11-4-16
Lafayette officially has a new chief of police. Mayor-President Joel Robideaux introduced veteran law enforcement officer and former prosecutor Toby Aguillard to the public Thursday at a news conference. Aguillard assumes the position that was filled in February by interim Chief Reginald Thomas, who was appointed deputy chief on Tuesday. In addition to 18 years of law enforcement experience, Aguillard has a decade of experience as an assistant district attorney and an assistant attorney general.
THE OYSTER SEASON BEGAN ON TUESDAY AND FISHERMEN SAY OYSTERS ARE PLENTIFUL AT CALCASIEU LAKE. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES IS LIMITING FISHERMAN TO SEVEN SACKS PER DAY, AND THEY’VE BEEN TOLD, THAT THE SEASON WILL END AFTER 11 THOUSAND SACKS ARE TAKEN FROM THE LAKE. FISHERMEN AND PROCESSORS ARE FIGHTING ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE THE OYSTER SEASON. PAIGE VIDRINE AT STEAMBOAT BILL’S TELLS KPLC TV THAT IF THE SEASON IS CUT IN HALF, THEY WILL HAVE TO OUTSOURCE, WHICH HURTS THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND HURTS THEIR BUSINESS, BECAUSE THEIR KNOWN FOR SERVING FRESH OYSTERS.
IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF LOUIS ACKAL’S ATTORNEYS SAY THE JURY IN ACKAL’S TRIAL COULD REACH A VERDICT LATE THIS AFTERNOON. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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Louisiana’s Medicaid expansion program is costing $376 million more than expected this year, as older and costlier uninsured people sign up for the free coverage. That’s according to the latest data released by Louisiana’s health department. The higher-than-expected cost boosts the estimated price tag for the program to $2.3 billion this fiscal year. The Louisiana Department of Health says the shortfall will be covered entirely by federal Medicaid financing.
A TWO-POINT-2 ACRE TRACT IN LAFAYETTE’S FREETOWN-PORT RICO HISTORIC DISTRICT HAS BEEN SOLD FOR 450 THOUSAND DOLLARS. FREETOWN PROPERTIES PURCHASED THE LAND, LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF GENERAL MOUTON AND COOLIDGE, AND IT INCLUDES THREE OFFICE BUILDINGS. THIS IS THE FIRST PURCHASE IN THE FREETOWN DISTRICT SINCE IT WAS DESIGNATED A HISTORIC DISTRICT. FREETOWN PROPERTIES PLANS ON LEASING THE BUILDINGS, AND ALREADY HAS ONE OF THE OFFICES LEASED.
ALLEN PARISH ISSUED A BURN BAN YESTERDAY, MAKING IT THE THIRD SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA PARISH WITH THE BAN. BEAUREGARD PARISH DECLARED A BURN BAN LAST FRIDAY, AND JEFF DAVIS PARISH FOLLOWED SUIT ON MONDAY. EACH PARISH BURN BAN IS IN PLACE FOR THIRTY DAYS FROM THE DAY IT WAS ISSUED. A BURN BAN MEANS NO OPEN BURNING, TRASH AND VEGETATION BURNING, OR DISCHARGING OF FIREWORKS IS ALLOWED.
BAYOU STATE LUMBER, LOCATED BETWEEN MORROW AND LEBEAU ON HIGHWAY 71 IN ST. LANDRY PARISH, HAS BEEN PURCHASED BY A TEXAS-BASED COMPANY. ADOBE MACHINERY GROUP WILL TRANSFORM THE PROPERTY TO LEMOYEN MILL AND TIMBER, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A MANUFACTURING COMPONENT INVOLVING ASSEMBLING TIMBER AND LAMINATED MATS. TWENTY PEOPLE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AT THE MILL WILL BE RETAINED AND 32 DIRECT JOBS WILL BE ADDED. THE NEW COMPANY IS EXPECTED TO GENERATE 35 NEW INDIRECT JOBS.
Rate increases have been posted for “Obamacare” plans offered by three health insurers in Louisiana, with Blue Cross and Blue Shield boosting rates as much as 41 percent on average for 2017, although some customers may see premiums skyrocket by 54.7 percent. State Department of Insurance records show Vantage Health Plan is implementing a 31.5 percent increase and Humana an average increase of 29.5 percent. Enrollment for 2017 plans started Tuesday and ends Jan. 31.
