-ONE MARGIN, RESIDENTS SAID THEY WANTED AN INDEPENDENT SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THEY WANTED THEIR SPORTS PLAYED AT THE NEW COMPLEX. SIGN UP FOR T-BALL, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL BEGINS MONDAY AND CONTINUES UNTIL MARCH FOURTH.
A LAKE CHARLES MAN, WHO IS INVOLVED IN TRYING TO STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING, GOT A LAKE CHARLES THEATRE TO SHOW A MOVIE THIS WEEK THAT IS RAISING AWARENESS ON THE ISSUE. THE MOVIE IS CALLED “CAGED NO MORE” AND IS SHOWING AT CINEMARK LAKE CHARLES THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. RUSTY HAVENS, WHO FOUNDED SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ABOLITIONISTS, SAYS THE MOVIE HAS INSPIRED THOSE WHO WATCHED IT TO GET INVOLVED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. HE SAYS HE’S MET PEOPLE IN LAKE CHARLES WHO HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED.
THE TRIAL OF AN OPELOUSAS MAN, WHO ALLEGEDLY RAPED AND STABBED A WOMAN TO DEATH 27 YEARS AGO, BEGAN YESTERDAY. POLICE WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHO KILLED BRENDA DUPONT AT HER APARTMENT, LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF RAILROAD AND CHURCH STREETS IN OPELOUSAS, UNTIL ADVANCED D-N-A TECHNIQUES LINKED NOW-45-YEAR-OLD JOENELL RUBIN TO THE CRIME IN 2012. RUBIN WAS IN A CITY JAIL AT THE TIME ON A CHARGE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR RUBIN ARGUED THAT BITE MARKS ON DUPONT’S BODY INDICATED THAT SOMEONE ELSE COMMITTED THE CRIME.
The federal judge who heard a challenge to Louisiana’s abortion law says he’ll rule in the case Tuesday. The law requires doctors who perform abortions to be able to admit patients to a hospital within 30 miles. Supporters say it’s meant to protect women’s health. Opponents say the measure essentially would make it impossible for women to get abortions.
