12-21-17
LAFAYETTE-BASED PETROQUEST ENERGY HAS MADE A MOVE THAT THEY BELIEVE WILL PROVIDE DRILLING PROSPECTS FOR YEARS TO COME. THEY ARE LEASING MORE THAN 24 THOUSAND ACRES IN THE LOUISIANA SECTION OF THE AUSTIN CHALK FORMATION. THE AUSTIN CHALK RUNS THROUGH THE MIDSECTION OF LOUISIANA. THE MOVE COSTS PETROQUEST MORE THAN 16 MILLION DOLLARS, AND MORE THAN HALF OF THAT CAME FROM THE SALES OF ITS WATER DISPOSAL ASSETS IN EAST TEXAS.
THE LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A PAY RAISE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. BEGINNING IN THE NEW YEAR, CITY EMPLOYEES, CITY COURT EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEES IN THE WARD THREE MARSHAL’S OFFICE WILL GET A TWO PERCENT INCREASE IN THEIR PAY. THE CITY ALREADY HAD THE RAISES INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL BUDGET. THE STARTING WAGE IS ALSO GOING UP FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES FROM NINE-25 TO TEN DOLLARS AN HOUR.
THE FORMER ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH AT ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART IN GRAND COTEAU HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES. 51-YEAR-OLD MARK AUNE WAS BOOKED INTO THE ST. LANDRY PARISH JAIL ON COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED PRODUCTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF CHILDREN, INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH A JUVENILE AND COMPUTER AIDED SOLICITATION OF A MINOR. THE SCHOOL RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ALLEGED CONDUCT BY AUNE. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE THAT ANY OF THEIR STUDENTS WERE INVOLVED.
Gov. John Bel Edwards says he asked retired Louisiana State Police leader Mike Edmonson to live in a state-owned home when Edmonson was agency superintendent. The arrangement drew criticism from a legislative audit as possibly violating state law because Edmonson didn’t pay rent or taxes on the benefit. Edwards said Wednesday he asked Edmonson to remain in the house, where Edmonson had lived since he was named superintendent by former Gov. Bobby Jindal. Edwards said he thought that was the best way for Edmonson to quickly respond to emergencies.
ON TUESDAY, THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED COUNCIL RATIFIED THE RESULTS OF THE MOST RECENT TAX ELECTION IN WHICH VOTERS AGREED TO REDEDICATE EXISTING PROPERTY TAXES, MOVING NINE MILLION DOLLARS FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH TAX TO A NEW DRAINAGE FUND. MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX SAYS THAT MEANS IN JANUARY, THE COUNCIL CAN TRANSFER THE NINE MILLION, MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE. ROBIDEAUX SAYS HE HAS DIRECTED PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES TO BEGIN MAKING A LIST OF COULEES, CANALS, AND DRAINAGE LATERALS THAT ARE MOST IN NEED OF WORK, ALONG WITH THE NUMBER OF HOMES IN EACH AREA THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE AUGUST 2016 FLOOD. HE SAYS THAT LIST WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN JANUARY.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY MEETS TONIGHT TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR 2018. THE BUDGET IS 233-POINT-5 MILLION DOLLARS, THE PARISH’S LARGEST SPENDING PLAN EVER. ADMINISTRATOR BRYAN BEAM SAYS IT’S A REFLECTION OF GROWTH IN THE PARISH. HE TELLS KPLC TV THAT THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN THE BUDGET IS THE AMOUNT BEING SPENT ON DRAINAGE IS UP BY 17 MILLION DOLLARS COMPARED TO THIS YEAR, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE IN FUTURE YEARS.
THERE WAS A DEADLY A-T-V CRASH IN THE 12-HUNDRED BLOCK OF ST. JULES ROAD IN ACADIA PARISH. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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Gov. John Bel Edwards set a Jan. 19 deadline to reach a tax deal with House Republican leaders to close a $1 billion budget gap. If no deal is reached, the Democratic governor says he won’t call a February special legislative session. Lawmakers would then have to craft a budget that strips the entire amount through cuts or let it linger unfinished until a June special session. Edwards announced the deadline Wednesday at an end-of-year news conference where he touted Louisiana’s shrinking unemployment rate and avoidance of a midyear deficit for the first time in years.
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