1-29-16
HIGHWAY OFFICIALS AND CONSULTANTS ARE COMPILING THE FEEDBACK RESULTS FROM RESIDENTS ON THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE I-49 CONNECTOR PROJECT THROUGH LAFAYETTE. SOME RESULTS WERE RELEASED THIS WEEK AT COMMUNITY WORK GROUP AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY MEETINGS. THE FIVE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE CONCERNS OF THE PARTICIPANTS ARE THE CHICOT AQUIFER, WATER QUALITY, WASTE SITES, COMMUNITY IMPACTS AND COHESION, INCLUDING PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, AND DISPLACEMENTS. THE RESULTS FROM THE FEEDBACK WILL BE USED TO CREATE A VISION STATEMENT THAT WILL GUIDE AND FOCUS FURTHER PLANNING FOR THE 5-POINT-5 MILE INTERSTATE CONNECTOR.
GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS AND CONGRESSMAN CHARLES BOUSTANY SPOKE AT LAST NIGHT’S 112TH ANNUAL CHAMBER SOUTHWEST BANQUET IN LAKE CHARLES. 2015 CHAMBER CHAIR CELIA BROUSSARD PASSED THE GAVEL TO THIS YEAR’S CHAIR JOHN POHORELSKY. HE ASKED GOVERNOR EDWARDS TO HELP THE AREA GET A NEW I-TEN BRIDGE. THE CIVIC SERVICE AWARD WAS PRESENTED LAST NIGHT TO WILLIE KING, WHILE CHEYENNE BOUDREAUX WAS NAMED VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR.
IBERIA PARISH OFFICIALS WERE ON HAND YESTERDAY AT A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR A NEW PASSENGER TERMINAL AT THE ACADIANA REGIONAL AIRPORT IN NEW IBERIA. AIRPORT DIRECTOR F. JASON DEVILLIER SAYS THEY HOPE TO BEGIN OFFERING BETWEEN TEN TO TWELVE ROUND TRIP FLIGHTS A WEEK TO THE GEORGE BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT IN HOUSTON. THEIR MAIN CUSTOMERS WOULD LIKELY BE THE ROUGHLY 300 OIL AND GAS COMPANIES ALONG THE HIGHWAY 90 CORRIDOR. THE NEW 800 THOUSAND DOLLAR TERMINAL IS EXPECTED TO BE OPEN BY THIS NOVEMBER.
Two New Orleans area lawmakers have been chosen to lead the House committees that will be essential to deciding the fate of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ budget and tax proposals. House Speaker Taylor Barras posted his committee assignments online Thursday. Republican Rep. Cameron Henry of Metairie was named chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which crafts the state’s budget. Democratic Rep. Neil Abramson of New Orleans was chosen chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which handles tax legislation.
The financial news offered to state senators, who were digging into details of Louisiana’s latest budget problems, was bleak and laced with warnings it could grow bleaker still. The Senate Finance Committee, newly-configured with the start of the latest four-year terms of office, got an update Thursday on the latest estimates that the state budget gap has reached $700 million, possibly more. Legislative economist Greg Albrecht said the state economy’s continued to weaken, employment rates are down, oil prices have dropped and the state’s paying out more in tax refunds to businesses than it’s receiving in corporate taxes.
A GUN DEALER FROM CARENCRO WILL SERVE SIX MONTHS OF HOUSE ARREST FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN ACCURATE RECORDS OF INVENTORY AND SALES OF FIREARMS. FEDERAL AGENTS WITH THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL AND GUN CONTROL RAIDED THE HOME OF 33-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL JOSEPH PARLOW JUNIOR AND HIS BUSINESS, SPECIALTIES OF ACADIANA, LAST MARCH. THEY FOUND INCOMPLETE SALES, PURCHASES, AND INVENTORY RECORDS. PARLOW PLEADED GUILTY LAST AUGUST, AND, IN ADDITION TO THE HOUSE ARREST, HE WILL HAVE TO SURRENDER MORE THAN 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FIREARMS INVENTORY, PLUS OTHER PENALTIES.
PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS DISCUSSED DRAINAGE AND FLOODING ISSUES WITH THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY YESTERDAY. THEY HELD OPEN HOUSES THIS MONTH WHERE MOST RESIDENTS SAID THEY WANTED SOLUTIONS. PARISH ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN BEAM SAYS THEY ARE CURRENTLY CREATING A PUBLIC WORKS DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT. BEAM SAYS THEY PLAN ON WORKING WITH DRAINAGE DISTRICTS AND CITIES TO DEVELOP CAPITAL PROJECT PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017 BUDGET YEAR.
A 27-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM ACADIA PARISH WAS SHOT AT A HOME NEAR RAYNE EARLY THURSDAY. HE WAS AIRLIFTED TO A LAFAYETTE HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION. A WOMAN CALLED THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT REPORTING THE SHOOTING AT THE HOME, LOCATED IN THE 400 BLOCK OF GERMAINE STREET, OFF OF L-A 98, NORTHEAST OF RAYNE. MAXINE TRAHAN WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS INVESTIGATORS HAVE SPOKEN TO A PERSON OF INTEREST BUT HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED THE MOTIVE IN THE SHOOTING.
