11-23-20
THE LAFAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A FIRE AT AN ABANDONED STRUCTURE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.
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SOME PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS OF BALDWIN YESTERDAY TO DEMAND THE RECALL OF BALDWIN POLICE CHIEF HARRY SMITH JUNIOR. IT COMES ONE DAY AFTER THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD QUAWAN CHARLES, WHOSE DEATH HAS LED TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION. VILLAGE 337 AND OTHER ACTIVIST GROUPS ORGANIZED THE PROTEST. ANOTHER ONE IS PLANNED FOR THIS SATURDAY IN BATON ROUGE.
A Louisiana coalition of contractors and others intends to push a $300 million annual state gasoline tax hike in next year’s legislative session. The Advocate reports Republican Rep. Jack McFarland will sponsor the legislation to address a $14 billion backlog of road and bridge work. McFarland noted that Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas have boosted gas taxes to invest in roadwork. The most recent push to increase the gas tax died in 2017 because of intense opposition.
A large energy business has set up a temporary clinic in Cameron Parish, after Hurricane Laura heavily damaged one of its rural health facilities. Cameron LNG operates a liquified natural gas facility in Hackberry. The company leased a temporary building in the town. The American Press reports that building is being used to operate a health clinic while the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s Rural Health Clinic is being repaired.
MONKEY HEADS WERE SPRAY PAINTED ON THE SIDES OF MULTIPLE BUSINESSES AND OTHER PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE. THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS POSTED IMAGES OF THE SUSPECT ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE, THOUGH THE PICTURES ARE NOT VERY FOCUSED. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE SUSPECT IS ASKED TO CALL CRIMESTOPPERS AT 232-TIPS. ALL CALLERS REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND CAN EARN UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD.
SECOND HARVEST IS HOLDING A FOOD DISTRIBUTION THIS SATURDAY IN RAYNE FOR ACADIA PARISH RESIDENTS. IT WILL TAKE PLACE FROM TEN A-M TO ONE P-M AT FAITH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH ON MERVINE KAHN DRIVE. BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS, ORGANIZERS ASK EVERYONE TO STAY IN THEIR VEHICLE AND THE FOOD BOXES WILL BE PLACED IN THE TRUNKS OF THEIR VEHICLE. IF IT HAS TO BE PUT IN THE BACK SEAT, THEY ASK THAT PEOPLE IN THE CAR WEAR MASKS.
HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE ABOVE ONE THOUSAND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS. THE NUMBERS ROSE BY FORTY-FIVE TO ONE THOUSAND, TWELVE, WHILE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS ISU UP BY NINE. THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORT FOR TODAY SHOWS THE NUMBER OF COVID-NINETEEN CASES HAS INCREASED BY NINE HUNDRED SEVEN TO MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN THOUSAND. THERE ARE TWENTY FOUR MORE DEATHS IN THE STATE.
ACADIANA AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA EACH HAD ONE MORE COVID-NINETEED DEATH IN TODAY’S REPORT. THEY WERE IN JEFF DAVIS AND VERMILLION PARISHES. ACADIANA HAD ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR NEW CASES. LAFAYETTE PARISH HAD THE MOST WITH SIXTY-EIGHT. SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD FORTY-THREE NEW CASES, TWENTY-SIX OF WHICH ARE IN CALCASIEU PARISH.
