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CONSTRUCTION WORK IS BEING DONE ON A DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE PARISH TAX ASSESSOR’S OFFICE. THE BUILDING IS BEING MADE MORE HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE. ASSESSOR CONRAD COMEAUX SAYS IT’S BEEN NEEDED FOR AWHILE AND, SINCE THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT IS CASH-STRAPPED, HE DECIDED TO PULL SPARE MONEY FROM HIS BUDGET TO GET THE WORK DONE. HE SAYS IT MIGHT BE FINISHED IN TIME FOR EARLY VOTING, WHICH TAKES PLACE THERE BETWEEN NOVEMBER 24TH AND DECEMBER FIRST.
SOME TEACHERS IN CALCASIEU PARISH APPEARED BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT UPSET BECAUSE THEIR SALARY SUPPLEMENT THIS MONTH IS LESS THAN THEY EXPECTED. SUPERINTENDENT KARL BRUCHAUS SAYS THE BOARD MADE THE DECISION TO HOLD BACK SOME OF THE MONEY FROM A SALES TAX DEDICATED TO SALARIES FOR A RAINY DAY. SOME TEACHERS TOOK ISSUE WITH THAT, SAYING IT SHOULDN’T BE USED FOR HARD TIMES. THE SCHOOL BOARD SAID THE MONEY BEING HELD BACK WILL BE USED FOR STAFF SALARIES, JUST NOT FOR THIS YEAR.
AN ONLINE ARGUMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA TURNED INTO AN IN-PERSON STABBING IN ST. MARTINVILLE. POLICE CHIEF RICKY MARTIN SAYS AN ARREST WARRANT WAS ISSUED FOR APRIL WESLEY OF NEW IBERIA, WHO DROVE TO THE CHATEAUX MARTIN APARTMENTS TO CONFRONT THE VICTIM. THE FIGHT HAPPENED IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE THE VICTIM WAS STABBED ONCE IN THE LEG. WESLEY WAS LATER ARRESTED BY NEW IBERIA POLICE AND HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SUSPICION OF AGGRAVATED SECOND DEGREE BATTERY.
Louisiana’s Republican elected officials are rallying behind GOP secretary of state candidate Kyle Ardoin in the Dec. 8 runoff. Many top Republican leaders avoided endorsements in this month’s primary because six GOP candidates were on the ballot. With the race whittled to Ardoin and Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup, GOP officials announced their backing of Ardoin. A spokesman for Gov. John Bel Edwards says the Democrat isn’t endorsing in the race.
A NATIONAL EYEWEAR COMPANY IS MOVING INTO THE STIRLING LAFAYETTE SHOPPING CENTER AT LOUISIANA AVENUE AND I-TEN. AMERICA’S BEST CONTACTS AND EYEGLASSES WILL OCCUPY THE STORE THAT ONCE HOUSED MAURICES. THAT RETAIL STORE WAS CLOSED LAST MONTH BY THE ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, WHICH OWNS IT AND OTHER FASHION RETAIL CHAINS. AMERICA’S BEST IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE SHOPPING CENTER IN JANUARY.
BATON ROUGED-BASED SECURE SHREDDING AND RECYCLING IS OPENING A NEW FACILITY IN LAKE CHARLES. OWNER JAY BABB SAYS ANOTHER FIRM MOVED FROM LAKE CHARLES TO ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE, OPENING UP THE MARKET FOR THEM. HE SAYS THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN SERVING THE AREA BUT HAVING AN ON-SITE LOCATION WILL ALLOW THEM TO BETTER RESPOND TO THEIR GROWING CLIENTELE. SECURE SHREDDING AND RECYCLING PROVIDES ON-SITE DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION SERVICES.
AUTHORITIES ARE OFFERING A ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WEEKEND’S FUNERAL SHOOTING IN CROWLEY. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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A new audit says Louisiana’s health department may have paid as much as $85 million over 20 months for Medicaid enrollees who didn’t qualify for coverage.
Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office released the audit Tuesday. Auditors found problems with the department’s use of wage data to determine eligibility for people enrolled in Louisiana’s Medicaid expansion program. Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says the agency is launching a new automated system to improve eligibility reviews.
SOUTH LOUISIANA COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS HOSTING CAMPUS PREVIEWS AT THEIR VARIOUS LOCATIONS THIS WEEK, WHERE THOSE INTERESTED CAN HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY FACULTY AND STAFF. TONIGHT THEY’RE HOSTING A PREVIEW AT THE ACADIAN CAMPUS IN CROWLEY FROM FIVE TO SEVEN.
