12-22-2016
A BREAUX BRIDGE MAN IS IN CUSTODY AFTER A TUESDAY NIGHT CHASE IN ST. MARTIN PARISH. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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A DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS FOUND THE SHOOTING OF ERIC SENEGAL BY BEAUREGARD PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES TO HAVE BEEN LEGALLY JUSTIFIED. IN HIS FINAL REPORT, D-A JAMES LESTAGE SAYS THE DEPUTIES WERE IN IMMINENT FEAR OF DEATH AND NO REASONABLE PERSON WOULD HAVE ACTED DIFFERENTLY. THE DEPUTIES WERE SERVING A SEARCH WARRANT AFTER RECEIVING A TIP THAT SENEGAL MAY HAVE BEEN SELLING NARCOTICS. ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS BY DEPUTIES, SENEGAL AND HIS DOG WERE SHOT AND KILLED AFTER THE DOG CHARGED THEM AND SENEGAL HAD A PISTOL RAISED AND POINTED AT THEM.
STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO PRESENT AS MANY AS SIX DIFFERENT HYBRID DESIGNS FOR AN EXTENSION OF I-49 THROUGH LAFAYETTE AT A MEETING WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS IN JANUARY. OFFICIALS AND CONSULTANTS FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT MET TUESDAY WITH THE I-49 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES. THEY SAID AN OPEN HOUSE IN WHICH DIFFERENT DESIGN CONCEPTS WERE PRESENTED SHOWED MOST RESPONDENTS FAVORING AN ELEVATED INTERSTATE RATHER THAN A COVER/TUNNEL DESIGN. D-O-T-D’S SCHEDULE FOR EARLY NEXT YEAR SHOWS THE COMMITTEE MAKING A DECISION ON THE DESIGN BEFORE A PUBLIC MEETING IS HELD TO GET WRITTEN COMMENTS.
The Louisiana State Police plans to equip about 700 troopers with body cameras, calling it a deployment that will be the largest of its kind for a state public safety agency. State Police Col. Mike Edmonson announced Wednesday that the agency will purchase more than 1,500 body cameras through a five-year, $5.3 million contract with TASER International Inc. Troopers patrolling in New Orleans will be the first to get the cameras, in January. The State Police expects the cameras to be deployed statewide by next summer.
34-YEAR-OLD MARK MILLER OF EUNICE HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER STEMMING FROM A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT. THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECEIVED REPORTS OF A DRIVER CHASING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY 13. SHERIFF K-P GIBSON SAYS APPARENTLY MILLER BECAME INCENSED WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PASSED HIM AND FIRED MULTIPLE SHOTS INTO THE VEHICLE. DEPUTIES INTERCEPTED HIS VEHICLE DURING THE CHASE AND CHARGED HIM WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON AND AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, AND LATER THE ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE WAS ADDED.
LAKE CHARLES METHANOL IS LOOKING INTO BUILDING THE WORLD’S FIRST METHANOL PRODUCTION FACILITY. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HAS PUT UP TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN GUARANTEED LOANS FOR THE PROJECT. IF LAKE CHARLES METHANOL BUILDS THE 3-POINT-8 BILLION DOLLAR FACILITY, IT WOULD RESULT IN ONE THOUSAND CONSTRUCTION JOBS, AND 200 PERMANENT JOBS. THE FACILITY WOULD BE BUILT ON PORT OF LAKE CHARLES PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION COULD START IN 2017 AND WOULD LAST BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR YEARS.
LAFAYETTE-BASED IBERIA BANK HAS AGREED TO AN EARLY END FOR A DOZEN LOSS-SHARE AGREEMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. IT WILL RESULT IN AN AFTER TAX CHARGE OF 11-POINT-2 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE BANK, BUT PRESIDENT AND C-E-O DARYL G. BYRD SAYS ENDING THE AGREEMENTS EARLY OFFERS A NUMBER OF ADVANTAGES, INCLUDING A BOOST TO FUTURE EARNINGS. THE F-D-I-C AGREED TO PAY IBERIA BANK 6-POINT-5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR ENDING THE LOSS-SHARE AGREEMENTS. UNDER THE AGREEMENTS, THE F-D-I-C ABSORBED PORTIONS OF THE LOSSES WHEN IBERIABANK PURCHASED SOME TROUBLED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
Some customers of a major Louisiana utility will see a refund in their January electricity bills. Entergy Louisiana says in a news release that refunds totaling $70 million will go to customers in 40 parishes. It’s the result of an agreement approved Wednesday by the Louisiana Public Service Commission allocating costs for replacing steam generators at the Waterford 3 nuclear plant. Entergy says the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month will see a refund of $37.73 on the January bill, with a 43-cent monthly rate reduction.
