12-14-18
SEVERAL BOMB THREATS REPORTED IN ACADIANA, ACROSS LOUISIANA AND THE UNITED STATES THURSDAY HAVE BEEN DEEMED NOT CREDIBLE. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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TODAY THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY WILL VOTE ON A TAX EXEMPTION THAT COULD BE THE LARGEST IN STATE HISTORY. DRIFTWOOD L-N-G IS SEEKING A TAX EXEMPTION, THAT COULD END UP EXCEEDING TWO BILLION DOLLARS OVER TEN YEARS. THEY ARE PLANNING TO BUILD A 15-POINT-9 BILLION DOLLAR LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORT FACILITY IN CALCASIEU PARISH. IT’S EXPECTED TO BE POSSIBLY THE LARGEST CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN STATE HISTORY, CREATING 300 PERMANENT JOBS AS WELL AS 64-HUNDRED CONSTRUCTION JOBS.
CHURCH POINT MAYOR RUSSELL STELLY SAYS THE EXPANSION OF RICHARD’S CAJUN FOOD’S FACILITY WILL PUT THE TOWN ON THE MAP. RICHARD’S CAJUN FOODS PRESIDENT RONNIE DOUCET AND GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY THE 2-POINT-7 MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION. THE COMPANY EXPECTS CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IN JANUARY AND TO BE COMPLETED IN MARCH. WITH THE EXPANSION, RICHARD’S WILL RETAIN 38 NEW JOBS AND CREATE TWELVE NEW DIRECT JOBS WITH AN AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY OF 35 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Louisiana’s secretary of state’s office diverted more than $90,000 from computer system improvements to pay its share of a sexual misconduct settlement involving the agency’s former leader, Tom Schedler. Dollars earmarked to upgrade software for business registrations, the state archives, the agency help desk and other systems were stripped. Instead, the money paid to help end litigation accusing Schedler of sexually assaulting a female employee. The Republican resigned in May.
LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICERS SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER TO CHILDREN AT THE WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. THEY GAVE OUT TOYS TO ABOUT FIFTY CHILDREN. POLICE ASSOCIATION MEMBER SCOTT RUMMEL SAYS THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE GIFTS THROUGH THE HELP OF ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH POLICE JURY HAS DECLARED THE NEW PARISH JAIL TO BE “SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE.” CHIEF DEPUTY CHRIS IVEY SAYS THE NEW JAIL, WHICH IS ABOUT THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF THE ONE IT REPLACES, WILL BEGIN HOUSING INMATES IN FEBRUARY. HE SAYS THE NEW JAIL WILL KEEP THEM FROM HAVING TO PAY TO HAVE OTHER FACILITIES HOUSE THEIR PRISONERS. COMMANDER OF CORRECTIONS DUSTIN LOCKE SAYS THE NEW FACILITY IS STATE OF THE ART AND SAFER.
Residents in St. Mary parish are frustrated with a lack of bear-proof trash cans as the animals have been digging into receptacles and strewing garbage across lawns, but officials say they can’t provide the cans until 2020. KATC-TV reported Wednesday that black bears in St. Mary Parish have been an issue in neighborhoods for years. Centerville resident Jennifer Liner says she checks daily to see if a bear has rummaged through her garbage and that she’s had to pick up her own and neighbors’ trash from yards. The parish has created flyers for residents on how to deter bears.
A Louisiana state audit says the state police agency hasn’t been able to provide proof that it spent $2.4 million policing the French Quarter last year. News outlets report the Department of Public Safety disagrees with the audit released Wednesday. The agency says $2.4 million in other funding was used to cover French Quarter policing costs until funding designated for that area’s policing became available. The audit says the state Legislature’s office can’t determine how funds were spent without proper documentation.
