10-17-18
YESTERDAY, NEW ORLEANS ARCHBISHOP GREGORY AYMOND SAID THAT THEY WOULD RELEASE THE NAMES OF CATHOLIC PRIESTS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OVER THE LAST FIFTY YEARS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. FOLLOWING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, FOUR OTHER DIOCESES COMMITTED TO THE RELEASE OF THE NAMES AS WELL, INCLUDING THE DIOCESE OF LAFAYETTE. HOWEVER, BISHOP DOUGLAS DESHOTEL SAID THE PROCESS WILL TAKE TIME BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT AND COMPLEXITY OF THE RESEARCH, AND IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THAT PROCESS WILL BE COMPLETED. THE DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES HAS NOT MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
TWO LAKE ARTHUR WOMEN WERE ARRESTED TUESDAY ON CHARGES OF STOLEN ITEMS AND DRUGS. MEGAN KELLY HAS MORE.
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HEAVY RAINS IN VERMILLION PARISH LED TO SOME FLOODING AND ROAD CLOSURES. AT ONE NURSING HOME OFF OF VETERANS MEMORIAL IN ABBEVILLE, AQUADAMS WERE PUT IN PLACE TO PREVENT FLOODING. WATER IN THE AREA WAS BEING PUMPED INTO A VACANT FIELD. THE RESIDENTS WERE SAFE AND DID NOT HAVE TO BE EVACUATED.
Louisiana homeowners with damage from the 2016 floods have a few days left to seek aid through a federally-financed grant program. The deadline to complete a survey for homeowner aid through the Restore Louisiana program is Friday. The survey is the first step to applying for assistance. Homeowners may complete the survey online at restore.la.gov or by calling 1-866-735-2001 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCILMAN BRUCE CONQUE WITHDREW AN ITEM FROM LAST NIGHT’S AGENDA THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED FREE BUS SERVICE ON THE ELECTION DAYS OF NOVEMBER SIXTH AND DECEMBER EIGHTH. CONQUE WITHDREW THE RESOLUTION AFTER SEEING AN OPINION FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY SAYING IT WOULD VIOLATE STATE LAW. LANDRY SAYS GOVERNMENT IS PROHIBITED FROM GIVING AWAY SOMETHING OF VALUE, AND HE WOULD HAVE LEGALLY CHALLENGED IT. CONQUE HAD PLANNED TO SUBMIT THE RESOLUTION FOR A VOTE AT THE REQUEST OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FROM LAFAYETTE, BUT IT DREW CRITICISM FROM THE GROUP, LAFAYETTE CITIZENS AGAINST TAXES.
LAKE CHARLES POLICE ARRESTED 36-YEAR-OLD BEN WEAVER OF LAKE CHARLES OVER THE WEEKEND IN CONNECTION WITH A BURGLARY AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY NEAR DRY CREEK. THEY RECEIVED A TIP AFTER VIDEO WAS RELEASED THROUGH CRIMESTOPPERS. AN INVESTIGATION BY THE BEAUREGARD PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT WEAVER WAS ALSO WANTED ON SIMILAR CHARGES IN ALEXANDRIA, VERNON PARISH AND ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS. WEAVER IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
A CROWLEY MAN FACES HATE CRIMES AND TERRORIZING CHARGES AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY MADE THREATS AGAINST THE CROWLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. 41-YEAR-OLD JEREMY BODDYE SENIOR WAS ARRESTED MONDAY ON A WARRANT FOR THE THREATS THAT STEMMED FROM A PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER WITH POLICE OVER THE WEEKEND. THE DEPARTMENT GOT NUMEROUS CALLS FROM PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND WORRIED THAT HE MAY BE A THREAT DURING THE INTERNATIONAL RICE FESTIVAL COMING UP THIS WEEKEND. POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD SAID HE ACTED IMMEDIATELY UPON BEING INFORMED OF THE POSTS AND DECLARED HE WOULD NOT STAND BY AND LET A PERSON THREATEN THE SAFETY OF CROWLEY CITIZENS AND POLICE OFFICERS.
People searching for health insurance policies in Louisiana will likely fare better than those in many other states as the Nov. 1 annual open enrollment period approaches for the individual marketplace. The Advocate reports data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provide the first official glimpse of premiums in states using healthcare.gov, the portal for former President Barack Obama’s health care law’s policies. The centers say premiums are decreasing for the first time since “Obamacare’s” rollout, and they’ll be lower in Louisiana than in most other states. Louisiana Department of Insurance Deputy Commissioner Frank Opelka says the centers’ report aligns with the trend the department sees.
