12-26-14
LAST NIGHT AT AROUND 6:15, LAFAYETTE POLICE RESPONDED TO THE 100 BLOCK OF ELENORE STREET, WHERE THEY FOUND TWO VICTIMS SHOT. ONE MAN HAD BEEN SHOT TWICE IN THE TORSO AND WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE OTHER VICTIM, A 21 YEAR OLD MAN, WAS SHOT IN THE FOOT AND TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. INVESTIGATORS ARE ASKING IF ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING TO CALL THE LAFAYETTE POLICE OR CRIME STOPPERS AT 232-TIPS.
CHRISTMAS EVE, IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO AN ACCIDENT NEAR THE 6100 BLOCK OF THE HIGHWAY 90 SERVICE ROAD, AND FOUND A VEHICLE HAD VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS STUCK. THEY FOUND THE DRIVER, A 42 YEAR OLD IBERIA PARISH MAN, LAYING NEXT TO THE VEHICLE. THE MAN WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD.
LAFAYETTE FIREFIGHTERS RECEIVED A CALL SHORTLY AFTER 6:30 CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE 100 BLOCK OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DRIVE, WHERE THEY FOUND HEAVY FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. MILTON GOBERT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND TOLD FIREFIGHTERS THAT HIS SON WAS STILL INSIDE. FIREFIGHTERS LOOKED FOR 13 YEAR OLD BRANDON GOBERT WHILE FIGHTING THE FIRE, BUT COULDN’T REACH HIM IN TIME. THE BOY WAS FOUND IN A BEDROOM. APPARENTLY THE DAD MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE HIS SON, BUT WASN’T ABLE TO BECAUSE OF THE INTENSE HEAT AND SMOKE. MILTON IS CURRENTLY BEING TREATED FOR SEVERE BURNS AND SMOKE INHALATION. INVESTIGATORS SAID THE FIRE STARTED IN THE KITCHEN. THE FAMILY WAS USING THE STOVE TOP FOR HEATING. OPEN FLAMES IGNITED NEARBY COMBUSTIBLES AND THE FIRE SPREAD. THE HOUSE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THE HOUSE HAD WORKING SMOKE ALARMS.
(AP) A state appeals court says 30 years in prison is too much for a first conviction for child abuse. In a 2-1 ruling, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal ordered Judge Clayton Davis to re-sentence 32-year-oldJamie Brooks Day, of Lake Charles. A jury convicted her a year ago of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile. Prosecutors tell the American Press they will appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court. The boy was 9 years old and weighed 38 pounds when he was brought to a hospital in 2010. He testified that — among other things — Day burned him, let him eat only grits, ramen noodles and rice, and made him eat his own feces. The defense argued that the boy refused to eat and injured himself.
(AP) The renovation of the main branch of the Lafayette Public Library will continue into the new year with a new completion date in April. After breaking ground in May 2013, the original shell of the three-story building remains, but the layout has been altered to include new amenities like study rooms, a genealogy collection and a technology lab. Sona Dombourian, public libraries director, tells The Advocate the intricate shelving system is awaiting inspection, and the service desks are being installed. Included in the renovations are plans to purchase new titles to update the book collection. Before the library opens, at least 20,000 books will be purchased and added to the existing 200,000. The Friends of the Library donated $13,000 to rebuild the children’s book section.
(AP) Louisiana’s unemployment rate rose for the seventh straight month in November, and what had been strong growth in employer payrolls waned. The state’s jobless rate rose to 6.5 percent, as growth in job seekers continued to outstrip increases in the number of people reporting they have jobs. The unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in October and 5.6 percent in November 2013. Louisiana’s labor force rose by 14,500 people in November, while only 7,100 more people reported having jobs. A separate survey shows employer payrolls fell by almost 3,000, the first drop since January. Both sets of figures — adjusted to cancel out seasonal changes — were released Friday by the U.S. Labor Department. The report counted 142,000 unemployed Louisianans in November, above 135,000 in October and 117,000 in November 2013.
(AP) The budget hole facing Gov. Bobby Jindal and lawmakers next year is grim, topping $1.4 billion. But that may not even be the worst-case scenario. With oil prices continuing to plummet, state officials are readying for the possibility they haven’t yet hit rock bottom. They may have to deal with another deficit in the current $25 billion state budget before the fiscal year ends June 30, while next year’s shortfall could grow even larger. About 13 percent of this year’s state’s general fund is tied to severance taxes and mineral royalties from energy production. Dropping oil and gas prices helped create a midyear deficit earlier this year that has been filled. But more bad news could come when the state’s income forecasting panel meets in January.
