KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


11-24-2014

A LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SAYS HE WILL BRING UP THE ISSUE AGAIN OF ALLOWING SIXTH GRADERS TO COMPETE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS.  LAST WEEK, THE BOARD VOTED TO KEEP MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS FOR SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS ONLY.  BOARD MEMBER TEHMI CHAISSON IS A PROPONENT OF ALLOWING SIXTH GRADERS TO PLAY IF THEY ARE DETERMINED BY COACHES TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.  THE SCHOOL SYSTEM’S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BOBBY BADEAUX SAYS HE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT ALLOWING SIXTH GRADERS TO COMPETE BECAUSE IT’S A TRANSITION YEAR WHEN THEY ARE STILL GROWING PHYSICALLY, AS WELL AS SOCIALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY.

 

A FIRE BROKE OUT YESTERDAY MORNING AT THE PHILLIPS 66 REFINERY IN WESTLAKE.  PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR CAROL COLLINS SAYS THEIR INTERNAL FIRE BRIGADE CONTAINED THE BLAZE WITHIN AN HOUR, WHICH ERUPTED AT ONE OF THE PLANT’S UNITS.  COLLINS SAYS THERE WAS NO RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS, AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.  SHE SAYS AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

 

THE STATE IS EXPECTED TO FINISH A PROJECT EARLY NEXT YEAR TO ADD MORE THAN 100 ACRES OF MARSH TO THE VERMILLION PARISH COAST.  IN JUNE, THE STATE AND PARISH COASTAL PROTECTION IMPACT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FINISHED PUTTING UP ROCK WALLS ALONG FOUR SECTIONS OF FRESHWATER BAYOU.  SINCE THEN, THE STATE HAS BEEN DREDING SEDIMENT FROM THE BAYOU AND PUMPING IT OVER THE ROCKS TO BUILD UP THE MARSH.  MEL GUIDRY WITH THE STATE COASTAL PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AUTHORITY SAYS YOU CAN BUILD THINGS ALONG THE WEST LOUISIANA COAST BECAUSE THE SOIL IS FIRM AND IT’LL STAND UP.

 

In Louisiana’s Senate race, when Republican Bill Cassidy wants to hurt Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu’s standing, he suggests a vote for her is a vote for unpopular President Barack Obama.  Democrats have their supposed bad guy too: When they want to hurt Cassidy, they link him to Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Like Obama’s nationally, Jindal’s approval ratings have dipped into the 40s.  Cassidy has given the governor high marks for his performance, but he also hasn’t been frequently campaigning with him.

 

NEW INFORMATION REGARDING A SERIES OF SHOOTINGS IN LAFAYETTE THAT BEGAN AROUND 10:30 FRIDAY MORNING, CONTINUED THROUGH THE AFTERNOON, AND ENDED WITH ONE PERSON BEING SHOT DEAD.  JULIE DARCY REPORTS.

 

VOICER D :24

YESTERDAY’S RAINS LEFT FLOODED ROADWAYS IN THE MOSS BLUFF AREA.  CAPTAIN BOBBY TRAHAN OF THE WARD ONE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY WERE BUSY YESTERDAY SECURING FLOODED AREAS AND ENSURING THAT ANY HIGH WATER AREAS WERE MARKED BY THE POLICE JURY.  HE SAYS THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF HOMES THAT WERE FLOODED.  POLICE JURY OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE SOME PLANNED DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY AROUND BELFIELD ROAD AND ARMAND STREET.

 

THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS HAS ISSUED A 35 THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT TO STUDY THE VIABILITY OF TRANSFORMING THE FORMER ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL IN ARNAUDVILLE INTO A FRENCH AND CULTURAL IMMERSION CAMPUS.  THE GRANT WAS AWARDED TO THE LOUISIANA CULTURAL ECONOMY FOUNDATION, WHOSE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS AIMEE SMALLWOOD.  SHE TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT ARNAUDVILLE IS POISED TO BE A PLACE WHERE THE ARTS, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY WORK TOGETHER TO CAPITALIZE ON THE CITY’S HISTORIC RICHNESS.  ST. LANDRY PARISH PRESIDENT BILL FONTENOT SAYS THE GRANT WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP A BUSINESS PLAN.

 

Two Lafayette City Court judges say drunken driving plea deals involving a private investigator’s alleged bribes cannot be used to file more serious second-offense DWI charges.  The Advocate reports that Judges Douglas Saloom and Francie Bouillion made that ruling last week in DWI cases involving bribes allegedly paid by Robert Williamson.  Williamson has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including six counts of bribery.  Five people have pleaded guilty, including three former employees of the district attorney’s office.