10-14-21
OPELOUSAS POLICE SAY THEY HAVE MADE A SECOND ARREST IN A SHOOTING THAT KILLED ONE MAN AND INJURED ANOTHER. SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.
VOICER H :30
A TRACK COACH AT NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL IN LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF PROHIBITED SEXUAL CONTACT. FORTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD ERNEST LAZARD WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY MONDAY AFTER THE PARENTS OF A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL FOUND HE WAS SENDING EXPLICIT TEXTS TO HER FOR ABOUT A MONTH. IN LOUISIANA, SEVENTEEN IS THE AGE OF CONSENT BUT THE LAW PROHIBITS SEXUAL CONDUCT BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. THE PARENTS OF THE VICTIM TELL KLFY TV THEY ARE SPEAKING OUT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THERE MAY BE MORE VICTIMS.
FARMERS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA SAY ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AFTER HURRICANE LAURA LAST YEAR HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. THE HURRICANE CAUSED ONE-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO FARMS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS TOURED FARMS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA YESTERDAY. JIM HARPER OF THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREA EXPRESSED SURPRISE THAT THAT MOST OF THE DAMAGES FROM LAST YEAR HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED. HE SAYS THE FARMERS HAVE APPLIED FOR AID BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN PAID.
Louisiana’s top school board has agreed to shelve letter grades for public schools this year because of the coronavirus outbreak. The decision still requires the federal government to sign off on the move. The action from the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education means that grades and school performance scores usually released in November will be set aside amid classroom upheaval and falling test scores blamed on the pandemic. The Advocate reports that state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said he’s confident the waiver request will win federal approval.
LAST NIGHT THE IBERIA PARISH COUNCIL VOTED TO SPEND ONE-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE THE COTEAU WATER SYSTEM. THE MONEY IS COMING OUT OF THIRTEEN-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS THE PARISH IS RECEIVING THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. PARISH PRESIDENT LARRY RICHARD SAYS OLD EQUIPMENT WILL BE REPLACED AND THEY WANT TO GET THE COTEAU WATER WORKS DISTRICT TO EXPAND TO HELP MORE OF IBERIA PARISH. THE STATE WILL PROVIDE A MATCHING FIVE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT.
THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH ALIGNMENT COMMISSION BEGAN WORK YESTERDAY TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS IN THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. LAST JULY THE PARISH AND CITY COUNCILS VOTED TO CREATE THE NINE PERSON COMMISSION. THE REVIEW WILL LAST SIX MONTHS. PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN JOHN GUILBEAU, WHO WILL ACT AS LIAISON BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND COUNCIL, SAYS IT’S A DAUNTING TASK.
SAINT MARTIN PARISH AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING SEVERAL CASES OF IDENTITY THEFT, WHICH IS BEING USED TO FILE FAKE FEMA CLAIMS. SHERIFF BECKET BREAUX SAYS THEY RECEIVED ABOUT FIFTY CALLS FROM PEOPLE, MOSTLY IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE PARISH, WHO ARE REPORTING INSPECTORS GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR. BREAUX SAYS THE INSPECTORS ARE LEGITIMATE AND ARE CHECKING OUT POSSIBLE WIDESPREAD FEMA FRAUD. BREAUX SAYS THE SCAMMERS ARE TAKING THE EASY WAY TO MAKE A QUICK BUCK, STEALING FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND TAXPAYERS.
Hunters in Louisiana can now use their smartphones to tag and validate deer and turkey immediately after killing one. The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says this must be done before moving the deer or turkey, and a news release sent Tuesday says either the tag itself or a picture of the hunter’s harvest tags on the smartphone is needed. The new E-tag and Text-to-Tag services also need an account at LouisianaOutdoors.com. If there’s no cellular service in the area hunted, traditional paper tags must be used.
