11-3-17
ONE MAN WAS FATALLY SHOT AND KILLED IN A HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT IN LAFAYETTE THURSDAY MORNING. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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THE CASE OF FELIX VAIL WAS ARGUED BEFORE THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS YESTERDAY. VAIL WAS RECENTLY CONVICTED BY A LAKE CHARLES JURY FOR THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE, MARY VAIL, WHOSE BODY WAS RECOVERED FROM THE CALCASIEU RIVER IN 1962. ATTORNEY CHAD IKERD, WITH THE LOUISIANA APPELLATE PROJECT, SAYS THERE ARE NUMEROUS REASONS WHY VAIL’S TRIAL WAS UNFAIR INCLUDING TELLING THE JURY ABOUT VAIL’S PREVIOUS WIFE AND GIRLFRIEND, BOTH OF WHOM DISAPPEARED AND ARE PRESUMED DEAD. CALCASIEU ASSISTANT D-A CARLA SIGLER SAYS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE TWO WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THEIR CASE.
A THREE-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM ARNARNAUDVILLE DIED FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND LAST NIGHT. ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SPOKESWOMAN MAJOR GINNY HIGGINS SAYS DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF A SHOOTING IN THE ONE THOUSAND BLOCK OF KENNEDY DRIVE AT AROUND 7:20 LAST NIGHT. THEY FOUND THE THREE-YEAR-OLD, WHO WAS AIRLIFTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL AND LATER DIED JUST BEFORE TEN P-M. HIGGINS SAYS THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING BUT THERE ARE NO OTHER DETAILS THEY ARE RELEASING AT THIS TIME.
Early voting opens today for Louisiana’s Nov. 18 election, with the special runoff to fill the state treasurer’s job the only contest facing many voters. The Secretary of State’s Office says 24 parishes only have the treasurer’s race on the ballot. Thirty-two parishes also have local propositions, while only eight parishes have local candidate competitions. Voters can cast ballots early from today through Nov. 11, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except on Sunday and Veteran’s Day, which is Nov. 10.
TWO PROPERTY TAX RENEWALS THAT WERE REJECTED BY VOTERS IN APRIL WILL AGAIN BE ON THE NOVEMBER 18TH BALLOT IN LAFAYETTE PARISH. THE TWO TAXES FOR THE COURTHOUSE COMPLEX AND PARISH JAIL GENERATED NEARLY TEN MILLION DOLLARS YEARLY. THE PARISH GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO PAY FOR THOSE FACILITIES, SO, IF THE TAX RENEWALS FAIL, THE MONEY WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND. MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX SAYS THAT WOULD MEAN THE COURTHOUSE WOULD BE OPEN FEWER HOURS, SOME PRISONERS NORMALLY INELIGIBLE FOR EARLY RELEASE WOULD BE LET OUT WITH ANKLE MONITORS, PLUS IT WOULD DELAY ROAD, BRIDGE AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
A NON-PROFIT IN ELTON WAS AWARDED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FOOD AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING FOR LOCAL STUDENTS. KIM THIBODEAUX OPENED THE KEAGAN CENTER IN 2011 AFTER HER SON KEAGAN PASSED AWAY. SHE TELLS KLFY TV THAT SHE OPENED THE CENTER BECAUSE, ONE DAY WHILE SHE WAS PRAYING, GOD TOLD HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REACH OUT TO KIDS. SHE SAYS THE CENTER IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR CHILDREN, MANY OF WHOM COME FROM BROKEN HOMES. THE DONATION COMES FROM A PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM COURTESY OF ST. MARTIN BANK AND TRUST AND THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF DALLAS.
THE MAYOR OF OPELOUSAS IS REQUIRED TO TURN HIMSELF IN TO THE ST. LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE BY NINE THIS MORNING, ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS. MAYOR REGGIE TATUM WAS INDICTED EARLIER THIS WEEK ON NUMEROUS CHARGES INCLUDING 15 COUNTS OF MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE. HE ALSO FACES CHARGES OF INJURING PUBLIC RECORDS, FILING FALSE RECORDS, FORGING TIME SHEETS FOR HIMSELF AND FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND ONE COUNT OF THEFT OF BETWEEN FIVE AND 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS. LAST YEAR, SOME RESIDENTS ACCUSED TATUM OF ILLEGALLY COLLECTING OVERTIME FOR HIMSELF AND CITY EMPLOYEES DURING THE AUGUST FLOOD.
Louisiana’s lawmakers are taking their second look at a proposal to extend high-dollar contracts for the managed-care companies that coordinate health services for most state Medicaid patients. Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration wants to keep the deals in place for the five managed-care companies for another 23 months beyond their January expiration date. The price tag for the extension is estimated at $15.4 billion in federal and state cash. The joint House and Senate budget committee is holding a special hearing today on the extension request.
