1-7-16
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN PRIORITY ENROLLMENT TO STUDENTS WHO LIVE NEAR SCHOOLS OF CHOICE PROGRAMS. UNDER THE PROPOSAL, STUDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN ONE MILE OF A SCHOOL OF CHOICE WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LOTTERY TO GET INTO THE SCHOOL. THE DECISION TO REJECT THE PROPOSAL DREW LOUD APPLAUSE FROM A STANDING ROOM ONLY CROWD. ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT THE PROPOSAL, JUSTIN CENTANNI, SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO REINTRODUCE THE PROPOSAL.
STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING INVOLVING BEAUREGARD PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES. THEY WERE SERVING A SEARCH WARRANT IN A NARCOTICS INVESTIGATION AT A RAGLEY HOME MONDAY NIGHT. THEY SHOT AND KILLED 27-YEAR-OLD ERIC SENAGAL AND HIS DOG, KIA. STATE POLICE HAVEN’T RELEASED MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING BECAUSE, THEY SAY, THEY WANT TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE INVESTIGATION.
DEER HUNTING SEASON COULD BE CLOSED AS EARLY AS FRIDAY IN DEER AREA NINE OF THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN BECAUSE OF RISING FLOOD WATERS. THE BENCHMARK WATER LEVEL THAT WOULD PROMPT THE AUTOMATIC CLOSURE IS 18 FEET AT BUTTE LA ROSE. THAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN ON EITHER FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. THAT AREA INCLUDES PORTIONS OF IBERIA, ST. MARTIN AND ST. MARY PARISHES.
Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards has set an ambitious timeline for a Medicaid expansion, saying he wants to have government-funded health insurance cards in thousands more people’s hands by July 1. To make that happen, his new health care leader says Louisiana will have to hire an estimated 248 new health department employees to handle the enrollment and find the dollars to pay them, in a state saddled with budget problems. Incoming Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee also says the new administration will have to work with health care providers to ensure they’re willing to see the new Medicaid patients. Edwards, who takes office Monday, said he would issue an executive order next week that starts the work required to expand Medicaid as allowed under the federal health care law.
THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY HAS WON A COURT VICTORY OVER LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL BRIAN POPE, WHO HAS BEEN ORDERED TO PAY THE PAPER UP TO TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FINES. THE INDEPENDENT TOOK POPE TO COURT OVER HIS REFUSAL TO HAND OVER EMAILS REQUESTED BY THE PAPER ON OCTOBER EIGHTH AND NOVEMBER 30TH. JUDGE JULES EDWARDS FOUND THAT POPE VIOLATED THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS. THE CITY MARSHAL’S OFFICE WILL LIKELY TAKE CARE OF THE FINE AS WELL AS THE INDEPENDENT’S ATTORNEY FEES.
WARD THREE RECREATION IN LAKE CHARLES WILL BEGIN COLLECTING A PROPERTY TAX THAT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN 2014. THE TEN YEAR, 5-POINT-5 MILL PROPERTY TAX IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE THREE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY. IT IS USED TO MAINTAIN CITY PARKS AND WILL FUND A NEW WEIGHT ROOM AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMUNITY CENTER AND A NEW SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER ON SECOND AVENUE. THOSE WITH HOMES VALUED AT UNDER 75 THOUSAND DOLLARS WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY THE PROPERTY TAX.
33-YEAR-OLD NICHOLAS DUPUIS OF CROWLEY HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND ARSON. JEFF HORCHEK REPORTS.
VOICER E :34
As he nears the end of his term, Gov. Bobby Jindal has issued pardons for 21 people convicted of crimes in Louisiana. Jindal’s office said the pardons announced Wednesday bring the total granted during his two terms in office to 83 — well below the hundreds granted by his two predecessors. Statistics released by the governor’s office said former Gov. Kathleen Blanco granted 285, while former Gov. Mike Foster granted 455. A release from the governor’s office said there will be no comment from the administration on individual cases. Jindal said in an emailed statement that each pardon was granted after considering its effect on the convicted person, victims, police and local communities.
