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The state legislative auditor says the Housing Authority of Morgan City improperly paid employees more than $500,000 in bonuses. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera said Monday that employees were improperly awarded $566,544 in bonuses from November 2007 through March 2013. Purpera tells The Advertiser that Housing Manager Tori Johnson improperly altered a housing authority rewards and recognition policy. He says Johnson allegedly created false public records and caused public funds to be improperly paid to herself and other employees.
A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON HEARD ROAD WILL BE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION AT TOMORROW NIGHT’S LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AT THEIR DECEMBER THIRD MEETING, THE COUNCIL DEFERRED ACTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT AFTER MORE THAN A DOZEN LOCAL RESIDENTS SPOKE OUT AGAINST IT. THE DEVELOPER IS WANTING TO GET A PERMIT TO BUILD 28 ATTACHED DWELLING UNITS ON TWO-POINT-TWO ACRES AT 36-0-1 HEARD ROAD. JASON RADFORD, WHO LIVES NEAR THAT LOCATION, TOLD THE AMERICAN PRESS THAT THOSE OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT HAVE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH IT, INCLUDING ADDING TO THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC, WHICH IS BECOMING MORE OF A PROBLEM.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM’S HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR SAYS HE BELIEVES THEY WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER NEW JOBS TO ALL INSTRUCTIONAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS IN JANUARY. THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE ELIMINATION OF 35 POSITIONS IN JANUARY IN ORDER TO HELP CLOSE A 20-POINT-4 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET GAP. HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR BRUCE LEININGER TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT THE PROSPECTS ARE EXCELLENT TO KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED, THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE IN THEIR CURRENT JOB. HE SAYS THE AFFECTED EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF ACCEPTING OR DECLINING THE NEW POSITION, AND THEIR SALARIES MAY CHANGE.
U.S. Sen. David Vitter says he has been appointed to sit on the U.S. Senate’s Judiciary Committee — placing the Republican Louisiana politician in the middle of what likely will become major disagreements in the next Congress: Fights over President Obama’s nominee for the attorney general and the president’s move to shield millions of immigrants living in the United States illegally. Vitter announced his committee assignments Monday. When Congress returns from the winter break in January, Vitter will be enjoying an elevated position as a member of the GOP, which took control of the Senate in the November mid-term elections.
Vitter promised to use his position on the Judiciary Committee to launch attacks on the Obama administration’s agenda.
A CROWLEY WOMAN, WHO WAS ARRESTED TWICE LAST YEAR FOR VIDEOTAPING POLICE OFFICERS ON THE JOB, HAS FILED A LAWSUIT NAMING THE CITY OF CROWLEY, POLICE CHIEF K-P GIBSON AND THE TWO OFFICERS THAT ARRESTED HER AS DEFENDANTS. THERESA RICHARD WAS ARRESTED LAST DECEMBER AS SHE TAPE RECORDED THE LOBBY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND SHE WAS ARRESTED THE PREVIOUS MAY FOR VIDEOTAPING A POLICE OFFICER DEALING WITH HER NEIGHBOR. IN THE LAWSUIT, RICHARD INDICATES ALL CHARGES WERE DISMISSED, AND THE TWO POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARRESTED HER WERE NOT PROPERLY COMMISSIONED AT THE TIME OF THE ARRESTS. RICHARD IS SEEKING A JURY TRIAL AND MONETARY DAMAGES FOR THE MENTAL ANGUISH SHE SUFFERED.
THE VETERAN’S AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION WILL AWARD A LEASE FOR A PERMANENT VETERAN’S CLINIC IN LAKE CHARLES NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 27TH. THAT’S ACCORDING TO YOLANDA JACKSON OF THE ALEXANDRIA V-A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, WHO MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT A TOWN HALL MEETING IN LAKE CHARLES LAST NIGHT. ONCE THE SITE IS DETERMINED, IT WILL TAKE 12 TO 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE NEW CLINIC IS OPERATING. THE NEW CLINIC WILL BE STAFFED WITH SEVEN TO EIGHT DOCTORS AND PROVIDE PRIMARY CARE SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH AND SPECIALTY CARE FOR VETERANS.
A U-L LAFAYETTE STUDENT AND HER FATHER WERE KILLED OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER A FATAL CRASH NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI LOUISIANA STATE BORDER. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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The Legislature’s chief economist says state officials need to look at Louisiana’s long list of tax breaks as spending programs that siphon dollars away from the budget. Louisiana has $7 billion in various tax credits, rebates and deductions. Greg Albrecht said Monday that the programs take money away from the state treasury just like road projects, health care services and other items included in the state’s annual budget. But Albrecht told the Press Club of Baton Rouge the difference with the tax breaks is the spending is “open-ended,” with few controls and no review from state lawmakers as the money goes out the door.
