10-29-19
WE HAVE A TRAFFIC ALERT FOR DRIVERS IN LAFAYETTE THIS MORNING. HERE’S CAROLINE MARCELLO.
VOICER H :31
STATE POLICE TROOP D IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA IS HOPING A TREND IN REDUCED ROADWAY FATALITIES WILL CONTINUE THIS YEAR. IN 2017, THERE WERE 36 FATALITIES IN THE TROOP D AREA AND THAT WENT DOWN TO 30 LAST YEAR. TROOPER DEREK SENEGAL SAYS SO FAR THIS YEAR THEY ARE AT 28 FATALITIES WITH TWO MONTHS REMAINING. SENEGAL TELLS KPLC TV THAT THEY ARE HOPING TO GET THROUGH THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS WITH NO MORE FATALITIES, BUT THEY DO SUSPECT THERE WILL BE ONE DURING THOSE TIMES OF THE YEAR.
An Acadiana district attorney’s office is trying to get an African American judge removed from more than 300 cases after she criticized prosecutors for a high rate of incarceration of black people. The Lafayette Advertiser reports that two state judges will begin hearing arguments Wednesday in the recusal motions filed against Judge Lori White. White serves in south Louisiana’s Iberia Parish.
Prosecutors with District Attorney Bo Duhé’s office filed the recusal motions, arguing she is biased and cannot be impartial.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is swiping at Republican opponent Eddie Rispone for missing another candidate forum ahead of the runoff election. The Deep South’s only Democratic governor started his appearance Monday before the Press Club of Baton Rouge by asking: “Where is Eddie?” Rispone has made few public appearances since reaching the Nov. 16 head-to-head matchup against Edwards. He’s skipped forums intended to let the two contenders define their differences and instead focused on closed-door meetings with donors and supporters.
A NEW POLL SHOWS JUST HOW TIGHT IS THE GOVERNOR’S RACE. HERE’S CAROLINE MARCELLO WITH MORE.
VOICER G :44
LEADING HEALTH CARE, A HOME HEALTH CARE COMPANY THAT EMPLOYS MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE, WILL BE CONSTRUCTING A NEW OFFICE BUILDING ON LA RUE FRANCE IN LAFAYETTE. THE TWENTY THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT BUILDING IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY NEXT SUMMER, AT WHICH TIME THEY WILL MOVE FROM THEIR CURRENT OFFICE ON WEST VERMILLION STREET. LEADING HEALTH CARE’S CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, KEN SMALLING, SAYS THEY NEED MORE SPACE BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS. HE SAYS THEY WILL LIKELY BE ADDING MORE STAFF ONCE THE NEW OFFICE IS OPEN, BUT HE DIDN’T HAVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS.
MOSS BLUFF VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO CONTINUE A ONE-AND-A-HALF CENT SALES TAX IN THE NOVEMBER 16TH ELECTION. THE FIFTEEN YEAR TAX WAS ORIGINALLY LEVIED IN 1992. SHAUNA BURKHEAD, THE PRINCIPAL AT MOSS BLUFF ELEMENTARY, SAYS THAT IF IT PASSES, THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO BUILD A NEW THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH GRADE SCHOOL. THE REST OF THE FUNDS WOULD GO TOWARD IMPROVEMENTS AT OTHER MOSS BLUFF SCHOOLS INCLUDING BUILDING A NEW LIBRARY AT MOSS BLUFF ELEMENTARY AND EXPANDING THE CAFETERIA AT GILLIS ELEMENTARY.
THREE PROPERTY TAXES WILL BE UP FOR RENEWAL IN CROWLEY. ONE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES HELPS FUND SALARIES FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRE FIGHTERS. TWO OF THE PROPERTY TAXES HELP MAINTAIN ROADS AND BRIDGES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PARKS AND THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM. THE FOURTH PROPERTY TAX RAISES MONEY TO MAINTAIN CEMETERIES IN CROWLEY.
