11-6-18
YESTERDAY NEXTGEN UTILITY SYSTEMS WITHDREW ITS OFFER TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT OF LAFAYETTE UTILITIES SYSTEM. AFTER THAT, THE LAFAYETTE PUBLIC UTILITIES AUTHORITY APPROVED A RESOLUTION BY CITY PARISH COUNCILMAN WILLIAM THERIOT OPPOSING ANY SALE, LEASE OR THIRD PARTY MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT INVOLVING L-U-S. FORMER DIRECTOR TERRY HUVAL APPEARED BEFORE THE AUTHORITY YESTERDAY URGING THEM REJECT ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE TAKEOVER OF L-U-S. HE SAYS NEXTGEN’S PROPOSAL WAS A SCHEME TO TAKE MONEY FROM THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE AND IT WAS NEVER GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE CITY.
A CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY RESPONDING TO A CALL STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN ON OPELOUSAS STREET EAST OF I-210. THE VICTIM WAS 31-YEAR-OLD JESSIE J. BLANCHARD OF IOWA. AN INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT BLANCHARD WAS WALKING NEAR THE CENTER LINE IN THE EASTBOUND LANE WHEN HE WAS HIT JUST AFTER FIVE A-M, AND HE WAS WEARING DARK CLOTHING. STATE POLICE WILL CONDUCT A FULL INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.
A FORMER ST. MARTINVILLE DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF WAS FOUND GUILTY OF FOUR FELONY COUNTS INCLUDING A CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION FOR USING EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST AN ARRESTEE, THEN TRYING TO COVER IT UP. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
VOICER V :24
Louisiana has one statewide position on the ballot – a special election to fill a secretary of state seat vacated because of a sexual harassment scandal. Beyond filling that elections chief job, Louisiana voters today are deciding whether to return six U.S. House incumbents to Washington for another term and whether to rewrite six provisions in the state constitution. Among the constitutional amendments are proposals that would require unanimous jury verdicts for all felony convictions in Louisiana and would make convicted felons in Louisiana wait five years after serving their sentences before they can run for office. Runoff elections, as needed, will be Dec. 8.
Republican candidates in the Louisiana secretary of state’s race are ramping up attacks against their opponents heading into Election Day. Interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says Rep. Rick Edmonds is misrepresenting Ardoin’s positions. Edmonds has slammed Ardoin as mishandling work to replace voting machines.
Polls opened this morning at 6 and close at 8 p.m.
A POPULAR HORSE STABLE IN CARENCRO HAD TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF FINES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. THEY FOUND THAT THE EVANGELINE TRAINING CENTER ALLOWED TOO MUCH HORSE MANURE TO ESCAPE THE SITE INTO THE VERMILLION RIVER. THE WASTE MADE ITS WAY TO THE FRANCOIS COULEE, WHICH FEEDS INTO THE VERMILLION RIVER AND EMPTIES INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. THE E-P-A FINED THE CENTER 300 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS REPORTING THAT A TEENAGER FROM REEVES DIED FROM AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING FRIDAY IN RAGLEY. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, 15-YEAR-OLD KOBY LEE KEEVER WAS SHOT IN THE ABDOMEN WHEN A GUN FELL OFF A GUN RACK AND DISCHARGED WHEN IT HIT THE FLOOR. KEEVER LATER DIED FROM HIS INJURIES WHILE BEING TREATED AT LAKE CHARLES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT A HOME AND THERE WERE TWO JUVENILES WITH KEEVER AT THE TIME.
THE TOWN OF MAMOU IS UNDER A SYSTEM WIDE BOIL ADVISORY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. A GLITCH IN THE RADIO SYSTEM LED TO A FAILURE TO TURN ON THE WELLS. THAT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF WATER PRESSURE. THE BOIL ADVISORY WILL BE LIFTED ONCE WATER SAMPLES HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS.
