10-27-23
A RESENTENCING HEARING WILL BE HELD TODAY FOR TYLER BENOIT OF KAPLAN, WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF CHRISTON CHAISSON IN TWENTY-SEVENTEEN. BENOIT IS CURRENTLY SERVING A FORTY-YEAR-SENTENCE FOR MANSLAUGHTER AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, BUT AN APPELLATE COURT RULED THE SENTENCE WAS TOO HARSH, CONSIDERING HE WAS A FIRST-TIME FELONY OFFENDER. CHAISSON WAS SHOT IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE WHEN HE TRIED TO COME TO THE AID OF A WOMAN, WHO WAS FIGHTING WITH HER BOYFRIEND AND FELL, HITTING HER HEAD. KELLY CHAISSON, CHRISTON’S WIDOW, TELLS KLFY TV THAT, WHEN SHE RECEIVED THE CALL ABOUT THE RESENTENCING, IT FELT LIKE A BETRAYAL, BUT SHE’S HOPING FOR A FAIR DECISION.
THE POST OFFICE IN HENDERSON IS CLOSING AT THE END OF THE MONTH. JACKQUELINE BOREL HAS SERVED AS MANAGER THERE FOR MORE THAN FIVE DECADES. SHE TELLS KLFY TV SHE FOUGHT TO HAVE THE POST OFFICE OFFER HOUSE-TO-HOUSE DELIVERY BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. BOREL SAYS RESIDENTS WILL NOW HAVE TO TRAVEL TO BREAUX BRIDGE, NEARLY EIGHT MILES AWAY, TO GET THEIR MAIL, WHICH COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR OLDER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
A sale of federal Gulf of Mexico oil and gas leases that had been scheduled for Nov. 8 is being delayed pending court arguments that focus on protections for an endangered whale species. The sale had been scheduled for last month, but oil companies filed suit when the Biden administration reduced the area available for leases from 73 million acres to 67 million acres. A federal judge later ordered that the original, larger area be put up for bids and the sale was re-set for Nov. 8. On Thursday the appeals court effectively blocked the sale again, pending arguments set for Nov. 13.
TWO PEOPLE DIED IN A HOUSE FIRE TUESDAY NIGHT ON CANAL STREET IN OAKDALE. FIRE FIGHTERS FOUND A MAN AND PULLED HIM OUT BUT WERE UNABLE TO REVIVE HIM, AND A SECOND VICTIM WAS FOUND IN A BATHROOM. THE VICTIMS ARE BELIEVED TO BE A THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD DISABLED WOMAN, WHO WAS RENTING THE HOUSE, AND A SIXTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD MALE FRIEND, WHO WAS VISITING AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. STATE FIRE MARSHAL DEPUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
LAFAYETTE FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO A HOUSE FIRE THURSDAY AFTERNOON IN THE EIGHT HUNDRED BLOCK OF SOUTH MICHOT ROAD. SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.
VOICER I :28
OPELOUSAS VOTERS WILL BE DECIDING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE ON NOVEMBER EIGHTEENTH. IN AUGUST, THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN APPROVED A TEN YEAR, THIRTY MILL PROPERTY TAX THAT WILL BE DEDICATED TO CITY-WIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS TO GIVE PAY RAISES TO POLICE AND FIREMEN. CURRENTLY OPELOUSAS PROPERTY OWNERS ARE CHARGED SEVEN-POINT-ONE-THREE MILLS. IF APPROVED, THE NEW MILLAGE WOULD RAISE AN ESTIMATED THREE-POINT-THREE MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR TEN YEARS BEGINNING NEXT YEAR.
LOUISIANA’S NEXT ELECTION IS JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY AND, JUST LIKE THE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY, THERE ARE DEADLINES VOTERS SHOULD KEEP IN MIND AHEAD OF THE GENERAL ELECTION. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS THE DETAILS.
VOICER H :15
VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY TWO FEMALES AND A MALE INVOLVED IN A THEFT AT A DOLLAR GENERAL STORE OFF OF L-A SEVEN HUNDRED IN INDIAN BAYOU. THE THREE WERE SEEN ON SECURITY VIDEO PUTTING ITEMS IN A LARGE BOX IN THE BACK OF MULTIPLE AISLES. THE MALE WAS THEN SEEN TAKING THE BOX OUT A SIDE DOOR WHILE THE TWO FEMALES WENT OUT THE FRONT WITH THREE JUVENILES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS THEFT IS URGED TO CALL THE TIPS LINE, SEVEN-FOUR-ZERO-TIPS. A CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED.
