10-2-15
LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VOTED 7-TO-2 TO KEEP INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND DEDUCTIBLES FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AT THE SAME LEVEL FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT WAS THE TOP RECOMMENDATION FROM THE EMPLOYEE INSURANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE BOARD DEBATED A PROPOSAL BY BOARD MEMBER JEREMY HIDALGO TO RAISE THE DEDUCTIBLE WHILE LOWERING THE PREMIUM, BUT ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO GO WITH THE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION. SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD SAYS STAFF WILL ASK THE BOARD AT ITS NEXT MEETING TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO GUIDE THEM IN THE INSURANCE SELECTION PROCESS FOR 2017.
A 54-year-old man accused of killing a Louisiana state trooper and his roommate in August has pleaded not guilty. KPLC-TV reports that Kevin Daigle entered his plea at a court hearing on Thursday. He faces the death penalty. A trial date was set for Sept. 19, 2016.
A PROPOSED 400 MILLION DOLLAR CRUDE OIL AND BLENDING COMPLEX IS EXPECTED TO BRING NEARLY 300 JOBS TO ST. LANDRY PARISH. JEFF HORCHEK HAS MORE.
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Two Republican contenders to be Louisiana’s next governor accused GOP front-runner David Vitter of lying about them as the four major candidates in the race squared off in their first TV debate. Vitter’s position atop the field has been slipping in recent polls. Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne sought to gain traction in Thursday’s WDSU debate by taking hits at the U.S. senator. Dardenne, Louisiana’s lieutenant governor, called Vitter “Desperate Dave,” saying he misrepresented Dardenne’s record and spending in office.
TODD LANDRY OF PIXUS DIGITAL PRINTING SAYS HIS COMPANY DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 260 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE VICTIMS FROM THE GRAND THEATRE SHOOTING IN JULY. JOHN RUSSEL HOUSER WENT INTO THE THEATRE AND SHOT ELEVEN PEOPLE, KILLING TWO. THE MONEY, THAT WENT TO THE WOUNDED AND THE FAMILIES OF THE TWO WOMEN KILLED, CAME FROM THE SALE OF “LAFAYETTE STRONG” SIGNS, T-SHIRTS AND DECALS. LANDRY SAYS IT WAS HUMBLING AND REWARDING TO KNOW THEY HAD A PART IN HELPING EACH OF THE FAMILIES HEAL, AND HE THANKED THE LAFAYETTE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE CAMPAIGN.
SO FAR SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN SPENT ON A MASSIVE NEW LIQUID NATURAL GAS PROJECT AT SABINE PASS IN CAMERON PARISH. JASON FRENCH WITH CHENIERE ENERGY TOLD THE CAMERON PARISH POLICE JURY THAT, FROM A COST STANDPOINT, IT IS THE SINGLE LARGEST INDUSTRIAL PROJECT IN U-S HISTORY AND CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED SOMETIME IN 2019 OR 2020. FRENCH SAYS 46-HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED THERE AND, ONCE IT’S UP AND RUNNING, THERE WILL BE 600 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. HE SAYS BUSINESS SALES IN THE LAKE CHARLES REGION ARE EXPECTED TO EXPAND BY 8-POINT-4 BILLION DOLLARS DURING CONSTRUCTION.
A NEW IBERIA WOMAN WAS KILLED WEDNESDAY AFTER SHE CRASHED HER CAR INTO A POLE. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 5:45 PM ON L-A 182 NEAR DARBY LANE. 55-YEAR-OLD BETTY TAUZIN WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE DIED FROM HER INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Louisiana’s budget deficit from last year was worsened because $12 million in fund transfers, that had been planned to plug holes, weren’t made. Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration hasn’t released the size of the gap from the fiscal year that ended June 30. Numbers will be unveiled to lawmakers in mid-October. But the administration has acknowledged Louisiana closed the books in the red, driven partly by higher-than-expected use of tax refunds and credits.
