12-14-16
THE ENTIRE HOME SCHEDULE FOR U-L RAGIN CAJUN BASEBALL WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE NEW TIGUE MOORE FIELD AT RUSSO PARK, EVEN THOUGH IT WON’T BE COMPLETED BY THE HOME OPENER ON MARCH THIRD. CONTINGENCY PLANS WERE BEING MADE TO HOLD HOME GAMES AT FABACHER FIELD IN YOUNGSVILLE OR AS FAR AS TWO HOURS AWAY, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEMOINE GROUP WAS FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO PLAY THE GAMES AT HOME. THE GRANDSTAND AREA WON’T BE COMPLETED UNTIL MAY, BUT TEMPORARY BLEACHERS WILL BE PUT UP DOWN BOTH BASELINES. COACH TONY ROBICHEAUX SAYS THAT KNOWING THEY WILL BE PLAYING AT HOME MAKES HIM AND THE PLAYERS HAPPY AND SHOULD PLEASE THE FANS AS WELL.
A NEW DROP OFF CANOPY AT PRIEN LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL BE CONSTRUCTED BEHIND THE CAFETERIA AND A NEW SECTION OF ROADWAY WILL BE PUT IN. IT IS DESIGNED TO BE SAFER FOR STUDENTS TO BE DROPPED OFF AND PICKED UP AT THE SCHOOL WHILE HELPING RELIEVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON NELSON ROAD. LAKE CHARLES L-N-G DONATED 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE PROJECT, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD MATCHED THOSE FUNDS. SUPERINTENDENT KARL BRUCHAUS SAYS THAT, IF THE WEATHER COOPERATES, IT SHOULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF MAY.
A NEW IBERIA MAN, WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO COCAINE POSSESSION, HAS HAD HIS 25 YEAR SENTENCE VACATED. 45-YEAR-OLD MORRIS JAMES REQUESTED A NEW TRIAL AFTER THE SOLE WITNESS IN HIS CASE, FORMER NARCOTICS AGENT JACOBY HUCKABY, ADMITTED FABRICATING INFORMATION WHILE TESTIFYING IN THE RECENT TRIAL OF IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF LOUIS ACKAL. HUCKABY IS ONE OF SEVERAL FORMER DEPUTIES WHO ADMITTED BEATING SEVERAL MEN WHILE OFF DUTY AND DRUNK AND THEN LYING TO DEPUTIES ABOUT IT. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY ROB VINES SAYS HUCKABY’S RECENT ADMISSION MADE IT VERY UNLIKELY THEY COULD SUCCESSFULLY RETRY JAMES, SO HE DECLINED TO PROSECUTE.
Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards is in the hospital, and his wife is telling a television station that her 89-year-old husband has pneumonia. Trina Edwards tells WAFB-TV that her husband went to an emergency room last week, and on Monday, they called an ambulance to take him to the hospital again. She says he’s improving and able to get up and move around a bit. Edwards was governor from 1972 to 1980, 1984 to 1988 and again from 1992 to 1996.
THE LAFAYETTE PUBLIC TRUST FINANCING AUTHORITY VOTED YESTERDAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANS FOR A 38 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX THAT WOULD BE BUILT AT THE CORNER OF MONROE AND OLIVIER STREET. THE AUTHORITY STILL HAS TO HOLD A VOTE TO AUTHORIZE FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT. CHAIRMAN JOHN ARCENEAUX SAYS THAT, IF THEY DO, GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE COMPLEX COULD COME AS EARLY AS THIS SUMMER. HE SAYS THE CURRENT PLANS CALL FOR A MIX OF ONE AND TWO BEDROOM UNITS THAT WILL RENT AT MARKET RATES, BETWEEN 800 AND 12-HUNDRED A MONTH, AND WOULD INCLUDE A ROOFTOP POOL AND AN INTERIOR COURTYARD.
LAKE CHARLES POLICE HAVE RELEASED THE IDENTITY OF A PERSON WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED MONDAY MORNING. 17-YEAR-OLD TARIANA DAVIS WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN THE 18-HUNDRED BLOCK OF RENA STREET. 18-YEAR-OLD JAMES LAMARCUS FREEMAN WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND SECOND DEGREE FETICIDE. HIS BOND WAS SET AT 375 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
A CRIMINAL BATTERY COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST THE MAYOR OF RAYNE FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOVING A SENIOR CITIZEN. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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A study group created by Gov. John Bel Edwards is recommending the state spend $700 million more annually on road and bridge work, primarily through tax and fee hikes. The Advocate reports the panel co-chaired by state transportation secretary Shawn Wilson did not specify how much money should come from each potential funding source. But a boost in the state gasoline tax is expected to be the main financing piece to any plan pushed by the governor. Edwards will decide how much money to seek from lawmakers and which proposals from the transportation task force he’ll propose in the regular legislative session that begins in April.
