11-29-16
LAFAYETTE POLICE HAVE RELEASED THE IDENTITY OF THE PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A TRAIN MONDAY. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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THE PHONES HAVE BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK AT THE CALCASIEU PARISH TAX ASSESSOR’S OFFICE AS RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN GETTING THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS. DONNA TAYLOR FROM SOUTH LAKE CHARLES TELLS KPLC TV SHE WAS SHOCKED TO FIND HER TAXES INCREASED BY FOUR TIMES OVER HER PREVIOUS BILLS. THE TAXES ARE UP FOR MOST RESIDENTS BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES WERE RECENTLY REASSESSED. TAX ASSESSOR WENDY CURPHY AGUILLARD SAYS HER OFFICE STAFF IS WORKING TO ADDRESS RESIDENT’S CONCERNS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THREE OF THE TEN PEOPLE WHO WERE VICTIMS IN A SHOOTOUT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IN NEW ORLEANS WERE FROM ACADIANA. 22-YEAR-OLD BEN ALLISON OF EUNICE, WHO WAS SHOT IN THE LEG, SAYS HE FELT THAT HE WAS DREAMING WHEN IT HAPPENED. ALSO WOUNDED IN THE SHOOTING WERE 20-YEAR-OLD BRITTANY BEN OF LAFAYETTE AND HER NEPHEW, 21-YEAR-OLD DEION BEN, WHO WAS RECENTLY RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. NEW ORLEANS POLICE HAVE NOT MADE AN ARREST IN THE BOURBON STREET SHOOTOUT, BUT THEY ARE GATHERING LEADS ON TWO UNIDENTIFIED MEN BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT.
Virginia’s economic development office has named a new chief executive. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership announced Monday it had hired Stephen Moret as its new CEO. Moret previously served as secretary of Louisiana Economic Development. He currently was leading the private LSU Foundation, which he is expected to leave by the end of the year.
THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAS UPHELD THE 2014 TERMINATION OF FORMER LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT PAT COOPER. THE COURT ADDRESSSED COOPER’S DECISION TO PUT FIVE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ON A 244 DAY WORK SCHEDULE, WHICH INCREASED THEIR SALARY. COOPER CLAIMED HE HAD THE RIGHT TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE STATE’S ACT ONE EDUCATION LAW, WHICH INCREASES THE AUTHORITY OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS. WHILE THE COURT AGREED THAT HIS POWERS WERE EXPANDED, THEY SAID HE COULD NOT USE THOSE POWERS TO THE DETRIMENT OF OTHER AREAS OF IMPORTANCE, SUCH AS THE SCHOOL BUDGET.
MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY STAY AS PREPARED AS THEY CAN BE IN CASE OF AN ATTACK, SUCH AS THE ONE THAT HAPPENED AT OHIO STATE YESTERDAY WHEN A STUDENT INJURED NINE PEOPLE WITH HIS VEHICLE AND A BUTCHER KNIFE. MCNEESE’S DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND UNIVERSITY EVENTS, CANDACE TOWNSEND, TELLS KPLC TV THAT A CORE GROUP HAS BEEN THROUGH ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING AND THEY MEET WEEKLY. THE UNIVERSITY ALSO USES TEXTS, MESSAGE BOARDS, EMAILS AND AN ON-CAMPUS SIRENS TO WARN STUDENTS TO TAKE COVER IF AN ATTACK SHOULD HAPPEN. TOWNSEND SAYS THEY ARE AS PREPARED AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE, AND THEIR PHILOSOPHY IS TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.
- MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING VEHICLE BURGLARIES THAT HAPPENED AT AROUND FOUR A-M LAST TUESDAY AT A TRUCK STOP IN THE 13-HUNDRED BLOCK OF EVANGELINE THRUWAY IN BROUSSARD. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO CAPTURED THE IMAGE OF THE MAN, WEARING A DARK COLORED COAT AND HAT, AND HIS VEHICLE WAS A CHAMPAGNE COLORED CHEVY SILVERADO EXTENDED CAB TRUCK. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE SUSPECT IS ASKED TO CALL THE ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE. OFFICIALS REMIND THE PUBLIC TO LOCK THEIR VEHICLES WHEN EXITING THEM AND KEEP VALUABLES STORED OUT OF SIGHT OR IN THE TRUNK.
WALLETHUB HAS RELEASED A LIST OF THE MOST CHARITABLE STATES AND LOUISIANA WAS NEAR THE BOTTOM. OVERALL LOUISIANA FINISHED NUMBER 43 ON THE LIST. LOUISIANA WAS 31ST IN THE AMOUNT OF CASH DONATED, BUT 45TH IN VOLUNTEER HOURS. THE MOST CHARITABLE STATE OVERALL IS UTAH, WHILE ARIZONA FINISHED AT THE BOTTOM.
