12-15-17
Former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco will deliver the fall commencement address at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Graduates convene today at 11 a.m. for the General Assembly in the Cajundome and Convention Center. Blanco was Louisiana’s first and only female governor, serving from 2004 to 2008, choosing not to run for re-election after criticism of her performance during and after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Earlier this week, Blanco announced she was undergoing treatment for cancer in her liver and asked for prayers.
RESIDENTS IN A MOBILE HOME PARK OFF OF NELSON ROAD IN LAKE CHARLES SAY THAT MAIL IS NOT BEING DELIVERED DAILY. SOME RESIDENTS OF THE SMITH VILLAGE MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY TELL KPLC TV THAT IT’S AFFECTING THEIR LIVES, BECAUSE MANY DEPEND ON GETTING MEDICINE THROUGH THE MAIL AND BILLS COME LATE. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE REGULAR MAIL CARRIER FELL AND BROKE HER HAND. A SPOKESPERSON FROM THE U-S POSTAL SERVICE OUT OF DALLAS SAYS THEY ARE LOOKING IN TO THE PROBLEM.
A MAN WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES AT THE GATOR CARWASH IN CROWLEY YESTERDAY EVENING AT 5:30. POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD TELLS KATC TV THAT THEY BELIEVE THE SHOOTING WAS DRUG RELATED. THE SUSPECT FLED THE SCENE AND THE VICTIM WAS TRANSPORTED TO ACADIA GENERAL AND THEN A LAFAYETTE HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION. BROUSSARD SAYS THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR A SUSPECT AND EYEWITNESSES TO THE SHOOTING.
Louisiana’s income projections have improved, but state officials were tempered in their excitement about the brightened forecast because a nearly $1 billion budget gap still looms next year. The Revenue Estimating Conference, which sets state income forecasts, increased revenue projections by $153 million for the current financial year that ends June 30. Next year’s forecast was boosted by nearly $234 million. The improvements were largely driven by better-than-expected sales tax collections.
LAFAYETTE POLICE ANNOUCED TWO ARRESTS THIS WEEK IN SEPARATE HOMOCIDE CASES. THE U-S MARSHAL SERVICE TASK FORCE ARRESTED 41-YEAR-OLD LARRY LEWIS OF HOUSTON. HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH OF 41-YEAR-OLD BILLY ROY IN THE 100 BLOCK OF HOBSON STREET ON OCTOBER ELEVENTH. THE OTHER PERSON ARRESTED WAS 17-YEAR-OLD DEMARKO JAQUINE ALFRED, WHO FACES A SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGE FOR THE SEPTEMBER 18TH SHOOTING DEATH OF 22-YEAR-OLD JALEEL BONHAM, WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND IN A PARK OFF OF EAST PONT DES MOUTON.
LAST WEEK, THE LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT THAT WILL MOVE THE MALLARD COVE GOLF COURSE TO LAND DONATED BY THE MORGANFIELD DEVELOPMENT. THE MOVE WILL ALLOW THE AIRPORT TO EXPAND. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RANDY ROBB SAYS THEY HAVE PLANS TO CREATE A MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER THAT WILL TRANSPORT CARGO BY SEA, AIR AND LAND. HE SAYS THE EXPANSION WILL MEAN MORE JOBS COMING TO THE AREA.
THE ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS MAKING ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY A WOMAN WHO WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A VEHICLE ON I-TEN IN BREAUX BRIDGE 36 YEARS AGO. THE WOMAN, WHO WAS IN HER MID-20’S AT THE TIME, WAS BURIED IN THE ST. BERNARD CEMETARY AND LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO LOOK AFTER HER GRAVE, BUT SHE WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED AND, SO, NEXT OF KIN WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. INVESTIGATORS HAVE LEARNED FROM A TRUCKER THAT THE WOMAN MAY HAVE BEEN FROM THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA AND WAS TRAVELING TO TEXAS. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS HOPING THAT THROUGH THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FINALLY IDENTIFY HER.
Gov. John Bel Edwards has won legislative backing for $15.4 billion in Medicaid managed-care contract extensions that House Republicans had blocked multiple times in prior votes. At the fourth hearing of the Legislature’s joint budget committee on the deals, lawmakers approved the extensions without a single objection Thursday. Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry, the House Republican who led the original opposition, says the addition of language explicitly giving the legislative auditor oversight of the deals made lawmakers “feel better” about the contracts. The extensions will keep in place five companies that manage care for 1.5 million Louisiana Medicaid patients.
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