1-6-17
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX SAYS THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE BUYING THE LESSPAY MOTEL AT THE CORNER OF UNIVERSITY AND CAMERON STREETS. ROBIDEAUX HAS PLANS FOR REVITALIZING THE UNIVERSITY STREET CORRIDOR AND BELIEVES THE PROPERTY WILL HAVE VALUE, AND WANTS TO LEAVE IT AVAILABLE FOR A BUSINESS TO BUY. HE HAS SET ASIDE 4-POINT-8 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY CORRIDOR. FORMER CITY PARISH PRESIDENT JOEY DUREL HAD PROPOSED PURCHASING THE MOTEL AND TURNING IT INTO A POLICE SUBSTATION.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY HAS APPROVED A 265 THOUSAND DOLLAR CONTRACT TO BUILD A SIDWALK ON LEGER ROAD IN LAKE CHARLES. THERE IS NO SIDEWALK CURRENTLY ON THAT ROAD AND MANY STUDENTS AT M-J KAUFMAN ELEMENTARY USE THAT ROAD TO GET TO SCHOOL. THE PROGRESSIVE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OF ALEXANDRIA WAS AWARDED THE CONTRACT. PARISH ENGINEER TIM CONNER SAYS HE ESTIMATES CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN THIS SPRING AND TAKE ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO COMPLETE, MAKING IT READY BEFORE THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
THERE’S BEEN A SETTLEMENT IN THE FEDERAL CASE OF A FORMER VILLE PLATTE POLICE OFFICER WHO ALLEGEDLY MADE WOMAN POSE FOR REVEALING PICTURES AND THEN SHOWED THEM TO OTHER OFFICERS. JEFF HORCHEK HAS MORE.
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GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS AND THE RESTORE LOUISIANA TASK FORCE ARE EXPECTED TO REVEAL THEIR PLANS FOR SPENDING ONE-POINT-SIX BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FLOOD RELIEF FUNDS AT A MEETING IN LIVINGSTON TODAY. EDWARDS STAFF HAS TOLD THE U-S-A TODAY NETWORK THAT THE MONEY SHOULD START GETTING TO FLOOD VICTIMS BY APRIL OR MAY. THE FIRST APPROPRIATION OF 438 MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE GIVEN TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS WHO DIDN’T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE. 80 PERCENT OF THE FUNDS ARE REQUIRED TO GO TO THE SIX PARISHES THAT WERE MOST EFFECTED, WHICH INCLUDES LAFAYETTE PARISH.
U-L LEADERS AS WELL AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERS GATHERED AT THE UNIVERSITY’S RESEARCH CENTER YESTERDAY TO OFFICIALLY WELCOME CROWN BIOSCIENCE. THE CALIFORNIA-BASED DRUG COMPANY ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SET UP SHOP AT THE RESEARCH CENTER, SPENDING A MILLION DOLLARS TO RENOVATE A VACANT SPACE THERE AND CREATING TEN RESEARCH JOBS. U-L’S VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RAMESH KOLLURU SAYS THEY ARE HOPING THIS IS THE FIRST OF MANY NEW PARTNERSHIPS AT THE RESEARCH CENTER. WITH MORE THAN SIX THOUSAND ANIMALS, THE NEW IBERIA RESEARCH CENTER IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY.
A NEW KROGER STORE IS EXPECTED TO OPEN SOMETIME THIS SPRING IN LAKE CHARLES. THE STORE, WHICH WILL BE LOCATED ON COUNTY CLUB ROAD, JUST WEST OF NELSON ROAD, WILL REPLACE THE ONE ON MCNEESE STREET, WHICH WILL BE CLOSING. THE COMPANY SAYS THE NEW STORE WILL BE A FOOD CENTRIC EXPERIENCE FOR CUSTOMERS, WITH, NOT JUST GROCERIES, BUT ALSO HOUSEWARES, TOYS, AND EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS. THE NEW KROGER WILL HAVE HEALTHY AND FRESH FOOD OPTIONS, CHEF-PREPARED MEALS, AND INCLUDE A FULL SIZE SUSHI BAR.
THE FAMILY OF AN IBERIA PARISH INMATE, WHO ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED SUICIDE TUESDAY, HAS TOLD KLFY NEWS THAT THEY HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THE INVESTIGATION BY THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. THE NEPHEW OF MALCOLM MENARD, BILL STELLY, SAYS THEY AREN’T GETTING MUCH INFORMATION, AND THEY FEEL THEY’RE BEING MISLED. HE SAYS THEY’VE YET TO BE BROUGHT IN TO IDENTIFY THE BODY AND THEY’VE NOT BEE ALLOWED TO SEE VIDEO AND AUDIO THAT ALLEGEDLY SHOWS IT WAS A SUICIDE. DEPUTIES FOUND MENARD HANGING FROM A TELEPHONE CORD, AND TRIED TO REVIVE HIM THROUGH C-P-R, BUT HE WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL.
AN ESTIMATED 37 THOUSAND JOBS COULD BE LOST IN LOUISIANA IF OBAMACARE IS REPEALED, ACCORDING TO THE MILKEN INSTITUTE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND THE COMMONWEALTH FUND. THEY SAY IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN NEARLY 640 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOST STATE AND SALES TAXES AND 39 BILLION DOLLARS IN LOST BUSINESS OUTPUT. STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEVE SCALISE OF LOUISIANA, WHO IS THE HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP, SAYS THEY ARE WORKING TO PREVENT GAPS THAT WOULD LEAD TO MAJOR DISRUPTIONS IN COVERAGE AND THE ECONOMY. HE SAYS THEY DON’T WANT TO JUST REPEAL OBAMACARE, BUT REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING THAT WILL GIVE PATIENTS CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS.
