1-31-19
A FIRE RIPPED THROUGH A HOUSE IN LAFAYETTE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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THE EASTBOUND SIDE OF THE I-210 BRIDGE IN LAKE CHARLES IS STILL OPEN TODAY. ORIGINALLY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSED AS OF NINE O’CLOCK LAST NIGHT, BUT THE CLOSURE WAS DELAYED A DAY BECAUSE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. BETWEEN NINE TONIGHT AND FOUR TOMORROW MORNING, ONLY ONE WESTBOUND LANE WILL BE OPEN ON THE BRIDGE AND THEN THE WESTSIDE WILL BE OPEN WITH ONE LANE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. THE EASTBOUND LANE CLOSURE WILL LAST FOR SEVERAL MONTHS SO THAT 930 FEET OF CONCRETE DECKING CAN BE REPLACED.
A FORMER COACH AT RAYNE HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN CITED BY THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE FOR HAVING INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONS WITH THREE STUDENTS. 28-YEAR-OLD CAITLYN MICELI WAS A PART TIME COACH AT THE SCHOOL. THE STUDENTS SHE ALLEGEDLY HAD RELATIONS WITH WERE EACH OVER THE AGE OF 18. THEREFORE SHE FACES A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE OF PROHIBITED SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN AN EDUCATOR AND STUDENT.
Louisiana’s Carnival celebrations are moving north this week, for the political party known as Washington Mardi Gras. Gov. John Bel Edwards, state lawmakers, other elected and appointed officials, lobbyists and business leaders are traveling to Washington for the annual celebration hosted by Louisiana’s congressional delegation. The partying and politicking events, which stretch over several days, began in the 1940s and come weeks ahead of Fat Tuesday, which is March 5 this year. They also come in a statewide election year that is sure to be the focus of political chatter.
BIRD AND LIME SCOOTERS ARE OFFICIALLY NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN LAFAYETTE. MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX ASKED THE COMPANY TO PULL THE SCOOTERS BECAUSE THE CITY COULD NOT LEGALLY ACCOMMODATE THEM. HE SAID IN A LETTER ONE WEEK AGO THAT HE ASKED THE COMPANIES TO VOLUNTARILY SHUT DOWN SERVICES IN LAFAYETTE UNTIL STATE LAWS COULD BE CHANGED. THE BIRD COMPANY WEBSITE HAS A NOTATION SAYING GOODBYE TO LAFAYETTE BUT THAT THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO GET BACK.
THE FIRST DEGREE MURDER TRIAL OF DERRICK RYAN SMALL BEGAN YESTERDAY MORNING IN LAKE CHARLES. SMALL IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING JALEN HANDY IN WESTLAKE LAST YEAR BECAUSE HANDY ALLEGEDLY STOLE MARIJUANA FROM HIM. PROSECUTORS SAY SMALL SHOT HANDY IN THE HEAD FROM SIXTY FEET AWAY AS HANDY WAS RUNNING AWAY. THE DEFENSE IS ARGUING THAT IT WAS A JUSTIFIABLE HOMOCIDE BECAUSE SMALL ALLEGEDLY THOUGHT HANDY HAD A WEAPON ON HIM DURING THE ROBBERY.
STUDENTS AT GUEYDAN HIGH SCHOOL RETURNED FOR A HALF DAY OF SCHOOL YESTERDAY AFTER A BAT INFESTATION CAUSED THE SCHOOL TO BE CLOSED ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY. THE STUDENTS HAD TO STAY IN THE GYM BECAUSE NOT ALL OF THE BATS HAD BEEN REMOVED AND CREWS WERE CLEANING. PRINCIPAL BRANDY BROUSSARD SAYS CREWS WERE FORCING THE BATS TOWARD AN EXCLUSION TUBE WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO LEAVE BUT NOT RETURN. SHE SAYS THE CREWS HAVE FOUND ALL THE ENTRANCES THE BATS USED AND SEALED THEM, AND SHE’S BEEN ASSURED THAT THE BATS WILL BE GONE BY NEXT WEEK.
Key rulings are expected soon in a lawsuit against the NFL filed by two New Orleans Saints season ticket holders upset with the outcome of the NFC championship game. The suit calls for the NFL to invoke a rule that could result in a do-over of the game, which ended with the Los Angeles Rams beating the Saints and advancing to Sunday’s Super Bowl. At issue is officials’ failure to call interference or roughness penalties against a Rams player at a key point in the final minutes of regulation play. The lawsuit was filed in state court but the NFL had it moved to federal court.
