11-2-17
Following complaints of students and an athletics department staff member at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the school has fired softball coach Michael Lotief, effective immediately. In a news release Wednesday, the university says Lotief violated University of Louisiana System policies by allegedly subjecting student-athletes and co-workers to violent, vulgar language and verbal and physical assault, creating a hostile learning and working environment. Lotief, who’s been on leave since Oct. 6, joined the program in 2001 as a volunteer coach. Athletics director Dr. Bryan Maggard says a national search to replace him will begin immediately.
THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS UPHELD THE U-S ENERGY DEPARTMENT’S APPROVAL OF THREE LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORT TERMINALS, INCLUDING ONE IN LOUISIANA. THE SIERRA CLUB WAS SEEKING TO OVERTURN THE APPROVAL OF THE EXPORT TERMINALS IN LOUISIANA, MARYLAND, AND TEXAS. CHARLIE RIEDL OF THE CENTER FOR LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS SAYS HE HOPES THE DECISION WILL PUT AN END TO CHALLENGES FROM THE SIERRA CLUB WHICH, HE SAYS, ARE UNNECESSARY AND COSTLY CHALLENGES THAT DELAY L-N-G PROJECTS. ONE OF THE TERMINALS BEING CHALLENGED WAS CHENIERE ENERGY’S SABINE PASS FACILITY IN CAMERON PARISH, WHICH OPENED LAST YEAR.
A MORGAN CITY MAN IS WANTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING AND KILLING A MAN IN AMELIA TUESDAY NIGHT. ST. MARY PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES, RESPONDING TO A CALL ABOUT A SHOOTING, FOUND 23-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER SINGLETON OF AMELIA, WHO WAS UNRESPONSIVE WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TUESDAY NIGHT AT AROUND ELEVEN ON FRIENDSHIP ALLEY IN AMELIA. A SHERIFF’S OFFICE SPOKESWOMAN SAYS EVIDENCE REVEALED THAT 23-YEAR-OLD HAKEEMIA BIAS CONFRONTED SINGLETON BEFORE SHOOTING HIM. ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHERE BIAS IS LOCATED IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is considering his next step now that a state appeal court has ruled against his executive order banning discrimination in government employment and state contracts based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Democratic governor and advocates for the LGBT community reacted to Wednesday’s ruling by saying that such discrimination is wrong — and bad for economic development. Republican state Attorney General Jeff Landry had challenged Edwards’ executive order. Landry said Edwards exceeded his constitutional authority with the order. Edwards could appeal to Louisiana’s Supreme Court.
ALL THE RAIN YESTERDAY CAUSED STREET FLOODING IN SOME AREAS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
VOICER V :14
THE DRAINAGE LIAISON COMMITTEE HAS TWO WEEKS TO FINISH MAKING CHANGES TO LONG-RANGE DRAINAGE PLANS FOR CALCASIEU PARISH. THE COMMITTEE ORIGINALLY WAS SUPPOSED TO FINISH IN AUGUST BUT THEY GOT AN EXTENSION SO THERE COULD BE MORE PUBLIC INPUT. COMMITTEE CHAIR DENNIS SCOTT SAYS A PROPOSED DRAINAGE ORDINANCE COULD BE THE START IN SOLVING THE PARISH’S DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. THE COMMITTEE HOLDS ANOTHER MEETING ON NOVEMBER NINTH, THEN THE ORDINANCE GOES TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ON NOVEMBER 14TH AND TO THE POLICE JURY ON THE 16TH.
THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP TO SOLVE A HOME BURGLARY THAT OCCURRED ON MONDAY AT A HOME LOCATED ON FOURNERAT ROAD IN NORTHERN ACADIA PARISH. A FORCED ENTRY WAS MADE THROUGH A SIDE DOOR AND SEVERAL FIREARMS AND TWO COMPOUND BOWS WERE STOLEN. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CALL CRIME STOPPERS OF ACADIA PARISH AT 789-TIPS, WHERE UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES LIKE THIS THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.
Louisiana residents trying to rework the state’s system for drawing political maps are planning a summit they hope will drive changes. A grassroots, bipartisan group called Fair Districts Louisiana is working with Louisiana State University’s Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs on the all-day summit , set for Jan. 19.
The event aims to start talks about revamping Louisiana’s method for divvying up electoral districts ahead of the redistricting cycle tied to the 2020 Census. Every decade after the release of new Census data, states redraw political maps to address population shifts.
